Alresford Financial

19/01/2026

I found this worth a read.

A clash between China, Taiwan and the US would dwarf every current conflict – and AI won’t save us

26/11/2025

Inheritance Tax (IHT) – What’s changing from 6 April 2026

Business Property Relief (BPR) and Agricultural Property Relief (APR)
You used to get 100% relief (no IHT) on family businesses and farms of any size.
New rule: First £1 million of qualifying business/farm assets = still 100% relief (0% IHT).
Anything above £1 million = only 50% relief → you’ll pay 20% IHT on the excess instead of 40%, but still double the old zero.
AIM shares (smaller companies listed on the Alternative Investment Market)
Previously 100% IHT-free after holding 2 years.
From April 2026 → only 50% relief (so 20% IHT) even after 2 years.
Pensions
Unspent pension pots will be inside your estate for IHT from April 2027 (this was already announced last year).
Good news that didn’t change
Normal IHT allowance stays £325,000 per person
Extra “home” allowance when passing house to children stays £175,000
7-year gifting rule still works exactly as before (give money away and survive 7 years = no IHT)

Capital Gains Tax – Big change from 6 April 2026

Old rule (“uplift on death”): When someone died, the value of their shares, property, business etc. was reset to the market value on the day they died. Heirs paid zero CGT on all the growth that happened in the previous owner’s lifetime.
New rule: No more reset.
Your heirs inherit your original purchase price.
When they eventually sell, they pay CGT on ALL the growth – including the growth that happened while you owned it.

Example
You bought shares for £100k → they’re worth £1m when you die.

Old way: heirs get them at £1m base cost → sell for £1.2m → pay CGT only on £200k gain.
New way: heirs get them at £100k base cost → sell for £1.2m → pay CGT on £1.1m gain.

Who feels this most?
Family business owners, farmers with land over £1m, people with big investment portfolios or second homes, and anyone who was relying on the “die and wipe out the CGT” trick.
These two sets of changes together will raise about £2 billion a year by the end of the decade – mostly from wealthier estates.

05/08/2025

Why this took so long is a mystery!

The

14/07/2025

Undercover filming and whistleblower testimony reveals how commission is put ahead of customers.

03/04/2025

The recent tariff announcements appear to be more extensive and aggressive than many market participants anticipated. Both the number of affected countries and the tariff rates exceeded expectations, causing significant market volatility.
These tariffs create several economic challenges:

Consumer impact: Tariffs effectively act as taxes on goods, raising prices and reducing purchasing power, which can lead to decreased consumption.
Business uncertainty: Companies need policy stability to make long-term investment decisions about where to produce goods and how to structure supply chains. The current environment of rapid policy changes makes planning difficult.
Market reaction: The negative market response appears rational given the economic implications, with US multinationals potentially facing the greatest impact due to their global operations.
Trade rebalancing challenges: While tariffs can quickly reduce imports by raising prices and lowering demand, increasing US exports will take years as it requires building new manufacturing capacity and reorganizing supply chains.

However, there are reasons to question whether these tariffs will remain in their current form:

Political considerations: As mid-term elections approach, the economic costs to voters may influence policy decisions.
Policy volatility: The administration has already demonstrated willingness to reverse course on policies during its first weeks in office.
Economic pressure: The broader economic impact could create pressure for modification if negative effects become pronounced.

From an investment perspective, these developments suggest the value of regional diversification in portfolios, as we've already seen different magnitudes of impact across global markets. If markets experience steeper declines, this could potentially create buying opportunities for long-term investors.

06/03/2025

Almost one in five (19 per cent) women do not know where to get financial advice from, research from Scottish Widows has revealed.

24/02/2025

St James’s Place took the unenviable top two spots for the largest underperforming funds.

11/02/2025

🔑 Understanding State Pension Top-Ups - A Quick Guide
Did you know? Buying one year of missing National Insurance could boost your State Pension by £302.64 every year for life! 💰
Cost breakdown:

Pay £907.40 once (Class 3)
Get back £5.82 extra pension weekly
Break even in about 3 years

For self-employed folks, it's even cheaper - just £175.20 for the year!
The current full State Pension is £221.20 per week (£11,502.40 yearly), but you need 35 qualifying years to get the full amount.
Worth checking your National Insurance record to see if topping up could benefit you! 📊

18/12/2024

Global debt is essentially like a massive, interconnected credit card bill for the world's countries, and it's becoming increasingly problematic for several key reasons:
1. Financial Strain: As debt levels rise, countries spend more of their budget on interest payments rather than crucial services like education, healthcare, and infrastructure. It's like a household spending most of its income just to pay credit card minimums instead of investing in its future.
2. Economic Vulnerability: High debt makes countries more susceptible to economic shocks. When a country owes a lot of money, even a small economic downturn can make it difficult to meet financial obligations. This can lead to:
• Potential government defaults
• Reduced ability to borrow money
• Lower credit ratings
• Increased borrowing costs
3. Generational Burden: Current debt levels mean future generations will inherit significant financial challenges. Young people may face:
• Higher taxes to pay off accumulated debt
• Reduced government spending on social services
• Potentially slower economic growth
• Less financial flexibility for national investments
4. Global Economic Instability: When major economies struggle with debt, it creates ripple effects. A debt crisis in one country can impact global trade, investment, and economic confidence.
5. Potential Inflation and Currency Devaluation: Governments might be tempted to print more money to manage debt, which can lead to inflation, reducing the purchasing power of money and savings.
The consequences aren't just abstract economic theories - they translate to real-world impacts like job losses, reduced public services, and potential economic stagnation.
While some debt can be strategic for investment and growth, the current global debt levels are approaching unsustainable territory, creating a complex and challenging economic landscape

16/12/2024

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12/12/2024

A recent article discusses the current state of the US stock market, arguing that we're in the midst of a major speculative bubble comparable to those of 1929 and 2000. Here are the main takeaways:

Market Valuation Warning Signs

The current market valuation of US companies has reached historically extreme levels
A key metric comparing company market value to their actual economic output is at its highest point in a century.
High prices today suggest lower investment returns in the future.

The "New Era" Illusion

Every speculative bubble comes with a belief that "this time is different"
Investors get excited about innovation and expect perpetual profit growth
However, economic history shows constant cycles of innovation and market adaptation

Profit Margins and Economic Reality

Despite technological advances, US economic growth has been relatively slow
Real GDP growth has averaged only 2.1% since 2000, compared to 3.7% in the previous half-century
Profit margins haven't actually increased as much as people think - they've been stable for 70 years
Recent profit increases mostly came from tax cuts and low interest rates

Economic Outlook

The US economy is currently operating above its sustainable potential
Future economic growth may be less than 2% annually
The current market optimism may not be supported by underlying economic fundamentals

Key Advice

At moments of extreme market optimism, investors should carefully reassess their risk tolerance
The article suggests replacing excessive optimism with careful calculation and realistic expectations

The core message is simple: While the current market feels exciting, historical patterns suggest caution and a measured approach to investing.

05/12/2024

The dangers of a typical Lifestyle fund

Why savers are falling victim to the ‘ticking time bomb’ of pension lifestyling