The Lifestyle Blog | Regentia Lifestyle Planning

03 Sep 2018 proves volatile after the smooth sailing of 2017

Posted at 08:09h in Bank of England, FTSE, Investors, UK by Thomas Grindle 0 Comments

The first six months of 2018 were unpredictable times for investors as global stock markets suffered a sudden bout of volatility. The unpredictability came as a major surprise after the general stability of 2017. Once the dust had settled there was a mixture of good and...

28 Aug OBR forecasts present need for tax increases in the Budget

Posted at 08:04h in Budget, Economy, Financial News, GDP, Tax, UK by Thomas Grindle 0 Comments

The long-term outlook for government finances suggests tax increases are inevitable. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) produces medium-term financial forecasts alongside the Budget and Spring Statement, but that is not its only task. It is also required to take a longer-term view of the public...

20 Aug Residential letting to get more difficult

Posted at 08:09h in Business, Financial News, Residential, Tax, UK by Thomas Grindle 0 Comments

Draft legislation released in July contains more bad news for those renting out residential property. The Finance Bill 2018/19 draft legislation published just before the summer holidays has confirmed the following measures: From 6 April 2019, the rules for rent-a-room relief (which exempts up to £7,500...

13 Aug Is the LISA’s short life about to end?

Posted at 08:00h in Bank of England, Budget, FCA, Financial News, ISAs, LISA, Savings, Tax, UK by Thomas Grindle 0 Comments

The Lifetime ISA (LISA) may not survive after low uptake by providers and fresh criticisms from parliament. The LISA has been reviewed by the Treasury Select Committee, which was critical of, “its complexity, its perverse incentives, its lack of complementarity with the pension saving landscape...

06 Aug Is a flat rate scheme coming to pension tax relief?

Posted at 08:00h in Bank of England, Financial News, HMRC, Tax, Tax Rate by Thomas Grindle 0 Comments

The prospect of a flat rate of tax relief on pension contributions has resurfaced in the national press. The cost of pension relief has been chipped back in recent years, mainly by reducing the annual allowance. However, a report in The Times in early July...

23 Jul Interest rates for the Eurozone and US diverge

Posted at 11:21h in Interest Rates, UK, US by Thomas Grindle 0 Comments

Important interest rate announcements were made in June, both in the UK and the US. The US Federal Reserve announced its seventh 0.25% increase in interest rates since December 2015, taking the level to 1.75%-2.00%. The rise had already been incorporated in market prices by...