Tax efficient investing

Did you know that an astonishing 80% of people pay more tax than they need to?*

*Source: www.thisismoney.co.uk, 3rd March 2006.

Whether you are looking for low risk National Savings Certificates, traditional high-interest savings accounts, or tax efficient ISAs, planning for school or university fees, or if you'd like to do something more adventurous like invest in hedge funds, we can help you.

Investments

• Build up and look after capital tax efficiently
  
• Make the most of any money you have
  
• Invest in Unit Trusts, OEICs, Investment Trusts, Mutual Funds
  
• All areas of investment covered from Bank accounts to Venture Capital Trusts
  

In order to achieve this we look at the following options to decide which investment strategy to take for you.

1. How long do you want to invest the money?
   Are you just putting some money aside for a year or are you looking to invest for the longer term.
   
   
2. What is your attitude towards risk?
   Do you want to play it safe, risk it all or somewhere in between.
   
   
3. Do you require access to all or part of the capital in emergencies?
   As the unexpected can always happen, how crucial is any investment to your finances.
   
   
4. Do you require an income from your capital?
   Are you looking for growth from your money or do you need extra income.
   
   
5. How is the money already invested?
   Can we make minor adjustments that will improve your portfolio rather than having to make major changes.
   
   
6. What is current tax situation?
   Can we use your tax situation to reclaim some of your tax or minimise the tax you pay on your investments.
   

Based on the information that you provide, we can then build an investment portfolio which would contain one or more of the following types of investments.

• Bank and Building Society Accounts
  These can provide instant access to your money and high rates of interest on certain accounts, but will not offer the types of returns that the stock market could potentially offer.
  
  
• Individual Saving Accounts
  These offer tax efficient savings of up to £7200 per annum with no tax payable on the returns generated by the ISA. ISAs offer a choice of investing in cash, or stock market based products.
  
  
• Insurance Bonds
  Issued by life assurance companies, they offer a wide range of investment opportunities.
  
  
• Unit Trusts / Investment Trusts
  These offer both income and capital growth and tend to specialise in particular areas. There are many to chose from offer varying degrees of risk. Each trust will contain investments in several different companies.
  
  
• Open Ended Investment Companies
  A sophisticated investment vehicle whereby you buy shares in a company that manages investments.
  
  
• Offshore Funds
  This is where your money is invested outside of the UK to take advantage of lower tax rates.
  
  
• Ethical funds
  This is where money is invested in funds that actively do not invest in certain types of company such as alcohol, tobacco or arms manufacturer.

The value of investments is determined by the value of units, the price of which can fall as well as rise. You may get back less than you originally invested, especially in the early years.