VIDEO

Graeme Robb

Investing Corporate Surplus cash – exploring the potential impact on IHT and CGT reliefs

Understand the potential impact on IHT and CGT reliefs when investing corporate surplus cash.

ARTICLE

T&IO Weekly Market Updates

The M&G Treasury and Investment Office look at the latest developments in investment markets with their weekly investment commentary and podcast.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Pension recycling

Pension recycling is where a pension lump sum, or pension income, is recycled by reinvesting the income or lump sum into pension as a tax relievable contribution.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Tax relief on employer contributions

Discover how an employer can receive tax relief on pension contributions for an employee.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Flexi-access drawdown vs UFPLS

Discover useful guidance to help you consider whether flexi-access drawdown or UFPLS is the most appropriate route to achieve the client’s objectives for accessing benefits from their pension pot.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Uncrystallised funds pension lump sum (UFPLS)

Information on uncrystallised funds pension lump sum (UFPLS); what it is, why it was introduced and how it is taxed.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Taxation of pension income

We outline how pension income is taxed as earned income, using Pay As You Earn (PAYE) and cover some key considerations. Usually the income is initially set up with an ‘emergency tax code’.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Lifetime Allowance (LTA): Q&A

Questions from advisers answered on the lifetime allowance, including queries about protection, LTA excesses, pre A-day benefits, LTA on death and other general questions.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Interaction of tax relief and annual allowance

Tax relief rules and annual allowance rules work separately. Both sets of rules must be correctly considered to ensure pension savings are tax efficient.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

How best to extract profits from your business

Discover the three main ways to extract profits from a limited company and how these can be used to improve your client’s financial situation.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Lifetime allowance (LTA) – uncrystallised funds pension lump sum (UFPLS) case study

We look at the process for the lifetime allowance test when paying an uncrystallised funds pension lump sum

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Salary sacrifice: pension planning ideas

There are a number of planning opportunities around Salary Sacrifice (or Exchange) which can produce the same pension contribution at a lower net cost, or a higher pension contribution at the same net cost.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Pensions can be a valuable tool in an individual's tax planning

Information on how pensions can be used to mitigate child benefit and personal allowance tax traps as well as mitigate tax on bond and CGT gains.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Annual allowance: scheme pays Q&A

Answers to common questions on using the Scheme Pays option to meet annual allowance excess charges

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Inheritance tax and pensions

See the situations where inheritance tax may apply in relation to pensions.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Money purchase annual allowance (MPAA) - Case studies

Case studies demonstrating how the MPAA works for a selection of tax years.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Pension death benefits: Q&A

Answers to some common questions we’re asked on the topic of pension death benefits,including options for how these may be paid, how payments are taxed, if a lifetime allowance test applies etc.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Spousal bypass trust: the facts

Discover what spousal bypass trusts are, why they might be used and the tax implications of using them.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Pensions and inheritance tax: planning ideas

Pension planning and making contributions for others can be an effective way for the donor to reduce their taxable estate while saving into a pension for someone else.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Phased retirement

Pension flexibility has increased the options available for those who wish to phase retirement. Discover the main types of withdrawal method and how it works in practice.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Tax relief on member contributions

Learn how tax relief for a member operates including eligibility, methods of claiming tax relief and case studies.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Reduce the impact of the high income child benefit charge

The high income child benefit tax charge (HICBC) impacts those who have adjusted net income over £50,000 and are (or their partner is) receiving child benefit. Reducing adjusted net income can reduce the impact.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Comparing pension and buy-to-let as retirement planning vehicles

Buy to let property, as well as pensions, continue to be popular investment vehicles for retirement planning. We look at the advantages and disadvantages of each.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Small pots and defined benefit trivial commutations

Information on small pots and defined benefit trivial commutations, including payment, effect on entitlements to benefits and crystallised and uncrystallised benefit rights.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

The New State Pension

Get familiarised with the new State Pension rules for anyone reaching State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016 in this detailed article from PruAdviser.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Tax-free cash and protection

Information on tax-free cash (TFC) and how it can be protected; the type of Lifetime Allowance protection held can also impact the calculation of the maximum TFC.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Transfer to or from qualifying recognised overseas pension schemes

Discover the main considerations when transferring a pension to or from a Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Scheme and new rule changes.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Tapered annual allowance: planning ideas and potential pitfalls

Discover how the tapered annual allowance works, and the related planning issues.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Salary sacrifice: the facts

Learn about salary sacrifice: what it is, why do it and what the drawbacks are.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Money Purchase Annual Allowance (MPAA)

The money purchase annual allowance, or MPAA, was introduced with pension freedoms and this limits the amount of money which can be contributed to a money purchase scheme once pensions have been flexibly accessed before a tax charge is payable.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Pension contributions: Q&A

Questions from advisers answered on tax relief and annual allowance (including carry forward) considerations when contributing to pensions.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Small pots and defined benefit trivial commutation: Q&A

Answers to common questions on the topics of small pots and triviality

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Chargeable event gain and personal allowance: Q&A

Answers to questions from advisers on the effect of the chargeable event gain on personal allowance.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Carry forward of unused annual allowance for pension savings

Carry forward of unused annual allowance may allow a member to absorb or reduce any annual allowance excess paid in the current tax year which, in turn, would reduce any potential annual allowance charge amount.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

When can retirement benefits be taken?

Information on when can retirement benefits be taken, exceptions and key points.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Inheritance Tax meets Child Benefit Tax

How inheritance tax planning can also help lower tax on a family basis and help with retirement planning.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Death benefits from defined contribution schemes

Learn about the different types of death benefit, including those from defined contribution schemes, and the way they’re taxed.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Lifetime Allowance and Annual Allowance planning for the high net worth client

Here’s what you need to consider in relation to the Lifetime Allowance and Annual Allowance to see if pension saving is still right for high net worth clients.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Annual allowance: scheme pays

Using the scheme pays option to meet annual allowance excess charges

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Annual allowance, including carry forward, money purchase AA and tapered AA: Q&A

Pensions simplification brought us the ‘annual allowance’ for pension savings, on 6 April 2006. At its highest level this reached £255,000 but, since then, we’ve seen a massive drop in the AA limit followed by the ability to ‘carry forward’ unused annual allowance to offset AA excesses.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Early retirement planning

For the young and those with good levels of disposable income the dream of an early retirement at 55 could be achieved by bridging the income gap before State Pension is payable.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

How to use our annual allowance calculator tool

To help you know what information is needed to carry out AA calculations, and how to correctly populate the fields in our calculator.

The Technical Team

Trust Registration Service (TRS)

Learn about the requirements of the TRS which became operational on 13 July 2017.

ARTICLE by Mark Devlin

Mark Devlin

FG (21/3) - Key points from the FCA's finalised defined benefit transfer guidance

Remember the Fun Boy Three/Bananarama song it ain’t what you do it’s the way that you do it?

Upcoming Seminars

Our Seminars are designed to inform and educate on a wide variety of topics. You’ll find details below of our latest seminar events to register for.

Trust in the Future

WEBINAR

Stress Testing Webinars

Colin Simmons, Business Development Manager introduces five recordings from some of the industries leading technology providers. We've invited them to demonstrate how simple and effective it is for an adviser to run stress testing scenarios for their client, when using drawdown and cash flow modelling systems.

Return of the Consumer

VIDEO

Charles Griffith

Prudential Quarterly Update – March 2021

There is a lot of market volatility surrounding markets, but what is causing it? Charles Griffith, Head of Multi-Asset Portfolio Management, provides us with his analysis and outlook for the markets.

ARTICLE by Les Cameron

Les Cameron

Tax Day – went with a whimper

The Command Paper, ‘Tax policies and consultations (Spring 2021)’ has been published alongside various calls for evidence and consultations.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Transferable nil rate band: planning ideas

Learn about the interaction of discretionary will trusts and the inheritance tax transferable nil rate band.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Income tax personal allowance: planning ideas

Personal allowance planning involves reducing adjusted net income given the £100,000 income limit for personal allowance purposes.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Residence Nil Rate Band (RNRB): Facts

Learn about the availability of the RNRB for clients.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Inheritance Tax Potentially Exempt Transfers

Learn how outright gifts are dealt with for inheritance tax purposes and the implications of death within seven years.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Top slicing relief for bonds taxation: planning ideas

What you need to know about the interaction of a personal pension contribution and top slicing relief .

ARTICLE

Discounted Gift Trust: Q&A

Questions from advisers answered on Discounted Gift Trust

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

What is EIS, VCT or SEIS?

What is EIS, VCT or SEIS and what tax reliefs do they offer to investors? Find everything you need to know in our Knowledge Library.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Income tax rates and order of tax

Learn how different types of income are taxed and how they fit into an individual’s income tax calculation.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Corporate-owned bonds

Understand the corporation tax implications of a company investing in an insurance bond.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

The seven steps required to calculate an individual’s income tax liability

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Gifting (using trusts) and Inheritance Tax

Learn about Potentially Exempt Transfers (PETs) and Chargeable Lifetime Transfers (CLTs), how they differ, their interaction with each other and their impact on Inheritance Tax.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Gift aid donations by individuals: the facts

Gift aid is a tax-efficient way of gifting to charities.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs): the facts

The Individual Savings Account (ISA) is a tax exempt savings vehicle for UK resident investors.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Chargeable event gains for bonds and starting rate for saving: Q&A

Questions from advisers answered about setting chargeable events gains for bonds against the starting rate for savings.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Income tax personal allowance: the facts

What you need to know about the income tax personal allowance.

Planning for +£50,000 tax-free annually

Nobody likes paying tax, but luckily our tax system offers legitimate opportunities to diminish tax payments. Clients can enjoy a substantial level of tax-free income by taking advantage of the various allowances within the tax system…and it’s not that technical.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Important Information about Trusts

Everything you always wanted to know about trusts but were afraid to ask! This document shares the answers to common questions about existing trusts.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

UK investment bonds: taxation planning ideas

Discover tax planning opportunities with UK investment bonds.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Discretionary trust taxation

What is a Discretionary Trust and what are the tax implications, charges and bands? Find everything you need in our knowledge library.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Residence Nil Rate Band (RNRB): Planning

This article provides an opportunity to learn about the planning options available for clients to maximise the RNRB.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Offshore Bonds Taxation explained

Information on taxation of offshore bonds. Find out how offshore life assurance bonds are taxed in the hands of individuals and trustees.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Welsh Rate of Income Tax - Facts

How Income Tax differs for Welsh taxpayers

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

AIFs for individual investors: planning ideas

Authorised investment funds are collective investment schemes authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA).

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Transferable nil rate band: the facts

Learn the practical steps surrounding the transfer of the inheritance tax nil rate band.

Exceptional planning in extraordinary times

Colins Simmons, Business Development Manager, looked at ways to future proof your business as we make the transition towards a post Covid future. He looked at what the opportunities are when considering how we provide clients with better outcomes in relation to how their financial situation was effected by Covid.

WEBINAR

Spring Budget 2021

Our technical team talk through the key points from the chancellors budget on 3 March 2021, bringing you the detail on the topics they think matter to you and your clients.

Spring Budget 2021

Review of 2020, outlook for rest of 2021

Paul Fidell, Senior Business Development Manager looked at the recent performance and Expected Growth Rates (EGRs) on the PruFund range from Prudential and also the 2021 Bonus Declaration. M&G Treasury and Investment Office also provided a market update and considered the impact of 2020 and prospects going forward.

ARTICLE by Mark Devlin

Mark Devlin

Thoughts on the New Minimum Pension Age consultation

On 11 February 2021 the government launched a consultation on raising the normal minimum pension age (NMPA) to 57. For those of us with long memories in the pensions world this is nothing new, in fact the coalition government (remember that) announced back in 2014 that it would be appropriate that the NMPA retains its ten-year gap to the state pension age. It was even consulted on then as part of a pension freedoms consultation.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Spring Budget 2021

The Chancellor delivered his budget on 3rd March 2021. We waited with bated breath to find out if he would start raising revenue through taxation increases or concentrate on support and stimulus for the economy. We got both.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Spring Budget 2021 – Pension Changes

As had been reported the Lifetime Allowance (LTA) for pension savings was frozen at £1,073,100. Similarly the Annual Allowance (AA rules) and the rules on pension tax relief have remained unchanged for 2021/22.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Spring Budget 2021 – Profit Extraction

From the 2023/24 financial year the rate of corporation tax will increase to a maximum of 25%.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Spring Budget 2021 – Inheritance Tax

The Chancellor announced that the nil rate band (£325,000) and residence nil rate band (£175,000) will remain at existing levels until April 2026.

The Technical Team

UK Tax & Allowances

Information on UK tax and allowance for the years 2019/20 to 2021/22

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Spring Budget 2021 – Income Tax and Capital Gains Tax

As had been reported the personal allowance and higher rate threshold will increase in line with CPI from 6 April 2021. What wasn’t expected is these rates being frozen until 5 April 2026.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Spring Budget 2021 – Business Tax

The Chancellor announced measures for both profits and losses for businesses.

WEBINAR

PruFund Quarterly update

On this webinar, Paul Fidell, Business Development Manager looked at the latest Expected Growth Rates (EGRs) and Unit Price Adjustments (UPAs) on a number of different products and discussed any changes made and why.

Later Life Planning

With the population of the UK ‘getting older’ and indeed the most elderly cohort being the fastest growing segment – advisers have a new set of challenges when prioritising the needs and wants of these clients. With later life planning now more pressing, we looked at some of the issues these clients may face. In particular, how do you ensure clients have enough capital to last them until the end of their lives while balancing their desire to leave assets to the next generation rather than the tax man in the form of Inheritance Tax (IHT)? This can be a tricky balancing act especially should these clients require long term care bringing their assets into consideration from local authority assessments. In addition, what if you don’t want to leave your wealth to the next generation, or to be more specific, certain family members? It’s a situation most will have encountered in their dealings with clients which can lead to awkward conversations.

State of the Nation – Politics, Tax, Economy & Investment

Politics, tax, the economy and investment are inextricably linked. Individually and collectively they can have a big impact on UK financial planning. As we move into 2021, our presenters took stock of the current state of the financial planning nation and pondered where we are and where are we going.

Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and M&G

WEBINAR

Prufolio Collectives Update

Phil Butler, Fund Manager at the Treasury and Investment Office and Paul Fidell, Senior Investment Business Development Manager, provide an update on the PruFolio collective funds, including their aims and objectives and how we're currently managing the funds.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Individual savings accounts (ISAs): planning ideas

Help your clients make the most of their individual savings accounts (ISAs).

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Charities and insurance bonds: implications

Find out why HMRC considers it prudent for a charity to take professional advice before purchasing an insurance bond or accepting a transfer from a donor.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Trustee residence status rules for the UK

Learn how the residence status of trustees as a body under UK rules is determined.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Types of chargeable event gains on bonds and how to calculate them: Q&A

Questions from advisers answered on types of chargeable event gains for bonds and how to calculate them.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Loan trusts: the facts

Loan trusts are designed for individuals who wish to undertake IHT planning but are unwilling to make outright gifts.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Discounted gift trusts: payments to beneficiaries

Information on discounted gift trusts and payment to beneficiaries; what to consider for payment to a beneficiary of a discounted gift trust while the settlor is still alive.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Investment bonds – segment surrender v surrender across the segments

What you need to know about choosing how to withdraw funds from a bond when the whole bond is not being encashed.

ARTICLE

5% Tax Deferred Allowance for bonds: Q&A

Questions from advisers answered about the 5% tax deferred allowance and how it relates to chargeable event gains on bonds.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Family investment companies

Information on family investment companies, including how using a family investment company is an inheritance tax (IHT) strategy for individuals with large estates subject to IHT.

The Technical Team

Clubs, societies and charities – problems investing in insurance bonds

Understand why investing in insurance bonds is problematic for unincorporated associations and charities.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Discounted gift trusts: the facts

Learn about the role discounted gift trusts play in inheritance tax planning.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Domicile status for individuals: the facts

Understand why domicile status can be important in establishing an individual’s tax liability.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

What duties and responsibilities do trustees have?

Learn the duties and responsibilities of trustees

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Inheritance Tax relief for business property

Business property relief is a valuable inheritance tax relief for business owners whether making a lifetime transfer or on death.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Discounted gift trusts: changing the underpinning investment

Learn about changing the underpinning investment on a discounted gift trust which has been used for lump sum inheritance tax planning.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Excluded Property Trusts

Learn about the role Excluded Property Trusts play in inheritance tax planning.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

AIFs for individual investors: the facts

An overview of what authorised investment funds are and how they are taxed.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Gifting guidance for attorneys and deputies

Here’s how an attorney or court appointed deputy can make gifts on behalf of another person.

ARTICLE by Les Cameron

Les Cameron

Disaster or dull – what the CGT review might mean for financial planners

In July 2020 Rishi Sunak wrote to the Office for Tax Simplification to undertake a review of Capital Gains Tax as it applies to individuals and smaller businesses.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Loan trust: planning ideas

Loan trusts can be used to plan for inheritance tax, school fees, pensions and death benefits.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Offshore Bond Taxation planning ideas

Information on tax planning with offshore policies, including what they are, time apportionment relief and excluded property trust.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Probate Trust

Learn about the role Probate Trusts play to ease the process on death of an insurance bond applicant.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Gift Trust

Learn about the role insurance company gift trusts play in inheritance tax planning.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Chargeable event gains on a bond and capital gains tax: Q&A

Answers to questions from advisers on the interaction of chargeable event gains on a bond and capital gains tax.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Inheritance Tax taper relief

Find out how taper relief can reduce the tax payable on lifetime gifts.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Life assurance policies and insurable interest requirements

Learn what insurable interest means and its different categories.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Personal Injury Trust

A personal injury trust is the name given to trusts which are usually set up by solicitors from payments as a result of an accident, injury or malpractice.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Inheritance Tax annual exemption

What you need to know about the annual £3,000 exemption for Inheritance Tax purposes.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Trusts for disabled persons

Learn about the special tax treatment for trusts that are set up for vulnerable beneficiaries.

WEBINAR

Annual Allowance Tax Year End Quiz Webinar

Each tax year end our technical team get asked a lot of questions about tax and pensions! This year our technical team hosted three tax year end themed quiz webinars. On this webinar, Barrie Dawson, Technical Manager covered the common things to think about when it comes to Annual Allowance with a tax year end slant on things.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Scottish Rate of Income Tax - Facts

How Income Tax differs for Scottish taxpayers

Annual Allowance Tax Year End Quiz Webinar

Pensions Tax Relief Tax Year End Quiz Check your answers Test your knowledge

ARTICLE by Adrian Gaspar

Adrian Gaspar

PruFund Growth & PruFund Cautious Quarterly Investment Update

We hope you enjoy this update. It is longer than usual but 2020 was quite year and a lot happened in the final quarter which we want to cover off. The usual market update will be provided, and we also want to give an insight in to some of the themes that will play out over the coming months and maybe years.

VIDEO

Phil Butler

Prudential Market Insights Update – January 2021

After a tumultuous 2020 ending with a Brexit deal finally made on 31st December, what does a post Brexit UK look like? Phil Butler reflects on last 12 months and outlines how this could shape 2021.

WEBINAR

Tax and Trusts Tax Year End Quiz Webinar

Each tax year end our technical team get asked a lot of questions about tax and pensions! This year our technical team hosted three tax year end themed quiz webinars. On this webinar, Graeme Robb, Senior Technical Manager covered the common things to think about when it comes to tax and trusts with a tax year end slant on things.

Tax and Trusts Tax Year End Quiz Webinar

WEBINAR

Pensions Tax Relief Tax Year End Quiz

Each tax year end our technical team get asked a lot of questions about tax and pensions! This year our technical team hosted three tax year end themed quiz webinars. On this webinar, Mark Devlin, Senior Technical Manager covered the common things to think about when it comes to pension tax relief with a tax year end slant on things.

Pensions Tax Relief Tax Year End Quiz

Pensions Tax Relief Tax Year End Quiz Check your answers Test your knowledge

WEBINAR

10 things you Absolutely need to know about Bare Trusts

On this webinar, Graeme Robb, Senior Technical Manager helped you gain an understanding of the following: The use of Absolute trusts in lifetime planning, Absolute/ Bare trusts created on death, The income tax, CGT and IHT treatment of Bare/Absolute trusts and planning considerations when using Bare/Absolute trusts.

WEBINAR

Quarterly Market update from Prudential

On this webinar, Paul Fidell looked at the recent performance and Expected Growth Rates (EGRS) on the PruFund range from Prudential. M&G Treasury and Investment Office also provided a market update and also gave an update on the current portfolio.

ARTICLE by Neil MacLeod

Neil MacLeod

What do grapefruit and bond gains have in common?

When it comes to cutting things in half there’s usually a right way and a wrong way to do it. If you want to eat your grapefruit with a spoon then cutting across the segments is clearly the way to go.

ARTICLE by Les Cameron

Les Cameron

Use it, use it?

I like my rugby so was watching the Autumn Nations Cup. And thoroughly enjoyed it I did too (well the parts where the ball wasn’t in the air that is).

10 things you Absolutely need to know about Bare Trusts

Time for some mid (tax) year annual allowance work?

Planning and practicalities of Loan Trusts

WEBINAR

The Planning and Practicalities of Loan Trusts

The Loan Trust has been a long established feature of the Inheritance Tax and Estate Planning landscape. The Loan Trust isn't the most IHT efficient of your standard insurance companies trusts. But it's operation and flexibility means it's an essential part of the financial planners toolkit. It's a useful solution for everything from probate planning to having your client's make that first step to giving some of their money away.

WEBINAR

Les’ Big Fat Quiz of the Year

Our technical team have been reading, writing and presenting on technical matters all year. From top slicing to tapered annual allowances, lifetime allowance to lifetime gifting and special types of trust to scheme pays. The questions have been varied and (sometimes) interesting.

Les’ Big Fat Quiz of the Year

VIDEO

Sahil Shaikh

Prudential Multi-Asset update – December 2020

In this update, Sahil Shaikh, Portfolio Manager at T&IO gives us an insight on opportunities and what we might see in 2021.

VIDEO

Mark Devlin

The interaction of pensions with the IHT regime

This short video looks at when IHT can be charged on pensions, and how the values for this can be estimated.

VIDEO

Graeme Robb

The Taxation of Investment Bonds

This short video explains the Taxation of Insurance Bonds and explores the five main chargeable event triggers.

VIDEO

Parit Jakhria

Prudential Market Insights – November 2020

Parit Jakhria, Director of Long Term Investment Strategy at the M&G Treasury and Investment Office discusses changes to asset allocation and the impact of the recent US election.

WEBINAR

PruFund Quarterly update

On this webinar, Paul Fidell, Business Development Manager looked at the latest Expected Growth Rates (EGRs) and Unit Price Adjustments (UPAs) on a number of different products and discussed any changes made and why.

VIDEO

Mark Devlin

How is the Lifetime Allowance taxed after the members death?

This short video looks at who what Benefit Crystallisation Events (BCEs) can occur after the members death and how these are taxed.

VIDEO

Mark Devlin

How to use our Emergency Tax tool

A walkthrough of how to use Prudential's Emergency Tax tool highlighting the calculations and functionality of this.

VIDEO

Mark Devlin

How is the Lifetime Allowance taxed during the members lifetime?

This short video looks at who what Benefit Crystallisation Events (BCEs) can occur during the members lifetime and how these are taxed.

WEBINAR

Time for some mid (tax) year annual allowance work?

One of the most important dates in the annual allowance cycle is the 6 October. This is the date when schemes are required to issue pensions savings statements for those that have breached their annual allowance or money purchase annual allowance. <br> <br>On this webinar, Mark Devlin, one of our Senior Technical Managers, took you through the information you need to navigate those advice issues for those who have breached their allowances but also the advice opportunities that may exist for those that haven’t.

ARTICLE by Adrian Gaspar

Adrian Gaspar

The role of active and passive funds in multi asset portfolios

Frequently Asked Questions about MiFID II & IDD disclosure

Frequently Asked Questions about MiFID II & IDD disclosure

VIDEO

Mark Devlin

How to use our Salary Sacrifice calculator

A walkthrough of how to use Prudential's Salary Sacrifice calculator highlighting the calculations and functionality of this.

ARTICLE by Adrian Gaspar

Adrian Gaspar

Q3 PruFund Growth and Cautious Update

A high-level overview of how some of the main constituent asset class of PruFunds have performed over the third quarter.

VIDEO

Mark Devlin

How to use our Annual Allowance calculator

A walkthrough of how to use Prudential's Annual Allowance calculator highlighting the calculations and functionality of this.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Enhanced protection

Enhanced protection was introduced by Finance Act 2004. Individuals who were eligible and continue to hold enhanced protection will not suffer any lifetime allowance excess tax charge when they take pension benefits in excess of the lifetime allowance.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

@Oracle Guide to calculating Public Service Pension Input amounts

The question we get asked most frequently about public service pension schemes is how to calculate pension input.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Pension Section 32 & Buyout policies

Information on section 32 policies, what they are, when it would be used and the difference between it and a personal pension.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Pension fixed protection explained

With the Lifetime Allowance being reduced over time to £1.0m, more and more people are facing the potential of being liable to LTA excess charges. Consideration of the availability of LTA protection is therefore a vital part of pensions planning.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Pension miscellaneous: Q&A

Here we answer a few common questions we are asked about pensions.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Death benefits and annuities

Learn about the death benefits that can be provided if a member purchases an annuity contract, and the resulting taxes payable.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Legal structures of pension schemes

An explanation of the different legal structures for pension schemes, including personal and group pensions and master trusts.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Pension Drawdown – everything you need to know

Drawdown allows pension holders to take a tax-free lump sum and reinvest the remainder as an income. Specific approaches include capped drawdown, flexi-access drawdown and optional, short-term annuities. The most appropriate method will depend on whether your client’s scheme was in place before 6 April 2015, and their particular aims and objectives.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Additional protection for flexible pension consumers

The government has introduced new requirements to help protect pension consumers, as well as changes to guidance, advice and support.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Protected early pension age

Information on protected early pension age and the three categories of members with the right to take benefits before the minimum pension age, along with the conditions affecting them.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Pension commencement lump sum (tax-free cash)

Information on pension commencement lump sum (tax free cash), including key points, limits, entitlement and how to calculate the amount of tax-free cash.

ARTICLE by Les Cameron

Les Cameron

Oracle Express - Pensions Regulator guidance on COVID-19

The pension regulator has been issuing guidance to trustees, administrators and sponsoring employers of DB pension schemes in response to the Covid-19 outbreak. This has been picked up in the trade press.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Transfers: Q&A

Here we answer a few common questions we are asked about pension transfers.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Types of pension arrangements

A summary of the main types of pension arrangements, including money purchase (defined contribution), defined benefits and cash balance schemes.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Pensions and divorce

Courts dividing assets during a divorce can take into account most pension rights. The settlement can be reached by offsetting, an attachment/earmarking order or a pension sharing order.

VIDEO

Mark Devlin

How to use our Bond Gain Tool

A walkthrough of how to use Prudential's Bond Gain Tool highlighting the calculations and functionality of this.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Transferring a pension scheme

Learn about what’s allowed and what’s not allowed by HMRC when a member of a pension scheme transfers their accrued pension rights from one scheme to another.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Primary protection

Primary protection was introduced by Finance Act 2004 to protect people from unnecessary tax charges where their total benefits were valued at £1.5m (the newly introduced lifetime allowance) or more on 5 April 2006.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Pensions and divorce: Q&A

We provide answers to typical questions from advisers on pension plans impacted by divorce proceedings.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Pension switches without safeguarded benefits

Information on pension switches without safeguarded benefits. We answer 'What is a pension switch?' and how it is different from a pension transfer.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

RAC, SIPP and SSAS pensions

Insight into three other types of money purchase pension schemes - retirement annuity contracts, self-invested personal pensions schemes and small self-administered schemes.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Individual protection 2014 and 2016

With the Lifetime Allowance being reduced to £1m, more and more people could potentially be liable for Lifetime Allowance excess charges. This makes considering Lifetime Allowance protections a vital part of pensions planning.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Purchased life annuities: the facts

See how purchased life annuities provide a guaranteed income normally until death or expiry of a fixed term.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Death benefits for defined benefit schemes

Find out about the types of death benefits that can be paid from a defined benefit scheme and how they’re taxed.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Pension transfers and conversions, including DB to DC transfers

We explore the advantages and disadvantages of transferring a DB scheme to a DC type scheme and the assessment process, including Transfer Value Analysis Systems (TVAs).

ARTICLE by Graeme Robb

Graeme Robb

Trusts for vulnerable and 'injured' beneficiaries

The UK tax system offers tax ‘breaks’ to trusts for vulnerable beneficiaries. It is critical that advisers understand who can benefit, how these tax advantages work, and the implications for trustee investment.

VIDEO

Mark Devlin

Pension Death Benefits – 3 things that always come up that you need to know

A short video taking you through the top three issues that we get asked about pension death benefits.

VIDEO

Neil MacLeod

Attorneys and Gifting – Scotland

An overview of the types of power of attorney available in Scotland and what authority they have to make gifts.

VIDEO

Graeme Robb

Will trusts Video

Understanding why a trust might be incorporated into a will and how to identify the type of trust.

VIDEO

Barrie Dawson

How do personal representatives administer bonds on death

Short video explaining how personal representatives administer bonds on death when the policy owner dies, including what documentation may be required and the tax considerations.

Prudential International Assurance plc

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Insurance Distribution Directive (IDD) disclosure of costs and charges

T&IO UK Commercial Property Update

T&IO has put together a useful reminder of our position in terms of UK commercial property prompted by the increased interest in the asset class from our clients, and looks to address some of the main questions we’ve seen in recent weeks.

ARTICLE by Graeme Robb

Graeme Robb

More Top Slicing News!

Top Slicing Relief (TSR) is very important for clients. Calculations can be tricky and involve a five-step procedure, but, on the plus side, TSR can assist clients by reducing the rate of tax charged on Insurance Bond gains by applying a spreading mechanism.

ARTICLE by Graeme Robb

Graeme Robb

Capital Gains Tax Consultation

The Chancellor has written to the Office of Tax Simplification requesting the Capital Gains Tax regime is reviewed to identify and offer advice about opportunities to simplify it, and to ensure the regime is fit for purpose.

ARTICLE by Mark Devlin

Mark Devlin

Retirement advice unplugged with Rory Percival

On the 23rd of June this year Vince Smith-Hughes held a webinar titled “Retirement advice unplugged with Rory Percival” where the former FCA Technical Specialist discussed the recent FCA policy statement and guidance consultation on DB transfers.

VIDEO

Mark Devlin

How to use our Extracting Company Profits Tool

A walkthrough of how to use Prudential's Extracting Company Profits tool, highlighting the calculations and functionality of this.

ARTICLE by Graeme Robb

Graeme Robb

COVID-19 – Financial Planning in the ‘new normal’

COVID-19 created a seismic shock across the globe. Of course, the health, safety and wellbeing of family, friends and loved ones takes priority but we have also witnessed the need for financial guidance and support in this turbulent period. Here’s ten questions to prompt your clients on matters that might understandably have slipped their minds in these challenging times.

VIDEO

Mark Devlin

Paying a contribution for a grandchild

An example of how a grandparent paying into a pension for their grandchild can generate valuable retirement benefits as well as saving IHT.

ARTICLE by Graeme Robb

Graeme Robb

The Trust Registration Service (TRS) - Important news for advisers

The Government has just published “next steps” regarding the TRS. Before considering these, let’s briefly remind ourselves on the fundamentals.

ARTICLE by Michael Watt

Michael Watt

Strategic Asset Allocation 2020 – LF Prudential Risk Managed Active & Passive Funds

The 2019 Strategic Asset Allocation (SAA) review concluded that a reduction in the expected risk profile of the funds was appropriate given the prevailing economic and capital market conditions. This reduction was driven by the stage of the economic cycle and vulnerability to exogenous shocks, on the basis that we might be presented with better opportunities in the medium- term.

VIDEO

Mark Devlin

How tax relief works

A video showing how differing methods of making a pension contribution affect the calculation of tax.

VIDEO

Mark Devlin

Higher than marginal rate relief

A video showing how the rates of tax relief can be higher than the marginal rates of tax a client pays.

VIDEO

Mark Devlin

How to use our Tax Relief Modeller

A walkthrough of how to use Prudential's Tax Relief Modeller highlighting the calculations and functionality of this.

VIDEO

Mark Devlin

What is the Personal Allowance Trap and how do you get out of it?

A look through how the personal allowance trap works, and how pension contributions can generate high rates of effective tax relief. As well as looking at intergenerational planning to alleviate IHT issues to assist those in this trap.

VIDEO

Graeme Robb

Seven steps video

Understanding the Seven Steps required to calculate a client’s income tax liability

VIDEO

Neil MacLeod

Bond tax mitigation using pension contributions

This is a short video which shows how making relief at source pension contributions can mitigate higher rate tax on bond gains.

ARTICLE by Les Cameron

Les Cameron

What makes people buy a pension?

Contributions, adjusted net incomes, taxable income, relief at source, net pay and extension of tax bands.

ARTICLE by Adrian Gaspar

Adrian Gaspar

2020 Strategic Asset Allocation Review for PruFund Growth & PruFund Cautious

Despite the significant challenges that have prevailed so far this year and with much uncertainty still to come, as economies begin the process of re-opening, with Brexit fast approaching and a US presidential election in November, the teams within T&IO have re-assessed markets to understand where attractive long-term investment opportunities lie and how these can be implemented in PruFund portfolios.

ARTICLE by Les Cameron

Les Cameron

FCAs next steps to improve the defined benefit pension transfer market (5 June 2020)

ARTICLE by Neil MacLeod

Neil MacLeod

Where do you want your client’s (investment) recovery to happen?

When investing for the longer term it’s almost inevitable that you will experience a market downturn at some point and last month I wrote about tax points to remember if your client’s investments have fallen in value. But investment values can go up as well as down and some of the biggest market rises have come off the back of large market falls.

VIDEO

Neil MacLeod

The 14 Year Rule

This is a short video which explains when and how the 14 year rule applies to gifts made up to 14 years before the donor’s death.

ARTICLE by Mark Devlin

Mark Devlin

Technical Tidbits – June 2020

I’ve been given the task of summarising five important but not greatly reported changes in our financial world this month. So, I’ll keep the summaries brief with a view as to what these change in the planning sense.

VIDEO

Barrie Dawson

What happens to Loan Trusts when the settlor dies

Short video explaining what happens to Loan Trusts when the settlor dies, including inheritance tax treatment and what happens to the underlying investment held by the trustees.

ARTICLE by Graeme Robb

Graeme Robb

Top Slicing Relief: 5 facts

A Top Slicing Relief (TSR) calculation should be embraced rather than feared. It is after all a good thing. Without it, clients could be disadvantaged by being charged in a single year on chargeable event gains accrued over longer period. Where appropriate, TSR reduces the rate of tax charged on the gain by applying a spreading mechanism. HMRC guidance tells us there are five steps involved in a calculation… or sometimes six. In honour of that, let’s consider five issues to look out for. In fact, let’s make that six!

VIDEO

Mark Devlin

Relevant Income

This short video looks at who is eligible to make pensions contributions and what parts of their income are relevant earnings.

ARTICLE by Les Cameron

Les Cameron

Shining a light on drawdown suitability

We are on the cusp of an investigation into the suitability of drawdown and wider retirement income advice. To consider what the results might be, we need to look back in time.

ARTICLE by Neil MacLeod

Neil MacLeod

Seven things you might need to know when markets fall

With markets in turmoil around the world, it’s probably not a question of whether the value of your clients’ investments has reduced, but by how much.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Top Slicing

In order to understand why there have been changes to top slicing relief announced in the budget, it’s useful to have a quick recap of how we got here.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Entrepreneurs Relief

ER provides for a lower rate of CGT (10%) to be paid when disposing of all or part of a business where certain criteria are met.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Spring Budget 2020 Tapered Annual Allowance

As had been widely speculated given issues with the NHS Defined Benefits scheme the Chancellor announced changes to the Tapered Annual Allowance.

VIDEO

PruFund Explained

Client facing video that describes how PruFund works.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Spring Budget 2020

VIDEO

Barrie Dawson

5% tax deferred allowance

Short video explaining how to calculate 5% tax deferred allowance on insurance bonds.

VIDEO

Mark Devlin

Turning capital losses into gains

This short video looks at how you can use pension tax relief to recover capital losses.

VIDEO

Neil MacLeod

The Order of Gifting

The order gifts are made is important to mitigate the impact of IHT charges on discretionary trusts. Find out more here.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

What is Pension Lifetime Allowance?

For pensions, the Lifetime Allowance (LTA) is the overall limit of tax privileged pension funds a member can accrue during their lifetime, before a Lifetime Allowance tax charge applies. The standard Lifetime Allowance is currently £1,073,100 (2020-2021).

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Annual allowance for pension savings

A review of the main changes to annual allowance since its introduction on 6 April 2006, as well as common issues to consider.

VIDEO

Les Cameron

Who is liable for the tax when a bond is under trust?

Find out who is liable for the tax on an insurance bond chargeable event where the plan is held under trust.

VIDEO

Mark Devlin

What is the child benefit trap and how do you get out of it?

A look through how the child benefit trap works, and how pension contributions can generate high rates of effective tax relief. As well as looking at intergenerational planning to alleviate IHT issues to assist those in this trap.

VIDEO

Mark Devlin

Tapered Annual Allowance - getting your income correct

This short video focuses on the calculation of the Adjusted and Threshold income limits for tapered annual allowance purposes.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Top slicing relief for bonds taxation: the facts

What you need to know about top slicing relief, how it works and more.

VIDEO

Neil MacLeod

Attorneys and Gifting – England and Wales

An overview of the types of power of attorney available and what authority attorneys have to make gifts.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Tapered annual allowance for high income client pensions

Information on tapered annual allowance for high income client pensions.

VIDEO

Graeme Robb

Company Owned Bonds

Understand the corporation tax implications for a company investing in an Insurance Bond.

VIDEO

Graeme Robb

Top Slicing Relief

Understanding Top Slicing Relief. Why it exists and how it works.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

UK investment bonds: taxation facts

Information on UK investment bonds, including what they are, identifying chargeable events, part arrangement (5% rule) and part assignments.

VIDEO

Mark Devlin

Annual Allowance – Scheme Pays

Everything you need to know about pension schemes paying a member's annual allowance tax charge.

VIDEO

Graeme Robb

Company Owned OEICs

Understand the corporation tax implications for a company investing in OEICs.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Miscellaneous pension tax and trusts

In this article we cover some of the miscellaneous budget announcements impacting pensions, tax and trusts.

VIDEO

ESG Investing

Ben Constable-Maxwell, Head of Sustainable and Impact Investing with M&G Investments discusses ESG, who it is for, strategies, drivers and ESG in practice.

ARTICLE

The Scottish Budget 2020 - no change to income tax rates

Following the sudden resignation of Scotland’s Finance Secretary, Derek Mackay, the Scottish Budget was delivered by the Minister for Public Finance and Digital Economy, Kate Forbes.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Trustee record keeping

Find out which records are required for a trust with this useful guide for trustees.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Trustee investment considerations: the facts

Learn the overriding duties of trustees in relation to investments.

ARTICLE by The Technical Team

The Technical Team

Normal expenditure out of income exemption

Learn how normal expenditure out of income can be a valuable inheritance tax exemption, and how to plan with it.

VIDEO

Sequencing of risk return

Vince Smith-Hughes discusses sequencing of risk return. Look at examples of income taken, the order of returns and the possible impact on the future value of the fund.

VIDEO

Protecting investor interests from the inside

Ciaran Mulligan, head of investment management oversight at the M&G Treasury and Investment Office, discusses his role and provides insight into our internal and external governance and due diligence processes.

VIDEO

Investing in alternatives for 15 years

Michael Howard, head of alternatives at M&G plc discusses his role and provides insight into some of the unique alternatives assets we invest in that underpin our portfolios.