Cryptocurrencies are back in the news this week after recording their biggest gains in week. They are also under greater scrutiny than ever before. But what are they and what is their true value?
Ben Kumar, Investment Manager at 7IM, has shared his thoughts with us. Click here to read Ben’s article
March came in like a lion, what with the ‘Beast from the East’ and Storm Emma, so it should go out like a lamb – or so the saying goes! However the month ends, the 5th of April is just around the corner. This date marks the end of the tax year and is the date by which you should have finalised your tax-efficient savings plans and pension issues.
There are no major changes to tax rates from April 2017 however the personal allowance and higher rate tax threshold have increased.
If you have money to save, but have yet to use up your ISA allowance, make sure you take advantage of this tax-free form of investment before the April deadline. If you don’t use your allowance by this date, it will be gone for good, as you cannot carry any allowance which you haven’t used over to the following tax year.
Equally, make the most of any allowances on your pension contributions to cut your tax bill. Business owners can contribute up to £40,000 to their pension annually tax-free, effectively a tax efficient way of saving for the future.
If you need any help with tax planning, we are on hand to help. Please contact us on 0114 235 3500.
After a year of calm and positive markets, the last week or so has been a stark reminder that volatility is never too far away. The recent 4.5% drop in the US stock market is the first one day fall of that size since 2011.
So what now? More volatility? Or back to calmer waters?
Click here for commentary from 7IM’s Chief Strategist, Alex Scott.
Now is a good time to ask yourself whether your portfolio is correctly positioned to weather the storm. Is it in line with your appetite for risk? To review your position, please contact us on 0114 235 3500.
Following the announcement of our Chartered status, we decided to take a more visual approach with our advert in this month’s Westside magazine. You can see the result on page 5 of the magazine. Don’t worry if you don’t receive a copy of the magazine, you can read it in full here: https://issuu.com/regionalmagazinecompany/docs/wside_feb18
What a great way to be able to kick off our new blog section of the website by announcing our Chartered status.
Chartered status is an objective mark of professional standing among all professions. It is awarded to firms who can demonstrate commitment to developing knowledge, enhancing capability and maintaining ethical standards.
We have always prided ourselves on being thoroughly professional in everything we do, and to receive external recognition in this way is very gratifying. It signals our commitment to the highest levels of service to our customers.”
To retain our title we must ensure the advice, service and ongoing support we provide to you are of the highest quality.
Our advice must be based solely on your researched needs, and provided by someone competent to discuss products and services that meet your requirements.
Our Chartered title means a lot to us. It was not easily achieved, and it takes continuous investment in customer service and commitment to professionalism to maintain.
To date, fewer than 700 firms have achieved Chartered status, indicating that this is a highly exclusive award reserved for the leading firms within the financial advice market.
The Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) has awarded the prestigious ‘Chartered Financial Planners’ title to Hamnett Wealth Management Ltd, one of Sheffield’s leading providers of independent financial advice.
Chartered status is an exclusive title only awarded to firms which meet rigorous criteria relating to professionalism and capability. All Chartered Financial Planners commit to the CII’s Code of Ethics, reinforcing the highest standards of professional practice in their business dealings.
Hamnett Wealth Management Ltd have been providing unbiased, reliable and trusted personal Financial Advice and Investment Advice since 1988. They offer a comprehensive range of unbiased financial advice services for individuals, business owners and trustees across a number of financial planning areas.
Jonathan Rowley, Director, who holds the individual Chartered Financial Planner title, says that securing Chartered Financial Planners status is a landmark for the company: “We have always prided ourselves on being thoroughly professional in everything we do, and to receive external recognition in this way is very gratifying. As Chartered Financial Planners, we can signal our commitment to the highest levels of service to our customers.”
To date, fewer than 700 firms have achieved Chartered status, indicating that this is a highly exclusive award reserved for the leading firms within the financial advice market.
How much do you value £40,000?
As Oscar Wilde once wrote: ‘A cynic is someone who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.’ “When it comes to their hard-earned money, people are right to be careful but how much value would you put on receiving financial advice?” asks Phil Smith, Director of Hamnett Wealth Management.
Research suggests that people who take professional financial advice will end up, on average, over £40,000 better off than those who don’t.
People only spend money on the things they value. Financial advice is no different. A recent research report by the International Longevity Centre UK found that those who take professional advice are likely to accumulate more financial and pension wealth, and that those in retirement are likely to have more income – particularly at older ages.
“This will come as no surprise to our clients” says Phil. “We have been adding value and security to our client’s financial affairs for many years. We build long-term relationships with our clients based on trust and mutual respect. Whether you are approaching retirement and want to understand the very best options in relation to your pension, or you’re trying to ensure your savings are working hard to grow or help support your income, we can help.”
At Hamnett Wealth Management we take time to understand your individual needs, aims and objectives. We know that ‘one size doesn’t fit all’ and we tailor our advice and recommendations to ensure that the money you have worked hard for all your life now works hard for you. We are Independent Financial Advisers. This means we make our recommendations based on solutions from the whole of the market place and we are not restricted in the advice we provide.
If you would like to find out how Hamnett Wealth Management can add value to your financial situation, please give us a call on 0114 235 3500. You are welcome to call into our office on Baslow Road, Totley or we can visit you in the comfort of your own home.
Jonathan and Phil from Hamnett Wealth Management recently took part in a star-studded golfing event hosted by BBC presenter and patron of The Children’s Hospital Charity, Dan Walker, raising over £50,000 for Sheffield Children’s Hospital. Jonathan said: “We’re always incredibly proud to take part in this fantastic event and to support such a worthwhile charity.” The event raised funds for a SPECT CT scanner which will play a key role in the hospital’s delivery of nuclear medicine. To support the charity, please visit www.tchc.org.uk
Need advice on Pension freedoms and Defined Benefit Pension schemes?
More and more Pension schemes are offering very large transfer values for deferred members to transfer out of their Pension scheme. However, before you take any action, you need to ask yourself whether you know if their offer is fair value or not.
Should you be offered a transfer value, which can easily be more than the value of your house, it is imperative that you take independent financial advice from a recognised Pension Transfer Specialist. Not all advisors are qualified and licenced to advise on these matters. Hamnett Wealth Management are. We are your local, established Independent Financial Advisors. We are highly qualified and up to date with the latest legislation and are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Our Pension Review Service allows you to consider the valuable benefits that would be lost on a transfer out. Once you’ve transferred out there is no going back. This could be the biggest financial decision you will ever make in your life. It is imperative you make the right choice. No two people are the same and you shouldn’t be blinded by big figures and the thought of free money. You’ve worked hard to build up these benefits so you should be careful not to blow it.
Hamnett Wealth Management’s Pension Review Service takes into account your personal financial situation, your health, family situation and critically your attitude to risk and capacity for loss. By focusing on your needs for income, capital and flexibility in retirement, we can make a formal recommendation on what you should do.
We offer a free impartial face-to-face meeting where we will assess your current situation. You are welcome to call into our office on Baslow Road, Totley or we can visit you in the comfort of your own home.
Financial planning can be complicated but at Hamnett Wealth Management, we speak in plain English and explain everything comprehensively. We try to make everything as simple and easy as we possibly can. We encourage you to ask as many questions as you need until you are comfortable and able to make an informed decision.
If you feel you could benefit from talking to an Independent Financial Adviser, please contact Hamnett Wealth Management on 0114 235 3500 for a free initial review meeting.
Uncertainty Bringing Fear? Talk to Hamnett Wealth Management.
So the UK has just voted in the General Election and the Brexit negotiations have begun for us to leave the EU and as expected, we are seeing the repercussions across the fiscal system. In this fast changing climate of political instability, uncertainty can bring fear. As trusted Independent Financial Advisors, we’ve been taking calls from clients concerned with what this all means for them and whether now is the best time to invest.
Our advice is don’t be tempted to make any rash decisions. However, it’s important to remember that when the financial landscape changes, to not respond would be a missed opportunity. We recommend you seek advice from a professional Independent Financial Adviser to review your investments and ensure that your current financial plan is still working for you now and will continue to do so in the future.
Investment values have risen well in the last 12 months but volatility has been high. With politics affecting markets, it is imperative that your portfolio and pensions are strategically invested to profit from uncertainty and protect yourself from market shocks. If you’re nervous then we can help stagger your investments to reduce any shock in the short-term but ensure that you see real competitive growth in the long-term.
We can also advise you on maximising your tax-free saving allowances. Savers are now able to save tax-free to the tune of £20,000 pa. This can be held in a combination of both cash and stocks and shares. There is also the new Lifetime ISA for individuals aged 18 to 40 where for every £4 you invest, the Government adds £1.
Jonathan Rowley, Director of Hamnett Wealth Management, said: “Over the coming months, Britain’s future will become clearer and we will keep up-to-date with any changes to legislation and policies so we can provide the best possible advice to our clients. There is a lot of speculation at the moment about what could happen but we pride ourselves on dealing with the facts and explaining everything to our clients in plain English.”
Hamnett Wealth Management is a local, independent financial advice company who’ve been helping people since 1988. We are small enough to care about each and every one of our valued clients, building trust and long-lasting relationships, yet we are large enough to provide specialist financial planning advice on your pensions, investments, inheritance tax and estate planning needs.
If you feel you could benefit from talking to an Independent Financial Adviser, please contact Hamnett Wealth Management on 0114 235 3500 for a free initial review meeting.
Hamnett Wealth Management offer a free impartial face-to-face meeting where we will assess your current provision. We offer unbiased, expert financial planning advice and take time to understand your specific requirements, aims and financial objectives to ensure your future is secure. You are welcome to call into our office on Baslow Road, Totley or we can visit you in the comfort of your own home.
Hamnett Wealth Management are your local, long-time established Independent Financial Advisors. We are highly qualified and up to date with the latest legislation and are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Our commitment to service means that we will regularly review your financial plan to ensure it is continually working for you.
Financial planning can be complicated but at Hamnett Wealth Management, we speak in plain English and explain everything comprehensively. We try to make everything as simple and easy as we possibly can. We encourage you to ask as many questions as you need until you are comfortable and able to make an informed decision.
Take control of your financial future today with Hamnett Wealth Management. Call us now on: 0114 235 3500 or email us at: advice@hamnettwealth.com
Hamnett Wealth Management are pleased to announce that The Children’s Hospital Charity is our nominated charity for 2017. For every person who responds to this article and quotes ‘Westside’ when contacting us, we will donate to the charity. More information on the charity is available at http://www.tchc.org.uk/
