Pension Simplification

Pension simplification introduced two new controls, the Lifetime Allowance (LA) and Annual Allowance (AA). The LA is currently £1,073,100 and the individual AA is £40,000.

Most individuals are able to fund up to these limits with the possibility to also carrying forward unused AA from the previous three years. Exceeding the LA or the AA will trigger a tax charge.

Other changes included:

Early retirement age available from age 55
Full concurrency (i.e. being able to pay into any array of plans you wish), subject to the Annual Allowance and potential for carry forward
Wide investment flexibility
Up to 25% tax-free cash
The ability to commute ‘small’ funds as a one-off lump sum as opposed to having to draw a regular income from age 55 (subject to part of the fund being taxed)
Flexible options at retirement when deciding to take benefits such as Flexi-access Drawdown
No need to ‘have to’ secure benefits at age 75 via an annuity

In addition, pension freedom gives individuals further and greater flexibility to access their pension savings from age 55.

The changes include:

To increase the flexibility of the drawdown rules by removing the maximum ‘cap’ on withdrawal and minimum income requirements for all new drawdown funds from 6 April 2015
To enable those with ‘capped’ drawdown to convert to a new Flexi-access Drawdown fund once arranged with their scheme
To enable pension schemes to make payments directly from pension savings with 25% taken tax-free, known as the Uncrystallised Fund Pension Lump Sum (UFPLS) option
To remove restrictions on lifetime annuity payments
To ensure that individuals do not exploit the new system to gain unintended tax advantages by introducing a reduced Annual Allowance of £10,000 for money purchase savings where the individual has flexibly accessed their savings
To increase the maximum value and scope of trivial commutation lump sum death benefits.

Pensions are a long-term investment. You may get back less than you put in. Pensions can be and are subject to tax and regulatory change therefore the tax treatment of pension benefits can and may change in the future.

What our clients say about us

“Colin Henshaw has been our financial advisor for more than 15 years, so he knows us and our financial needs in great detail. We consider him a friend too. When he started Berry Wealth Management we were eager to have him continue in this role. At Berry Wealth Management, Colin has assembled a superb team of people with great financial acumen, professionalism and compassion. They take their time to get you know you, your family, your financial needs and worries. Their financial advice has been stellar, furthermore, it is great to see that the company is investing in a secure financial IT infrastructure, so that now I can access the team securely via my own personal financial portal. This portal allows us to send and receive financial documentation securely from the comfort of our home. This has been a boon during the COVID pandemic. Hand on heart, we can sincerely recommend Berry Wealth Management.”

~ Paul Donnelly

“My relationship with Berry Wealth Management – approaching and post my retirement – has proved to be extremely positive and highly productive in pursuit of my financial goals. The Berry team are utterly professional, reliable and trustworthy. Their financial awareness and judgement is always impressive ; their research on my behalf has been forensic, and their selection, performance tracking and management of investment organisations is consistently thorough and extremely demanding. I am delighted that I engaged their services.”

~ Michael & Catherine Furlong

“I have been very pleased with the level of knowledge and experience of Berry Wealth Management. They take the time to really get to know their clients, which gives me every confidence that my financial goals are understood. They regularly provide updates, and have always been available to answer any questions or to explain options within my portfolio. Transitioning into retirement has been much more comfortable thanks to their help and guidance.”

~ David Leaney

“We have been advised by Colin for the past nine years. During this time, we have been extremely pleased with the indepth advice. The frequent reviews have helped us make some excellent, well-informed financial decisions. Colin has always attached an excellent element of professional tax-efficient advice coupled with caution that has comforted us in many ways. We wish that we had met Colin earlier, as we would have enjoyed more longevity of first-class financial planning advice.”

~ Keith & Joanne Hobbs

“Colin has been our financial adviser for nearly two decades, he has always offered a consultative approach to financial advice, and this has most definitely enabled Elizabeth and I to retire earlier. Colin also has a good selection of contacts for other areas where advice might be required, and having a trusted source for such recommendations has been invaluable. I do not like the larger companies’ impersonal approach and feel we are valued customers of Berry Wealth Management.”

~ David & Elizabeth Donnelly