Much of the emotional strain of organising care can fall on you, the adult children, who may be successful professionals in your own right, working full-time and still caring for children of your own. You are not alone in being a stressed-out member of the ‘sandwich generation’!
Find out more about how we can help reduce the stress of helping parents organise care.
It seems the financial abuse of older people, the vulnerable and those living with dementia is on the rise. When you lose the ability to manage your own finances, you are increasingly reliant on others and at a much greater risk of financial abuse. In some cases, it can be unintentional – for instance a family member might not think they are doing anything wrong – but their actions could still amount to financial abuse.
Read MoreLong term care is a key financial consideration for many in later life. Specifically, qualifying for Continuing Health Care (CHC) can mean having all of your long-term care needs paid for by the NHS. Not qualifying for CHC can mean self-funding individuals having to pay a huge amount on long-term care – in some cases upwards of £75,000 a year. This is a big deal.
Read MoreIssues around your property and how they relate to the paying of care fees can be a complex business. Here we look in to care fees and property disregards, 12-week property disregard and deferred payment agreements.
Please do get in touch if you are beginning to look in to options for paying for care. We’re here to help.
Read MoreYou may have never thought of yourself as a ‘Carer’ before? Lots of people see looking after their Mum or Dad as their duty and have never really thought about it. Or have never consciously chosen to be a ‘Carer’ but have been thrust into that situation through circumstances outside their control.
Caring for a parent can be hugely rewarding – but it can also be extremely challenging. Especially if you have children of your own to look after and provide for. This is where the phrase ‘sandwich generation’ comes from – having responsibilities for both older and younger generations of your family.
Read MoreThinking about how to pay for care, whether for yourself or a loved one, can feel daunting. Many people worry they’ll have to sell their home or quickly spend down their savings, but if you have over £250,000 in assets including savings, investments and pensions, plus a property, there are often more options available than you might realise.
And that’s where we can help.
Read MoreOn Tuesday 20th May, we were thrilled to sponsor and attend the BRACE Dementia Research 1987 Foundation event as part of Dementia Action Week. Long-term supporters and people that have pledged a gift to BRACE in their Will were invited to enjoy a ferry ride around Bristol with cream tea, followed by an update from the BRACE team on the progress the charity are making and the opportunity to have a look around the SS Great Britain.
Read MoreOn Saturday 17th May, we were so pleased to attend Let’s Talk Dementia as a sponsor of the brilliant one-stop dementia information event organised by Alive Activities, BRACE Dementia Research and Bristol Dementia Action Alliance (BDAA).
The event, held just before Dementia Action Week, took over the Watershed in Bristol and we were impressed by just how much information and support was available to those living with dementia and their carers on the day
Read MoreFor those with philanthropic intentions, leaving charitable legacies are very appealing given how tax efficient such a gift can be. This is especially the case after the recent Budget introduced some significant changes to inheritance tax (IHT).
These changes are likely to substantially increase the number of estates subject to IHT in the coming years. Leaving charitable gifts in the Will could be the ideal tax efficient solution.
Read MoreEach year, Dementia Action Week brings communities together to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and encourage action that improves the lives of people affected by dementia. In 2025, this vital awareness week runs from 19th to 25th May, and the theme is all about diagnosis and educating audiences on the most common symptoms of dementia.
Find out more about what’s going on and how you can get involved.
Read MoreAre You Worried About Your Pension or ISA Investments?
In times of market uncertainty such as these, diversification is essential for investors. You should avoid panicked decisions. As we’ve seen previously, Trump has shown a willingness to change his mind at short notice, which could prompt a positive reaction from riskier assets such as shares.
Despite current challenges, rising bond prices, lower oil prices, and a weaker dollar could pave the way for a rebound in the equity market once US trade policies stabilise.
If you’re feeling unsure, we’re here to help.
Read MoreLast week’s Spring Statement, which contained a range of announcements, the net result of which conveniently brought her fiscal headroom back precisely to the £9.9bn figure she had in October’s budget. At the time of that Budget, the OBR projected that her fiscal targets would be met with that exact margin of £9.9bn.
Read on to find out what the Spring Statement had in store.
Read MoreAccording to HMRC’s latest statistics inheritance tax (IHT) receipts for April 2024 to February 2025 were just under £7.6 billion, which is more than £0.8 billion higher than the same period last year, of just over £6.8 billion. And, for February 2025, receipts were £612 million, which is considerably higher than the receipts for February 2024 of £564 million.
This can mostly be attributed to rises in asset values, and the freezing of the IHT tax-free thresholds.
Read MoreWe have previously discussed the worrying statistics around how few people in the UK actually have an up to date and valid Will – the figure is around 29%.
However perhaps an even more worrying statistic, especially in this day and age, is that of those people with a Will, 93% have not included any provision for their digital assets. In fact, only a quarter knew what would happen to their digital assets when they passed away.
Read MoreThe Inheritance Tax Nil Rate Band (NRB) for 2024-2025 remains £325,000, unchanged since 2010 and frozen until at least 2030. Rising asset values mean more estates will face Inheritance Tax (IHT). While the NRB itself can’t increase, married couples can transfer unused allowances, and the £175,000 Residential Nil Rate Band (RNRB) may apply if a main home passes to direct descendants.
Read on to find out more about the Nil Rate Band.
Selecting a care home is a major decision, requiring time and planning. It typically takes around five weeks to find a home and another two weeks to move in, with popular homes often having waiting lists.
Here we summarise the types of care home, key considerations and options for care funding.
High Court claims for Will disputes in England and Wales have surged by over 20% in the past year, with many more cases being settled before reaching court. These disputes can result in costly legal fees, lengthy delays, and emotional turmoil for families.
Key factors driving the rise include the increasing number of blended families and the growing value of estates, particularly from property and investments. Common causes of disputes involve executor inaction, lack of understanding of duties, outdated Wills, probate delays, and conflicts over property and inheritance expectations.
Careful estate planning, selecting the right executors, and seeking independent professional advice can help prevent disputes and ensure a smooth administration of the estate.
Read MoreWith life expectancy rising, financial planning must account for longer retirement years. Women aged 65 in 2023 can expect to live another 22.5 years, while men can expect nearly 20 years—and those in affluent areas may live even longer.
To sustain a longer retirement, options include saving more tax-efficiently, delaying drawdown, or working longer. However, a longer life may reduce the inheritance left for family. Here we review some of the options available to you.
Read MoreWith 30% of over-65s and over 50% of over-80s needing help with daily tasks, planning for care costs is essential. Care fees vary widely, with residential care averaging £49,348 per year and nursing care at £65,884 per year.
If your assets exceed £23,250, you'll need to self-fund your care, but options like downsizing, equity release, and care annuities could help. Financial planning strategies - such as investing post-mortgage savings - can also provide for future care needs.
Here we outline some of the options available.
Read MoreThis is the estimated implication of including unused pension pots in a deceased member’s estate due to the changes announced in the Autumn Budget. Many will be forced to rethink their estate planning and pension strategies, and we urge anyone concerned by the changes to seek out independent financial advice.
Read on for some of the key takeaways.
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