Our Articles

Our Articles

Check out below all the articles and updates from Kellands.

February 20, 2023

End of year tax planning tips

With the end of the tax year fast approaching, there may still be time to review your tax and financial affairs to make sure you have optimised all your tax allowances and tax planning opportunities. So here’s a few of things to look at before the start of the new tax year on 6 April 2023.

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End of year tax planning tips

March 22, 2022

Don’t miss the deadline to give your pension savings a boost!

As another extraordinary financial year comes to a close, it’s more important than ever to make good use of your annual pension allowances. Giving your pension savings a boost and assessing where you stand will give you peace of mind that you are on track to enjoying the retirement you are planning for.

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Don’t miss the deadline to give your pension savings a boost!

March 8, 2021

Why women should take control of their finances

Today is International Women’s Day, a day which celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women from around the world. It is also an opportunity to look into the gender investing gap and what can be done to help encourage women to invest more and take control of their finances.

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Why women should take control of their finances

January 21, 2020

Are you a 'Pension-preneur'?

It’s no secret that the nature of retirement is changing. What used to be considered by many as a quiet, relaxing time in life, is increasingly becoming a period of greater activity.

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Are you a 'Pension-preneur'?

October 8, 2019

Time to consider socially responsible investing (SRI)?

The past decade has seen a big increase in ethical investing, although in overall terms, it is still a relatively niche market. In the middle of Good Money Week, which aims to let investors know about the range of ethical and sustainable financial options, we take a brief look at some of the statistics and issues.

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Time to consider socially responsible investing (SRI)?

June 12, 2019

Are UK retirees withdrawing too much from pension drawdown?

Latest figures from HMRC show that the average pension withdrawal from pension drawdown schemes in the UK is £7254. This is around 6%-9% of the average pension pot, well above the 4% often touted as a sustainable rate. The upshot is that savers could be at risk of running out of money in retirement.

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Are UK retirees withdrawing too much from pension drawdown?

May 21, 2019

Some thoughts for income investors

Interest rates have been at record lows for over 10 years, causing problems for income investors, who have had to take on more risk to get some decent income yields. So what can income investors do to maximise their income potential going forward, without risking too much capital?

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Some thoughts for income investors

March 29, 2019

Apathy towards inheritance tax

Recent research shows that most adults don’t have a will in place and that more than half have no plans to carry out any estate planning to mitigate inheritance tax.

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Apathy towards inheritance tax

February 25, 2019

What are the risks for drawdown investors?

Since the pension freedoms were introduced back in 2015, many retirement investors have opted for income drawdown as part of their retirement income strategy. This can make sense for many, but there are risks involved.

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What are the risks for drawdown investors?

January 31, 2019

Bond outlook improves following market volatility

When equity market volatility strikes, investors often flee to safety in the form of bonds. Fixed income securities (bonds) are traditionally seen as a less risky asset class than equities, although their value can also go down as well as up.

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Bond outlook improves following market volatility

December 14, 2018

The smart way to give your kids money this Christmas

Many children get inundated with gifts at Christmas, often based on the latest fad or craze. However, parents, grandparents and relatives wanting to give a Christmas gift that lasts a bit longer might like to consider investing for their child or grandchild instead - for example through an investment children’s savings scheme or a Junior ISA.

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The smart way to give your kids money this Christmas

December 8, 2018

Maintaining focus in volatile markets

For investors, it’s always a scary time when markets get volatile - particularly when they start to tumble. So what should investors be doing and should they be reviewing their investment portfolios?

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Maintaining focus in volatile markets

September 23, 2018

Protect your estate for future generations

If you are confused by the UK’s inheritance tax regime, recent research shows that you are not alone. Yet getting your inheritance tax planning wrong could mean your family is faced with an unexpectedly high inheritance tax (IHT) bill.

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Protect your estate for future generations

August 2, 2018

Bank raises interest rates

For only the second time in a decade, we have an interest rate rise. This was heavily trailed, and as expected, the rate has been raised from 0.5% to 0.75%. This represents the highest bank rate level since March 2009.

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Bank raises interest rates

June 20, 2018

What will a trade war mean for investors?

For quite a while now, there has been talk of a trade war between the US and China. However, it’s now starting to look serious. So as markets have slipped across the world, what will the long-term impact be on investors?

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What will a trade war mean for investors?

June 7, 2018

How to cut your inheritance tax bill

The amount paid in inheritance tax (IHT) reached a record high last year, with over £5.2bn being paid. Yet whilst death and taxes are inevitable, IHT has been called the ‘avoidable tax’ or the ‘voluntary tax’ as with some careful inheritance tax planning there are many ways to avoid it or at least reduce it significantly.

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How to cut your inheritance tax bill

May 18, 2018

Property or investments for income?

With interest rates being held once more last week, and likely to rise only slowly going forward, the debate about whether income investors should look towards buy-to-let to generate the income they need raises its head again.

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April 20, 2018

Investing in a volatile market.

The FTSE100 reached a new all-time high of 7778.64 on 12 January this year. In the three months since then, we have seen the index drop at one point by almost 9% to just below 7000, although it has recovered a bit since then, closing last night up a tad at 7328.92.

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Investing in a volatile market.

April 6, 2018

A new tax year. Time for some tax planning?

The new tax year begins today, so the new tax allowances and benefits come into force. This year, most but not all of the changes are good news but here’s a quick guide to what the new tax year has in store for you.

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March 23, 2018

Is now the time to be invested in the UK?

With the FTSE100 dipping below 7,000 for the first time in over a year, and with professional investor sentiment fairly negative about UK equities at the moment, what does the future hold for those investing in the UK?

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March 3, 2018

Some year-end tax planning tips

With the end of the tax year just over a month away, it’s time once again to consider any last minute tax and pension planning, to make sure you utilise the tax breaks available to you. Here’s just a few ideas and options, some of which may be appropriate for you.

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February 6, 2018

Dealing with a Stock Market Correction

The last few days have seen markets fall around the world, prompting some to consider whether this is finally the end of the current long bull run. Sudden sell-offs can cause consternation amongst investors, so what is the best way to deal with a stock market correction?

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January 8, 2018

Where to invest globally in 2018

The start of a new year is always a good time to review your investment goals. To help that process, here are some thoughts on what the experts are saying is in store for 2018.

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January 3, 2018

What does 2018 have in store for UK investors?

At the start of 2017, there was talk of a Brexit-inspired economic meltdown in the UK, a market correction and interest rate rises. None of these happened. Why was this – and what can investors expect in 2018?

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December 8, 2017

Will we see a Santa Rally this year?

For investors, the Santa Rally has proved to be a ‘strange but true’ phenomenon over a lengthy period. So will we see one this year, particularly as 2017 has already seen impressive returns across most stock markets?

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September 4, 2017

Smart beta. A different style of investing

If investing jargon is all Greek to you, then smart beta may not initially appeal! However, smart beta represents an alternative style of investing, to add to the more familiar active and passive investment styles.

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August 16, 2017

As an investor, how do you spot the next big tech thing?

The first half of 2017 saw technology stocks flying on Wall Street. Whilst the passion for all things tech has cooled a bit of late, the world has certainly become a digital and technological marketplace. So as an investor, looking for the next big thing, how can you pick the new Facebook or Google?

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July 8, 2017

Pensions, hung parliament and Brexit

The general election and the ensuing hung parliament, along with Brexit, could have an impact on pensions. A month into the new parliament, what is the current situation regarding pensions and what is the likely impact on investors?

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June 9, 2017

Hung parliament – the implications for investors.

Following last night’s General Election, we now have a hung parliament – as we did back in 2010. The immediate upshot this morning was a fall in sterling of around 2% but at the same time a rise in the FTSE 100 of over 1%, with the index reaching 7545.12, not too far from the current intra-day record of 7,598.99.

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June 2, 2017

Why collective investments?

Whilst some investors select specific stocks, most investors use collective investment schemes. This makes a lot of sense as it reduces risk for the investor.

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April 10, 2017

Retirement and IHT planning intertwined?

Whilst the start of this tax year sees the new main residence nil rate band (MRNRB) come into effect for inheritance tax (IHT) planning purposes, the recent changes to pension rules have affected the IHT planning world in perhaps a more radical way.

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March 15, 2017

Year-end tax planning

There are still a few weeks to go for year-end tax planning, so here are a few guidelines to help you make any last minute plans.

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March 9, 2017

Tax-free dividend allowance cut – act now

The Chancellor announced in yesterday’s budget that the tax-free dividend allowance will fall from £5,000 to £2,000 a year from April 2018. This means investors should look to act now to make the most of their tax allowances.

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February 23, 2017

Is past performance a useful guide for future returns?

When it comes to investing in funds, looking at past performance data is very alluring and is the starting point for many. Because of this, despite the required disclaimer at the bottom of every piece of investment marketing material, stating that past performance is not a guide to future returns, most investors find it difficult not to rely on it.

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February 16, 2017

VCTs selling out fast

Venture Capital Trusts (VCTs) are continuing to sell well this year, with one selling out within 24 hours, according to last Saturday's Times. The total raised by VCTs in 2016 was £169.5m, well up from the £110.8m in 2015.

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January 21, 2017

Will the FTSE 100 continue to soar?

Friday 13th didn’t prove to be unlucky for the FTSE 100, which reached an all-time high that day, closing at 7,337.81, thus rising for an unequalled 14 consecutive sessions. Since then, the market has fallen back somewhat, leaving investors to ask whether this run can continue or if it has finally run out of steam.

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January 7, 2017

FTSE 100 hits record high for seventh day running

Last night, the FTSE 100 closed with a seventh consecutive all-time high, rising 0.2%, or 14.74 points, to close for the first time ever at over 7,200 (7,210.05). This is approaching the longest run of consecutive closing highs, which was recorded in May 1997, when the FTSE 100 finished at all-time peaks for eight straight sessions. It also represents the fifth straight week of gains.

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December 23, 2016

The lesson of 2016 – stay diversified.

Whether or not we see a Santa Rally this year, both the Dow Jones and the FTSE100 have already been flying high as we approach the year end, despite most expert predictions and the Brexit and Trump votes.

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November 24, 2016

Autumn Statement 2016

In his first Autumn Statement, Chancellor Philip Hammond praised the "strength and resilience" of the UK economy since the Brexit vote and pointed out that the IMF predicts the UK will be the fastest growing major economy this year, with employment at a record high.

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October 19, 2016

Inflation hits 1%. Options for savers and investors?

Inflation rose to its highest level in 22 months in September. The consumer prices index (CPI) rate of inflation increased to 1.0%, up from 0.6% in August and looks certain to go even higher in the next few months, possibly exceeding the Bank of England’s 2% target next year.

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October 5, 2016

Stocks soar as sterling slumps

Stock markets in the UK soared yesterday, with the FTSE100 closing at 7,074.34, its highest level since the record finish of 7,104 in April 2015. Indeed, it came close to setting a new record high, before a last-minute burst of profit taking. Meanwhile, the FTSE 250 mid-cap index did close at a new peak.

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September 25, 2016

Boring bull run OK for investors.

According to BofA Merrill Lynch, we are in the midst of the second longest cyclical bull market ever. They say the cyclical bull market started on 09 March 2009, and has now comfortably surpassed the June 1949-August 1956 rally, only being beaten by the December 1987-March 2000 advance.

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September 21, 2016

Property funds post-Brexit

Following Brexit, many investors rushed to get out of UK open-ended property funds, but the fall in prices could present an interesting opportunity for the brave investor.

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August 4, 2016

UK interest rates cut to record low level

As widely trailed, UK interest rates were cut today from 0.5% to 0.25% - a record low level and the first cut for over 7 years. The decision to cut interest rates was approved unanimously by the members of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) and further cuts were not ruled out.

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July 22, 2016

Lower Capital Gains Tax helps investors

The cutting of capital gains tax (CGT) in the March budget was an unexpected surprise and is good news for those with larger portfolios held outside Isas and/or those sitting on significant gains.

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News Feed

27/5/2023

Kevin McCarthy confident of US debt ceiling deal by 5 June deadline

With an extended deadline, talks on a deal to avoid a US default appear to drag on in Washington.

27/5/2023

Post Office used racist terms for sub-postmasters in official guidance

A document shows racist language was used to describe sub-postmasters being wrongly investigated.