HMRC still trying to give away money in unclaimed CTFs HMRC is uncharacteristically keen to give money away, reminding young adults again that they may be due unclaimed child trust funds (CTFs). The amount still to be paid out comes to just under £1.4 billion. As the UK settles under its first Labour government in…

The NICs top-up countdown is underway again… A third deadline for topping up State Pension entitlement is now coming into view. “Don't it always seem to go That you don't know what you got 'til it's gone?” The words of Joni Mitchell’s Big Yellow Taxi, recorded over half a century ago, always come to mind…

Where are your ISAs? New statistics show that cash ISAs remain a popular investment. Every autumn HMRC publishes a set of annual savings statistics, setting out detailed information about individual savings accounts (ISAs), lifetime individual savings accounts (LISAs), child trust funds (CTFs) and Help to Save. Unsurprisingly, ISAs dominate, with by far the largest amounts,…

Retirement saving targets – still too low The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has been crunching the numbers on the adequacy of pension contributions. One of the unremarked government successes of the 2010s was the introduction of automatic enrolment of employees into pension schemes. The first automatic enrolment contributions were made in October 2012 under…

An update on cash savings Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) publishes a review of the cash savings market following evidence of some dubious tactics at work. While the use of paper cash is declining as a means of payment, the need to retain a cash reserve remains as strong as ever. We all need some ‘rainy…

We Made It into the NMA Top 100! Henson Crisp has been recognised in the NMA Top 100. We're incredibly proud to announce that Henson Crisp has been recognised as in the NMA Top 100 Independent Financial Adviser (IFA) firms in the UK by New Model Adviser. Out of 5,805 firms nationwide, we’re thrilled to…

The 2025 State Pension increase We now have a clear understanding of how much the main State Pension will increase next April. That the State Pension triple lock was not going to change was a consistent commitment in the election manifestos of all major political parties – Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrats. In truth, once…

The cryptic arm of the taxman Investors in cryptocurrencies like bitcoin should not forget the tax consequences of their digital wallets, says HMRC. HMRC regularly boosts tax receipts by nudging taxpayers who are suspected of filling out their tax returns incorrectly or failing to submit a return when one is due. The warning, sent as…

Budget 2024 Overview: Key Announcements and Tax Changes The Autumn Statement, Labour's first in over 14 years and referred to as the "Mega Budget," has been released. Rachel Reeves has addressed various speculations and made notable announcements. Below is a clear breakdown of what was announced and when the changes will come into effect. Key…

Personal Savings Allowance – Are you over the threshold? Now that we’re halfway through the 2024/25 tax year, it’s important to take a look at your savings and the interest they are generating. One aspect that may sometimes be overlooked is the Personal Savings Allowance (PSA). This allowance determines how much interest you can earn…