Overhauling pensions – The big story

The Chancellor delivered a major reform on the pension front, one that was completely unexpected and potentially game changing – witness the dramatic fall in some life company share prices. The main points of a two stage process are: Initial … Continue reading

Welcoming the new ISA

Last year it was reported that the Treasury had asked ISA providers about the practicalities of capping total investments at £100,000.  Anyone expecting the worst in the Budget was pleasantly surprised. Initially the ISA limit rises to £11,880 for 2014/15 … Continue reading

Enhancing Venture Capital Investments

Venture Capital Trusts (VCTs) Enterprise Investment Schemes (EISs) and Seed Enterprise Investment Schemes (SEISs) all received attention from the Chancellor in the Budget.  There were several changes: As previously announced, the Chancellor shut down enhanced buy-backs schemes operated by many … Continue reading

5 YEARS ON…

The 0.5% base rate is celebrating its fifth anniversary this month.                     On 5 March 2009 the Bank of England halved base rate, from 1% to 0.5%. As the graph shows, … Continue reading

Spring Budget Summary 2014

George Osbourne revealed a range of initiatives that had been successfully kept under wraps, unlike previous Budgets. Continue reading

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