Eldon - Chartered Financial Planners

29/09/2025

Earlier this month, Eldon welcomed Amy Laroche as a new addition to our paraplanning team. We are excited to have Amy as part of our team, and we can’t wait to see what she achieves.

Here is a short introduction from Amy:

“My journey into financial services began in 2023 while working as an Independent People’s Advocate. I saw firsthand how money mismanagement and poor financial planning can impact a person’s life, and it sparked within me an interest in helping people navigate their finances. I took the leap into the industry the following year.

I joined Eldon as a Trainee Paraplanner, drawn to their holistic approach and strong client-first values. I am currently working towards my Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning, with the goal of becoming Chartered while at Eldon.

Outside of work, I am passionate about travelling and art. Some highlights so far include seeing “Starry Night” in New York, “The Kiss” in Vienna, and “The Scream” in Oslo. I’m on a mission to visit all seven continents, enjoying every new culture and art gallery along the way.”

27/08/2025

The Ministry of Justice has confirmed that application fees for Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA) will rise from £82 to £92 per document from 17th November 2025, subject to parliamentary approval. Repeat applications will also increase from £41 to £46.

This change reflects the government’s aim to align fees more closely with the cost of delivering services via the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG).

Now is an ideal time to consider putting LPAs in place.

A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is one of the most important legal documents you can have in place as part of your financial planning. It gives someone you trust the legal authority to act on your behalf if you become unable to make decisions due to illness, injury, or declining mental capacity or if you don’t want to.

There are two types of LPA:

- Property and Financial Affairs LPA – lets your attorney manage your finances, pay bills, sell property, and handle investments.

- Health and Welfare LPA – allows your attorney to make decisions about your medical treatment, care arrangements, and daily routine if you’re unable to do so yourself.

Without an LPA in place, your loved ones would need to apply to the Court of Protection to make decisions on your behalf – a lengthy, costly, and often stressful process. Crucially, they may not be given the authority to act in the way you would have wished.

With application fees set to rise and the OPG now operating more efficiently (having cleared registration backlogs and improved service levels), it’s a good time to act.

At Eldon, we strongly recommend reviewing your estate planning and ensuring LPAs are in place as part of your financial strategy.

If you would like to speak with your Financial Planner here at Eldon, then please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.

05/08/2025

The Pensions Act 2014 requires the government to conduct a periodic review of the State Pension age (SPA). The first review concluded in 2017, and the second review concluded in 2023. The government has announced the launch of the third review of State Pension age in July 2025, which is set to conclude in 2029. This review will consider whether the rules around pensionable age are appropriate, based on the latest life expectancy data and other evidence.

As a reminder, the current timetable for the SPA, is shown below:

SPA will increase from 66 to 67 – between April 2026 and April 2028

SPA will increase from 67 to 68 – between April 2044 and April 2046

The announcement comes following warnings from experts that people looking to retire in 2050 are on course to receive £800 per year less than current pensioners. This is due to the fact that 45% of working-age adults are not contributing into their pensions, with concerns that the cost of living crisis is preventing people from investing in their retirement.

The government have confirmed that there will be no further increases to National Insurance contributions under this parliament, both employee and employer, to help fund the issue. They have also confirmed that the pensions triple lock, the guarantee that the state pension rises in line with average earnings, inflation or 2.5% – whichever is highest – would not be reconsidered as part of this review.

Any recommendations from the review will take time to implement and the government remains committed to the principle of providing 10 years’ notice of changes to the SPA.

28/07/2025

Beth and Natasha recently had the pleasure of attending the Careers Fair at Park View Academy in Chester-le-Street. The event was a great opportunity to engage with students, share insights into the financial planning profession, and highlight the rewarding career paths available within the sector.

Throughout the event, students were able to ask questions, explore different industries, and gain practical advice directly from professionals, helping them make more informed decisions about their future careers.

Eldon is proud to support events that promote career awareness. We aim to encourage young people to consider a future in financial planning whilst continuing to support financial education within local communities.

14/07/2025

We’re incredibly proud of our team for undertaking the 2025 Alzheimer’s Society Trek through the North York Moors on Saturday.

The experience was a far cry away from our 2023 Ullswater Way trek, which we undertook in wild and stormy weather in the Lake District. This North York Moors challenge was blisteringly hot, with no breeze and a strong sun!

With plenty of water, good spirits, and team camaraderie, our two teams completed their challenge, raising almost £4,000 for Alzheimer’s Society as a result of their dedication.

We’re so proud of them!

Donations to our fundraising page will stay open for another week or so. Eldon is matching all fundraising so whatever you give will be doubled to the charity: https://www.justgiving.com/page/eldon-financial-alzheimer-trek-2025

Every donation, no matter the size, will help bring us closer to a world where dementia no longer devastates lives.

Together we can take a step towards a better future.

Well done, Team!

10/06/2025

We are delighted to announce that Trainee Paraplanner Samantha has now gained her Diploma in Financial Planning.

Samantha started her studies in March 2024 whilst she was working full time in clinical trials at the NHS before joining Eldon in April 2025 to support us with both administration and paraplanning.

Samantha will now be working towards the Advanced Diploma in Financial Planning with a view to achieving Chartered Status.

Well done, Samantha! We are looking forward to seeing what you achieve next!

12/05/2025

On 12th July, the Eldon team will be participating in The Alzheimer’s Society Trek across the North Yorkshire Moors, along with over 700 other walkers, to raise money for the charity.

Our team will be split into two groups, with one covering 26 miles, while the other covers 13 miles. The two routes incorporate stunning coastal and moorland views and will present an enjoyable challenge.

In their own words, Alzheimer’s Society are working towards a world where dementia no longer devastates lives. They help those currently living with dementia, with around 900,000 people estimated to be living with the condition in the UK today. Alongside this, they campaign to make dementia a priority and hold decision-makers to account, whilst funding vital research projects to seek the best ways to get early diagnosis, innovate care, and develop targeted treatments.

Our team is looking forward to the Trek and we are grateful to anyone who feels able to donate to the cause. If you would like to donate, you can do so via our Just Giving page at the following link: https://www.justgiving.com/page/eldon-financial-alzheimer-trek-2025

More information on Alzheimer’s Society and their work can be found here: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/

If you would like to talk to a member of the team about the Trek, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

09/04/2025

Since Donald Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ markets have been turbulent. What should you do in light of this? Read our Director, Gemma Siddle’s comments here: https://www.eldonfinancial.co.uk/what-to-do-in-turbulent-markets/

31/03/2025

In a significant update for UK savers, the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) has today proposed an increase to the deposit protection limit under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), raising it from £85,000 to £110,000.

The FSCS currently protects 100% of the first £85,000 held by an individual, per UK-regulated financial institution (not per account). Joint accounts are eligible for FSCS protection up to the same limit of £85,000 per eligible person.

The FSCS only applies to organisations regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, with the main categories of protected savings including:

• Current accounts
• Savings accounts (including sharia accounts)
• Cash ISAs (including cash Lifetime ISAs & Help to Buy ISAs)
• Small business accounts
• Cash saved within a SIPP (Self Invested Personal Pension)

The proposed increase aims to reflect the level of inflation since the limit was last changed in 2017, offering even greater reassurance to consumers that their savings are safe should their bank, building society, or credit union face financial difficulties.

The new limit, if approved, would apply to any financial institution that fails after 1st December 2025.

What happens next?

The PRA has opened a consultation on the proposed changes today, and they are seeking responses from the public and stakeholders until 30 June. After reviewing feedback, the PRA expects to announce the outcome of the consultation in November, with any changes to the deposit protection limit requiring approval from HM Treasury.

28/01/2025

Eldon welcomed Charlotte Scott as a new addition to the paraplanner team this month.

Below is a short introduction from Charlotte:

“I began my career in the financial services industry in 2020 as an Accounts Assistant and in 2022, I transitioned into a Paraplanning role, where I discovered that a customer-focused career path was the right fit for me.

I joined Eldon at the start of 2025, drawn to their strong focus on clients and overall approach to holistic Financial Planning.

I am currently working towards my Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning and hope to progress to Chartered status while at Eldon.

Outside of work, you can often find me on the couch with a good book, or in the kitchen trying new recipes. As well as this, I enjoy spending time with my partner, friends and family.”

Charlotte is an excellent addition to the team, and we can’t wait to see her achieve her goals and succeed with Eldon.

19/01/2025

We’re ! We’re looking for a Paraplanner to join our team in Newton Aycliffe. If you or someone you know is looking for a new opportunity then find out more and apply here:

Eldon Financial Planning Ltd

13/01/2025

The deadline of 31st January 2025 for submitting Self Assessment tax returns for the 2023/24 tax year is fast approaching. If you need to submit a tax return, it is important to do so by the deadline to avoid paying late filing penalties.

You can check whether or not you need to complete a tax return for the 2023/24 tax year by using the government tool: https://www.gov.uk/check-if-you-need-tax-return

If this is the first time you are submitting a Self Assessment, the deadline to register without penalty was 5th October 2024. If you have not registered yet, it is therefore important to contact HMRC as soon as possible to receive your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) to enable you to submit your tax return.

If you are registered to submit a Self Assessment tax return but no longer need to complete a return, you must inform HMRC. If HMRC agrees, they will send a letter confirming you do not need to file a return. You may have to pay a penalty if HMRC do not agree before the Self Assessment deadline of 31st January 2025, and you do not submit a return on time.

If you submit your return later than the deadline, you will typically face a £100 penalty if the tax return is up to 3 months late. Should the return be submitted over 3 months late, you may be faced with a larger penalty.

Any payment of tax required by 31st January 2025 will have interest applied if paid after this date. This rate is currently 7.25% (Bank of England Base Rate plus 2.5%). If the payment is made more than 30 days after the deadline, you may also be faced with greater penalties at a percentage of the tax owed.

You can complete your Self Assessment tax return online here: https://www.gov.uk/log-in-file-self-assessment-tax-return

You can pay any outstanding Self Assessment tax bill online here: https://www.gov.uk/pay-self-assessment-tax-bill

For a fee, professional accountants can help you complete your Self Assessment, or complete it on your behalf, however you will need to provide them with the relevant figures. Please get in touch if you would like a recommendation for accountants we have previously worked with.