- Watermark Financial Solutions Ltd.

Are you financially prepared for retirement?
If you are a 50-something, are you financially prepared for retirement? It is estimated that one third of people in this age group have no retirement savings at all. However, the plans you make in the final approach to retirement can have the most significant impact on the size of […]

On 16 September 2008, the news (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7615931.stm) hit us. Lehman Brothers had filed for bankruptcy in the US.
Lehman was one of the largest financial institutions in the world. Unsinkable! But like the iceburg that sunk the Titanic, its problems lurked out of sight, deep within the organisation and it’s liabilities were unknown……… […]

EU rules against sex discrimination
The European Court of Justice has ruled that gender-based insurance rates are unlawful in a move that could lead to a shake-up in the annuity market. This major ruling takes effect from 21 December 2012 and will fundamentally reshape the retirement landscape, leading to the likely equalisation of annuity rates […]

Taxing Times
Different investments are subject to different tax treatment. The following is based on our understanding, as at 6 April 2011, of current taxation, legislation and HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) practice, all of which are subject to change without notice. The impact of taxation (and any tax relief) depends on individual circumstances.
Unnecessary tax on […]

Labour peer Lord Hutton has recommended to ministers that public sector workers should no longer have final salary pensions. Instead they should have schemes linked to average earnings, while paying more and working longer.
From 2015, most of the six million state employees will be expected to retire at the state pension age, which is due […]

Tax saving incentives for substantial charitable legacies
If you have an estate currently worth more than £325,000, you should plan early and act decisively if you are to avoid burdening your heirs with a future Inheritance Tax (IHT) liability.
During Budget 2011 measures were announced to encourage charitable giving that will be of interest to both the voluntary […]

Picking the right combination of assets will depend on your risk profile

All investments, including cash deposits, carry a degree of risk but some are more risky than others. Once you have established a solid foundation of savings for the short term, you may look to investments to provide more growth potential over a longer period, […]

Your Retirement Questions Answered
Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs) have been around since 1989 but after the introduction of Pension Simplification legislation on 6 April 2006, they’ve become more accessible. If you would like to have more control over your own pension fund and be able to make investment decisions yourself with the option of our professional […]

Socially Responsible Investing
Maintaining your ethical and environmental beliefs
Socially responsible investing is enjoying increased popularity and provides investors with a real opportunity to maintain their ethical and environmental beliefs. Socially responsible investment funds also enable socially aware investors to have their investments reflect an ethical bias by avoiding investing in companies deemed inappropriate from an ethical […]

Keeping your wealth in the family

Inheritance Tax planning matters
In order to protect family and loved ones, it is essential to have provisions in place after you’re gone. The easiest way to prevent unnecessary tax payments such as Inheritance Tax (IHT) is to organise your tax affairs by obtaining professional advice and having a valid Will […]