Spring Budget 2023

By | Budget Summary, Investment News, Latest News, Uncategorized

The first Budget since October 2021 was widely expected to be an uneventful affair. Five months ago, the then new Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, presented an Autumn Statement that was more of a Budget than many formal Budgets. Not only did his Autumn Statement result in a greater increase in the tax burden than most Budgets – £55 billion by 2027/28 – it was also accompanied by a Finance Bill.

With an election likely in autumn 2024, Mr Hunt’s ‘Budget for growth’ looked set to be a steady-as-you-go fiscal non-event.  Yet it turns out that over the next three tax years, Mr Hunt will hand back about £65 billion of the extra tax that he had planned to raise last November.  Although by 2027/28, he will still be about £40 billion a year better off.

The largest element of his three-year giveaway is the introduction of temporary full expensing for corporate investment in new plant and machinery. This goes some way to counter the impact of the corporation tax rate increase to 25% due in April 2023.  The aim behind this relief – stimulating economic growth – drove his extension of free childcare. It also provided justification for the surprise abolition of the pension lifetime allowance (LTA) and increases to the annual allowance. However, the benefits of the pension reforms to high earners have been tempered by a new cap on tax-free cash.

Whether the Chancellor succeeds in his growth agenda will not be clear until well after the next election. As Paul Johnson, Director of the Institute of Fiscal Studies, said: “Once again Jeremy Hunt can be grateful that the Office for Budget Responsibility is more optimistic than the Bank of England. It handed him some room for manoeuvre.”

Read the full article here

Our White Paper has been published!

By | Financial Planning, Investment News, Latest News

We’re delighted that a White Paper written by our Chief Investment Analyst (and Assistant Professor in Finance) Jacob H Schmidt and Investment Analyst Charlie McCann has recently been published in the Journal of Applied Finance & Banking 2022, Volume 12, Issue 1.

The paper entitled – “ESG Challenges in the Construction of UK Balanced Portfolios for Private Investors: An Analysis of the Availability and performance of ESG Funds Across Various Asset Classes” focuses on the increasing popularity of ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) investing within the UK.

The number of ESG and sustainable funds available for use by UK retail and high net worth investors is steadily growing from somewhat humble beginnings and this paper explores both risk and supply, notably illustrating which funds are consistently underdeveloped, such as property and alternative asset classes.  The paper demonstrates that investors who are choosing ESG objectives are now receiving better, risk adjusted returns on a longer term basis which are finally challenging the returns from the previously more traditional funds.   The authors also predict that although portfolio construction is currently limited, the availability of more funds in the alternative classes will expand as demand grows.

The White Paper can be downloaded here

At NLP Financial Management we are delighted to offer a range of Sustainable Models to our clients and for any interested readers, please do get in touch.

The value of investments can fall as well as rise and you may not get back the amount invested.

We’ve been selected once again!

By | Financial Planning, Investment News, Latest News

The Professional Adviser Awards, currently celebrating their 17th year, provide adviser businesses the platform to showcase their knowledge, skills and commitment to their clients and client relationships across the length and breadth of the UK.

With the awards taking place on 26th April at The Brewery in London, back in person after last year’s virtual ceremony, we have just received confirmation that we have once again been selected as one of the “Best Advisers to work for” for the 4th year in a row!

We are extremely proud to be consistently shortlisted, especially taking into account the changes we had to introduce at the start of the global pandemic almost 2 years ago.  We have taken great care to ensure our staff have been supported in both working from home and transitioning back to office life where conditions have allowed.  Our team of people have been consistently dedicated to continuing our high levels of client care and service as culturally we always put our clients at the centre of everything we do.

This award requires a survey to be completed by all staff, so it underlines the fact that our people continue to enjoy working here, developing their chosen careers in an environment that allows them to thrive despite the challenges we have all faced.

We are extremely proud of our team, our company ethos and values and are committed to being an employer of choice that attracts, retains and nurtures exceptional talent within the financial services industry.

Year End Financial Planning

By | Financial Planning, Investment News, Latest News

Make the most of your Reliefs and Allowances

With tax levels set to rise to their “highest sustained levels in peacetime” according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies, it is more important than ever to make the most of the tax allowances and reliefs available to you in case they are not there in future.  This guide provides you with an insight into the core opportunities you should consider.  With ideas covering income and investment, couples, company directors and employees, there is something for everyone.  We also provide some essential tips for those wanting to reduce their inheritance tax liability.

The guidance included here forms the base of a good financial plan as the old tax year comes to an end and the new one starts.  If you would like personalised advice on any of these topics, please get in touch.

 

NLPFM named as one of the top 100 UK Financial Advisers 2021!

By | Financial Planning, Investment News, Latest News

FT Adviser have named their top UK financial adviser firms for 2021 and we are delighted to announce that NLP Financial Management have made the list!

The context behind this list is consistently flexible; as a whole the majority of firms are sustaining strong levels of business, but the global pandemic continues to retain a strong grip on the UK economy and firms are still having to adapt to and adopt new ways of working in both face to face advice and online/digital services in order to strike a balance which suits their clients.

The list is compiled from data provided by “London based Financial Clarity”, part of ISS Market Intelligence, and helps determine those companies who are focused on putting their clients’ needs first, ensuring they uphold high standards and the use of best practice throughout their day-to-day activities.

The key metrics used to assess firms include the level of Assets Under Management (AUM), the rate of company growth, asset retention and professional qualifications of advisers.  The amount of experience firms have in managing funds within differing economic environments are also taken into consideration as are the level of investments managed with some of the largest British fund houses.  Incorporated within a firm’s experience is also the ability to continue to support their clients throughout their financial journey, from managing immediate finances in the here and now, through to growing their clients’ financial wellbeing as they enter later life, so client retention is also a key indicator used when assembling this list.

We are extremely proud to have been recognised in this way which continues to reinforce our ongoing commitment to putting our clients at the centre of everything we do, especially in the face of what has been an extremely challenging 18 months, not just for the UK but for the entire globe.

Adam Katten, Managing Director said “I would like to personally thank everyone who has contributed to us achieving this valued recognition and we will continue to do our utmost to grow and seek further improvements throughout the NLPFM business.”