Author: Rob Bowers

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt delivered some good news in November’s autumn statement. With the announcement that the State Pension “triple lock” would be honoured, from April 2023 pensioners can expect a boost of just over 10% to their State Pension.

Read on to find out what the pensions triple lock is and what it means for you and your money.

What is the “triple lock”?

The triple lock was introduced in 2010, by the Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition government. It is designed to ensure that the amount pensioners receive from the State Pension increases at an appropriate rate each year: to increase with the cost of living and not be overtaken by the working population’s average income.

The State Pension is supposed to increase each year in line with the highest of these three measures:

• Inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in September (of the previous year)
• The average increase in wages across the UK
• or 2.5%.

From April 2023, the State Pension will increase by 10.1% – the rate of inflation in September 2022.

So, if you’re claiming the State Pension, you should see an increase in the amount you receive from 10 April 2023.

To ensure that they each keep pace with the cost of living, the triple lock applies to both the basic State Pension (pre-April 2016) and the new State Pension (post-April 2016).

What does the triple lock mean for me?

If you’re receiving the State Pension, the triple lock system helps to protect your income. In effect, it guarantees that your income will be a fair sum when compared to the income of those still working.

If you’re currently receiving the full new State Pension, the 10.1% increase will mean you’ll get an extra £19 a week. Over a full calendar year, this will amount to an additional £988 in your pocket.

For those who reached State Pension Age before April 2016 and are receiving full basic State Pension, the 10.1% increase will mean an extra £14 a week – an additional £728 over the year.

This increase is clearly good news. However, while inflation continues to climb – it exceeded 11% in October 2022 – even this seemingly generous 10% boost to the State Pension won’t be sufficient to cover all the extra living costs.

Check your State Pension forecast and don’t miss the opportunity to top up your entitlement

Remember, the values above are based on the full State Pension amount. If you don’t have a complete National Insurance record, your pension will be lower than this.

To find out how much State Pension you might expect to receive, check your State Pension forecast on the government website.

A gap in your National Insurance contributions (NICs) could mean that you will receive less State Pension.

The good news is that there’s a time-limited window of opportunity to increase your entitlement.

In April 2023, you can top up as far back as 2006

Depending on your National Insurance record, it is currently possible to purchase up to an additional 10 years of NICs gaps for the years 2006 to 2016.

If you are a man born after 5 April 1951 or a woman born after 5 April 1953, you have until 5 April 2023 to pay voluntary contributions to make up for gaps between tax years April 2006 and April 2016, if you are eligible.

After 5 April 2023, you will only be able to pay voluntary contributions for the past six years.

This window of opportunity is short and, from 6 April 2023, the maximum number of years it will be possible to retrospectively purchase, will revert to six years.

Deciding to top up your State Pension with voluntary NICs isn’t straightforward. You need to balance the cost of the contributions you’d make, and additional pension you’ll receive.

We can help explain what it means and, taking all your circumstances into account, advise you on whether making voluntary contributions is the right decision for you.

How to boost your pension pot

The UK State Pension has been deemed one of the worst systems in Europe. Research from the House of Commons has shown that income from work and personal pensions is more important as a source of retirement funding in the UK.

So, although the State Pension can provide a useful and reliable income stream, if you want a comfortable retirement, your State Pension should, ideally, be supplemented by additional savings from workplace or private pensions.

Read more: 5 practical steps you should take to prepare your finances for a comfortable retirement

Review your retirement planning to make sure you’re on track

You may feel that the State Pension and your other retirement savings might not be enough for you, if so, you might still have time to top up your pension plan or save in other ways.

For example, you could consider:

• Deferring your State Pension and delaying when you start receiving payments; doing so for 12 months will boost your State Pension by an extra 5.8% a year
• Building up your private savings through a workplace pension scheme or your own private pension
• Tracking down lost pensions, this could be especially important if you’ve moved between several jobs
• Checking where your money is invested, and that you are not paying too much in fees.

Get in touch

If you’d like to discuss the State Pension and how it factors into your financial plan, please email hello@bluewealth.co.uk or call us on 0117 332 0230.

Please note

The content of this newsletter is offered only for general informational and educational purposes. It is not offered as, and does not constitute, financial advice.

A pension is a long-term investment not normally accessible until 55 (57 from April 2028). The value of your investments (and any income from them) can go down as well as up, which would have an impact on the level of pension benefits available.

Your pension income could also be affected by the interest rates at the time you take your benefits. The tax implications of pension withdrawals will be based on your individual circumstances. Levels, bases of and reliefs from taxation may change in subsequent Finance Acts.

Blue Wealth Ltd is an appointed representative of Best Practice IFA Group Ltd, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

It has been a tumultuous year in British politics, with three prime ministers and four chancellors holding office.

After the calamitous “mini-Budget” ushered in the demise of Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng, new chancellor Jeremy Hunt has delivered his first autumn statement.

Hunt’s speech came at a tricky time for the UK economy, with inflation at a 41-year high and the Bank of England (BoE) reporting that the economy is expected to be in a recession for a prolonged period. Hunt said his plan was designed to “strengthen our public finances, bring down inflation and protect jobs”.

Here are the key points of the autumn statement, and what they might mean for you.

A reduction in tax-free allowances and exemptions

As part of his plan to raise tax revenue, the chancellor announced reductions to two key tax allowances.

Capital Gains Tax

The Capital Gains Tax (CGT) annual exempt amount will fall from £12,300 to £6,000 in April 2023, and to £3,000 in April 2024.

This means that you will only be able to make profits of £6,000 on non-ISA investments – such as company shares or second homes – in the 2023/24 tax year before CGT becomes due.

Dividend Tax

The Dividend Allowance – the amount you can earn from dividends before Dividend Tax is paid – will be reduced from £2,000 to £1,000 in April 2023, and then to £500 in April 2024.

If you receive any income from dividends, it’s likely that you will pay more tax on these dividends from April 2023 onwards.

These two combined measures will raise more than £1.2 billion a year from April 2025.

Inheritance Tax thresholds frozen for a further 2 years

The Inheritance Tax (IHT) nil-rate band has been at its current level of £325,000 since April 2009. The additional residence nil-rate band is set at £175,000 and normally applies if you leave your home to a child or grandchild.

These two thresholds had already been frozen until 2026. The chancellor announced an extension to this freeze, meaning that the nil-rate bands will remain at these levels until at least 2028.

Qualifying estates can continue to pass on up to £500,000 and the qualifying estate of a surviving spouse or civil partner can continue to pass on up to £1 million without an IHT liability.

As house prices and asset values rise, it is likely that more and more estates will face an IHT bill over the next five years.

A cut to the level at which you pay additional-rate Income Tax

In a considerable change of direction from the former administration, Hunt reduced the threshold at which individuals pay additional-rate Income Tax.

Unlike his predecessor, Kwasi Kwarteng, who abolished the additional rate of tax (45%) – a move that was swiftly reversed – Hunt’s announcement means higher earners will pay 45% tax on more of their earnings.

The 45% rate will now apply for earnings above £125,140 rather than the previous level of £150,000. It means if you earn £150,000 or more, you will pay just over £1,200 more in Income Tax each year.

Hunt also froze the Income Tax Personal Allowance – the amount an individual can typically earn before paying Income Tax – at the current level of £12,570 until 2028. Additionally, he fixed the higher-rate threshold at £50,270 and the National Insurance thresholds at their current level to 2028.

All these measures are also likely to increase your personal tax burden. As earnings rise, more of your income will be subject to tax than if the allowances had risen in line with inflation.

The State Pension “triple lock” to be honoured

Under the “triple lock”, the State Pension increases each year by the higher of:

• Inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in September (of the previous year)
• The average increase in wages across the UK
• or 2.5%.

After months in which no senior politician would commit to honouring the government’s pledge, Hunt announced that he would increase the State Pension in line with inflation.

This means pensioners can expect a boost of just over 10% to their State Pension from April 2023. For someone on the full, new State Pension, that will represent an additional payment of more than £900 a year.

Pension Credit will also rise by 10.1% in April 2023 and benefits will be uprated by inflation, too.

As a result of uprating both working age and pension benefits, around 19 million families will see their benefit payments increase from April 2023.

An increase in the Energy Price Guarantee

Hunt announced that the government’s Energy Price Guarantee – an initiative of the Truss administration – would continue in its present guise until April 2023.

Under the guarantee, for six months from 1 October 2022, the average household will pay energy bills of around £2,500 a year.

The scheme will then become less generous from April 2023. The guarantee will rise to £3,000 for a further 12 months, meaning your energy bills will likely rise again in the spring.

The government say this equates to an average of £500 support for households in 2023/24.

There will be additional support for more vulnerable households.

Increase to windfall taxes

Jeremy Hunt announced a significant increase in windfall taxes. The oil and gas companies’ tax rate will increase from 25% to 35% of profits on UK operations from January 2023 until March 2028, extended from December 2025.

There will also be a 45% tax on profits of older renewable and nuclear electricity generation.

Together, these measures will raise more than £55 billion from this year until 2027/28.

Stamp Duty reductions to end in 2025

In September’s “mini-Budget”, Kwasi Kwarteng announced some increases in the thresholds at which Stamp Duty would be payable.

The £125,000 threshold increased to £250,000 while he increased the minimum threshold for first-time buyers from £300,000 to £450,000.

Jeremy Hunt announced that while these changes will remain, they will now be time-limited, ending on 31 March 2025. They are designed “to support the housing market and the hundreds of thousands of jobs and businesses which rely on it”.

Other measures

National living wage

Hunt announced the largest-ever rise in the UK’s national living wage. For workers aged 23 and over, it will rise by 9.7% to £10.42 an hour from April 2023.

This represents an increase of more than £1,600 to the annual earnings of a full-time worker on the national living wage and is expected to benefit more than 2 million workers.

Electric vehicles

From April 2025, electric cars, vans, and motorcycles will begin to pay Vehicle Excise Duty in the same way as petrol and diesel vehicles. The government says that this will “ensure that all road users begin to pay a fair tax contribution as the take up of electric vehicles continues to accelerate”.

Health and social care

Hunt announced spending of £2.8 billion in 2023/24 and £4.7 billion in 2024/25 for adult social care, to help the most vulnerable.

He also committed an additional £3.3 billion in 2023/24 and a further £3.3 billion in 2024/25 to improve the performance of the NHS.

Furthermore, the chancellor announced that the lifetime cap on social care costs in England due to come into force in October 2023 will be delayed by two years.

Education

There will be an increase to the education budget of £2.3 billion in 2023/24 and £2.3 billion the year after, taking the core schools budget to a total of £58.8 billion in 2024/25.

Business rates

There will be a £13.6 billion package of business rates support over the next five years.

The business rates multipliers will be frozen in 2023/24, and upward transitional relief caps will provide support to ratepayers facing large bill increases following the revaluation. Additionally, the relief for retail, hospitality, and leisure sectors will be extended and increased to 75%.

Corporation Tax

As confirmed in October 2022, the main rate of Corporation Tax will increase to 25% from April 2023.

Infrastructure projects

The chancellor confirmed the government’s commitment to High Speed 2 (HS2) to Manchester, the Northern Powerhouse Rail core network, and East West Rail, along with gigabit broadband rollout.

Get in touch

If you have any questions about how the autumn statement will affect you and your finances, please get in touch.

All information is from the autumn statement 2022 document and the government’s autumn statement news bulletin.

The content of this autumn statement summary is intended for general information purposes only. The content should not be relied upon in its entirety and shall not be deemed to be or constitute advice.

While we believe this interpretation to be correct, it cannot be guaranteed and we cannot accept any responsibility for any action taken or refrained from being taken as a result of the information contained within this summary. Please obtain professional advice before entering into or altering any new arrangement.

If you want some festive cheer, a Christmas market is perfect.

From stalls filled with seasonal treats to entertainment like carol singers, they can really put you in the mood for the holidays. Whether you want to visit an event locally or combine it with a weekend away in Europe, there are hundreds of Christmas markets to choose from.

Download our latest guide to discover some of the best Christmas markets to visit this year and what sets them apart. From the St Nicholas Fair in picturesque York to Strasbourg, France, which is dubbed the “Capital of Christmas”, there’s something for everyone.

Each month, we share some of the highlights of what’s been happening in and around Blue Wealth.

5 of us went to a festival

No, not that kind of festival – although there was a feel-good atmosphere!

Dan, Rob, Adrian, Mason, and Nathan attended the Professional Finance Society Financial Planning Festival in Birmingham at the beginning of November.

Dedicated to supporting the financial advice profession, the festival covered 17,000 square feet – so there was a lot of ground to cover. Featuring hundreds of exhibitors and top-level speakers, we all attended separate sessions ranging from Behavioural Investing to Pension Tax Calculations.

With each of us learning different things from the event, we were able to swap notes and share useful insights.

Of course, since Birmingham is known as the country’s curry capital, we also made time to go out for dinner and enjoyed a great Indian meal.

Naomi Davidson is on her way to a Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning

Last month, trainee paraplanner Naomi passed her R02 exam. A core unit for the Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning, the exam tested her knowledge and understanding of investment products and the application of the investment advice process.

We caught up with Naomi to find out how it went.

Can you tell us a bit about your role at Blue Wealth?

I assist the financial planners by undertaking technical research, preparing recommendation reports for clients, and implementing agreed plans. I also make sure our files are up to date and complete admin work where needed.

How long have you been working towards this particular exam, and did you have to pass other exams to reach this one?

I have been studying for the last two months. It’s only one part of the Regulated Financial Planning diploma so there will be more I need to complete to get the full qualification.

How are you at exams, generally?

I find that I am fine as long as I’ve put the work in beforehand. However, I get quite nervous and sometimes doubt myself before sitting the exam.

What was the hardest part of preparing for the exam?

The hardest part was getting through the content, it was a lot to read through and it was quite boring!

And the easiest?

The easiest part was towards the end, when I had worked my way through the syllabus and was recapping what I had learnt.

Do you have a particular revision technique or are you a natural when it comes to learning new stuff?

I try to revise in small chunks – if I study for too long in one long stretch, I find my mind starts to shut off and I don’t retain as much of what I’ve learnt.

I also like to go through past exams. I focus on finding my weaker areas and then be sure I give them extra attention to ensure I’m fully prepared for anything I might be asked.

How was the exam?

I had a bit of a delay at the test centre getting started due to IT issues, but after that it was fine. I found that everything I had learnt returned to me and I didn’t find the exam as tough as I expected.

What will it mean for you professionally?

With this exam under my belt, I’m on the way to becoming diploma qualified. I hope to have completed the whole course by next year.

Are you now working towards another qualification, or are you taking a break before diving into your next challenge?

I have my next exam booked for December, which is R03 and covers personal taxation.

You – and we – continue to give generously

This month we’ve clocked up more BillyChip donations with more client referrals.

Thank you so much for your ongoing support and your willingness to tell your family and friends about what we do. Your recommendations mean the world to us. Knowing that our work is also helping a great cause simply adds to the feel-good factor.

As many of you know, we make a £50 donation to BillyChip for every initial meeting we have that comes from a client recommendation.

However the meeting takes place – in person or remotely through video call – we’ll donate. So, if you recommend your friends, family or colleagues to us and we meet with them, we’ll make a £50 donation on your behalf.

If you know of anyone that would benefit from our help, please pass on our details, or forward the newsletter to them so they can get a feel for what we do.

Historically, the main source of financial advice value has been anchored in investment performance and returns.

For example, a study carried out by Royal London and the International Longevity Centre (ILC), revealed that people who enjoyed a long-term relationship with their financial adviser were up to 50% better off than people who only received professional advice once.

In fact, over a 10-year period (which included the 2008 financial crisis) people who had sought financial advice were, on average, £47,000 better off than those who had made decisions without expert advice.

It probably won’t surprise you to learn that we believe passionately in the benefits of financial planning. So, read on to find out why financial advice works and the added value your planner can deliver over the long term.

What to expect from your financial planner

Financial advice can provide value in ways you may not have considered. Some examples of how a financial planner can add value include:

• Being a trusted source of professional expertise and an impartial sounding board with a clear focus on helping you reach your goals
• Helping you to recognise your goals and establishing a clear financial road map to help you attain them
• Managing your investment portfolio to maximise returns, simultaneously controlling risk, and reducing potential tax charges
• Preparing you to deal with unpredictable outcomes you may not have considered, such as premature death, or life events that change income, savings, or retirement dates that could have a detrimental impact on your desired lifestyle
• Keeping on top of your changing life and needs ensuring your plans stay on course
• Saving you time by performing complex, tedious, or time-consuming tasks
• Offering emotional support and guidance to provide peace of mind.

Areas of expertise you can benefit from

While investment returns are undoubtedly important, they are only one aspect of how a professional planner can help you achieve your financial goals.

There’s a whole range of financial planning strategies we provide to help ensure you are prepared to meet the challenges you and your family may face in life.

The true value a great planner will deliver can be broken into four distinct parts:

1. Financial value

Investment returns are important in helping you achieve specific financial objectives.

An adviser will take a holistic view of your finances, including saving and spending, income planning, tax planning, and planning for bad outcomes and unexpected changes in circumstance.

2. Portfolio value

Portfolio value is delivered through building a well-diversified portfolio that generates tax-efficient investments that match your appetite for risk while delivering the kinds of returns needed to reach your long-term goals.

3. Emotional value

Emotional value covers areas of support that arise naturally from a long-term and trusted relationship.

For example, extreme market conditions can create anxiety. When faced with poor market performance, it can be tempting to reduce your equity allocation or sell your investments altogether. On the flip side, when the market is doing well, you may get over-excited and enthusiastic about equity performance and be tempted to take on more risk than you should.

A financial planner who knows you and understands your specific circumstances can help provide reassurance and peace of mind.

4. Time value

Your financial planner performs tasks that you might not have the time, inclination, or ability to perform yourself. This alone can remove a whole load of hassle and time-consuming tasks from your shoulders.

The more personal an advice plan is, the more value it can potentially deliver

Successful financial advice starts with you. An initial meeting helps us to gain insight into your aspirations – for your life and your financial future.

We will challenge you to set goals, both financial and otherwise. This will ensure that you protect your family now while growing your wealth for the future.

These first steps of your financial planning journey are essential in achieving your long-term goals. The better we understand your aspirations and circumstances, the more confidence you’re likely to have in the advice and planning that we undertake.

Expect to form a long-lasting relationship

We proactively monitor your needs and investment portfolios and recognise when changes are needed. To be successful, it’s essential that we earn your trust – one of the primary drivers of a successful client/adviser relationship.

Find out more about how we achieve this from existing Blue Wealth clients. Several of our clients have generously shared their stories about how we have helped them achieve their goals.

As an independent firm, we offer unrestricted options. This means that we can create plans specifically suited to you. This personal approach also helps us to achieve the best results for you.

We use financial modelling software to build interactive plans. So, no two plans are identical, and you benefit from truly bespoke financial planning advice.

Review at regular intervals

Knowing that life can get in the way of even the best-laid plans, we have annual review meetings to help you stay on track.

Regular audits will help make sure your actions and investments remain aligned with your goals.

At your review, we’ll often use cashflow planning tools to explore the financial impact of various scenarios. This helps ensure that you’ve thought about all aspects of your financial future, including inflation, so that whatever the future holds, you won’t come unstuck down the line.

Get in touch

Whatever stage of life you’re at, we can provide financial planning advice to support you and help you meet your goals.

Whether you’re thinking about your retirement, worried about whether you can afford the lifestyle you want, or worried about passing on your wealth to younger generations, we can help.

If you would like to find out more or you know someone who could benefit from our help, please email hello@bluewealth.co.uk or call us on 0117 332 0230.

Please note

The content of this newsletter is offered only for general informational and educational purposes. It is not offered as, and does not constitute, financial advice.

The value of your investments (and any income from them) can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Investments should be considered over the longer term and should fit in with your overall attitude to risk and financial circumstances.

Blue Wealth Ltd is an appointed representative of Best Practice IFA Group Ltd, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Here, we share some of the highlights of what’s been happening in and around Blue Wealth.

BillyChip donations top £1,000

Following the decision to support BillyChip, a national charity which allows people to engage and offer help to a homeless person, your generosity has helped us donate £1,030 in just three months.

This includes donations that we’ve made on receiving client referrals – several of which have led to meetings.

For those who didn’t know, we make a £50 donation to BillyChip for every initial meeting we have that comes from a client recommendation.

However the meeting takes place – in person or remotely through video call – we’ll donate. So, if you recommend your friends, family or colleagues to us and we meet with them, we’ll make a £50 donation on your behalf.

Along with successful client referrals, we’ve also raised funds through various sporting activities, most recently Dan Britton completed the Bristol half marathon…

There’s no stopping Dan Britton

Straight off the back of the gruelling 66-mile Great Exmoor Ride that Dan and Adrian took part in last month, Dan’s latest physical challenge was running in the Bristol half marathon.

Dan says: “It was a pretty warm day, which made for slightly hot running conditions. Although I ran alone, there were crowds of people cheering everyone on. In all, I think I was one of around 10,000 runners – some of whom were running the 10K course through the city.

“That’s probably it for a while. I’ve nothing else planned at the moment and the winter months are a good time to reflect and do some indoor running, swimming, and cycling in preparation for next year.”

If you’d like to support BillyChip, our JustGiving page is open for donations until the end of October.

A great golf day at the Bristol and Clifton Golf Club

Last month, we held a client golf day at the beautiful Bristol and Clifton Golf Club.

20 players, made up of Blue Wealth team members and clients, took to the course in relatively fine weather. It tried to drizzle for all of two minutes, but we saw any heavier showers off and enjoyed a great day on the course.

Many thanks to all who attended – you made it a brilliant day!

Halloween was originally an ancient Celtic festival called “Samhain” that was celebrated to ward off any ghosts on their trip to the afterworld.

Despite being an ancient tradition, Halloween is still massively popular today – Statista forecasts that Halloween retail expenditure in 2022 in the UK could reach as much as £687 million.

While you may get into the Halloween mood by scaring yourself with spooky films, there are also some financial mistakes that can make your blood run cold.

So, forget ghosts and ghouls; here are five frightening financial fumbles that are enough to send a chill down your spine.

1. Not having an emergency fund

When it comes to your finances, being prepared for the unexpected is paramount. For example, if your car broke down would you have the disposable cash to have it fixed? Or, if you lost your job, would you be able to support your family until you managed to find new employment?

All of this, and more, can be prepared for with an emergency fund.

Simply put, an emergency fund is a pot of money you have saved for a rainy day and is designed to be used to cover any unexpected financial scenarios that may arise.

You should ideally save up to three to six months’ worth of monthly household expenses in your emergency fund. However, if you are self-employed, or have a large family, you may want to consider saving even more.

And, since this money will need to be accessed easily and instantaneously, you should ideally keep it in an easy access savings account.

Thankfully, This is Money reports that around three-quarters of Brits have an emergency fund. If you’re not one of these people, then never fear – you simply need to start making regular monthly contributions that you can afford and build up to the amount you wish to save.

2. Not making the most of your ISA allowance

ISAs allow you to build up savings in a tax-efficient way, so not making the most of them is the second scary mistake on this list.

ISAs allow you to save and invest your money free from Income Tax and Capital Gains Tax (CGT).

Some ISAs are even purpose-built for certain situations. Take the Lifetime ISA, for example – these allow 18- to 39-year-olds to deposit up to £4,000 every tax year, and the government will add a 25% bonus for contributions up to the value of £1,000 each year.

You should ideally use your ISA allowance each year if you’re to make the most of the tax efficiency on offer to you. In the 2022/23 tax year, the yearly ISA allowance stands at £20,000, and this is spread across all different types of accounts.

If you don’t use your ISA allowance, then it’s gone; it doesn’t carry over to the next year.

3. Failing to plan for your retirement

No matter how young you are, it’s never too soon to start planning for your retirement. While you may think it more prudent to be worried about the current economic climate, it’s still important to look to the future.

Long before you’ve reached your retirement, you should think about what you want to do with your well-deserved time to relax. You might want to spend your days lounging on a beach in Spain, or simply wish to support your family.

Whatever you want to do when you retire, you’ll need to save enough money to live comfortably.

When you know how much money you need to live your desired lifestyle, you can then figure out how to effectively save.

If you don’t properly plan for retirement, you could run the risk of not being able to live the life you’ve always wanted when you stop working. After all, when you fail to prepare, you’re preparing to fail.

4. Remaining on your lender’s standard variable rate

Another hair-raising financial mistake, this time for those with a mortgage, is staying on your lender’s standard variable rate (SVR).

If you’re on a fixed-, discounted variable- or tracker-rate mortgage, your deal will eventually expire. When this happens, you will typically revert to your lender’s SVR.

This may not sound so scary at first, but the interest rates offered by these SVRs are usually quite uncompetitive compared to other deals in the marketplace.

So, in an ideal world, you should avoid remaining on your lender’s SVR for long periods of time, or you could end up out of pocket.

Indeed, you could save a significant sum by switching from your lender’s SVR. The MoneySavingExpert states that 370,000 borrowers could save £1,250 a year on average over a two-year period if they were to switch from their lender’s SVR.

The good news is switching is relatively simple, especially when you seek the help of a professional. Mortgage brokers can scour the market for you to find you the best deal, and they even have access to exclusive deals not available on the high street.

5. Working with a professional can help you avoid making financial mistakes

As you can see from this list, there’s a plethora of different mistakes that can be made when you’re managing your finances.

The good news is that enlisting the help of a professional can help you to manage your money and avoid any critical blunders.

We can help you make the most of your pension and ISA allowances each year, help you avoid paying excess tax on your savings, advise you on the best way to manage your money and save for your emergency fund, and more.

Working with professionals like us won’t just make managing your finances easier, but it can also lift a weight off your shoulders by reducing the stress and hassle of understanding your money and long-term financial future.

Get in touch

The world of personal finance can get frightening at times, so we can help you manage your money to alleviate some of the fear involved. If you would like to find out more, please email hello@bluewealth.co.uk or call us on 0117 332 0230.

Please note

The content of this newsletter is offered only for general informational and educational purposes. It is not offered as, and does not constitute, financial advice.

A pension is a long-term investment. The fund value may fluctuate and can go down, which would have an impact on the level of pension benefits available. Your pension income could also be affected by the interest rates at the time you take your benefits.

The value of your investment can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on a mortgage or other loans secured on it.

Think carefully before securing other debts against your home.

Blue Wealth Ltd is an appointed representative of Best Practice IFA Group Ltd, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

With a new prime minister having taken office earlier this month, the government has begun to announce its plans for stimulating the UK economy during the cost of living crisis.

Kwasi Kwarteng delivered what has been called a “mini-Budget” in an aim to drive economic growth, against the backdrop of the Bank of England (BoE) reporting that the UK economy is already in recession.

The chancellor set out the three priorities of the government’s Growth Plan:

• Maintaining responsible public finances
• Reforming the supply side of the economy
• Cutting taxes to boost growth.

Paul Johnson, the director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) called the mini-Budget “the biggest tax-cutting event since 1972”.

Before you read about the main points of the mini-Budget, there were two further major fiscal announcements this week that could affect you.

Energy help for businesses announced with a cap on prices

The government has already announced that the average household’s energy bills will be capped at £2,500 a year for two years, in addition to a £400 contribution towards bills this winter.

Additionally, a new Energy Bill Relief Scheme will provide support for non-domestic customers with discounts applied to energy usage initially between 1 October 2022 and 31 March 2023.

The government will provide a discount on gas and electricity unit prices for businesses, voluntary sector organisations, such as charities, and public sector organisations such as schools, hospitals, and care homes.

Essentially, the government has capped the cost of gas and electricity (a “government supported price”) at £211 per megawatt hour (MWh) for electricity and £75 per MWh for gas.

For comparison, wholesale costs in England, Scotland and Wales for this winter are currently expected to be around £600 per MWh for electricity and £180 per MWh for gas.

Suppliers will apply reductions to the bills of all eligible non-domestic customers. Businesses do not need to take action or apply to the scheme. The government website contains more details about the scheme, along with some examples of potential cost savings.

Interest rates rise for the seventh consecutive time

To combat soaring inflation, the BoE has increased the base interest rate by 0.5%, to 2.25%.

The decision by the Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) takes rates to the highest level since 2008.

The BBC reports that borrowers on a typical tracker mortgage will have to pay about £49 more a month, while those on standard variable rate (SVR) mortgages will see a £31 increase.

Corporation Tax rise will not go ahead

The chancellor announced that a planned move to raise Corporation Tax from 19% to 25% in April 2023 will be cancelled.

This results in the UK having the lowest rate of Corporation Tax in the G20. Kwarteng said: “That’s £19 billion for businesses to reinvest, create jobs, raise wages, or pay the dividends that support our pensions.”

1p cut in Income Tax brought forward to 2023

From April 2023, the basic rate of Income Tax will be cut from 20% to 19%.

This represents a tax cut of more than £5 billion a year. It will mean 31 million people will be better off by an average of £170 a year.

Abolition of additional-rate Income Tax

One of the surprise measures of this mini-Budget was the abolition of the 45% additional rate of Income Tax from April 2023.

This will apply to the additional rate of non-savings, non-dividend income for taxpayers in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

“From April 2023 we will have a single higher rate of Income Tax of 40%. This will simplify the tax system and make Britain more competitive,” said Kwarteng.

Health and Social Care Levy scrapped

Ahead of the mini-Budget, Kwarteng announced that the government will reverse the 1.25% National Insurance increase, introduced by Rishi Sunak in April 2022. The Health and Social Care Levy, which was to replace the 1.25 percentage point rise in April 2023, has also been scrapped.

The chancellor said: “Taxing our way to prosperity has never worked. To raise living standards for all, we need to be unapologetic about growing our economy. Cutting tax is crucial to this.”

The change will take effect on 6 November 2022.

This will reduce tax for 920,000 businesses by nearly £10,000 on average next year, the government says, as they will no longer pay a higher level of employer National Insurance.

Workers will also see a cut in their tax bill. The BBC reports that somebody earning £20,000 will save about £93 a year, and somebody earning £100,000 will save £1,093, compared to now.

Dividend Tax rise reversed

As well as reversing the National Insurance increase, the government will also reverse the 1.25 percentage point increase in Dividend Tax rates applying UK-wide from 6 April 2023.

The ordinary and upper rates of Dividend Tax will be reduced to 2021/22 levels of 7.5% and 32.5% respectively.

Due to the abolition of the additional rate of Income Tax, dividend income that was previously charged at the additional rate, will now be charged at the upper rate of 32.5%.

This will benefit 2.6 million taxpayers with an average benefit of £345 in 2023/24, and additional-rate payers will further benefit from the abolition of the additional rate of Dividend Tax.

A cut in Stamp Duty

The government believes that cutting Stamp Duty will encourage economic growth by allowing more people to move, and enabling first-time buyers to get on the property ladder.

So, the chancellor announced that, with immediate effect, no Stamp Duty will apply to the first £250,000 of a property purchase.

This will save a second-time buyer £2,500 when they buy a house valued at more than £250,000.

The chancellor also increased the threshold at which first-time buyers will start paying Stamp Duty to £425,000, and increased the value on which they can claim relief from £500,000 to £625,000.

He says: “The steps we’ve taken today mean 200,000 more people will be taken out of paying Stamp Duty altogether. This is a permanent cut to Stamp Duty, effective from today.”

Creation of new investment zones

The chancellor announced that the government will work with the devolved administrations and local partners to introduce “investment zones” across the UK. Early discussions have been held with almost 40 localities such as Tees Valley and south Yorkshire.

Businesses in these designated zones will benefit from accelerated tax reliefs for structures and buildings and 100% tax relief on qualifying investments in plants and machinery.

There will be no Stamp Duty to pay on newly occupied business premises, no business rates to pay on new premises and, if a business hires a new employee in the investment zone, the employer will pay no National Insurance whatsoever on the first £50,000 they earn.

Removal of the bankers’ bonus cap

In a politically controversial move, the chancellor announced that the Prudential Regulation Authority will remove the current cap to bankers’ bonuses.

Mr Kwarteng said: “All the bonus cap did was to push up the basic salaries of bankers, or drive activity outside Europe. It never capped total remuneration, so let’s not sit here and pretend otherwise. So, we’re going to get rid of it.”

Other measures

• Venture Capital Trusts (VCTs) and the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) extended
• The government will wind down the Office of Tax Simplification
• The Annual Investment Allowance will remain £1 million permanently, rather than returning to £200,000 in March 2023. This gives 100% tax relief to businesses on their plant and machinery investments up to the higher £1 million limit
• IR35 rules will be simplified, and the government will repeal the 2017 and 2021 reforms
• The chancellor cancelled the planned rise in alcohol duty and confirmed that reforms to modernise alcohol duties will also be taken forward.

Get in touch

If you have any questions about how the mini-Budget will affect you and your finances, please get in touch.

All information is from the Growth Plan 2022 document.

The content of this “mini-Budget” summary is intended for general information purposes only. The content should not be relied upon in its entirety and shall not be deemed to be or constitute advice.

While we believe this interpretation to be correct, it cannot be guaranteed and we cannot accept any responsibility for any action taken or refrained from being taken as a result of the information contained within this summary. Please obtain professional advice before entering into or altering any new arrangement.

Here, we share some of the highlights of what’s been happening in and around Blue Wealth.

Dan Britton and Adrian Thorley take part in the Great Exmoor Ride and raise funds for BillyChip

Following on from our commitment to support our nominated charity BillyChip last month, two of our Financial Planners, Dan and Adrian, took part in the gruelling 66-mile Great Exmoor Ride to help raise funds. 

The Great Exmoor Ride took place on Sunday 11 September. Running from Taunton to Blue Anchor on the West Somerset coast, Dan and Adrian were blessed with glorious weather for their first experience of the annual cycle challenge.

Both active cyclists, other than a few long rides together neither Dan nor Adrian did any additional training in preparation for race day. And, having only recently trained for the half ironman competition in the summer, Dan in particular was already in good shape. 

Explaining how nutrition plays into training, performance, and endurance, Dan says: “One of the keys to race days like this is to have a good breakfast with slow GI foods, like oats. Also, make sure you drink plenty of water, around one litre every hour with electrolytes for hydration, and take around 60 to 90 grams of carbohydrate each hour through high-carb gels, energy bars or other food.  

“You can burn nearly 1,000 calories an hour so it’s vital to replace them, otherwise you run out of energy.”

Talking about the race day itself, the race set off at 8am on Sunday morning. The weather was pretty good – “misty in Somerset and pretty chilly but it was okay”.

Dan goes on to say, “It was very hilly, and the mist meant we couldn’t see the Somerset levels. We did 1,700 metres of climbing in 65 miles which is a lot. There were some very short sharp climbs interspersed with some longer ones. The climbing was definitely the hardest part.

“The route took us through the Somerset countryside, country lanes, over some of Exmoor and down to the coast, it was never flat for very long.”

Asked if they would do it again, the answer was “maybe”. “If we’d known how much climbing was involved, we might have been put off!”

While the Great Exmoor Ride isn’t suitable for beginners, if you want a bit of a challenge and some nice scenery, Dan and Adrian would both recommend the ride to other keen cyclists.

So far Dan and Adrian have raised £350 and the JustGiving page is still available for donations. Every penny raised goes straight to BillyChip to support their work in delivering kindness and helping the homeless. 

It’s not too late to join us at the Bristol and Clifton Golf Club

If your diary allows, it would be great to see you at Bristol and Clifton Golf Club on Thursday 22 September, when we are holding our client golf day.

Arrive from 12.30pm onwards and take advantage of full access to the club’s practice areas, including the driving range, which has eight undercover bays allowing you to practise in comfort, no matter the weather.

Tee times begin from 2pm, following a light lunch.

After an afternoon on the course, dinner and drinks will be served in the Clubhouse.

To help stabilise the energy market, Ofgem, the body that regulates energy in the UK, has decided to review the energy price cap every three months, instead of six months. 

Ofgem has said that this move should help to minimise the number of suppliers going bust, after dozens have failed in the past couple of years.

But with energy bills soaring, understanding what’s going on in the energy market – and how that affects your payments – has never been more important.

Read on to find more about what the price cap is, why energy prices have gone up, and how your gas and electricity bills might be affected. 

Why is energy getting so expensive?

Although the price of energy is one of the hottest topics around, prices have been creeping up for months.

Energy prices have soared in the UK and globally for a number of reasons. Demand for energy plummeted during the pandemic. But, as we returned to the new normal, demand has rocketed – not only in the UK, but around the world.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has also worsened energy prices considerably. 

While the UK isn’t massively dependent on Russia for natural gas, Europe used to import 40% of its gas from Russia and 29% of its oil from Russia.

What is the energy price cap?

The price cap sets the maximum amount that energy companies are allowed to charge households for each unit of energy they use (the kilowatt hour or kWh on your bills). It also limits the standing charge, which is the standard fee you pay for being connected to the energy grid.

So, the cap is the maximum price per kilowatt hour (kWH) of energy, plus standing charges, that providers can charge you for gas and electricity.

In her first week on the job, new prime minister, Liz Truss has fixed the energy price cap at £2,500 a year for a typical home for two years.

This cap will come into place on 1 October and is expected to save the average household £1,000 a year. 

How might the energy price rise affect me?

The most important thing to remember is that the amount you’ll actually pay depends on the amount of energy you use. 

If you use more energy, you will pay more, use less and you’ll pay less.

You won’t be affected by the price cap if you are on a fixed tariff and your usage hasn’t changed dramatically, or you are on a standard variable green tariff, which Ofgem has not included in the cap.

If your payments are rising, your energy company must tell you before any increase is made. They should also explain why this is happening.

An increase may be due to the higher price cap, but it could also be due to estimates of your energy consumption by the supplier. If you think you’re overpaying, you can challenge these with meter readings.

If you’re on a fixed tariff, your unit rates and standard charge won’t change for the duration of your contract. However, your payments can change if your consumption increases or isn’t in line with the estimates provided when you first signed up with your supplier.

Don’t assume that what you’re being charged is correct

Even if your usage is in line with what’s expected, mistakes can and do happen. This could be due to a variety of reasons, including computer errors or providers simply making incorrect estimates of energy consumption.

At Blue Wealth, we’ve heard from several people who have received bills with estimate readings that have proved to be far more than the energy that’s actually used. 

If you receive an estimated bill from your energy company, it’s wise to check your meter readings for your actual use and share these with your supplier before you pay the bill.

In light of the new price cap, officials estimate that the annual saving is likely to range from an average £650 for a well-insulated purpose-built flat – where typical bills will be cut from an expected £2,400 to £1,750 – to £1,400 for a detached home – where the cost will fall from an expected £3,800 to £2,650.

5 ways to reduce your energy bill

1. Look for ways to use less energy

Small changes to energy habits can help reduce bills, such as taking quicker showers and hanging clothes to dry instead of using a tumble dryer. Washing your clothes on a 30-degree cycle instead of higher temperatures can also make a difference to your energy usage.

2. Switch to more efficient forms of energy 

Look for ways to use less energy where possible. For example, avoid energy waste by turning off lights when you leave a room and use more energy-efficient LED bulbs. 

The chart below is a useful measure of where you may find it possible to make savings through changing your usage habits.

Source: Energy Saving Trust

3. Pay by direct debit 

Prepaid meters charge customers a lot more for electricity, so consider moving to a direct debit option, which could help reduce your tariff costs. 

4. Use a smart meter 

Smart meters help you monitor your energy usage and its corresponding costs in real time. This may allow you to see where your biggest spending happens and adjust how you use energy in your home, which can help to keep your bills low.

5. Check for any competitive fixed-term deals still available

If it’s been a long time since you changed your tariff, or you’re on the default standard or variable tariff, you’re probably paying more for your energy. Check comparison sites such as uswitch.com to find a competitive fixed-term tariff that can fix the amount you pay for up to two years.

What is the government doing to help?

On top of Liz Truss fixing the energy price cap at £2,500, all UK households will be given a one-off £400 discount on their fuel bills from October. This will take the form of monthly payments over six months from October to March 2023.

There’s no need to take any action – payments will be applied to your bills by your electricity supplier. However, if you haven’t received the first instalment by the end of October 2022, you should get in touch with your energy supplier.

Meanwhile, £650 will be paid to more than 8 million low-income households who receive benefits or tax credits. And further payments of £300 will go to pensioner households and £150 to disabled people.

Get in touch

If you’re concerned about the rising cost of living and how this might affect your current and long-term financial plan, please get in touch. Email hello@bluewealth.co.uk or call us on 0117 332 0230.

Please note:

The content of this newsletter is offered only for general informational and educational purposes. It is not offered as and does not constitute financial advice.