Britons Increasing Pension Withdrawals Ahead of Budget Announcement

As the budget announcement on October 30 approaches, Britons are withdrawing more money from their pensions, according to insights from an investment platform. Michael Summersgill, CEO of AJ Bell, highlights that many savers are opting to increase their tax-free cash withdrawals. Currently, individuals can withdraw 25% of their pension, with a maximum limit of £268,275. While there’s no definitive evidence suggesting a reduction in this percentage, left-leaning think tanks have advised the government that the 25% rule mainly benefits wealthier individuals.

Understanding Pension Withdrawals

Summersgill stated, “Pensions serve as the main savings tool for retirement in the UK, and it’s natural for customers to be concerned about any potential tax changes. With the heightened media focus leading up to the budget, we’ve observed a significant shift in both pension contributions and tax-free withdrawals.”

Conversely, Ross Lacey, a director and chartered financial planner at Fairview Financial Management, advises clients against making hasty decisions. “Given the increasing emphasis on self-funding retirement and the existing challenges pensions face in terms of public perception, it would be unwise to implement changes that could make pensions less appealing,” he noted. It’s worth mentioning that immediate tax changes are not uncommon but are still unexpected.

Should You Increase Your Pension Contributions Before the Autumn Budget?

With the Autumn Budget approaching, many are pondering whether to increase their pension contributions. There are speculations that higher- and additional-rate taxpayers might receive a reduced rate of tax relief on their pension contributions. However, specific details and implementation dates will only be revealed during the Budget.

While it’s generally wise to avoid hasty decisions, if you’re already considering boosting your pension and fall into a higher or additional-rate tax bracket, now might be the time to strategize for maximizing your contributions.

Potential Changes to Tax Relief

Currently, contributions to personal pensions receive tax relief based on the highest income tax rate. For instance, a contribution of £80 to a personal pension automatically includes an extra £20 in basic-rate (20%) tax relief. Higher-rate (40%) and additional-rate (45%) taxpayers can reclaim additional amounts through their self-assessment tax return.

However, rumors suggest the Chancellor may consider a flat rate of tax relief between 20% and 30% for all individuals. This change would aim for more equitable benefits across income levels but would result in lower advantages for those currently receiving higher rates of tax relief.

Related: More young home owners gamble their retirement with mortgages lasting past state pension age

Maximizing Your Pension Benefits

If the proposed changes are implemented, higher- and additional-rate taxpayers may miss out on certain tax perks. Nevertheless, most UK taxpayers will still benefit significantly. If you’re in a higher tax bracket, it may be wise to consider advancing your pension contributions before any potential changes take effect. This strategy allows you to maximize the higher relief rates currently available.

For those in workplace pension schemes, consulting with your employer about increasing contributions can also be beneficial. Many employers match contributions, significantly enhancing pension savings over time.

As of now, tax relief on pension contributions is available up to 100% of your gross relevant earnings, with a cap of £60,000 for the 2024-25 tax year. This cap, known as the ‘annual allowance,’ includes both your contributions and those from your employer before tax. Note that the annual allowance may be reduced if you have a high income or have accessed your pension pot flexibly.

Considerations Before Boosting Your Pension

While increasing your pension may seem like a prudent choice, it’s not suitable for everyone. First, assess whether you can comfortably afford to increase your contributions. Remember that you won’t be able to access these funds until at least age 55, rising to age 57 in April 2028. If you anticipate needing access to your funds before retirement, consider an Individual Savings Account (ISA) instead. Although ISAs don’t offer tax relief on contributions, you can withdraw your money whenever without incurring tax penalties.

For the 2024-25 tax year, you can contribute up to £20,000 to ISAs. Increasing your ISA contributions might also be timely, as there are rumors of a potential lifetime cap on ISA savings that could be introduced in the Autumn Budget or by a future government.

Diversifying investments across various accounts, including ISAs and pensions, can help mitigate risks associated with changes in tax laws or personal circumstances. Regularly managing contributions and withdrawals from different accounts can enhance tax efficiency, ultimately reducing your overall investment costs.

Conclusion

Regularly reviewing your monthly savings and ensuring you’re investing tax-efficiently is crucial as you work toward your retirement goals. By maintaining a long-term perspective and considering your financial objectives, you can set yourself up for a brighter financial future.

Please note that the tax rates and allowances mentioned in this article are based on information as of September 2024.

Related: The average savings based on your age

AS THE nights draw in many of us could benefit from insulating our homes to keep draughts out.

One way to do so is to install B&M’s Bubble Wrap, which can help your home feel warmer while saving you money on your energy bill.

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It costs just £2 and can help to protect your home from cold gusts of air which can enter through cracks or gaps around your windows.

The bubble wrap has a diameter of 500mm by 5m, which is enough to insulate several windows.

The air pockets in the surface create a barrier which traps heat inside and keeps the cold out of your home.

Plus by stopping cold air from entering your house you could also save precious pounds off your energy bill.

Draught-proofing is one of the cheapest and most effective methods to save money, irrespective of what type of building you live in.

Reducing draughts around windows and doors could save you around £40 a year if you live in Great Britain, or £50 in Northern Ireland, according to the Energy Saving Trust.

Draught-free homes may also be more comfortable at lower temperatures, which could mean that you are able to turn down your thermostat.

Doing so could save you even more money on your energy bills.

To the bubble wrap to insulate your home, simply measure your windows and cut the bubble wrap to fit.

Next lightly spray your windows with water, which acts as an adhesive and allows the bubble wrap to stick directly to the glass.

Place the bubble wrap onto the window with the bubble-side facing into your home and gently press it to secure it in place.

If your home is particularly draughty then you can also double up the bubble wrap for extra insulation.

Bubble wrap is also easy to remove in the warmer months and doesn’t damage your windows as it is not permanent.

Make sure to seal draughty doors and windows with insulation tape to stop draughts getting in.

Before you install the bubble wrap make sure to shop around to get the best deal.

Sainsbury’s is selling 8 metre large rolls of bubble wrap for £4.25.

Meanwhile, The Works has a 5m x 300mm roll for £1.

Always check the length and width of the roll before you make a purchase to ensure that you are getting a good deal.

Never draught proof areas of your home that need good ventilation such as rooms where lots of moisture is produced such as the bathroom, utility rooms or kitchen.

Also avoid blocking up areas where there are open fires or open flues.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.

Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories

Good morning and welcome to your Morning Briefing for Thursday 17 October 2024. To get this in your inbox every morning click here.

AJ Bell platform business grows

AJ Bell’s platform business has continued to grow, with customer numbers increasing by 66,000 to 542,000.

This represents an increase of 14% in the past year.

AJ Bell CEO Michael Summersgill said its dual-channel platform, which serves both the advised and D2C platform markets, has maximised the growth opportunity.

SJP records quarterly net inflows of £890m

St James’s Place (SJP) recorded net inflows of £890m in the past quarter.

These sustained inflows, together with “positive investment performance”, have resulted in record funds under management of £184.4bn as of 30 September.

The UK’s largest wealth manager also recorded gross inflows of £4.4bn in the third quarter, 20% higher compared to the same period last year.

CGT rise top of advisers’ minds

An increase in capital gains tax (CGT) is top of mind for advisers, the majority of whom think it is one of the most likely announcements in the upcoming Budget, research by Royal London has revealed.

In a survey, the life, pensions and investment mutual asked advisers their thoughts on the most talked about Budget in recent years.

Overall, 78% said they believe CGT changes are the most likely outcome.

Quote Of The Day

The US presidential elections on November 5 will have implications for China. Both Democrats and Republicans recognise the importance of reducing the trade deficit with China and reducing reliance on Chinese imports.

– Christopher Mey, head of emerging market credit at Candriam, comments on China’s economic outlook in the context of the US election and the potential threats

In Other News

Royal London has appointed Iain McLeod as director of investment proposition.

Reporting to chief commercial officer Julie Scott and heading up the Investment Proposition team, McLeod joins to lead the development of investment solutions for advisers across individual and workplace pensions, working closely with Royal London Asset Management.

He joins from M&G Wealth as head of investment proposition, following over 35 years at Abrdn and Standard Life in a variety of investment, saving and proposition roles.

His experience includes working closely with the UK adviser community to develop and deliver client-centric investment solutions.

The Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI) has announced the winners of its Financial Planning Awards 2024.

• Certified Financial Planner Professional of the Year Award

WINNER: Nicholas Grogan, PWS Financial Consulting

• Paraplanner of the Year Award, sponsored by The Association of Investment Companies

WINNER: Brad Sheridan, BRI Wealth Management

• CISI Accredited Financial Planning Firm™ of the Year Award, sponsored by Glascow Consulting

WINNER: Acumen Financial Planning

• Tony Sellon ‘Good Egg’ Award Memorial Prize

WINNER: Barry Horner, Paradigm Norton Financial Planning

• The Paul Etheridge Financial Planning Future Leader Award, sponsored by Lexington Wealth Management

WINNER: Emmelia Powell, Premier Wealth Solutions

CISI head of financial planning policy and engagement Chris Morris said: “Congratulations to all of our winners.

“These awards recognise both individual and firm excellence along with those who have made an outstanding contribution to the financial planning profession.”

Millionaire business owners urge Rachel Reeves to raise £14bn from rise in capital gains tax (Guardian)

Jamie Dimon charts JPMorgan expansion plan into Africa (Reuters)

Did You See?

Last week you joined us in London for Money Marketing Interactive London and what a day it was.

A huge thank you to all our incredible delegates. Your energy and participation made this year’s conference unforgettable.

We’re excited to see how you’ll take the knowledge shared and continue shaping the future of financial advice.

You can view a range of photos from the event here.

A COIN expert has given insight into a rare detail on a 20p coin which makes it 300 times more valuable.

The professional, who goes by the name of the CoinCollectingWizard on TikTok, shared how an error on a 20p coin made in 2008 has made it one of the “holy grails” for collectors.

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Almost two decades ago a number of 20p coins were struck with the wrong dye, resulting in no date on the coin.

The social media star said this was due to a mix-up at the Royal Mint when the new Royal Shield of Arms design was introduced.

It was the first time in 300 years that it had been produced without a date.

“This makes it highly sought after by coin collectors,” the coin-collecting professional said.

It is thought around 250,000 coins have the error.

The front of the coin features the traditional profile of Queen Elizabeth II.

Meanwhile, the back of the 20p features a segment of the Royal Shield.

Neither side of the coin features a date making it a rare find.

This coin is known as the undated 20p coin and can sell for up to £75 on places such as eBay.

It’s also still in circulation meaning you have a chance of receiving one in your change if you pay for something in a shop.

But that has not stopped coin collectors from paying a hefty sum to get their hands on one.

The Sun found a 20p mule coin that was sold for £75 this week on eBay.

Another seller paid £51 for the coin at the start of October.

However, it is important to note that a coin is only worth how much the buyer is willing to pay for it.

Other rare coins which could be worth more include the One Penny which dates back to 1893, but it’s the production error which makes it a valuable find. 

The ancient coin features Britannia on the back and the reverse of the coin is the usual Queen Victoria bun head, which is a feature on many coins from this era. 

What makes the coin valuable is an error with the number three in the date at the bottom of the coin. 

Under the number three of the error coin, it looks like there is the start of a number two.

If the coin features this it could be worth up to £600.

How to spot rare coins and banknotes

Rare coins and notes hiding down the back of your sofa could sell for hundreds of pounds.

If you are lucky enough to find a rare £10 note you might be able to sell it for multiple times its face value.

You can spot rare notes by keeping an eye out for the serial numbers.

These numbers can be found on the side with the Monarch’s face, just under the value £10 in the corner of the note.

Also if you have a serial number on your note that is quite quirky you could cash in thousands.

For example, one seller bagged £3,600 after spotting a specific serial number relating to the year Jane Austen was born on one of their notes.

You can check if your notes are worth anything on eBay, just tick “completed and sold items” and filter by the highest value.

It will give you an idea of what people are willing to pay for some notes.

But do bear in mind that yours is only worth what someone else is willing to pay for it.

This is also the case for coins, you can determine how rare your coin is by looking a the latest scarcity index.

The next step is to take a look at what has been recently sold on eBay.

Experts from Change Checker recommend looking at “sold listings” to be sure that the coin has sold for the specified amount rather than just been listed.

People can list things for any price they like, but it doesn’t mean it will sell for that amount.

We explain further how you can find out if you have a rare coin worth thousands sitting around the house.

AJ Bell’s platform business has continued to grow, with customer numbers increasing by 66,000 to 542,000.

This represents an increase of 14% in the past year.

Its year-end trading update, published today (17 October), shows the total number of advised platform customers has increased by 12,000 to 171,000.

Meanwhile, the total number of D2C platform customers rose by 54,000 to 371,000, up 17% compared to last year.

Platform assets under administration (AUA) rose to a record £86.5bn, an increase of 22% from 2023.

Gross and net inflows across the platform were significantly higher than previous years too, which AJ Bell said was driven by improved retail investor confidence.

Gross inflows hit £13.1bn, up 41% versus 2023 (£9.3bn), while net inflows hit £6.1bn, up 45% compared to the previous year (£4.2bn)

However, despite storing performance across its platform business, AJ Bell saw net inflows into its investment business fall by £100m.

In both the advised and D2C markets, it recorded net inflows of £1.5bn, compared to £1.6bn the previous year.

Assets under management (AUM) in its investment business reached a record £6.8bn, up 45% from last year’s total of £4.7bn.

AJ Bell chief executive officer, Michael Summersgill, said: “I am pleased to report on another excellent year in which we have delivered impressive growth in customers and assets under administration.

“Our strategy is centered on our dual-channel platform which serves both the advised and D2C platform markets using a single technology platform and single operating model.

“This maximises our growth opportunity within the platform market, whilst being highly efficient to operate.

“Platform net inflows of over £6bn demonstrates the benefit of serving both markets, while our efficient model drives strong profitability, enabling continual reinvestment in the business to support our long-term growth ambitions.”

Summersgill believes AJ Bell’s performance is down to enhancing its propositions, improving brand awareness and lowering the cost of investing for customers.

He also said the firm had seen “a noticeable change” in both customer contributions to pensions and tax-free cash withdrawals.

While these behavioural changes do not have a material impact on AJ Bell’s business performance, Summersgill said they represent significant decisions for individual customers.

“We have therefore made representations to the Treasury calling for a commitment to a pension tax lock in the Budget, guaranteeing stability in key pension tax legislation for at least this parliament.”

Summersgill said that while the upcoming Budget has introduced “unhelpful uncertainty”, he “remains positive about the outlook for AJ Bell and the platform market more broadly.”

I have recently been spending a lot of time thinking about my business and what’s next for us.

We’ve had a really good few years, from a growth perspective. We’ve integrated one acquisition and we’re looking at one or two others. We are in an objectively good shape.

However, as the firm grows and more advisers join the team, we need to find a way to continue to build and for the business to be able to sustain itself.

When we set up, it was mainly my own connections and relationships that generated new clients. But that’s probably not enough now. The old adage of, ‘What got us here won’t get us there,’ feels apt.

We must do what fits for us. And why shouldn’t it be something we enjoy doing?

And so to marketing.

It feels as if there are a million and one resources, from a financial services marketing perspective.

From podcasts by industry experts, marketing specialists, SEO companies and consultants galore, to other advisers promoting what they do on LinkedIn and/or X (formerly Twitter), it’s a minefield when determining who to follow and which options are best.

I have thought a lot about which approaches to explore and from whom to take inspiration. So many good people are providing really excellent, free content.

However, I chose to come away from all of that ‘stuff’. I went back to basics. I started thinking about my business, my life, what I wanted to do and how I wanted to do it.

We decided to go to our best introducers and best clients and ask them what they, their peers, their colleagues and their friends might be interested in

Why? Well, while no doubt good, all the information out there is pretty generic. There can be basic guides for what can work or what has worked for other people, sure. However, these aren’t specific to me, to my business and to what I want to do with my time.

Actual people

So, I went back to thinking about what had brought people to my company and what had made them stay. Also, what I enjoyed in terms of marketing and what I didn’t.

As business owners, we get to choose these things. I don’t want to be ruled by the business — I want to rule it. This led me to AP — actual people.

Forget AI; AP is where it’s at. I like people. I like speaking with them, learning their stories, hearing what challenges they have and thinking through the options to overcome them.

What is working already? What feels comfortable to you? What can you do often and sustainably

I realised, if we’re a business that people join and stay with because of the human connection, why don’t we do things that encourage more human connections?

We decided to go to our best introducers and best clients and ask them what they, their peers, their colleagues and their friends might be interested in.

These people are already advocates of ours. They get it, they get us.

I understand why writing social-media posts or creating a podcast (I had one of those) and other digital content is useful for marketing. However, those things aren’t what define us.

I don’t like the peer pressure about what you need to do, marketing-wise. We must do what fits for us. Yes, we’d like it to work but why shouldn’t it be something we enjoy doing? Something authentic and sustainable.

We will monitor the results — who came in as clients and what work came from it. That’s the analytics we can review.

Gauging feedback

Our marketing to-do list was relatively long to start with but we decided to refine it to three or four projects initially and gauge feedback from there.

None of these are revolutionary, either. Sorry if you thought I was going to give you the key to loads of new business.

We’re starting with a wine-tasting evening local to a number of our clients with a local wine-production company we know.

We’re doing an evening at a high-end watch retailer with a number of sports and entrepreneur clients with a big interest in watches.

I started thinking about my business, my life, what I wanted to do and how I wanted to do it

We have seminars arranged, reviewing pensions and inheritance tax planning.

And we’re planning an event with our charity partner, Spread a Smile, to show our clients what we do as a business for them.

We will ask introducers to bring potential clients and we will ask clients to bring like-minded individuals.

I will update on how this has gone over the next year or so, but the main point of this column was to remind other business owners and advisers to think through what their marketing looks like.

What is working already? What feels comfortable to you? What can you do often and sustainably, and enjoy rather than endure? Good luck.

Sam Sloma is managing director of Engage Financial Services

This article featured in the October 2024 edition of Money Marketing. 

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