Curtis Parker - Lifetime Financial Management

28/11/2025

𝗔𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗺𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗕𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘁 - 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 💼

Here’s a simple summary of the key points that could affect you, your family or your business.

This is based on recent Budget announcements and longer-term proposals, which could change in the future.

𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗮𝘅

→ Income Tax and National Insurance thresholds were due to rise with inflation after March 2028

→ These thresholds will now remain frozen until April 2031

→ Although income tax rates aren’t increasing, frozen thresholds mean more people will gradually pay tax at higher rates

𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀, 𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘆

→ Dividend tax rates will rise by 2% from April 2026 for basic and higher rate taxpayers (no change for additional rate taxpayers). Dividend tax rates will increase:

→ From 8.75% to 10.75% for basic rate taxpayers

→ From 33.75% to 35.75% for higher rate taxpayers

→ Savings and property income tax rates will increase by 2% across all tax bands from April 2027. The new tax rates that will apply to savings and property income are:

→ 22% basic rate

→ 42% higher rate

→ 47% additional rate

𝗜𝗦𝗔𝘀

→ From April 2027, under 65s can save up to £12,000 a year in cash ISAs, with the remaining allowance for investments

→ Over 65s will still be able to save up to £20,000 a year in cash ISAs

𝗣𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀

→ From April 2029, only the first £2,000 a year paid into a workplace pension via salary sacrifice will be free of National Insurance

→ Salary sacrifice contributions above £2,000 will attract National Insurance for both employees and employers

→ The State Pension will rise by 4.8% from April 2026, increasing to £12,548 under the 'triple lock'

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀

→ From 2028, a new High Value Council Tax Surcharge will apply to homes valued over £2 million

→ Charges will start at £2,500 a year and increase for higher value properties

𝗜𝗻𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝘅

→ Inheritance tax thresholds will remain frozen until April 2031

→ From April 2026, 100% relief for business and agricultural property will be limited to the first £1 million, with 50% relief applying above this level

→ Any unused allowance can be transferred between spouses or civil partners, even if the first death was before April 2026

→ Pensions will be brought into the inheritance tax net from April 2027 (announced at the Autumn 2024 Budget)

𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝘃𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗹𝗲𝘀

→ From April 2028, a new Electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED) will be introduced

→ This will be a mileage-based charge for electric vehicles, including plug-in hybrids. Rates will start at:

→ 3p per mile for battery electric vehicles
→ 1.5p per mile for plug-in hybrids

The changes won’t affect everyone in the same way, but they do make planning more important than ever.

If you’d like to understand what this means for your own situation - whether that’s personal tax, investments, retirement or your business, I’m happy to help - just get in touch for a chat.

05/11/2025

💬“𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗹𝗼𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘂𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴’𝘀 𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 – 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝘀𝘂𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗻, 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝘃𝗲 𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘂𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝘃𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗵𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗼𝗳𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱.”

That’s how F1 broadcaster, Jennie Gow, describes income protection and I think she sums it up perfectly.

None of us expect to lose our income suddenly, but illness, injury or unexpected change can happen to anyone.

And when it does, the regular costs of life don’t stop:

→ Household bills and essentials

→ Rent or mortgage payments

→ Loan or debt repayments

→ Everyday family expenses

→ Regular savings and investments

Income protection gives you breathing space, helping to cover essential costs so you can focus on recovery, not money worries.

If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s worth it, take 9 minutes to watch Jennie’s story with LV=.

It might just change how you think about protecting your future.

Subscribe to watch our latest videos: https://lv.social/2UPdlz4 Get social with LV=Facebook: https://lv.social/3fgKrlz Twitter: https://lv.social/3hT2W0X Ins...

21/10/2025

“𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗺𝘆 𝗱𝗮𝘆!”

That was a client’s response after I shared the details from an up-to-date retirement quote we’d obtained for their defined benefit (DB) pension.

DB pensions can be incredibly valuable, yet many people don’t have a clear picture of what their benefits are worth today - especially if they left the scheme 20 or 30 years ago.

In many cases, those benefits may still be increasing in value each year, even though you’re no longer an active member.

Getting an up-to-date valuation can bring real clarity - not just around the lump sum or income you might receive in retirement, but also your options, timings, and how it all fits into your wider financial plans.

For many people, DB pensions offer:

→ A guaranteed income for life
→ Protection against inflation
→ Peace of mind knowing your income isn’t dependent on investment performance
→ Provision for spouses or dependants

What can you expect if you obtain a retirement quote?

→ A clear view of what your benefits are currently worth
→ Your options if you want to retire early or later
→ How much tax free cash you could access
→ Support to plan more confidently and make informed financial decisions

Even if retirement still feels a long way off, understanding your pension benefits today can give you greater control and flexibility for the future.

If you’re approaching retirement and have DB pensions, it’s well worth obtaining a retirement quote to understand your options.

And if you’re unsure what this means for you, speak to a financial adviser.

08/10/2025

"𝗠𝘆 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝘆 𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻"

It’s something we hear a lot from limited company directors.

But relying solely on your business to fund your retirement can be risky.

Market changes, shifting demand, or unexpected events can all affect the value of your company, and in turn, your future plans.

You’ve had a great year and made strong profits.

Your accountant’s suggested using your pension allowance through your limited company, but you’re not sure where to start.

You’re not alone.

When you’re focused on running a business - supporting your team, winning new contracts, and keeping clients happy, your own financial planning often takes a back seat.

The good news?

Contributing to a personal pension through your company can be one of the most tax-efficient ways to extract money from your business.

Employer pension contributions made by your limited company are usually treated as an allowable business expense.

That means you can reduce your corporation tax bill while building up your own long-term savings.

Your business might be your passion but your pension should be your peace of mind.

💭 Are you making the most of your pension allowance this year?

If you’d like to explore how to take profits from your business in a tax-efficient way and strengthen your own retirement provision, it’s worth speaking with a financial adviser.

01/10/2025

One of the most rewarding parts of being a financial planner? Telling a client they can retire.

For many people, the idea of retirement comes with a lot of uncertainty:

→ Do I have enough?

→ Will my money last?

→ What if life throws something unexpected my way?

That’s where cashflow modelling is such a powerful tool. By mapping out income, spending, savings, and future goals, we can test different scenarios and plan with confidence, rather than guesswork.

Recently, I had the privilege of sharing this news with a client who had worked for the same employer for 30 years.

They hadn’t been happy in their role for a while, but felt they had no choice other than to carry on.

Being able to show them that they could retire now, three years earlier than they thought possible, was a fantastic moment. Seeing their relief and excitement reminded me why I love doing what I do.

And today, I received an email from them letting me know they’d handed in their resignation.

Financial planning isn’t just about numbers.

It’s about giving people the clarity and confidence to move forward, and in this case, to finally step away from a job that no longer brought them joy and into a new chapter.

14/08/2025

𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 - 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘁?

Running your own business has plenty of perks… but there’s no HR department, no company sick pay, and no safety net if you’re out of action.

If you were unable to work for three months, what would happen?

Would the bills, wages, and mortgage still get paid? Could the business keep going without you?

A client I’ve recently spoke to who runs her own consultancy firm had that same lightbulb moment.

If she was off ill, her personal income and her business’s cash flow would dry up quickly.

We solved it with Executive Income Protection.

It covers salary, dividends, National Insurance, and pension contributions, all paid tax-efficiently through the business.

Now, if illness or injury forces her to step back, she still gets a regular income, her employer pension contributions will continue, and the business doesn’t grind to a halt.

Why it makes sense:

→ Keeps both you and your business financially secure

→ Premiums are usually tax-deductible (check with your accountant)

→ Peace of mind for you, your family, and your team

Many business owners protect their laptops, vehicles, and premises… but forget to protect themselves!

If you’re the engine that keeps everything running, make sure you’ve got a plan in case the engine breaks down.

12/08/2025

𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮.𝟲 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗽𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗮𝘅 𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀? 💰

Higher interest rates have been good news for savers… but they’ve also brought an unwelcome surprise.

This year, over 2.6 million people will pay tax on their savings interest, many for the first time!

What's driving this?

→ Interest rates have risen sharply in the past few years

→ The Personal Savings Allowance (PSA) has been frozen for over nine years

→ Frozen tax thresholds are pushing more people into higher tax bands

So, if you’ve got:

→ Over £25,000 in savings (basic rate taxpayer)

→ Over £12,500 in savings (higher rate taxpayer)

… you could be paying more tax than you think!

Your bank or building society reports your savings interest to HMRC, and many people don’t realise they owe tax until their tax code changes and their take home pay drops.

How to protect your savings?

✓ Use your ISA and pension allowances

✓ Make use of your partner’s allowance(s)

✓ Keep an eye on your savings accounts to stay within limits

Not sure if you’re affected?

Check your payslip – if your tax code has changed, you might already be paying tax on your savings.

11/08/2025

𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀, 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗱𝘂𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀…

I'm actively looking to build trusted, two-way relationships with fellow professionals who care about achieving the best outcomes for their clients.

Why connect?

→ Shared goals - whether you're helping clients with business structures, tax planning or estate matters, financial advice often complements the work you're already doing.

→ Joined-up thinking – by working together, we can spot opportunities, avoid gaps, and deliver a more complete, well rounded service.

→ Added value – a collaborative approach shows clients that their broader financial picture is being looked after, helping to build trust and strengthen relationships.

If you're open to a chat about how we might support one another, please drop me a message to arrange a chat or a coffee - virtual or in person!

And if you know an accountant, solicitor or estate planner who might be interested, feel free to share this post with them.

06/08/2025

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝗲𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀? 🧐

A quick check now could make a big difference later. Here are 6 key things to look at when reviewing your pensions:

→ Retirement age: Is your pension set to the right age for when you actually want to retire?

→ Your investments: How are they performing? Are your pension pots invested in line with your goals and attitude to risk? When you're auto-enrolled into a workplace pension, your money usually goes into a default investment fund which may not be right for you.

𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 (𝘋𝘊) 𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴, 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴, 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘵 (𝘋𝘉) 𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦.

→ Charges: Older pensions may have higher fees. A quick review and a more modern pension might save you money.

→ Retirement options: What options do you have when you plan to take your benefits? Some older pensions don’t offer modern drawdown features and may lack flexibility.

→ Beneficiaries: If applicable, make sure your ‘expression of wish’ forms are up to date. This form names the people you’d like to get the benefits that would be paid if you die before you have taken them.

→ Consolidation: Bringing pensions together can simplify things and potentially reduce charges - but it's not right for everyone. Some of your pensions may have promises or guarantees that you’d lose if you transferred them.

Not sure where to start or want a second opinion? I’m happy to help. A pension review can give you clarity and confidence about your retirement plans.

30/07/2025

𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗜 𝗽𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗳𝗳 𝗱𝗲𝗯𝘁 𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗲/𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁? 🤔

It’s a question I often get asked so if you’ve ever asked this question yourself - you’re not alone!

Here’s a simple breakdown to help you figure it out:

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝟭 - 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗮 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱

Before anything else, aim for a small safety net – let’s say £1,000. This keeps you from going deeper into debt when life throws a curveball your way or an unexpected expense crops up.

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝟮 - 𝗧𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗹𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵-𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝗯𝘁

If you have credit cards or loans with interest rates over 10%, those are costing you 𝘣𝘪𝘨 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦! Paying them down is like getting a guaranteed return on your money.

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝟯 - 𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗽𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗳𝗳

Once you’ve cleared your worst debt, you don’t have to choose between saving or paying off. You could do both, even if it’s small amounts.

→ Put a little towards retirement (especially if your employer matches your contributions)

→ Keep building your emergency fund (aim for 3 – 6 months of core expenses)

→ Keep chipping away at your other debts

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝟰 - 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆

Once your debt is under control and you’ve built up a sufficient emergency fund, only then should you really think about investing to grow your money long-term.

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, and that’s okay. Take one step at a time, and don’t be afraid to start small!

𝘐𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 5+ 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘩 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘯 𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘦, 𝘴𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘱𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘯.