Ash Tree Financial Services

Independent financial advice from the investment specialists

It has been said that money is a worry, whether you have plenty or insufficient. We can help to reduce those worries, whichever camp you fall into.

Whether you want to review your existing investments, invest a lump sum. start a savings programme for a specific purpose or just to build up capital for a "rainy day" we are fully qualified to advise you on the most suitable course of action.

The appropriate form of investment will depend upon many factors including your requirements and financial situation, your age and family circumstances, your attitude to investment risk, your tax position, etc. We will take all these into account in our recommendations to you.

There is a wide choice of savings and investment products ranging from simple cash deposit accounts, through unit trusts to more speculative investments such as stocks and shares and overseas funds. These include:

• All types of cash deposit accounts from instant access to term bonds
• ISA's
• Unit Trusts
• Open-ended Investment Companies (OEICs)
• Investment Bonds
• Investment Trusts
• Children's Savings
• Structured Products

You may find all of this to be somewhat confusing, but we are here to offer sound advice and help you in making the choice that is right for you. We will explain the nature of the many available investment and savings vehicles and their respective advantages and disadvantages.

Usually, it is sensible to spread the risk by having a combination of different products and funds and we will recommend an investment portfolio or savings programme that is personalised for your own situation and outlook.

We are independent financial advisers, with no tie to any product provider. This means that the advice we provide is totally unbiased; we work for you, not the investment companies and savings institutions. Recommendations are made after we have considered what is available across the market.

Inheritance Tax Planning

Another aspect of investment planning and wealth management is the possible future effect of Inheritance Tax (IHT). This is a tax that may be due on an estate when someone dies. Your 'estate' is everything that you own at the time of your death, such as property, personal possessions and investments, less anything you owe. Sometimes gifts made during your lifetime have to be included.

For the majority of people, there will be no inheritance tax liability because their total estate is within the Nil Rate Band. In the Tax Year 2011/12, the threshold before IHT has to be paid is £325,000. For married couples, the balance of the Nil Rate Band not used on first death can be utilised when the survivor dies, so the threshold figure doubles to £650,000 between them.

Property values can often help to push the value of an estate beyond these amounts, though, and any excess is subject to tax at 40%.

To look at a simple example, if a married couple had an estate valued at £1,300,000 net and wanted to leave it equally to their four children, they would find a fifth heir had joined in. The value of the estate beyond the Nil Rate band would be £650,000 and the taxman would take 40% of that, £260,000. The four children would be left with £1,040,000 between them and so receive £260,000 each, also.

There are steps that can be taken to alleviate the IHT position and we will be pleased to advise you in this respect.

Please contact us for further information on how we can be of help to you with your investments and wealth management. We look forward to hearing from you.

Ash Tree Financial Services is an appointed representative of Lighthouse Advisory Services Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

The services offered on this website are for UK residents over the age of 18

How to contact us:

By Post: Ash Tree House, 48 Sutton Mill Road, Potton, Bedfordshire, SG19 2QB
Telephone: 01767 262 760 or 0845 868 139 (local rate)
Email: info@ashtree.uk.com

Or please use the online investment enquiry form.