Clearwater Financial Planning

25/02/2026

💷💷The UK tax year runs from 6th April to 5th April, and as the deadline approaches, there are several ways you can reduce your tax bill if you act before the year ends.

✅Here are some practical steps to help you keep more of your money.

💷🏦Use your full ISA allowance📈💷
You have until 5th April to use your £20,000 ISA allowance for the 2025/26 tax year. Any unused allowance disappears when the new tax year begins, so if you can afford to top up your ISA before the deadline, it’s well worth it. The money you put into a stocks and shares ISA or cash ISA grows tax-free, which means you won't pay income tax on interest or capital gains tax on any profits.

👫💡If you have a partner, they also have their own £20,000 allowance, so between you, a couple could potentially shelter £40,000 from tax each year.

✅Use your capital gains tax allowance
The capital gains tax annual exempt amount is currently £3,000 for the 2025/26 tax year. That means that if you hold investments outside an ISA that have grown in value, you can make up to £3,000 in profit tax-free each year. Selling before 5th April means you use this year's allowance rather than losing it.

⏳Consider pension contributions

Paying into your pension not only helps secure your retirement but can also reduce your income tax bill. The government adds tax relief to your pension contributions at your income tax rate. Basic rate taxpayers receive 20% tax relief automatically, while higher and additional rate taxpayers can claim back the extra relief through their Self Assessment tax return.

You can normally contribute up to £60,000 per year and receive tax relief, though this limit is reduced for very high earners. If you haven't used your full allowance this year, topping up before 5th April could cut your tax bill.

💍💍Use both partners' allowances
If you're married or in a civil partnership, you can often reduce your household tax bill by making sure you're both using your personal allowances effectively. This might mean transferring savings or investments to the lower-earning partner so interest and dividends fall within their unused allowances rather than pushing the higher earner into paying tax.

You could also consider the marriage allowance, which lets a non-taxpayer transfer £1,260 of their personal allowance to a basic rate taxpayer partner, saving up to £252 in tax.

🗓Plan ahead with professional support📝
Our experienced advisers at Clearwater Financial Planning can help you plan ahead to make the most of available tax reliefs each year while working towards your financial goals.

📲📲Get in touch to discuss your options. 📩📩

13/01/2026

🏠👪Common Myths About Life Insurance Debunked!!👷🏥

You've probably heard plenty of opinions about life insurance over the years. Some might have put you off exploring cover altogether.

💡💡Let's separate fact from fiction and examine what's really true about life insurance.💡💡

💴"Life insurance is too expensive for ordinary families"
This is one of the most persistent misconceptions about life insurance, but the reality is that life insurance can be much more affordable than many people assume.

The actual cost depends on several factors: your age, health, whether you smoke, and how much cover you need. A healthy 30-year-old non-smoker might pay as little as £10-15 monthly for £200,000 of cover over 25 years. When you consider that's protecting your family's financial future, life insurance is remarkably affordable for most households.

👫"Young adults don't need life insurance"👫
If you're young, healthy, and mortgage-free, you might think life insurance isn't relevant yet. But consider this: younger applicants typically secure the lowest premiums because insurers see them as lower risk. Lock in affordable rates now, and you'll benefit from those low premiums for the entire policy term.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦Plus, if you have any debts, dependents, or someone relying on your income, life insurance becomes essential regardless of your age. The experienced advisers at Clearwater Financial Planning, with offices in Kingsbridge, Plymouth, and Launceston, can help you assess whether cover makes sense for your current situation.

🧓👩‍🦳"I'm too old to get life insurance"
Age certainly affects premiums, but you're rarely too old to secure cover. Many insurers offer policies to applicants well into their 70s or even 80s. The key is finding the right type of policy for your circumstances.

Over-50s life insurance plans, for instance, typically guarantee acceptance without medical exams. While premiums are higher than policies taken out in your 30s or 40s, they can still provide valuable financial protection for funeral costs and leaving something for your family.

💼👷👨‍💼"My employer's life insurance is enough"
Workplace life cover is a valuable benefit, usually offering between one and four times your annual salary. However, it comes with limitations. The amount might not adequately protect your family's lifestyle if something happened to you, and you'll lose this cover if you change jobs or become self-employed.

Having your own policy means the cover moves with you throughout your career, regardless of employment changes.

Getting the right advice matters
Since 2006, Clearwater Financial Planning has helped families across Devon and Cornwall understand their protection needs without the confusion. Life insurance doesn't need to be complicated or unaffordable when you have clear, honest advice tailored to your circumstances.

📞📩Don't let myths stop you from protecting what matters most. Contact Clearwater Financial Planning today to discuss how affordable life insurance could secure your family's financial future

04/09/2025

💷🏡When and How to Overpay🏡💷

With outstanding mortgage lending reaching a record £1,647.3 billion at the end of January 2025 and average mortgage interest rates sitting at 4.5% for new borrowers, you're probably feeling the pinch of rising mortgage costs. If you've got some spare cash sitting around, you might be wondering whether throwing it at your mortgage is the smart move. The short answer? It often is – but there are important things to consider first.

🏡When to make mortgage overpayments
The sweet spot for overpaying your mortgage is when you've got your financial house in order elsewhere.

The key benefits include:

✅Guaranteed returns
📉Interest savings.
🏡Earlier freedom.

Consider the downsides:

Better returns elsewhere. You might make more money by investing. 📈

💷Lump sum vs monthly overpayment

Contact our qualified mortgage advisers today for personalised guidance on whether overpaying makes sense for your situation.

Check out the link for more information.

At Clearwater Financial Planning we work with you, to help you set financial goals to work towards your planned financial future.

30/07/2025

📈Stocks & Shares ISA vs Cash ISA!!! 💷

When you're looking to make your money work harder, ISAs should be at the top of your list. But deciding between a Stocks and Shares ISA vs Cash ISA can feel like choosing between a holiday in the sun or the mountains - both have their merits, but which is right for you?

Understanding your options
💷Cash ISAs work much like regular savings accounts but with one brilliant advantage - the interest you earn is completely tax-free. They're straightforward, low-risk, and your capital is protected up to £85,000 by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.

📈On the other hand, Stocks and Shares ISAs allow you to invest in a range of assets including shares, bonds, and funds. While they come with higher risk, they also offer the potential for greater returns, especially over longer periods.

Which path should you take?
Is it better to have a Cash ISA or a Stocks and Shares ISA? The answer isn't black and white - it depends on your circumstances.

If you're saving for something within the next five years, like a house deposit or wedding, a Cash ISA makes more sense. For longer-term goals, however, Stocks and Shares ISAs historically yield more cash.

Remember that the total ISA allowance (£20,000 for the 2025-26 tax year) can be split between different types of ISAs.

More information on our blog……

At Clearwater Financial Planning we work with you, to help you set financial goals to work towards your planned financial future.

15/05/2025

Our monthly Blog, visit our website to find out how you can start saving for retirement, click on the link below:

At Clearwater Financial Planning we work with you, to help you set financial goals to work towards your planned financial future.

22/04/2025

Visit Clearwater Financial planning website for our latest blog news!!!
Exploring Joint mortgage options.
Click on link below for more information:

At Clearwater Financial Planning we work with you, to help you set financial goals to work towards your planned financial future.

07/02/2025

DO YOU HAVE AN INDIVDUAL SAVINGS ACCOUNT??

With all that’s going on around us it’s easy to miss important dates, and suddenly it’s too late. Make sure you don’t miss out on your tax efficient ISA allowance.
The amount you can save in an ISA is £20,000 in the 2024/25 tax year, and the deadline to use this is 5th April 2025.

IF YOU DON'T USE IT BY THEN IT WILL BE GONE FOR GOOD!

Stocks and Shares ISAs invest in corporate bonds, stocks and shares and other assets that fluctuate in value.

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

Contact us now so you don’t miss out on your tax efficient ISA allowance.

For ISA’s Investors do not pay any personal tax on income or gains but ISAs do pay unrecoverable tax on income from stocks and shares received by the ISA manager.

Approver Quilter Wealth Limited, Quilter Financial Limited, Quilter Financial Services Limited & Quilter Mortgage Planning Limited. Quilter Financial Planning Solutions. September 2024

Financial Planning Advisors & Financial Planners based in Kingsbridge, Devon

02/01/2025

Life is unpredictable. There are events we can all face that have the potential to change lives and families.

It can be a difficult issue to think about, but imagine the impact on you and your family should the main earner in your household become seriously ill or worse.

WE CAN HELP!

It may not happen to you, but then again it might. While there’s no insurance policy that can prevent the unexpected from happening, we can help you to put practical and cost-effective plans in place for you and your family’s financial protection if it does.

At Clearwater Financial Planning we work with you, to help you set financial goals to work towards your planned financial future.

06/01/2023

02/03/2022

We are looking for an Administrator to work within our friendly office environment to support our team of financial advisers on a day to day basis.

Responsibilities:
• Prepare a selection of product quotes
• Prepare all paperwork for adviser meetings with clients
• Deal with client telephone calls
• Keep accurate client records
• Update spreadsheets
• Contact providers for updates
• Process new business
• Make sure that all work meets compliance standards

Person Specification:
• Have excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• Be client focused
• Good telephone manner
• Work well under pressure and prioritise workloads to meet deadlines
• Be willing to learn and take on responsibility
• Be confident, outgoing and show initiative in putting forward ideas
• Be trustworthy and hardworking
• Somebody who is proficient in the use of IT, with particular emphasis upon MS Office and associated programmes.
• An individual with an excellent eye for detail and an ability to gather information across several different sources.
• Somebody who is organised, uses their initiative and takes great pride in their work.
• A good team player who can also thrive independently.

Benefits:
• Flexible working environment
• Contributory Pension
• 28 days holiday
• Salary depending on experience

Please send your CV with a covering letter to:

Dan Burner
Clearwater Financial Planning
56 Fore Street
Kingsbridge
Devon
TQ7 1NY

19/01/2022

Have you made any resolutions for 2022?

• Count the Carbs?
• Limit the Alcohol?
• Check the Budget?

Sadly, we can’t help you with the first two, but we can certainly help with the third.

If you have questions about your Pensions, Investments, Mortgages, Life Insurance, or any other Financial Matters, we are here to help.

Our advisers are qualified, professional, and friendly and will explain things in a clear and concise way.

Drop us a message or call 01548 856096

Financial Planning Advisors & Financial Planners based in Kingsbridge, Devon