When it comes to gaining and maintaining inheritance tax (IHT) planning know-how and expertise, nothing beats a good case study.
So this special case study investigation, which features not one but two client examples, is bound to be right up your street.
Join Steve and Richard as they crack the case
Because in this 50-minute episode, Utmost International’s Steve Sayer joins host, Richard Allum, to explore why reversionary interest trusts (RITs) combined with the available nil rate band (NRB) threshold, can become a powerful and flexible feature of a client’s IHT strategy.
In a conversation that’s packed with practical insights, ideas and expertise, tax and trusts expert Steve unpacks two case studies which will help you:
– understand the mechanics and key features of a RIT
– consider planning opportunities using RITs especially in conjunction with other options
– be able to discuss and explain RITs and NRB with a client in a clear and concise way
– apply this knowledge to appropriate, individual, client scenarios
Whether you’re a seasoned paraplanner who wants to keep your knowledge fresh or the role of RITs in IHT planning is new territory for you, we’re sure you’ll enjoy the hands-on learning offered by this expert discussion.
Watch or listen now
Just follow the links for a CPD certificate and downloads.
To mark Independence Day in the United States, we thought we’d treat you to a bonus episode: a bite-sized Assembly that’s all about investing for US expats living in the UK.
Because despite being citizens of the ‘land of the free’, once they leave the USA’s shores, expat savers and investors often face complex challenges to stay on the right side of the US equivalent of HMRC: the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
So what do paraplanners in the UK need to know to support US expat clients? Who better to ask for expert knowledge and insight than a specialist in investing for US expats: Canaccord Genuity’s Laurence Leigh.
In this bite-sized Assembly, Laurence explores:
- The unique tax challenges facing US citizens abroad – including worldwide taxation and annual IRS returns
- Investment limitations and potential pitfalls, such as the risks of UK ISAs and non-US listed funds
- Solutions for compliant investing – including US-recognised structures and expert portfolio management
In just ten minutes, Laurence covers the dos and don’ts of advising US expats, the limitations of UK platforms, and the severe penalties for non-compliance.
It’s an episode packed with practical advice that will give you confidence in ensuring US expat clients can invest effectively and stay compliant on both sides of the Atlantic.
Brian Radbone, Technical Counsel at Transact, joins Richard to unpack the post-lifetime allowance (LTA) world and its consequences for paraplanners.
In a bite-sized Assembly lasting less than eight minutes, Brian explores transition certificates, new lump sum allowances, and why timing is everything when it comes to crystallising benefits. Plus he discusses the importance of understanding provider restrictions.
If you’re in the market for a post-LTA primer but are pushed for time, this Assembly is ideal.
Canaccord Genuity’s chief investment officer, Tom Becket, joins Richard Allum for a primer on fixed interest investments that is ideal for paraplanners wherever you are in your career.
During a 20-minute conversation, Tom explains the basics of bonds and gilts, how interest rates affect their values, and how the recent spikes in interest rates have affected returns and revived annuities – putting an end to years of fixed interest investments’ appearing to be ‘uninvestable’.
The likelihood of lower inflation combined with potential interest rate cuts is positive for fixed interest markets.
But Tom is keen to stress that all bonds aren’t created equal and he offers his thoughts on where – depending on the risk appetite of your clients – opportunities might lie across a spectrum of fixed interest investments, from government debt to high-yield credit.
For paraplanners looking to get a handle on this significant but possibly misunderstood asset class, this bite-sized Assembly offers valuable insights to help navigate the fixed interest landscape.
In a special bite-sized Assembly, Transact’s Stuart Fleat explains how model portfolio services offered by discretionary investment managers are able to accessed on platforms like Transact.
In less than six minutes, Stuart explains how platforms and MPS providers are able to handle access to client accounts and data securely and confidentially, how portfolio rebalancing works in practice, practical considerations around capital gains tax, and how clients are invested into the model portfolios.
It’s no secret that top slicing relief offers a powerful method of reducing tax liability by spreading bond gains across each year of the lifetime of the bond.
But no matter how experienced a paraplanner you may be, working out the best way to make use of the relief, and getting the top slicing calculations right, can be tricky.
Join Steve and Richard as they crack the case
That’s why we think this case study investigation (CSI) on top slicing will be right up your street.
In this 45-minute special on top slicing, Utmost International’s technical sales manager, Steve Sayer, joins The Paraplanners’ Richard Allum, to pick his way through a case study featuring fictional client, David.
Designed to give you the chance to consider the financial planning opportunities from all sorts of angles, this CSI will help you:
- understand how top slicing relief works and when it can be applied;
- calculate top slicing relief as accurately and tax efficiently as you can;
- work out strategies to assign bond segments to spouses or beneficiaries to reduce tax liabilities;
- understand how pension contributions can be used to save tax and maximise relief; and
- navigate how bond gains, personal allowances, and other sources of income work together
Watch or listen now
Whether you’re new to top slicing relief or are a seasoned pro, it never hurts to top up your knowledge and know how – especially when it can make such a big difference to a client’s financial plan.
Rebalancing portfolios is a familiar task for paraplanners. Periodically – often after a client’s annual review – we make sure that fund allocations are tweaked so they’re true to original investment goals.
But how does rebalancing work from a platform’s point of view?
During this second episode in a three-part series on life behind the scenes at platforms, Transact’s national sales manager, Stuart Fleat, walks you through the rebalancing process.
In just four minutes, Stuart explains how a platform calculates and processes sells and buys, how long it takes and how to check tax impacts upfront.
Listen now
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Missed out on the first episode?
Catch up now with the first episode in this bite-sized Assembly series.
Part 1: A bite-sized Assembly on what happens when you place a trade on a platform. In just 5 minutes and 23 seconds, Transact’s Glen Sweet lifts the lid on what happens behind the scenes at a platform.
In the last of his quartet of bite-sized Assemblies on investing, Timeline investment strategist, Laurentius van den Worm, tackles the topic of market forecasting.
Given our recent experience with high inflation, higher interest rates not to mention pandemics, wars and conflict, is there much point attempting to forecast the future?
Or put another way: what’s the outlook for forecasting (geddit? 😉)
Tune in and you’ll soon discover that Laurentius thinks three things are worth remembering:
First, active managers rarely outperform the market long-term. Investors should get low-cost market exposure rather than try to beat it.
Secondly, missing just a few of the stock market’s best days over decades can seriously affect overall returns. Timing the market is extremely difficult, so investors should stay invested.
And finally, equities have created significant wealth over the past century and remain an essential feature of long-term financial plans.
What’s more fixed income can help reduce volatility (and traditional asset allocation still makes sense despite recent volatility).
The takeaway? Long-term historic trends remain a pretty sound basis for forecasts despite recent volatility. And equities tend to reward patient investors with long time horizons.
Rather than market timing, appropriate asset allocation and risk management enable investors to endure short-term swings.
But don’t take our word for it. Listen yourself now.
Listen now
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Missed out on previous episodes?
Catch up now with the first three episodes this bite-sized Assembly series.
Part 1: On modern portfolio theory. Laurentius explores modern portfolio theory’s key principles – like diversification and concepts such as the ‘efficient frontier – illustrating the topic with practical examples.
Part 2: On asset allocation. Join Laurentius as he explores the topic of asset allocation, asset classes, diversification of risk, real estate investment, and performance of real estate investment trusts compared to global equities.
Part 3: On sequencing risk. Laurentius brings the issues of sequencing risk to life by using an example of two sisters with equal returns but different retirement income due to market loss timing. (And explores essential concepts along the way too.)
About Laurentius van den Worm CFA
Laurentius joined the Timeline Investment team in January 2022 after moving to the United Kingdom from South Africa. He serves as an investment strategist who oversees the fund research and selection, asset allocation and portfolio construction functions in collaboration with the CIO.
Laurentius has seven years experience in the South African investment markets. In his previous role, he served as an investment analyst and financial consultant in the wealth management industry in South Africa, where he gained experience in various financial activities, including portfolio management, investment research, financial analysis, and wealth management.
Laurentius holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Investment Management and a post-graduate diploma in financial planning from Stellenbosch University. He obtained his CFP® designation in South Africa in 2017 and is CFA Level 3 qualified in the UK.
The team from Transact recently joined us to record a series of fantastic 5-10 minute audio treats. We hope you enjoy them.
Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes when you place a trade on a platform? In this bite-sized Paraplanners’ Assembly Transact’s head of distribution, Glen Sweet, does just that.
In just FIVE minutes, Glen tells host, Richard Allum, all about trading points, settlement periods (including the difference between settlement of equities and funds), reconciliations, execution prices, trading windows…you get the idea.
When you consider the intro takes about 60 seconds it’s AMAZING how much insight and knowledge Glen packs in to his remaining 4 minutes and 23 seconds.
So if you’ve ever wanted to lift the lid on the workings of a platform, tune in to this episode for insights galore!
In the third episode of his series of bite-sized Assembly on investing, Timeline’s Laurentius van den Worm takes on the topic of sequencing risk.
In just 15 minutes he offers a working definition of sequencing risk he brings the topic to life with an example of two fictional sisters who – despite enjoying identical returns over their 30-year retirement journey – experience starkly different levels of income during…all because of the consequences of sequencing risk.
What’s more, Laurentius explores pound cost averaging and ravaging as well as the ‘4% rule’.
For paraplanners keen to top up on your investment know-how, it’s the ideal lunchtime listen.
Listen now
By loading the tweet, you agree to Twitter's privacy policy.
Learn more
Missed out on previous episodes?
Catch up now with the first two episodes this bite-sized Assembly series.
Part 1: On modern portfolio theory. Laurentius explores modern portfolio theory’s key principles – like diversification and concepts such as the ‘efficient frontier – illustrating the topic with practical examples.
Part 2: On asset allocation. Join Laurentius as he explores the topic of asset allocation, asset classes, diversification of risk, real estate investment, and performance of real estate investment trusts compared to global equities.
About Laurentius van den Worm CFA
Laurentius joined the Timeline Investment team in January 2022 after moving to the United Kingdom from South Africa. He serves as an investment strategist who oversees the fund research and selection, asset allocation and portfolio construction functions in collaboration with the CIO.
Laurentius has seven years experience in the South African investment markets. In his previous role, he served as an investment analyst and financial consultant in the wealth management industry in South Africa, where he gained experience in various financial activities, including portfolio management, investment research, financial analysis, and wealth management.
Laurentius holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Investment Management and a post-graduate diploma in financial planning from Stellenbosch University. He obtained his CFP® designation in South Africa in 2017 and is CFA Level 3 qualified in the UK.