Trusts

Choosing the right structures to protect assets and give your family lasting benefits

One of the most effective ways you can manage your estate planning is through setting up a trust. The structures into which you can transfer your assets can have lasting consequences for you and your family, so it is important that you obtain professional financial advice as the right structures can protect assets and give your family lasting benefits.

A trust is a legal arrangement where one or more trustees are made legally responsible for assets. The assets – such as land, money, buildings, shares or even antiques – are placed in trust for the benefit of one or more beneficiaries. They are not the sole domain of the super-rich. Trusts are incredibly useful and flexible devices that people employ for all sorts of different purposes, including Inheritance Tax planning.

Simplest form
In its simplest form, a trust is just a legal mechanism for separating the ownership of an asset into two parts: the ‘legal’ ownership (or title to the asset) on the one hand, and the ‘beneficial’ ownership on the other hand.

It is in the course of Inheritance Tax planning, though, that people are most likely to come face to face with trusts and seek to get an understanding of what they are and how they work. Their use is widespread and, despite some recent adverse changes in tax law, they remain an important tool in estate planning.

More flexibility
The trust is created when the settlor transfers assets to the trustees, who hold the assets in trust for the beneficiaries. The main reason a person would put assets into a trust rather than make an outright gift is that trusts offer far more flexibility than outright gifts.

The trustees are responsible for managing the trust and carrying out the wishes of the person who has put the assets into trust (the settlor). The settlor’s wishes for the trust are usually written in their Will or given in a legal document called the trust deed.

The purpose of a trust

Trusts may be set up for a number of reasons, for example:

•    To control and protect family assets
•    When someone is too young to handle their affairs
•    When someone can’t handle their affairs because they are incapacitated
•    To pass on money or property while you are still alive
•    To pass on money or assets when you die under the terms of your Will – known as a ‘Will trust’
•    Under the rules of inheritance that apply when someone dies without leaving a valid Will (England and Wales only)

There are several types of UK family trusts, and each type of trust may be taxed differently. There are other types of non-family trusts. These are set up for many reasons, for example, to operate as a charity or to provide a means for employers to create a pension scheme for their staff.

When you might have to pay Inheritance Tax on your trust

There are four main situations when Inheritance Tax may be due on trusts:

•    When assets are transferred – or settled – into a trust
•    When a trust reaches a ten-year anniversary of when it was set up
•    When assets are transferred out of a trust or the trust comes to an end
•    When someone dies and a trust is involved when sorting out their estate

Trust solutions for managing wealth
We can advise you on a range of different trust solutions, each designed with a particular purpose in mind.

Some types of trust are treated differently for Inheritance Tax purposes.

Bare trusts
These are where the assets in a trust are held in the name of a trustee but go directly to the beneficiary, who has a right to both the assets and income of the trust.
Transfers into a bare trust may also be exempt from Inheritance Tax, as long as the person making the transfer survives for seven years after making the transfer.

Interest in possession trusts
These are trusts where the beneficiary is entitled to trust income as it’s produced – this is called their ‘interest in possession’.
On assets transferred into this type of trust before 22 March 2006, there’s no Inheritance Tax to pay.
On assets transferred on or after 22 March 2006, the 10-yearly Inheritance Tax charge may be due.
During the life of the trust, there’s no Inheritance Tax to pay as long as the asset stays in the trust and remains the ‘interest’ of the beneficiary.

Between 22 March 2006 and 5 October 2008:

•    Beneficiaries of an interest in possession trust could pass on their interest in possession to other beneficiaries, like their children
•    This was called making a ‘transitional serial interest’
•    There’s no Inheritance Tax to pay in this situation

From 5 October 2008:

•    Beneficiaries of an interest in possession trust can’t pass their interest on as a transitional serial interest
•    If an interest is transferred after this date, there may be a charge of 20% and a 10-yearly Inheritance Tax charge will be payable unless it’s a disabled trust

If you inherit an interest in possession trust from someone who has died, there’s no Inheritance Tax at the 10 year anniversary. Instead, 40% tax will be due when you die.

Information is based on our current understanding of taxation legislation and regulations. Tax assumptions are subject to statutory change and the value of tax relief (if any) will depend upon your individual circumstances. The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate Taxation and Trust Advice or Will Writing. The value of your investment can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount invested. Levels and bases of and reliefs from taxation are subject to change and their value depends on the individual circumstances of the investor. The treatment of Trusts for tax purposes is the same throughout the United Kingdom. However, Scottish law on Trusts and the terms used in relation to Trusts in Scotland are different from the laws of England and Wales and Northern Ireland. This information does not constitute advice and should not be used as the basis of any financial decision, nor should it be treated as a recommendation for any product. Although endeavours have been made to provide accurate and timely information, Professional Practice Services cannot guarantee that such information is accurate as of the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No individual or company should act upon such information without receiving appropriate professional advice after a thorough review of their particular situation. We cannot accept responsibility for any loss as a result of acts or omissions.

Professional financial advice you can trust
Do you need someone to manage money for you – for example, to use it to help someone after your death, or to pay for your care later on? One way to do this is to put the money into a trust. To discuss your requirements, please contact us for more information – we look forward to hearing from you.

Call our friendly, knowledgeable team for a confidential, no obligation discussion:
01527 880345
 

Visit our Website at:
www.pps-vet.co.uk
 

Professional Practice Services is a Veterinary Business Consultancy and Independent Financial Advisory Firm. Professional Practice Services is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority
The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate finance, will writing, commercial lending, taxation or trust advice.
Article Reference: PPS062014.GM23

Inheritance Tax Matters

Not quite the ‘voluntary’ tax it was once considered

Effective estate planning is about getting the right balance between maintaining access to your money when you need it and saving tax. This is because, in general, the more tax efficient a solution is, the less access you have to your assets. Safeguarding your own financial future is very important, and giving too much away could put this at risk.

Inheritance Tax is the tax that is paid on your estate, chargeable at a current rate of 40%, and is now perhaps not quite the ‘voluntary’ tax it was once considered. However, careful planning to ensure you take advantage of all the allowances and reliefs available could save you a lot of money relatively easily. It’s never too early to start.

Broadly speaking, this is a tax on everything you own at the time of your death, less what you owe. It’s also sometimes payable on assets you may have given away during your lifetime. Assets include property, possessions, money and investments, and life insurance policies not written in an appropriate trust. One thing is certain: careful planning is required to protect your wealth from a potential Inheritance Tax liability.

Not everyone pays Inheritance Tax on their death. It only applies if the taxable value of your estate when you die (including your share of any jointly owned assets and assets held in some types of trusts) is above the current £325,000 threshold (frozen until 6 April 2017 to 5 April 2018) or ‘Nil Rate Band’. It is only payable on the excess above this amount.

Inheritance Tax exemptions and reliefs

Sometimes, even if your estate is over the threshold, you can pass on assets without having to pay Inheritance Tax. Examples include:

•    Spouse or registered civil partner exemption: Your estate usually doesn’t owe Inheritance Tax on anything you leave to a spouse or registered civil partner who has their permanent home in the UK – nor on gifts you make to them in your lifetime – even if the amount is over the threshold
•    Charity exemption: Any gifts you make to a qualifying charity – during your lifetime or in your Will – will be exempt from Inheritance Tax
•    Potentially exempt transfers: If you survive for seven years after making a gift to someone, the gift is generally exempt from Inheritance Tax, no matter what the value
•    Annual exemption: You can give up to £3,000 away each year, either as a single gift or as several gifts adding up to that amount – you can also use your unused allowance from the previous year, but you use the current year’s allowance first
•    Small gift exemption: You can make small gifts of up to £250 to as many individuals as you like tax-free
•    Wedding and registered civil partnership gifts: Gifts to someone getting married or registering a civil partnership are exempt up to a certain amount
•    Business, Woodland, Heritage and Farm Relief: If the deceased owned a business, farm, woodland or National Heritage property, some relief from Inheritance Tax may be available

Transfers of assets into most trusts and companies will become subject to an immediate Inheritance Tax charge if they exceed the Inheritance Tax threshold (taking into account the previous seven years’ chargeable gifts and transfers).

In addition, transfers of money or property into most trusts are also subject to an immediate Inheritance Tax charge on values that exceed the Inheritance Tax threshold. Tax is also payable ten-yearly on the value of trust assets above the threshold; however, certain trusts are exempt from these rules.

Gifts and transfers made in the previous seven years
In order to work out whether the current Inheritance Tax threshold of £325,000 has been exceeded on a transfer, you need to take into account all chargeable (non-exempt, including potentially exempt) gifts and transfers made in the previous seven years. If a transfer takes you over the nil rate band, Inheritance Tax is payable at 20% on the excess.

Information is based on our current understanding of taxation legislation and regulations. Tax assumptions are subject to statutory change and the value of tax relief (if any) will depend upon your individual circumstances. The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate Taxation and Trust Advice or Will Writing. The value of your investment can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount invested. Levels and bases of and reliefs from taxation are subject to change and their value depends on the individual circumstances of the investor. This information does not constitute advice and should not be used as the basis of any financial decision, nor should it be treated as a recommendation for any product. Although endeavours have been made to provide accurate and timely information, Professional Practice Services cannot guarantee that such information is accurate as of the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No individual or company should act upon such information without receiving appropriate professional advice after a thorough review of their particular situation. We cannot accept responsibility for any loss as a result of acts or omissions.

Professional financial advice you can trust
We will assess your situation and provide advice on a number of tax migration solutions bespoke estate protection planning strategies that are tailored to suit you and your circumstances. To review your particular situation, please contact us for further information. Don’t leave it to chance.

Call our friendly, knowledgeable team for a confidential, no obligation discussion:
01527 880345
 

Visit our Website at:
www.pps-vet.co.uk
 

Professional Practice Services is a Veterinary Business Consultancy and Independent Financial Advisory Firm. Professional Practice Services is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority
The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate finance, will writing, commercial lending, taxation or trust advice.
Article Reference: PPS062014.GM21

Making a Will

Sharing out your estate

Planning your finances in advance should help you ensure that when you die, everything you own goes where you want it to. Making a Will is the first step in ensuring that your estate is shared out exactly as you want it to be.

If you don’t make a Will, there are rules for sharing out your estate called the ‘Law of Intestacy’, which could mean your money going to family members who may not need it, with your unmarried partner or a partner with whom you are not in a registered civil partnership receiving nothing at all.

If you leave everything to your spouse or registered civil partner, there’ll be no Inheritance Tax to pay because they are classed as an exempt beneficiary. Or you may decide to use your tax-free allowance to give some of your estate to someone else, or to a family trust.

Good reasons to make a Will
A Will sets out who is to benefit from your property and possessions (your estate) after your death.

There are many good reasons to make a Will:

•    You can decide how your assets are shared – if you don’t have a Will, the law says who gets what
•     If you’re an unmarried couple (whether or not it’s a same-sex relationship), you can make sure your partner is provided for
•    If you’re divorced, you can decide whether to leave anything to your former partner
•    You can make sure you don’t pay more Inheritance Tax than necessary

Before you write a Will, it’s a good idea to think about what you want included in it.

You should consider:

•    How much money and what property and possessions you have
•    Who you want to benefit from your Will
•    Who should look after any children under 18 years of age
•    Who is going to sort out your estate and carry out your wishes after your death (your executor?)

Passing on your estate
An executor is the person responsible for passing on your estate. You can appoint an executor by naming them in your Will. The courts can also appoint other people to be responsible for doing this job.
Once you’ve made your Will, it is important to keep it in a safe place and tell your executor, close friend or relative where it is.
It is advisable to review your Will every five years and after any major change in your life, such as getting separated, married or divorced, having a child, or moving house. Any change must be by codicil (an addition, amendment or supplement to a Will) or by making a new Will.
Scottish law on inheritance differs from English law.

Information is based on our current understanding of taxation legislation and regulations. Tax assumptions are subject to statutory change and the value of tax relief (if any) will depend upon your individual circumstances. The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate Taxation and Trust Advice or Will Writing. The value of your investment can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount invested. Levels and bases of and reliefs from taxation are subject to change and their value depends on the individual circumstances of the investor. This information does not constitute advice and should not be used as the basis of any financial decision, nor should it be treated as a recommendation for any product. Although endeavours have been made to provide accurate and timely information, Professional Practice Services cannot guarantee that such information is accurate as of the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No individual or company should act upon such information without receiving appropriate professional advice after a thorough review of their particular situation. We cannot accept responsibility for any loss as a result of acts or omissions.

Professional financial advice you can trust
We will help you make your wishes known to ensure your property and possessions go to the ones you love, so you can have complete peace of mind and reduce the worry, stress and likelihood of disagreements for those you leave behind. To discuss your requirements, please contact us.

Call our friendly, knowledgeable team for a confidential, no obligation discussion:
01527 880345
 

Visit our Website at:
www.pps-vet.co.uk
 

Professional Practice Services is a Veterinary Business Consultancy and Independent Financial Advisory Firm. Professional Practice Services is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority
The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate finance, will writing, commercial lending, taxation or trust advice.
Article Reference: PPS062014.GM20

Professional Practice Services at London Vet Show 2014 - Stand A21

 

Practice Makes Perfect!

Find out how we can help you and your practice realise your true potential. Come and speak with the PPS Partners at London Vet Show Stand A21, Olympia Grand, 20-21 November 2014 

Established in 1998, PPS now represents more than 2,500 veterinary practices and veterinary practitioners across the UK. We take pride in our reputation as Financial Services specialists to the Veterinary sector and value the strong long-term relationships we forge with clients.

As proud supporters, Professional Practice Services are back again for the two day event in November, bringing with us a host of information and resources to help you take back control of your financial future.

 

Dr Paul Jackson, Partner, said 'PPS is the only Financial Services specialist in the UK working exclusively for the Veterinary sector. We model ourselves on being an extension of your business and an integral strategic partner helping you to achieve your life goals – ultimately our success is dependent on yours.'

Visit our stand for an informal, no obligation chat on anything financial including:

·         Retirement/Succession Planning

·         Practice Finance
·         Partnership/Share Protection
·         Tax Planning
 
·         Investment/Pension and Wealth Management
·         Family Protection
·         Income Protection
·         Estate Planning
·         Mortgages

·         Employee Benefits

·         Workplace Pensions & Auto-Enrolment

·         Business Consultancy

 

Alternatively do let us know if you would like a more in depth conversation as we are offering 1-2-1 meetings throughout the Show with Amira, David, and Paul.

Visit Stand A21 to enter our prize draw to win a luxury hamper just in time for the festive season and as always we'll have our ever popular fuzzy bugs and goodies to help yourself to!

Call our friendly, knowledgeable team from a confidential, no obligation discussion:

01527 880 345

 or email us on:

enquiries@pps-vet.co.uk

 

Visit our Website at:

www.pps-vet.co.uk  

 

We'll also be tweeting throughout the show from @ppsvet

 

Professional Practice Services is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct  Authority. 

The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate finance, will writing, commercial lending, taxation or trust advice

Income Protection Insurance

How would you pay the bills if you were sick or injured and couldn’t work?

Protecting your income should be taken very seriously, given the limited government support available. How would you pay the bills if you were sick or injured and couldn’t work? Income protection insurance, formerly known as ‘permanent health insurance’, is a financial safety net designed to help protect you, your family and your lifestyle in the event that you cannot work and cope financially due to an illness or accidental injury preventing you from working. Most of us need to work to pay the bills.

Tax-free income
Without a regular income, you may find it a struggle financially, even if you were ill for only a short period, and you could end up using your savings to pay the bills. In the event that you suffered from a serious illness, medical condition or accident, you could even find that you are never able to return to work. Few of us could cope financially if we were off work for more than six to nine months. Income protection insurance provides a tax-free monthly income for as long as required, up to retirement age, should you be unable to work due to long-term sickness or injury.

Statutory sick period
By law, your employer must pay most employees statutory sick pay for up to 28 weeks. This will almost certainly be a lot less than your full earnings. Few employers pay for longer periods. If you find yourself in a situation where you are unable to return to work, your employer could even stop paying you altogether and terminate your employment. After that, you would probably have to rely on state benefits. Some employers arrange group income protection insurance for their employees, which can pay out an income after the statutory sick period.

Maximum income amount
Income protection insurance aims to put you back to the position you were in before you were unable to work. It does not allow you to make a profit out of your misfortune. So the maximum amount of income you can replace through insurance is broadly the after-tax earnings you have lost, less an adjustment for state benefits you can claim. This is usually translated into a maximum of 50% to 65% of your before-tax earnings.

Self-employment
If you are self-employed, then no work is also likely to mean no income. However, depending on what you do, you may have income coming in from earlier work, even if you are ill for several months. The self-employed can take out individual policies rather than business ones, but you need to ascertain on what basis the insurer will pay out. A typical basis for payment is your pre-tax share of the gross profit, after deduction of trading expenses, in the 12 months immediately prior to the date of your incapacity. Some policies operate an average over the last three years, as they understand that self-employed people often have a fluctuating income.

The cost of your cover will depend on your occupation, age, state of health and whether or not you smoke.

Comprehensive definitions
The ‘occupation class’ is used by insurers to decide whether a policyholder is able to return to work. If a policy will pay out only if a policyholder is unable to work in ‘any occupation’, it might not pay benefits for long – or indeed at all. The most comprehensive definitions are ‘Own Occupation’ or ‘Suited Occupation’. ‘Own Occupation’ means you can make a claim if you are unable to perform your own job; however, being covered under ‘Any Occupation’ means that you have to be unable to perform any job, with equivalent earnings to the job you were doing before not taken into account.

You can also usually choose for your cover to remain the same (level cover) or increase in line with inflation (inflation-linked cover):

Level cover – with this cover, if you made a claim the monthly income would be fixed at the start of your plan and does not change in the future. You should remember that this means, if inflation eventually starts to rise, that the buying power of your monthly income payments may be reduced over time.

Inflation-linked cover – with this cover, if you made a claim the monthly income would go up in line with the Retail Prices Index (RPI).

When you take out cover, you usually have the choice of:

Guaranteed premiums – the premiums remain the same all the way throughout the term of your plan. If you have chosen inflation-linked cover, your premiums and cover will automatically go up each year in line with RPI

Reviewable premiums – this means the premiums you pay can increase or decrease in the future. The premiums will not typically increase or decrease for the first five years of your plan but they may do so at any time after that. If your premiums do go up, or down, they will not change again for the next 12 months

Waiting period
How long you have to wait after making a claim will depend on the waiting period. You can usually choose from between 1, 2, 3, 6, 12 or 24 months. The longer the waiting period you choose, the lower the premium for your cover will be, but you’ll have to wait longer after you become unable to work before the payments from the policy are paid to you. Premiums must be paid for the entire term of the plan, including the waiting period.

Information is based on our current understanding of taxation legislation and regulations. Any levels and bases of and reliefs from taxation are subject to change. Tax treatment is based on individual circumstances and may be subject to change in the future. This information does not constitute advice and should not be used as the basis of any financial decision, nor should it be treated as a recommendation for any specific protection product. Although endeavours have been made to provide accurate and timely information, Professional Practice Services cannot guarantee that such information is accurate as of the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No individual or company should act upon such information without receiving appropriate professional advice after a thorough review of their particular situation. We cannot accept responsibility for any loss as a result of acts or omissions.

Professional financial advice you can trust
Depending on your circumstances, it is possible that the payments from the plan may affect any state benefits due to you. This will depend on your individual situation and what state benefits you are claiming or intending to claim. If you are unsure whether any state benefits you are receiving will be affected, or to discuss how we can help you protect your income, please contact us.

Call our friendly, knowledgeable team for a confidential, no obligation discussion:
01527 880345
 

Visit our Website at:
www.pps-vet.co.uk
 

Professional Practice Services is a Veterinary Business Consultancy and Independent Financial Advisory Firm. Professional Practice Services is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority
The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate finance, will writing, commercial lending, taxation or trust advice.

Article Reference: PPS062014.GM08

Critical illness Protection

Providing vital financial security when you’re in need of it most
The diagnosis of a serious illness can mean a very difficult time for your health and your wealth. But critical illness cover can provide vital financial security when you need it most. Most homebuyers purchase life assurance when they arrange a mortgage, but overlook critical illness cover – another form of financial protection that we are statistically more likely to need before reaching retirement.

Something critical
You really need to find the right peace of mind when faced with the difficulty of dealing with a critical illness. Critical illness assurance pays a tax-free lump sum on diagnosis of any one of a list of specified serious illnesses, including cancer and heart attacks. The good news is that medical advances mean more people than ever are surviving life-threatening conditions that might have killed earlier generations. Critical illness cover can provide cash to allow you to pursue a less stressful lifestyle while you recover from illness, or use it for any other purpose.

It’s almost impossible to predict certain events that may occur within our lives, so taking out critical illness cover  for you and your family, or if you run a business or company, offers protection when you may need it more than anything else.

Whichever happens first
The illnesses covered are specified in the policy along with any exclusions and limitations, which may differ between insurers. Critical illness policies usually only pay out once, so are not a replacement for income. Some policies offer combined life and critical illness cover. These pay out if you are diagnosed with a critical illness or you die, whichever happens first.

If you already have an existing critical illness policy, you might find that by replacing a policy you would lose some of the benefits if you have developed any illnesses since you took out the first policy. It is important to seek professional advice before considering replacing or switching your policy, as pre-existing conditions may not be covered under a new policy.

Core specified conditions
All policies should cover seven core specified conditions. These are cancer, coronary artery bypass, heart attack, kidney failure, major organ transplant, multiple sclerosis and stroke. They will also pay out if a policyholder becomes permanently disabled as a result of injury or illness.

But not all conditions are necessarily covered. The Association of British Insurers (ABI) introduced a set of best practice guidelines. In May 2003, the ABI introduced other measures. These included conditions such as non invasive skin cancers and less advanced cases of prostate cancer. Tumours that have not yet invaded the organ or tissue, and lymphoma or Kaposi’s sarcoma in the presence of HIV, are excluded.

There are also more restrictive conditions for heart attacks. There has to be evidence of typical chest pain, or changes in the electrocardiogram (ECG), for example, if a claim is to be successful. Cardiac conditions, such as angina, will not be covered.

Lifestyle changes
Some policies allow you to increase your cover, particularly after lifestyle changes such as marriage, moving home or having children. If you cannot increase the cover under your existing policy, you could consider taking out a new policy just to ‘top up’ your existing cover.

A policy will provide cover only for conditions defined in the policy document. For a condition to be covered, your condition must meet the policy definition exactly. This can mean that some conditions, such as some forms of cancer, won’t be covered if deemed insufficiently severe.
 

Similarly, some conditions may not be covered if you suffer from them after reaching a certain age, for example, many policies will not cover Alzheimer’s disease if diagnosed after the age of 60.egulated by The Financial Conduct Authority.
Partners: David Hodgetts, Paul Jackson & Amira Norris
 

Survival period
Very few policies will pay out as soon as you receive diagnosis of any of the conditions listed in the policy, and most pay out only after a ‘survival period’. This means that if you die within the specified number of days of meeting the definition of the critical illness given in the policy, the cover would not pay out.

How much you pay for critical illness cover will depend on a range of factors including what sort of policy you have chosen, your age, the amount you want the policy to pay out and whether or not you smoke.

Permanent total disability is usually included in the policy. Some insurers define ‘permanent total disability’ as being unable to work as you normally would as a result of sickness, while others see it as being unable to independently perform three or more ‘Activities of Daily Living’ as a result of sickness or accident.

Getting it covered
If you are single with no dependants, critical illness cover can be used to pay off your mortgage, which means that you would have fewer bills or a lump sum to use if you became very unwell. And if you are part of a couple, it can provide much-needed financial support at a time of emotional stress.
While life assurance is often the priority of those with dependant family members, critical illness cover can be vital if you are the sole breadwinner, rely heavily on your income or are single. It provides a welcome financial boost at a time of emotional stress and financial hardship.

Information is based on our current understanding of taxation legislation and regulations. Any levels and bases of and reliefs from taxation are subject to change. Tax treatment is based on individual circumstances and may be subject to change in the future. This information does not constitute advice and should not be used as the basis of any financial decision, nor should it be treated as a recommendation for any specific protection product. Although endeavours have been made to provide accurate and timely information, Professional Practice Services cannot guarantee that such information is accurate as of the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No individual or company should act upon such information without receiving appropriate professional advice after a thorough review of their particular situation. We cannot accept responsibility for any loss as a result of acts or omissions.

Professional financial advice you can trust
Before you apply for critical illness cover, you should obtain professional financial advice to ensure that it is right for you and offers sufficient cover for your specific requirements. To discuss the options available to you, please contact us. Don’t leave it to chance.

Call our friendly, knowledgeable team for a confidential, no obligation discussion:
01527 880345
 

Visit our Website at:
www.pps-vet.co.uk
 

Professional Practice Services is a Veterinary Business Consultancy and Independent Financial Advisory Firm. Professional Practice Services is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority
The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate finance, will writing, commercial lending, taxation or trust advice.

Article Reference: PPS062014.GM07

Peace of mind for you and your family

Making the right decisions to protect your financial situation

With so many different protection options available, making the right decision to protect your personal and financial situation can seem overwhelming. There is a plethora of protection solutions which could help ensure that a lump sum, or a replacement income, becomes available to you in the event that it is needed.

We can make sure that you are able to take the right decisions to deliver peace of mind for you and your family in the event of death, if you are too ill to work or if you are diagnosed with a specified critical illness.

You can choose protection-only insurance, which is called ‘term insurance’. In its simplest form, it pays out a specified amount if you die within a selected period of years. If you survive, it pays out nothing. It is one of the cheapest ways overall of buying the cover you may need.

Alternatively, a whole-of-life policy provides cover for as long as you live.

Life Assurance Options
Whole-of-life assurance plans can be used to ensure that a guaranteed lump sum is paid to your estate in the event of your premature death. To avoid inheritance tax and probate delays, policies should be set up under an appropriate trust

•    Level term plans provide a lump sum for your beneficiaries in the event of your death over a specified term
•    Family income benefit plans give a replacement income for beneficiaries on your premature death
•    Decreasing term protection plans pay out a lump sum in the event of your death to cover a reducing liability for a fixed period, such as a repayment mortgage

How would you cope financially?
Simply having life assurance may not be sufficient. For instance, if you contracted a near-fatal disease or illness, how would you cope financially? You may not be able to work and so lose your income, but you are still alive so your life assurance does not pay out.

Income Protection Insurance (IPI), formerly known as ‘permanent health insurance’, would make up a percentage of your lost income caused by an illness, accident or disability. Rates vary according to the dangers associated with your occupation, age, state of health and gender, but IPI is particularly important if you are self-employed or if you do not have an employer that would continue to pay your salary if you were unable to work.

Specified ‘critical’ illnesses
If you are diagnosed with suffering from one of a number of specified ‘critical’ illnesses, a critical illness insurance policy would pay out a tax-free lump sum if the event occurred during the term of your policy. Many life insurance companies offer policies that cover you for both death and critical illness and will pay out the guaranteed benefit on the first event to occur.

Managing your affairs
Beyond taking the obvious step of ensuring that you have adequate insurance cover, you should also ensure that you have made a Will. A living will makes clear your wishes in the event that, for example, you are pronounced clinically dead following an accident, and executes an enduring power of attorney, so that if you become incapable of managing your affairs as a result of an accident or illness, you can be reassured that responsibility will pass to someone you have chosen and trust. All of these protection options also apply to your spouse and to those who are in registered civil partnerships.

Information is based on our current understanding of taxation legislation and regulations. Any levels and bases of and reliefs from taxation are subject to change. Tax treatment is based on individual circumstances and may be subject to change in the future. This information does not constitute advice and should not be used as the basis of any financial decision, nor should it be treated as a recommendation for any specific protection product. Although endeavours have been made to provide accurate and timely information, Professional Practice Services cannot guarantee that such information is accurate as of the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No individual or company should act upon such information without receiving appropriate professional advice after a thorough review of their particular situation. We cannot accept responsibility for any loss as a result of acts or omissions.

Professional financial advice you can trust
 
Choosing the right mix of financial protection for your particular situation is essential to ensure that your specific requirements are fully covered. If you would like to discuss the range of protection services we offer, please contact us for further information – we look forward to hearing from you.

Call our friendly, knowledgeable team for a confidential, no obligation discussion:
01527 880345
 
Visit our Website at:
www.pps-vet.co.uk
 
Professional Practice Services is a Veterinary Business Consultancy and Independent Financial Advisory Firm. Professional Practice Services is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority
The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate finance, will writing, commercial lending, taxation or trust advice.