Description
We have 20 years combined experience in the financial services
industry and pride ourselves on our client relationships and on the
quality of our advice. Our aim is to be open, approachable
and straightforward. We believe in the importance of using language
that everyone understands and treating our clients in a friendly and
efficient manner to make their experience rewarding. It is very important to us at Knight O’Byrne that we fully
understand your financial objectives before we make any recommendations
on investments.
We therefore start the process by meeting
with you to discuss your requirements, taking account of all relevant
issues, including:
- Attitude to risk
- Your desired return on capital
- Short-term needs (e.g. to keep some funds readily accessible)
- Long-term needs (e.g. capital growth and / or regular income)
- Taxation
- Flexibility
- Existing investments
Having
agreed your precise objectives, we begin the task of selecting the
investments that are the best for you. As Independent Financial
Planners we can choose from a vast array of investments and prepare a
plan to meet your objectives. We can also review your existing
portfolio to ensure that it remains appropriate to your circumstances. Inheritance Tax (IHT) is the tax levied on the value of an estate on
death if it exceeds the nil rate band. Your estate is the value of all
your assets e.g. house, investments, car, furniture, cash etc.
The
current nil rate band for the tax year 2007/2008 is £300,000. This is
the first slice of your estate which is taxed at 0% hence the name nil
rate band. The value of everything you own above this amount is taxed
at 40%. IHT normally has to be paid within 6 months of death otherwise
interest is charged on the amount owing.
Given that many homes are now valued in excess of the nil rate band IHT is no longer a tax affecting only the wealthy.
There
are many methods of reducing the liability that your beneficiaries may
need to find and planning is essential. Doing nothing is not an option
if you wish to save IHT.
Planning methods can include any, or a combination, of the following:
- Holding properly drafted Wills
- Making use of exempt beneficiaries
- Making use of exempt transfers
- Ensuring Life policies are written in Trust
- Placing funds in Trust
- Potentially Exempt Transfers
Solutions
are individual and we can provide bespoke expert independent financial
advice to help you reduce the IHT your family may need to find. Please
telephone for a confidential review.
Please note that trust and tax advice is not regulated by the Financial Services Authority. We understand that divorce can often be a distressing time therefore
it is imperative that you receive independent financial advice.
Generally
on divorce all your matrimonial assets are halved. These include all
assets held individually or jointly including the family home, any
additional property and other items such as vehicles. Also included
will be your liquid assets such as the personal and joint bank accounts
of each party, any life assurance savings plans, unit trusts, shares
and since the Pensions Action 1995, the pension retirement benefits of
each spouse.
So that you can continue to plan for the next stage of your life we can help and advise in the following areas:
- Pension sharing
- Investments
- New Mortgage (through an independent mortgage adviser)
- Protecting your maintenance payments
- Family Protection
- Income Protection
We are here to help you through one of the most difficult times that you may face. | 
