From our perspective, the biggest impact on investments and financial planning relates to tax allowances and shelters available from the Government.

When investments aren't held correctly from a tax perspective, it can mean losing money to HMRC and reducing returns.

Start by asking: Are your savings, investments, and assets held in the right name, ownership, and tax shelter? Consider the impact on:

• Welfare benefits.
• Who benefits from your savings, investments, and assets.
• Tax treatment on gains from personal or jointly held assets.

Right Name: Ensure assets are held in the correct name when needed. This includes:

• Correct tax codes for you and your partner.
• Splitting cash in bank accounts to maximise personal allowances.
• Making pension contributions to the right person's fund.

Ownership: Place savings, investments, and assets under appropriate trusts to:

• Pay the right person or charity at the right time.
• Avoid probate delays.
• Minimize inheritance tax legally.

Ensure assets are held in single names, jointly owned, or cross-proposed to make use of joint allowances.

Tax Shelter: Ensure assets are in the right tax shelter to:

• Reclaim owed tax (e.g., on pension contributions)
• Save tax on future growth (e.g., ISAs)
• Defer tax until a more favourable time

ISA’s investors do not pay any personal tax on income or gains, but ISAs may pay unrecoverable tax on income from stocks and shares received by the ISA managers.

Tax treatment varies according to individual circumstances and is subject to change.

Tax Planning, Inheritance Tax planning and Trusts are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Your financial adviser can help ensure you don't miss financial planning opportunities. Contact us to find out more.

References

Blackrock capital market assumptions: www.blackrock.com/institutions/en-us/insights/charts/capital-market-assumptions#assumptions

Approver Quilter Financial Limited and Quilter Financial Services Limited. October 2025