The end of the year has come around so quickly, I can’t believe it’s time to start planning for 2023 already!
I want to share a checklist to help you get financially prepared for 2023. If you manage to tick all of these off, you’ll have the clarity and confidence to make your financial plans a reality.
Read MoreDid you know you can reduce your inheritance tax rate from 40% to 36% through charitable gifting in your Will? This could result in a significant reduction to any large inheritance tax bill. Watch to find out more.
Read MoreFor many, the prospect of passing on wealth to future generations is a significant motivation for carrying out financial planning. Knowing that your hard-earned nest egg is going to be used to help loved ones with major milestones such as going to university, getting married or buying a house can be extremely gratifying.
Having a conversation with your family about your intentions is not always easy especially when managing other’s expectations. Read on to find out how we can help.
Read MoreIntroduced in 2017, the Residence Nil Rate Band (RNRB) is an amount additional to the Nil Rate Band (NRB) that could be passed on tax-free against the value of the family home. The RNRB could save you tens of thousands of pounds worth of inheritance tax but the rules aren’t that simple.
Richard Higgs explains what you need to know in this brief video.
Read MoreWe are delighted to announce Harold Stephens have won the ‘Company of the Year - up to 5 advisers’ award in the 2022 Just Group Vulnerable Customer Awards! We are also ecstatic to report Richard was Highly Commended in the Vulnerable Customer Champion award.
The whole team are over the moon at receiving this recognition from industry peers!
Read MoreYou may be aware of the '7 year rule' for gifting with regards to inheritance tax (see our guide for full details if not). It is news to some, however that you may need to look even further back - 14 years to be exact - to ensure you are not liable to pay inheritance tax. Find out more in the video and as always, if you have any questions please don't hesitate to get in touch for a complimentary review of your financial circumstances.
Read MoreIndependent Financial Adviser, Richard Higgs takes you through a simple to understand explanation of the care process in England. It can feel daunting when faced with planning and organising the care you or a loved one might need. This video will help you to understand the steps you may need to take.
Read MoreIt can be difficult to feel confident in your investments when things aren’t going your way but there are simple rules to follow to ensure you stay on the right path.
Have you heard the saying, ‘time in the market, not timing the market’? There is no sure fire way to predict the best time to invest but there are some general rules to try to stick to in times of volatility.
Watch this 10 minute video to find out more.
Read MoreWe are looking for a financial adviser to work alongside our entrepreneurial Director, Richard Higgs, a Chartered Financial Planner with over 20 years’ experience to help service his ever-growing client bank..
Read MoreWe are delighted to announce Richard Higgs, Chartered Financial Adviser has achieved the SOLLA Later Life Accreditation, the gold standard for advice in the Later Life market.
The Society of Later Life Advisers (SOLLA) was established in 2008 as a not for profit organisation dedicated to higher standards and accessibility to regulated financial advice for older people and their families. SOLLA helps people find trusted accredited financial advisers who specialise in the financial needs of older people.
Read MorePension consolidation is a buzz word in financial planning with many articles and videos produced which make it sound more complex than it perhaps needs to be. Simply put, it means if you have more than one pension, getting them organised, but getting them organised in a sensible way.
Read MoreAfter the last 20 years of economic highs and lows, it is fair to say we may be getting used to living in volatile times. The last two years have been no different. It can be difficult to feel confident in your investments when things aren’t going your way but there are simple rules to follow to ensure you stay on the right path.
Read MoreA power of attorney is a document by which one person (the “donor”) gives another person (the “attorney”) the power to act on their behalf and in their name.
Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs) were introduced in 2007 by the Mental Capacity Act and replaced the old system of enduring powers of attorney (EPAs). Like the EPA, the LPA remains effective after the donor loses mental capacity. There are a few very important differences between the two.
Read MoreWhen an individual dies without making a Will, they are described as having died intestate, which means that their assets and belongings (estate) will be distributed according to the rules of intestacy.
Read MoreIf you have disabled or vulnerable beneficiaries and you are thinking about setting up your Will, there are a few things you need to think about. It may be possible to create a Disabled Will Trust, which is a type of trust where a third party manages assets on behalf of the beneficiaries. One of the benefits of setting up this type of trust is that it provides substantial tax advantages.
If you would like to know more about this type of trust, including what you need to consider, when it is applied for and what to think about when nominating trustees, watch this 10 minute video from Independent Financial Adviser, Richard Higgs.
Read MoreRichard Higgs, Independent Financial Adviser explains all about funding long-term care, including an update on the proposed social care reforms expected to come in to effect in October 2023.
Read MoreIn this video, Richard Higgs takes you through why you need a Will, and crucially, what happens if you don’t have a valid Will in place. Take steps today to ensure your estate is treated according to your wishes.
Read MoreVulnerability can come in a range of guises, and can be temporary, sporadic or permanent in nature. A vulnerable consumer is someone who, due to their personal circumstances, is especially susceptible to detriment, particularly when a firm is not acting with appropriate levels of care.
We take this very seriously. Please read on to find out what steps we have taken to ensure vulnerable people are provided with the best service possible from the team at Harold Stephens.
Read MoreMany people have simple estates which are straightforward to organise. For others, a Will is just the first piece of the estate planning puzzle. Working with an independent financial adviser (IFA) to write your Will can provide you with confidence that the decisions you are making take in to account your whole financial situation.
Read MoreWhen an older relative is considering moving into a care home, often leaving the family home in the process, the question inevitably turns to how to pay the fees for that care home. The decision whether or not to sell the family home is usually central to the care funding question.
For some people, a proportion or all care fees can be covered by any income you may have. This could be made up of Attendance Allowance, other benefits such as state pension, any workplace or private pension income and any other income you may have. For others, it’s not as straightforward.
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