Something for the Younger Voters Having been rebuffed by younger voters in the June general election, the Government is understandably concerned to be seen to be addressing their needs, and this was reflected in the Chancellor’s November Budget announcements. Of particular concern has been the difficulty young people are experiencing in getting onto the housing […]

NS&I puts fixed term Bonds back on sale NS&I has reintroduced 1-year and 3-year Guaranteed Growth Bonds and Guaranteed Income Bonds to general sale. Guaranteed Growth Bonds and Guaranteed Income Bonds have not been on general sale since 2009 but both 1 and 3-year Guaranteed Growth Bonds and Guaranteed Income Bonds will now be available […]

Automating tax returns HM Revenue & Customs is launching a new simplified system for calculating tax bills, which will result in thousands of taxpayers being relieved of the chore of filling out tax returns. Taxpayers affected by the change will receive letters saying that in future their tax assessments will be based on information already […]

Introduction Welcome to the latest edition of our Financial Crime Awareness Bulletin.  This bulletin considers recent developments and trends in the Financial Crime sector and is designed to bring them to your attention. It is intended to draw your attention to key topics affecting the industry, highlight important issues and changes to legislation and re-emphasise […]

Warning on care home financial sales  There are no rules preventing people selling financial products to vulnerable people in care homes, says the Sunday Times. It reported a Financial Ombudsman decision involving an elderly person in a care home who was showing signs of dementia. A relative was in the process of obtaining Power of […]

How good is LISA?  How does the Lifetime ISA, the savings scheme launched in April 2017, compare with other saving options? asks the Herald. Despite the possible merits of a government subsidy of 25 per cent on the annual maximum of £4,000 for those aged under 40, many experts caution that LISA is not as […]

The end of BTL?  Buy-to-let landlords are switching from residential to commercial property, says the Telegraph. Auctioneers say the imminent start of the new tax regime for residential BTL, which will severely cut net of tax returns, has prompted many landlords to look at shops, offices and industrial units. The rental yield is often higher […]

Spring Budget 2017 – what it means for you This was the last Spring Budget. Future Budgets will move to the autumn, with a toned-down statement on the economy delivered each March. This will give welcome breathing space between the announcement of Budget changes and their introduction. The key points were: A fairer tax system […]

Introduction Welcome to the latest edition of our Financial Crime Awareness Bulletin. This bulletin considers recent developments and trends in the area of Financial Crime and is intended to bring them to your attention. We aim to raise awareness of key topics affecting the industry, highlight important issues, changes to legislation and re-emphasize the need […]

Parents hold onto their cash  The Mail reports a survey about inheritance in which 30 per cent of parents said worries about their children’s relationships meant they didn’t want to give them money. Some 14 per cent said they were bypassing their children and giving to grandchildren, about the same percentage as those who expressed […]