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The Government brought in a Personal Allowance Income Limit of £100,000 in 2010. This means now that when annual income exceeds that amount, the personal allowance begins to shrink by £1 for each additional £2 earned. Thus far, the Personal Allowance Income Limit has not been adjusted in line with inflation, so for 2012-13 it is still £100,000.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, the eurozone, unemployment & ‘gas fracking’!

Media coverage of mistreatment of care home residents and Care Quality Commission revelations that shortcomings are not a total rarity have made uncomfortable reading. There are, of course, many employed in the sector doing a great job, handling tasks that can be unpleasant and often for modest pay. Care quality is not all about money, but it would be strange if care provision were not subject to one of life’s harsh realities – ‘you get what you pay for’.

It cannot be easy running the UK economy. Now we are in the doldrums, the Chancellor would like us to spend more to help the economy recover and generate more VAT and other tax. At times in the past, things have been different and George Osborne’s predecessors have wanted us to spend less, so they have encouraged us to invest and save more by inventing schemes that offer tax incentives. Putting money aside has generally been seen as virtuous and with its tax breaks on certain savings and investment accounts the Government made savings and investment even more worthwhile.

A little internet research suggests that death duties first came to the UK in 1796, some years after US founding father Benjamin Franklin first talked about death and taxes being the only two certainties we all face. Those death duties brought an even stronger link between the two dreads in Franklin’s words; and what we now call Inheritance Tax (IHT) still combines a loved-one’s departure with a potentially large tax bill payable from the deceased’s estate before probate can be granted and distributions made to beneficiaries.

They say that RDR is “…establishing a resilient, effective and attractive retail investment market that consumers can have confidence in and trust at a time when they need more help and advice than ever with their retirement and investment planning.” – we discuss in more detail.

2012 Autumn Statement to Parliament. – An overview of the main points.

Please support Red Earth Education – an exhibition from 18th to 22nd December 2012 showing unique African Art…

So proud – we are in the Pinks!

There have been big changes brewing at good ship H&C….

Direct Authorisation by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
We are very pleased to announce that we gained Direct Authorisation status from the FCA on 3rd September 2012. This confers a large amount of responsibility on our firm but also gives us complete control over the direction and future of our business and importantly the levels of service we can provide for our clients.

This consequently means that we are no … Read the rest