http://www.watermarkfsltd.com Independent Financial Advice Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:54:15 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Getting to grips with the current crisis of indebtedness The turbulence that has gripped financial markets is a response to the perception that politicians in the Eurozone and the US have been slow to face up to issues of indebtedness. If Interest rates in the UK and the Eurozone remain low for ... http://www.watermarkfsltd.com/20120206/staving-off-a-sovereign-default/ George Osborne and the coalition Government have forced their austerity measures on the UK economy, but have they gone too far? Many economists that I have spoken with or listened to in meetings over the past 2 years have advocated that the solution is not only to make cuts and raise ... http://www.watermarkfsltd.com/20120201/will-osborne-u-turn-and-begin-spending-to-stimulate-growth/ Don’t make your final decision until you’ve received different annuity comparisons Before you can start planning your retirement, you need to understand how the money you’ve built up in your pension will be used to provide you with an income when you retire. One of the options you could choose is to ... http://www.watermarkfsltd.com/20120130/time-to-shop-for-an-annuity/ Are you in control of your investments? There are numerous ways of saving for retirement, including various types of pensions. The government views retirement savings as being so important that it offers generous tax benefits to encourage us to make our own pension provision. It is usually also the case that ... http://www.watermarkfsltd.com/20120123/sipping-into-retirement/ Saving to secure the kind of pension you would like to live on How much money do you need to save to secure the kind of pension you would like to live on when you retire? It’s a question that concerns everyone saving for their retirement. So it’s essential to make ... http://www.watermarkfsltd.com/20120116/do-your-retirement-options-add-up/ Helping people save more for their retirement The National Employment Savings Trust (NEST) is being introduced next year by the government to help people save more for their retirement. Option to Opt Out It will involve workers who are not already a member of a ‘Recognised Workplace Pension Scheme’. Employees will be auto-enroled ... http://www.watermarkfsltd.com/20120109/a-new-national-pension-scheme/ Is your cash struggling to keep pace with inflation? The current low interest rates are good news for mortgage repayments but not so good if you are relying on your savings to produce an income. If you are a saver rather than a borrower, you will have noticed the interest you ... http://www.watermarkfsltd.com/20120104/in-search-of-income/ Pension investors should reassess their savings strategy at least annually, and particularly this year, following the coalition government’s announcement of new pension rules. Complex Measures The new rules, which were introduced on April 6 this year, are designed to simplify the complex measures introduced by the previous government and may affect the ... http://www.watermarkfsltd.com/20111220/new-pension-options-when-was-the-last-time-you-reassessed-your-savings-strategy/ Passing on wealth in a tax-efficient manner Inheritance Tax (IHT) is an issue affecting increasing numbers of households across the country. Changes introduced in Chancellor Alistair Darling’s pre-Budget report in October 2007 have made it possible for couples and civil partners to combine their individual IHT allowances, so that it is ... http://www.watermarkfsltd.com/20111212/wealth-preservation-trust-in-your-future/ Converting your pension fund into an annuity A guaranteed pension income for life An annuity provides you with a guaranteed income for life when you retire. You buy an annuity using a lump sum from your pension or, perhaps, some savings. Annuities remove the worry of having to budget for an unknown ... http://www.watermarkfsltd.com/20111207/securing-a-pension-income-for-life/