What amazed me was the instinctive nature of the mother – she appeared quite nonchalant about her new offspring, hardly spending any time with them in the hutch during the day and almost seemed to avoid them as much as she could where possible?

But rather than having to report her for neglect, it turns out to be a survival instinct used in the wild to detract predators from the nest – how does she know that, she hasn’t seen another rabbit since she left her own mother as a kitten?!

Anyway, sorry how have you been?

I see Mr Zuckerbergs wealth may have been a little dented since last week so he may not be the 23rd wealthiest individual on the planet anymore but I am sure he will be ok – he has sold off some of his own stock and now has a little $1bn nest egg (in case of emergencies I guess) – I hope he has taken advice on how to make it last?…

Talking of wealth, we are seeing renewed interest (or is that concern?) on the impact of inheritance tax on an estate and, whilst there are a number of solutions available for most such as using exemptions, reliefs and/or trusts, the most appropriate solution for one, may not suit another so it’s imperative to obtain specific advice.

It is certainly one of the least popular taxes (actually, is there a popular one?) with many keen to avoid their heirs having to pay out unnecessarily – that said it is still regarded as a voluntary tax though as many fail to plan for it.

There are ways to avoid many of the issues we may face about our finances but, in order to do so, a little planning is required.

Have a good weekend!

This Week …

Estate Planning

How to avoid inheritance tax: http://bit.ly/Jfb3gx
Solicitor struck off after referring clients to tied adviser http://bit.ly/LbBDbU
Living will made by eye movements is upheld http://bit.ly/KPDKDh

Long Term Care

Number of elderly receiving free home care falls by 11 per cent: http://bit.ly/JcSH27
Brighton and Hove City Council under fire over care fees: http://bit.ly/JSICos
Dodging Dilnot: http://bit.ly/KUznoL
£125000 a year bill for frail pensioner in care home: http://bit.ly/LlAXjv

Retirement

Avoiding the annuity trap?: http://bit.ly/Knhg8k
More failing to save for pension, says Scottish Widows http://bbc.in/L9Whs5

Investment

Q&A: Is Santander UK a safe bank? http://bbc.in/J5KqJr
Inflation: Who is hardest hit? http://bbc.in/fMANSE

Regards
Kieron

It’s been a hectic time of late on both the work and personal front but then, personally speaking, I prefer it that way as somehow more seems to get accomplished… Not sure why this is but I think it has more to do with having to focus on the task at hand rather than the sheer volume of things to do?!…

Looking at the headlines over the last few days, it was disappointing to see that the so called “promise” on Social Care reform has been delayed meaning the first step to addressing the current issue of how people fund their long term care, will now come at a later stage…how many more times can it be reprioritised (or is that de-prioritised)?

At the same time, as I have mentioned previously, the deadline announced to reclaim care fees has still not really made any headlines – how will anyone know a deadline exists if they can’t read about it?!

Essentially, if you wish to dispute care fees paid between April 2004 and the end of March 2011, you must register your claim with the NHS before the end of September 2012.

There has also been a bit of focus on inheritance tax and a relatively simple way to avoid it by placing life insurance policies in trust – this applies to both new and existing policies and is a non expensive way to potentially avoid the estate paying £40,000 of tax on every £100,000 of cover on death for those with estates over the current nil rate band of £325,000.

If you haven’t considered this already, then you probably should!

Oh well, looks like the grass needs cutting this weekend – does seem to have been a deluge of water over the last few weeks so everything seems that much bigger/longer…. don’t know about you but I am in agreement with what I was told a week or so back – this has to be the wettest drought I have ever experienced!!

Have a good weekend!

This Week …

Estate Planning

Placing life insurance policies ‘under trust’ could save Britons £448 million: http://bit.ly/JJraQP
Pressure increases on UK Swiss account holders via inheritance tax charge: http://bit.ly/J0scJH
HMRC: Highest tax rates hit more than four million http://bbc.in/KBo0mN

Long Term Care

New Deadline announced – Act now to claim unfair care home fees: http://bit.ly/JIO677
Long-term care costs to hit £38bn by 2025: http://bit.ly/JYUuES
As new deadline is announced, a family wins back £84000 care home fees from NHS: http://bit.ly/J2XPUJ
Bills delayed ‘to make room for Lords reform’ http://bbc.in/KZWYpF

Retirement

Over 50s will be forced to work 11 years longer to get a decent pension: http://bit.ly/IhRnWq

Investment

NS&I backs gold standard of advice: http://bit.ly/IW5TXg
UK economy will return to growth in second half, says CBI http://bbc.in/IZb6xv

Regards
Kieron

Despite having some time off, it wasn’t until I returned (or was due to return) to work that firstly the car decided not to start (just as we had packed everyone into the car for the day!), next the drains began to overflow at the side of the house and to finish off the trio, my wife’s PC became completely unresponsive – no matter how many times I switched it off and on again…

It is at times like these we are grateful for expert assistance so it was a cue for the AA; Homeserve and a local computer expert to come to our rescue.

Initially when things go wrong I guess it is a natural reaction to think we can resolve it ourselves (ok the exception here was the drains – where my immediate thought was “HELP!”) but alas, once we realise we cannot, we call in the experts who resolve our issues and let us get on with our lives.

The problems were quite simple really: a flat battery, washing machine/dishwasher tablet deposit build up and a dislodged/unseated board.

It followed that the solutions were fairly simple and straightforward but it did serve to remind me of how clients may be feeling when I meet with them.

I am presently immersed in helping one particular client with her and her husband’s estate as he is now residing in a care home.

We have been considering her options together over the last few months, whilst she get used to the fact that she will now be the “financial controller”, with regards to funding his long term care costs and then she wants to address the investment side of things.

This can be a very daunting task for some so I often need to remind myself that whilst I may deal with this type of thing on a daily basis, it does not come naturally for all but then that is true for most things in life really such as cars, drains and computers… well, in my case at least!

Have a good weekend!

This Week …

Estate Planning

How to donate to charity amid the tax relief furore http://bbc.in/HZG5aw
HMRC Guidance on reduced charitable rate of IHT http://bit.ly/HT5shs

Long Term Care

Crisis in care of elderly as £1bn cuts bite: http://bit.ly/IZ32fY

Retirement

‘Printing money does not hit annuities’: http://bit.ly/J3MgKe

Investment

Lax monetary policy bad for savers, Budget report says: http://bit.ly/JeVEg8

Regards
Kieron