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<title><![CDATA[Scottsdale Consulting]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Fixed Term Annuities]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[With Annuities in the news again today after the Bank of England has injected a further &pound;50 Billion into the UK economy by quantitative easing, many are worrying about the effect on their retirement plans.
The good news is that you do not have to commit to a permanent annuity when you choose to take benefits. There are a number of flexible options open to you.
One of which is Temporary or fixed term Annuities.
A fixed term annuity is a type of drawdown arrangement that offers an alternative to conventional retirement income solutions, ideal for those who want to keep their options open in case their circumstances and financial planning needs change later in retirement.
How does it work? In return for investing a lump sum from an existing pension scheme, a fixed term annuity pays you a guaranteed income - within government limits* - for a fixed period of time (typically for five years or more). You can choose the level of income you want to take at the outset, within those limits, plus any additional death benefits you want to include with your plan. These could be used, for example, to pass on a lump sum to a dependant or other beneficiary if you were to die prematurely.
If you survive until the end of the term, you will receive a guaranteed maturity lump sum, which you can use to reinvest in another pension product. This amount is usually known and fixed at the outset, and not affected by investment performance.
The amount of income you can buy with this lump sum is not guaranteed and so could be higher or lower than the income you would have received had you bought a standard annuity at the outset. Fixed term annuities offer you flexibility, allowing you to take account of changing circumstances and income needs later in retirement at the end of your chosen plan term.
There are some important aspects to choosing a fixed term annuity that you should carefully consider before making this decision.
Please contact us to arrange a personal consultation with one of our retirement specialists:
Milton Keynes Tel ; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 01908 226400
London Tel : &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 0845 5046444
Edinburgh Tel:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 0845 5046430
Email:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Info@sc-ifa.co.uk]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2012-02-09T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=109]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Seminar Invitation - Wealth Preservation]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[The directors of Scottsdale Consulting Ltd cordially invite you to the joint seminar we are holding with the respected solicitors Mackrell Turner Garret on&nbsp;Thursday 15th of March at 5:30pm.&nbsp; Although we anticipate it will finish by 7:00pm we are more than happy to spend longer on an individual basis to answer any personal questions or queries you may have.
At the seminar Scottsdale Consulting will be explaining the important role of Financial Planning in helping clients to build and protect their wealth, and to ensure its full value is passed to future generations.&nbsp; This will include a demonstration of specialist financial planning software which, amongst other things, forecasts the ebbs and flows of lifelong cash-flow, and more importantly allows clients to road test potential changes in advance through &lsquo;what if&rsquo; scenarios.&nbsp;Particularly valuable when IHT mitigation is involved.
Hand in hand with this, Mackrell Turner Garret will be demonstrating the use of Trusts and explaining the vital role Trusts can play in cascading wealth down through the generations by ensuring that the &lsquo;right money, goes into the right hands, at the right time&rsquo;.
As this is a very popular seminar we would be grateful if you would reply as soon as possible to secure your place, but at the latest by 1 March 2012 to Susan Dupree at s.dupree@sc-ifa.co.uk or on 0845 5046444.
Please find below the address of the seminar location of the seminar.
Mackrell Turner Garrett Inigo Place 31 Bedford Street London WC2E 9EY]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2012-02-09T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=110]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Pensions Auto Enrolment - Staging dates]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[The Government has announced changes to the way that the employer duties are being introduced. Employers with fewer than 50 persons in their largest PAYE scheme will be given more time to prepare, and will not be staged into the employer duties until June 2015 at the earliest.
Employers with 250 or more persons in their PAYE scheme, ie those with likely staging dates between 1 October 2012 and 1 February 2014, will be unaffected and their staging date will be unchanged.
We have specialsts who can help you company prepare for these historic changes to pension legisaltion.
Contact us for an appointment with one of our corporate team.
e: info@sc-ifa.co.uk
MK Tel &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; : 01908 2264 00
London Tel : 0845 5046444
Edinburgh Tel : 0845 5046430
See the following link for additional information.
http://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/pensions-reform/staging-date-timeline.aspx]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2012-02-07T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=108]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Business Protection]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[It is generally recognised that small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) are the life blood of the UK&rsquo;s economy. The latest figures from the Federation of Small Businesses suggest that there are over 4.8 million SME&rsquo;s that employ over 13.7 million people. Each SME will be different to the next; they may be a sole trader, partnership or a limited company.
Each business will have owners with different views, business aspirations and skill sets and capabilities. Each business owner, director or partner will want the very best for their company. They will be focused on the day to day challenges of running a business successfully. This takes hours of effort and determination, leaving business owners with little or no time to look after their own financial objectives or to protect the very business they have created.
Recent Legal &amp; General research, with the help of the British Chamber of Commerce, found that there is an insurance protection gap in the UK that is now estimated at over &pound;1.1 trillion. 50 per cent of the businesses surveyed have corporate debt, but only 46 per cent of those businesses have life insurance policies in place to protect that debt. 44 per cent of businesses owners expected their business to fold inside of 12 months should a key person die, however only 4 per cent of these businesses have any insurance policy in place to mitigate this.
Such facts are hard to ignore. 
Businesses are driven and thrive due to the skills of the key people. These key people are the engine of a business and as such, a business cannot survive without them.
&nbsp;Key people are the biggest commodity in a business, yet we find companies tend to insure company cars, computers, stock but not key people, who generally have the largest impact on a business. So what could happen should this tragic event occur?
Banks may call in any loan that the key person was the guarantor for. They may also withdraw or reduce credit or overdrafts. The deceased family may decide to sell the key person&rsquo;s share or become involved in the business themselves. A &ldquo;share grab&rdquo; may ensue; however, you may not have the working capital available. Work load increases on the remaining owners, directors or partners. Productivity and enthusiasm by the staff may fall. Competitor&rsquo;s activity could increase adding to pressure. Your suppliers may reduce your line of credit as they find out you are having or could have funding issues.
The worst position could be that the business cannot afford to trade any longer. The banks call in any personal guarantees and the surviving owners, directors or partners may lose any securities held as well as their business. Insurance need not be expensive, and it is a genuine business expense. A business has the value and worth of its directors, partners and key staff.
Protecting your business with Key person insurance is possibly the best business decision you will ever make.
&nbsp;
For a personal Consultation contact Scottsdale on:
Tel:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 08455046430
Email:&nbsp;&nbsp; info@sc-ifa.co.uk]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2012-01-27T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=107]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Pensions Auto Enrolment - Update]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[DWP sets out new auto-enrolment timetable
A revised timetable for when employers of all sizes must start enrolling their staff in a workplace pension has been set out by the Government today in a Ministerial Statement.
Large employers, those with 250 or more employees, will not face any change in the date they are due to start enrolling their staff.
This follows the announcement in November that small businesses would be given more time to prepare for automatic enrolment to help them out in exceptionally tough economic times.
Minister for Pensions Steve Webb said:
&ldquo;Automatic enrolment will begin on time this October, taking up to 10 million people into pension saving, many for the first time ever, and all employers will be part of it.
&ldquo;We have done all we can to ease any burden on business the reforms will bring and employers of all sizes now know the date they need to start enrolling their staff.&rdquo;
The timetable for employers to begin enrolling their staff starts with the largest firms first, followed by medium, then small companies.
Automatic enrolment will begin in October 2012. All existing firms will have enrolled their staff by April 2017, followed by all new employers by February 2018. This new timeline means that 70% of individuals will be automatically enrolled before the next general election.
The increase in the minimum rate of employer pension contributions from 1% to 2% of banded earnings will be delayed from 1 October 2016 to 1 October 2017. Contributions will increase to 3% from 1 October 2018.
TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:
&ldquo;This is a deeply disappointing delay. Everyone agrees that we face a pensions crisis, with two out of three private sector workers not in any kind of workplace pension.
&ldquo;Yet successive governments have delayed the introduction of auto-enrolment and the new system will not now be fully in place until three years after the next general election.
&ldquo;Today&rsquo;s announcement does not just hit the staff of small employers. What&rsquo;s worse is that even workers auto-enrolled this year will now have to wait until the end of the staging process before they get their full contribution.
&ldquo;This is because contributions are being phased in, with the final stage delayed until 2018 &ndash; thirteen long years after the Pensions Commission recommended auto-enrolment.
&ldquo;It all adds up to a classic case of &lsquo;make me good, but not yet&rsquo;.&rdquo;
A consultation and draft regulations with more detailed information will be published shortly.
The table sets out the revised automatic enrolment dates for all employer sizes.




Employer   size (by PAYE scheme size) or other description


Automatic   Enrolment duty date





From   (inc.)


To (inc.)




250 or more members


1 October 2012


1 February 2014




50 to 249 members


1 April 2014


1 April 2015




Test tranche for less than 30 members


1 June 2015


30 June 2015




30 to 49 members


1 August 2015


1 October 2015




Less than 30 members


1 January 2016


1 April 2017




Employers without PAYE schemes


1 April 2017


- - -




New employers Apr 2012 to Mar 2013


1 May 2017


- - -




New employers Apr 2013 to Mar 2014


1 July 2017


- - -




New employers Apr 2014 to Mar 2015


1 August 2017


- - -




New employers Apr 2015 to Dec 2015


1 October 2017


- - -




New employers Jan 2016 to Sep 2016


1 November 2017


- - -




New employers Oct 2016 to Jun 2017


1 January 2018


- - -




New employers Jul 2017 to Sep 2017


1 February 2018


- - -




New employers Oct 2017


Immediate duty


- - -




Commenting on the news, Morten Nilsson, CEO of NOW: Pensions, said: &ldquo;It is good to have clarity on dates and confirmation that auto-enrolment going ahead with no further disruption. However, whilst delay for the medium and smaller companies is helpful from those companies&rsquo; perspective in the current economic climate, the delay is certainly not helpful from the perspective of their employees in the long term.
For a personal Consultation to discuss the implications and options for your company, please contact us:
Tel:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 0845 5046430
Email:&nbsp;&nbsp; info@sc-ifa.co.uk
Information Supplied by Pension World
Pensions World is the leading monthly magazine for pensions professionals published by Butterworths Tolley
This article does not necessarily reflect the views of Scottsdale Consulting Ltd]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2012-01-26T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=106]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Financial News Update]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[For the latest unbiased market view, please download the latest Scottsdale Money Matters Bulletin here:-
http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/newsletters/januaryfebruary2012.html
&nbsp;]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2012-01-23T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=104]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Economic Forecast]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Happy New Year to all our clients and Web site visitors.
Prediction of doom due to unfold this year have been circulating for centuries, citing texts such as the &lsquo;Mayan Calendar&rsquo;. Despite the fact that these ancient almanacs have been manipulated to attract publicity for Hollywood Blockbusters, &lsquo;doomsayers&rsquo; still like to flirt with the idea.
However, the economic realities of 2012 are obvious; and the UKs own recovery and the Euro zone crisis, to name the prominent headlines, are real enough.
I was amused by an inscription at the entrance to a long canal tunnel which read:-
&lsquo;Due to management cut backs, the light at the end of the tunnel has been switched off&rsquo;
Funny, but NOT true.
There is always a way through.
It is our commitment to shine a light on the way ahead for our clients, both personal and corporate.
Confidence is still high and opportunities are evident.
For a personal and confidential review with one of our specialists, please contact us:
Milton Keynes Office -Tel 01908 226400
London Office:&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;- Tel 0845 5046444
Edinburgh Office &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;- Tel 0845 5046430
Email: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;- info@sc-ifa.co.uk]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2012-01-06T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=102]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Christmas and New Year Arrangements]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Christmas and New Year
We wish all our clients and web site visitors a very Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.
Please be advised that the Scottsdale Offices will be closed over the Christmas period from:
3 pm on Friday 23 December and re-opens again at 9 am on Tuesday 3 January 2012
If you need urgent assistance during this period, please ring the normal office number and you will be re-directed to someone who will be able to handle your call.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2011-12-23T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=100]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Financial Advice Edinburgh]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[We are pleased to have experienced Financial Advisers based in our Edinburgh Office.
Please visit our dedicated Scotland Page for more information and contact details.
http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scotland-financial-services.php
&nbsp;]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2011-12-15T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=99]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Employers Pension Contributions]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[The latest 'Tech Talk' bulletin from Scottish Widows, one of the top pension providers, highlights the opportunity for businesses to make pension contributions.
Their article reads....
'Companies are often on the lookout for strategies to reduce their corporation tax bill. One tried and tested method is paying employer pension contributions, as long as they satisfy the &lsquo;wholly and exclusively&rsquo; rules. In this article I explain why timing of the contribution is crucial and also how employer pension contributions can be paid even in unprofitable years......'
To read the full article click on the linke below.
www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/PDF/Company%20Pension%20Contributions.pdf
For personal face to face advice please contact Scottsdale at
email- info@sc-ifa.co.uk
tel - 01908 226400 Milton Keynes
tel - 0845 5046444 - London
tel - 0845 5046430 - Edinburgh
&nbsp;]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2011-12-08T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=98]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Long Term Care]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[3 Practical Tips To Help You Avoid Paying Care Fees
Today&rsquo;s post is from Angela Sherman, a specialist care fees advocate at Care To Be Different.
Few of us like to think about long-term care &ndash; and the subject of care fees is rarely an appealing one. Compounding this is the fact that, every year in the UK, tens of thousands of elderly people are wrongly charged for care.
These three tips will help make sure you&rsquo;re not one of them...
1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Don&rsquo;t assume you have to pay for care
 
If you need care primarily for health reasons, your care should be funded by the NHS. This is called NHS Continuing Healthcare. It&rsquo;s free &ndash; and it covers 100% of the costs of being in a care home. Why is it free? Because for residents of the UK, in law, health care is free at the point of use.
Elderly people are often incorrectly told that this doesn&rsquo;t apply to long-term care. They are also often incorrectly told that their health needs are &lsquo;social&rsquo; needs, and that they need residential care, not nursing care. As a result, they&rsquo;re means-tested &ndash; and many people lose their homes and everything they own to pay for care. What&rsquo;s more shocking is that it&rsquo;s often the NHS and Social Services who provide this incorrect information. It&rsquo;s simple: No elderly person resident in the UK should have to pay for health care or nursing care, no matter how that care is described.
Top tip: Get assessed for NHS Continuing Healthcare before you start paying care fees &ndash; and challenge any decisions you don&rsquo;t agree with.
2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Reclaim care fees retrospectively
 
If you&rsquo;ve already started paying care fees, and yet your need for care is primarily for health reasons, you can claim those care fees back. It can be a long process, but the NHS is obliged to refund anyone who has been wrongly charged.
You can also reclaim care fees on behalf of someone who has died. The refund goes into their estate.
Top Tip: Keep hold of as much paperwork as you can that relates to care needs, care plans and care fees.
&nbsp;
3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Take good financial advice
 
You can&rsquo;t predict the kind of care you might need in later life &ndash; or whether you&rsquo;ll need to pay care fees for residential care. However, you can offset the financial risk by taking good advice. You can put measures in place to generate an income to cover the costs of care. Remember, just one year&rsquo;s residential care can cost you over &pound;25,000 &ndash; as an absolute minimum.
If you need residential care (as opposed to nursing care), and you have assets above the current upper capital threshold (in England currently &pound;23,250), you will have to pay for all of your care. So ask your adviser lots of questions, do your homework &ndash; and check the small print on any policy you take out.
Tip: Don&rsquo;t make any big decisions about your money or your property without taking financial advice from someone qualified to advise on care matters. 
Care To Be Different helps families apply for NHS funding, appeal incorrect funding decisions and reclaim care fees retrospectively. Visit www.caretobedifferent.co.uk for more information or call Angela on 01908 582231.
or&nbsp; contact Scottsdale at&nbsp; -
info@sc-ifa.co.uk - 01908 226400
&nbsp;
&nbsp;]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2011-12-07T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=97]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Chancellor's Autumn Statement]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Interesting&nbsp; Financial Times Video Review of the statement made today by the Chancellor, George Osborne.
http://on.ft.com/w1zkjs
Please contact one of our Expert Advisers to see how this could affect you.
&nbsp;
Milton Keynes Office -Tel 01908 226400
London Office:            - Tel 0845 5046444
Edinburgh Office - Tel 0845 5046430
Email:                         - info@sc-ifa.co.uk
&nbsp;]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2011-11-29T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=96]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Financial Advice London]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Financial Advice
To access the latest unbiased financial advice on relevant topical issues, please download the latest Scottsdale 'Money Matters' Magazine
http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/newsletters/novemberdecember_2011.html
&nbsp;]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2011-11-24T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=93]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Financial Advice Milton Keynes]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Financial Advice
To access the latest unbiased financial advice on relevant topical issues, please download the latest Scottsdale 'Money Matters' Magazine
http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/newsletters/novemberdecember_2011.html
&nbsp;]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2011-11-24T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=94]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Financial Advice Edinburgh]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Financial Advice
To access the latest unbiased financial advice on relevant topical issues, please download the latest Scottsdale 'Money Matters' Magazine
http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/newsletters/novemberdecember_2011.html
&nbsp;]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2011-11-24T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=95]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[First Time Buyer Mortgage Deals]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Great new for the housing market and first time buyers in particular, as the government has today announced plans to underwrite mortgages on "new-build" homes. The scheme is designed to reduce the size of a deposit, particularly for first-time buyers, by shifting the "loan-to-value" ratio. Some banks are currently demanding deposits of up to 20% of the value of a property from first-time buyers.
If the housing market suffered a severe downturn, the taxpayer could ultimately be responsible for a part of the loss under the scheme. But homebuyers would first lose their deposits and the loss to the taxpayer would be shared with the bank. Please contact our mortgage experts for more details...
There are some very attractive mortgage options available for first time buyers, home-movers and those wishing to re-mortgage. As independent mortgage advisers we research the whole market to find the best fit for each client.
Please feel free to contact us for an initial conversation.
MK Office &ndash; 01908 226400
London Office - &nbsp;0845 5046444
Edinburgh Office &ndash; 0845 5046430
Email &ndash; info@sc-ifa.co.uk]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2011-11-21T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=92]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Financial Advice]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[To access the latest unbiased financial advice on relevant topical issues, please download the latest Scottsdale 'Money Matters' Magazine
&nbsp;http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/newsletters/novemberdecember_2011.html
&nbsp;]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2011-11-18T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=91]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Pensions Auto Enrolment]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Pensions Auto-Enrolment 
Legislation coming into place from October 2012.
Probably the single biggest change to pensions legislation in modern history sees the introduction of compulsory pension contributions for employees being introduced from October 2012.
It is important to understand that the predicted ageing population is causing the government to consider how retirement can be funded in the future. According to the Pensions Policy Institute government spending on State Pensions alone will increase to &pound;189.1billion by 2035/2036 from &pound;84.6billion in 2006/2007.
For a detailed report on the implications for employers and employees, please click on the link below to access a full PDF report
http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/PDF/PensionsAutoEnrolment.pdf
Please contact us to arrange an appointment to discuss you specific requirments.
Milton Keynes Office: &nbsp; - Tel 01908 226400
London Office: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;- Tel 0845 5046444
Email:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; - info@sc-ifa.co.uk
&nbsp;
&nbsp;]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2011-11-17T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=90]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Tax Self Assessment]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Self-Assessment DeadlinesSelf Assessment taxpayers have to meet several important deadlines throughout the year or else incur penalty charges.Here is our handy guide to the year&rsquo;s Self Assessment deadlines.Filing Your Tax Return
There are different deadlines for filing your Self Assessment Tax return. The deadline which you must meet depends on the filing method you choose.
If you choose to file your return on paper, you must make sure that HM Revenue &amp; Customs (HMRC) receives it by midnight on 31 October 2011.
If you decide to file your tax return online, it must reach HMRC by midnight on 31 January 2012. Remember that you will need a Government Gateway username andpassword in order to file online, and this can take up to a week to arrive by post. So ensure you leave enough time before the deadline.If you owe less than &pound;2,000, and you want HMRC to collect your tax through your Tax Code, you will need to submit your tax return online by 30 December 2011. If however, HMRC is unable to alter your tax code, you may still be required to file again by 31 January 2012. Making A Payment Like filing there are also several payment deadlines throughout the year. The best-known of these is 31 January 2012, on which you may need to make several different payments.
The first of these is the balancing payment, which is, the tax you owe for the previous tax year. If you made payments on account in the previous year, you will already have paid some of this tax. You may also have to make the first payment on account. This will normally be equal to 50 per cent of your previous tax bill; it excludes student loan repayments and Capital Gains Tax. The second payment deadline is 31 July 2012. On this date you will be required to make your second payment on account, which is normally equal to your first. Financial Penalties You are legally obliged to meet the Self Assessment deadlines. If you fail to do so, you will receive the following financial penalties:&bull; 1 day late &ndash; You will be charged a &pound;100 penalty.&bull; 3 months late &ndash; You will be charged &pound;10 for each following day, up to a 90 day maximum of &pound;900.&bull; 6 months late &ndash; You will be charged &pound;300 or 5 per cent of the tax due, whichever is the higher.&bull; 12 months late &ndash; You will be charged &pound;300 or 5 per cent of the tax due, whichever is the higher. In serious cases, you may have to pay up to 100 per cent of the tax dueinstead.You may not have to pay a penalty if you have a reasonable excuse for missing the deadline.These include: &bull; Your documents have been lost in a fire, flood or theft.&bull; You have a life-threatening illness that has prevented you from completing your Self Assessment Tax return.&bull; Your partner has died shortly before the deadline.&bull; You have experienced technical problems with the online service.Should HMRC feel favourable to your reasoning for missing the deadline, they may reduce or not pursue the fine at all.
Scottsdale Consulting offers professional and confidential advice to individuals and businesses on tax planning opportunities and, in conjunction with your accountant, will be happy to discuss your objectives. Please contact us for a no obligation initial meeting.
Tel. 01908 226400
Tel. 0845 5046430
email. info@sc-ifa.co.uk]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2011-11-09T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=88]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Financial Services Jobs London and Milton Keynes]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Financial Services Jobs 
As a progressive and growing company, Scottsdale Consulting  would like to talk to you, if you are an experienced adviser, looking  for an opportunity to work in a professional environment and you have  the personal skills to work in a team and on your own initiative.
The current financial climate means that good advice is essential and  we pride ourselves on being an advice based practice, cultivating  longstanding client relationships by trust and integrity.
We offer Holistic Financial Advice to both Personal and Corporate  Clients and with our range of expertise covering the whole spectrum from  Protection, Retirement Planning, Investments and Estate Succession. We  also have a vibrant Mortgage department which continues to expand.
We have offices in Milton Keynes, London and Edinburgh and are expanding in each location.
For an initial conversation to explore if this is the right opportunity for you, please contact
Nick&nbsp;Cooke -&nbsp;Director
email - n.cooke@sc-ifa.co.ukTel&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; - 0845 5046430 Web&nbsp; - www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2011-11-09T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=89]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Life Insurance Advice]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Life Insurance &ndash; Valuable protection for the family.It is thought that as many as 28 million people in the UK do not have Life Insurance according to a study by Scottish Widows in May 2011. Many people do not like to think about Life Insurance, as they find it complicated and shy away. But basic Life Insurance is simple and provides a relatively cheap way to provide financial security for your dependants in the event of death.Insurance which involves investments can be complicated and introduce an element of risk or the level of detail means you need to be aware of exceptions and exclusions. The price of Life Insurance can vary greatly and is based on a number of factors such as age, health and lifestyle, so it is advisable to speak to an expert to help you choose the right cover at the best price for you.Term InsuranceThe most common type of Life Insurance policy is Term Assurance. This covers your life for a time period specified by you when you take it out and is considered essential for those with dependants or a substantial debt such as a mortgage. It pays out a lump sum to those beneficiaries you name. The amount, which is the sum assured, is chosen by you when you take out the policy. Life Insurance should be considered when you have a partner, children or other dependants that look to you for financial support. It provides your family by giving them some form of financial security when you die.Mortgage Protection Insurance This is a set time span insurance policy designed to protect your family and is typically taken out at the same time as your mortgage. The number of years or term is usually the length of the mortgage so that if you die within this period, a lump sum will be paid out. The amount will normally be equal to the size of the mortgage at least.Within Mortgage Protection Insurance the products are:Level term: The amount covered stays the same throughout the term.Decreasing term: The amount covered reduces as time passes, normally in line with repayment mortgage levels as they reduce.Increasing term: The amount covered increases over the years, as will the premiums.Family Income benefit: The amount covered and paid on death is regular amounts, rather than a lump sum.Whole of Life Insurance As the name suggests this type of insurance remains valid throughout the life of the policyholder. The cover pays out a lump sum when you die as long as you are still paying the premiums. Due to this, Whole of Life policies are usually more expensive than ordinary Life Insurance because it is guaranteed to pay out.Whole of Life policies can be used as an investment vehicle because part of your premium is invested by the life company. Since it must eventually pay out, it accumulates a pot that you can choose to cash in by surrendering the policy later on. But the amount you will receive will bereduced if you cash it in during the early years. It could very well be less than the premiums you have paid.The Use of TrustsIt is also important to considerer the use of trusts in conjunction with Life Insurance since this is a way to make sure the benefit payment actually reaches the intended beneficiary and in the quickest possible time.Independent Whole of Market AdviceIndependent advice is essential when considering Life Insurance, since costs vary considerably and providers differ in their approach to underwriting various health conditions.For a no obligation conversation, please contact us ate. info@sc-ifa.co.ukt.&nbsp; 0845 504 6430t. 01908 226400]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2011-10-27T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=87]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Equity Release Plans]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[A double page spread in the tabloid press today is highlighting the opportunity that could be available to hard pressed pensioners and others.
Equity Release is a valid option for certain clients, but this needs to be thought through carefully, with the advice of a professional independent financial adviser and in consultation with relatives, who this may affect.
Basically a lifetime mortgage is taken out on the property, but, rather than repay this each month, the interest is rolled up until the property owner dies or goes into full time residential care.
This can release a much needed lump sum or income. The amounts available are dependent on the age of the applicants and value of the property.
Ownership of the property is retained and safeguards can be put in place by only using SHIP providers.
Scottsdale Consulting only recommends Equity Release schemes offered by members of Safe Home Income Plans (SHIP), an organisation dedicated to the protection of equity release customers.&nbsp; This ensures providers adhere to a strict code of practice.
To read more please follow the link below and contact one of our Equity Release Specialists for an initial conversation.
http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/equity-release.php
Tel 0845 5046430Email: n.konkol@sc-ifa.co.uk]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2011-10-05T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=84]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[World Financial Markets]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[SEMINAR LUNCH INVITATION
The Directors of Scottsdale Consulting Ltd cordially invite you and a friend to a lunchtime briefing at StadiumMK, the magnificent home of Milton Keynes Dons on Friday, 14thth of October at 12.30 p.m.&nbsp;
Our briefing includes a talk by Mark Hemsley, Regional Manager of Blackrock, one of the world&rsquo;s preeminent asset management firms.&nbsp; Mark will talk about the volatility in the global investment market, the concerns and opportunities that arise because of it, and the strategies investment houses employ during such apprehensive times.&nbsp;
Debra Cooke MD of Scottsdale will give a brief explanation of its valued Private Client Service and the benefits it offers for those serious about financial planning and who wish to create new wealth or maintain the purchasing power of their existing wealth.&nbsp;
Scottsdale Private Clients benefit exclusively from the latest advanced financial planning software.
For those who would enjoy exploring the new stadium we have arranged a guided tour which will start at 11.45 a.m.&nbsp; We will aim to sit down and enjoy a delicious 2 course lunch with wine at 1.00 p.m.&nbsp; If you have any special dietary requirements please let us know.&nbsp; Full directions to the venue are available.
With places limited we would be grateful if you would contact us on 01908 226400.&nbsp;&nbsp; Similarly if you are unable to attend, but would like to be kept informed of future events please email your full contact details.
As your local Independent Financial Advisers we very much look forward to introducing ourselves to you and we hope that you have an enjoyable and informative lunch.]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2011-09-27T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=83]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Junior ISA - Coming Soon]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Junior ISAs will be available from 1 November 2011 and aim to offer families a simple and effective way of saving money following the closure of Child Trust Funds (CTFs). The Government has now outlined the rules for this new tax-free children&rsquo;s savings account.
It is estimated that six million children who missed out on CTFs because they were born before the scheme was launched or after it was scrapped will be eligible for the Junior ISA at launch. Unlike CTFs, the Government will not contribute to the ISA accounts. Junior ISAs could deliver a tax-free gift of more than &pound;100,000 at the age of 18, assuming the child&rsquo;s parents invested the maximum &pound;3,600 per year from birth and also assuming a 5 per cent return per annum.
Investors should be looking to treat Junior ISAs in a similar way to current ISAs and think any measures that go towards encouraging long-term savings from an early age should be encouraged.
Any child who holds a CTF will not qualify for the new accounts. With the lack of focus on CTFs, the danger is children with these accounts will suffer from poor deals, while those with Junior ISAs will benefit from competition in the market.
The Treasury had originally proposed that Junior ISAs would have a maximum annual allowance of &pound;3,000, which can be invested in stocks and shares or in a cash deposit, but it has now raised this to &pound;3,600. The &pound;3,600 annual limit will apply until 5 April 2013 and will then be updated annually in line with the consumer prices index (CPI), as is the case with other ISA products.
This contribution limit will apply across all cash and stocks and shares Junior ISAs held by a child and it will be possible to transfer funds from one type of Junior ISA account to another.
The maximum investment limit for CTFs will rise to &pound;3,600 from the beginning of&nbsp; November 2011 in line with the new allowance for Junior ISAs.
Junior ISAs offer a straightforward way to save for children tax efficiently. The use of the well established ISA brand should help build confidence and familiarity with the product.
Levels, bases of and reliefs from taxation are subject to change and their value depends on the individual circumstances of the investor.
For more information, please click&nbsp;the link below&nbsp;to read more about ISAs or contact us.
http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/savings-investments.php
Tel:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 0845 5046430email: info@sc-ifa.co.uk]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2011-09-13T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=82]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[100% Mortgages]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Announced yesterday - an innovative product for both first time and subsequent buyers known as:
The &ldquo;Family Guarantee Mortgage&rdquo;.
- Available up to 100% LTV, subject to a guarantee secured against the residential property of an immediate family member
- Guarantors provide a guarantee secured against their residential property &ndash; requiring no cash in the form of a deposit
- The amount of guarantee will be capped, meaning the guarantors liability cannot exceed the original agreed amount
- The maximum guarantee period will be 10 years
- Loans up to &pound;250,000
- No credit scoring
- Available for new build houses
The debate continues over irresponsible mortgage lending by some lender in the past, but for those trying to get on the 'housing ladder' this can only be good news, as long as the safeguards are in place.
If you are intending to purchase a property, please contact one of our mortgage specialists for a conversation about this new opportunity.
There are also great deals for those with existing mortgages who are approaching the end of a product term.
tel :&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 0845 5046430 or 01908 226400email:&nbsp;&nbsp; n.konkol@sc-ifa.co.uk]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2011-09-06T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=81]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Pensions and Divorce]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Pensions and divorce - The way forward?
Once pension assets have been identified and valued, the solicitors representing in a divorce will have to agree what is to be done with them as part of the financial settlement.
There are 3 options available:
1. Offsetting the pension against other matrimonial assets
2. A pension attachment order (formerly known as&nbsp; earmarking)
3. A pension sharing order
This article looks at the properties of each and the practical reasons why each might be suitable for a particular situation.
Offsetting
Offsetting is the most likely option for solicitors to use. This is because it offers a completely clean break between the ex-spouses.
In this scenario one spouse retains the pension and the other is awarded or retains matrimonial assets which are considered to be of equal value.
Most commonly the pension is offset against the value of the marital home, these being the most valuable of all the matrimonial assets.
Furthermore the matrimonial home is likely to be awarded to the spouse (usually the wife) who is bringing up any dependent children. Because of this, and the fact that men are more likely to have a pension than women, very often the husband will keep the full value of their pension plan.
Where this doesn't work is when the pension fund is quite large and in order to keep it intact the husband would need to give up all or nearly all of the remaining matrimonial assets.
This can be particularly painful if some of those assets have a personal value as well (and it is amazing what people will consider to be of sentimental value)!
When this is the case solicitors will suggest the pension plan is divided between the two parties.
Attachment
An attachment order is a direction from the court which obliges the trustees of a pension scheme to pay benefits directly to an ex-spouse, rather than the member spouse.
The order may be made against one or more of the following pension benefits:
1. The pension commencement lump sum2. The member's pension 3. The spouse's death-in-service lump sum
Attachment, which was introduced as 'earmarking' under the 1995 pension act, can be useful in that the spouse can rely on an independent and trustworthy third party to make the payments, rather than an often reluctant ex-partner, however there are also several drawbacks which mean that is usually the least often used option.
The main problems are:
&bull;The order only comes into effect when benefits are taken &ndash; this is the member's decision and it can be delayed to suit them (even if they are just being difficult)
&bull;Similarly the member spouse can choose the format of benefits, so if the order applies to the PCLS, the member can choose not to take it (unless specifically directed otherwise in the order)
&bull;The order prevents a clean financial break, since the non-member spouse must keep in touch, at least with the scheme trustees, in order to benefit
&bull;Any pension benefits will be taxed as belonging to the member. This is particularly onerous if the member is a higher rate taxpayer and the ex-spouse is not.
&bull;The order may lapse in the event of the member's death or on the remarriage of the non-member spouse (this can be specifically dealt with by attaching the DIS benefit and using careful wording in the order to exclude cessation on remarriage but often it is not).
&bull;Earmarking orders were notoriously complicated to draft with many ending in being wrong or unworkable, however the introduction of the&nbsp;annex Form P2 has simplified the process considerably.
Sharing
The concept of pension sharing, then calling splitting, was first suggested by the Law Society and the Pensions Management Institute (PMI) following the judgement in Griffiths v Dawson (1993) which resulted in the requirement to take pension assets into account during a divorce.
Given that these bodies represented the two professions most likely to be practically involved in treating pension assets in divorce you might expect that the proposals would be welcomed. As it turned out the government of the day felt that earmarking was a better solution and it was not until December 2000 that sharing became a legal option.
A sharing order has the major advantage over attachment of allowing a clean break (remember this is a key objective of solicitors acting in a divorce case).
Under a sharing order the pension asset is divided into two, and one part is legally transferred to the ex-spouse. The receiving spouse now has complete control over their part of the pension and may take benefits as and when it suits them (within the legislative framework applicable to pension generally).
There are three ways in which a sharing order may be implemented:
1. The ex-spouse may be offered membership of the pension scheme2. The ex-spouse may be offered a transfer to their own pension plan3. The trustees may choose to offer both options
Note &ndash; this decision lies with the trustees and applies at scheme level, other than option 3 individual scheme members are not allowed to choose which option they want.
In practice the trustees of unfunded pension arrangements will want to avoid having to pay monetary amounts out of the scheme and will only offer scheme membership, and trustees of funded arrangements probably want to avoid looking after benefits on behalf of unconnected third parties and will only offer an external transfer.
Since December 2000 sharing has commonly been considered the most favourable option after offsetting.
Comparing options
Choosing the right options depends entirely on individual clients' individual financial circumstances. It is possible to indicate likely situations which might favour one or other of the options,&nbsp; but it is essential to assess them in the light of the full facts relating to each client.
This is why financial advice is so beneficial, even where the eventual option may not lead to a product being recommended.
The most important thing to remember is that whatever option is chosen, a fair pension valuation is still key to getting a fair overall settlement.
For personal and confidential advice, please contact one of our specialist Pension advisers:-
email: info@sc-ifa.co.ukTel :&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 0845 5046430
Taken from an article by Fiona Tait ( Scottish Life)]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2011-09-05T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=80]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Flexible Drawdown]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[The options are improving for wealthy investors to secure unlimited access to their retirement funds, as a growing number of pension providers offer flexible drawdown plans. Recently providers have added flexible drawdown to their existing pension products, or confirmed that they are shortly to make this facility available. Flexible drawdown was introduced in April this year and allows investors aged 55 and over to make unlimited withdrawals from a pension fund, providing they meet a minimum income requirement (MIR) of &pound;20,000 a year from other sources.
In previous years, pension income withdrawals were tightly controlled, capped and based on the age of the investor. How much an investor could draw was set by the Government Actuary&rsquo;s Department (GAD). Now the shackles are off as flexible drawdown offers eligible individuals total freedom on just how much pension cash they take, also providing tax planning opportunities to mitigate both income and inheritance taxes.
Many experts believe that flexible drawdown could be the product that highnet- worth investors have been waiting for; it will allow advisers the ability to look at all of a client&rsquo;s investments and design an income and investment strategy across the whole retirement portfolio.
A widening of choice of flexible drawdown products is expected to be good news for investors, as it is likely to prompt more competition on charges, but financial advisers say fees should not be the only consideration when choosing a flexible drawdown provider. One fundamental consideration should be the level of service offered by the provider.This is key because flexible drawdown customers, unlike those with capped drawdown, will make requests for various sums of money at odd times.
People will need to be confident that their provider can administer these requests correctly and in a reasonable time. However, not all providers will be offering flexible drawdown, which will leave some wealthy investors with a decision to make.
Will their customers consider transferring their pension funds if they want an alternative to capped drawdown. Time will tell but the starting point should be to ask yourself if you really need this flexibility. If you do, then make sure you check that you are not giving up valuable guarantees on your existing pensions if you transfer out.
To meet the requirements for flexible drawdown, an individual must have a secure pensionable income of &pound;20,000 per year from other sources, which can include the state pension and benefits derived from final-salary pensions and annuities bought using other pensions, however, your income will still be taxed at the marginal rate. The early signs indicate that investors who can satisfy the MIR are using their flexible drawdown accounts in a strategic way. Flexible drawdown can be used as a planning tool to reduce tax, by phasing it as part of a structured plan, to match income requirements and minimise the possible taxation implications.
To discuss how you can get the most out of your pension planning, please contact us for further information
email: info@sc-ifa.co.ukTel:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 0845 504 6430]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2011-09-02T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=79]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Financial Services Jobs]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[As a progressive and growing company, Scottsdale Consulting would like to talk to you, if you are an experienced adviser, looking for an opportunity to work in a professional environment and you have the personal skills to work in a team and on your own initiative.
The current financial climate means that good advice is essential and we pride ourselves on being an advice based practice, cultivating longstanding client relationships by trust and integrity.
We offer Holistic Financial Advice to both Personal and Corporate Clients and with our range of expertise covering the whole spectrum from Protection, Retirement Planning, Investments and Estate Succession. We also have a vibrant Mortgage department which continues to expand.
We have offices in Milton Keynes, London and Edinburgh and are expanding in each location.
For an initial conversation to explore if this is the right opportunity for you, please contact
Nick&nbsp;Cooke -&nbsp;&nbsp;Director
email - n.cooke@sc-ifa.co.ukTel&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; - 0845 5046430 Web&nbsp; - www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2011-09-01T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=75]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Financial Services Jobs London]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[As a progressive and growing company, Scottsdale Consulting would like to talk to you, if you are an experienced adviser, looking for an opportunity to work in a professional environment and you have the personal skills to work in a team and on your own initiative.
The current financial climate means that good advice is essential and we pride ourselves on being an advice based practice, cultivating longstanding client relationships by trust and integrity.
We offer Holistic Financial Advice to both Personal and Corporate Clients and with our range of expertise covering the whole spectrum from Protection, Retirement Planning, Investments and Estate Succession. We also have a vibrant Mortgage department which continues to expand.
We have offices in Milton Keynes, London and Edinburgh and are expanding in each location.
For an initial conversation to explore if this is the right opportunity for you, please contact
Nick&nbsp;Cooke -&nbsp;Director
email - n.cooke@sc-ifa.co.ukTel&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; - 0845 5046430 Web&nbsp; - www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2011-09-01T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=76]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Scottsdale Breakfast Briefing]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[We are pleased to announce that our next 'Breakfast Briefing' will focus on the benefits of our Bespoke Private Client Service.
You are invited to this popular venue in the heart of the City, and to enjoy a full English Breakfast during the course of the presentation.
Green&rsquo;s Restaurant, 14 Cornhill, London, EC3V 3ND
Tuesday 27 September&nbsp; 2011 at 7.30 a.m.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Breakfast served at 8.00 a.m. concluding by 9.30 am.
Our breakfast briefing will include a presentation by Richard Champion, Head of UK Equities at&nbsp; Principal Investment Managers who will describe what is involved in Discretionary Fund Management (DFM), and what is happening in the global investment market.&nbsp;&nbsp;
DFM offers investors a personalised investment portfolio, which is tailored to individual requirements and is managed daily by a named professional investment manager.
This will be followed by a brief explanation of our valued Private Client Service and a demonstration of the advanced financial planning software, which we use exclusively for the benefit of our private clients.
This invaluable tool gives a comprehensive view of a private client&rsquo;s financial situation and is also used to &lsquo;test drive&rsquo; any proposed changes, before committing to a course of action.
As places are limited we would be grateful if you would RSVP to Vicky Brown at v.brown@sc-ifa.co.uk or on 0845 5046444.&nbsp; If you have any special dietary requirements please let us know.
The breakfast menu and full directions to Green&rsquo;s restaurant are available on request.]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2011-09-01T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=78]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Ethical Investing]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Ethical investing, it is said, has been around since John Wesley set out his tenets for social investing in the 18th Century &ndash; ie not to harm your neighbour through your business practices and to avoid industries which can harm the health of workers. These days sociallyresponsible investing tends to be a means to promote environmentally sustainable development.
At Scottsdale, clients have always been able to specify the ethical boundaries, within which we manage their portfolios. However, you may not be aware that, using one of our Discretionary Fund Manager partners, we can offer a specialist Managed Funds Ethical Portfolio, which invests in a range of funds with ethical objectives. The portfolio has a relatively high risk profile, and is suitable for investors who wish to combine social, environmental and ethical considerations with long-term capital growth.
There are, in fact, a range of ethical options and approaches that we can customise to client specific requirements and we would be delighted to have a conversation to determine which approach suits you.
As an Example
Top 10 Holdings within an ethical portfolio
F&amp;C Stewardship International 12.0%Jupiter Ecology Fund 11.0%First State Asia Pacific Sustainability 8.0%Aviva Sustainable Future Corporate Bond 6.5%Aegon Ethical Corporate Bond 6.5%F&amp;C Ethical Bond 6.5%Legal &amp; General Ethical Trust 6.0%F&amp;C Stewardship Growth 5.0%Premier Fellowship 5.0%Aegon Ethical Equity 5.0%
The Ethical Portfolio can be held inside your tax-efficient ISA allowance (&pound;10,680 annually). Dividends from equity investments within an ISA are effectively subject to income tax at 10%, deducted at source. Higher rate taxpayers benefit, as they have no further tax to pay. All ISAs are free of capital gains tax.
You can also hold Ethical funds within many pension contracts and, of course, on and offshore Investment Bonds.
If you would like to find out more about ethical investing, please contact us:
Email : info@sc-ifa.co.ukTel&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; : 0845 5046430]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2011-08-23T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=72]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Flexible Drawdown]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[With Royal Assent now granted, Flexible Drawdown is officially legal!
Flexible Drawdown is a new and exciting opportunity in the pensions market &ndash; and a potential game-changer in terms of income and tax planning for customers in retirement.
What is Flexible Drawdown?
Flexible drawdown is a form of 'income withdrawal' or 'income drawdown' where clients can take pension income directly from their pension fund. There's no limit on the amount of income they can take from their pension fund each year, which means they can take as much or as little as they like. In fact if they want to, they can take out all the funds in their arrangement as one single payment. However, any income is taxed under PAYE so taking all the funds out at once may take them into the next income tax band. So, some people may be better off spreading the income over more than one year to minimise the income tax they pay.
The key thing about flexible drawdown is that if they want to take income drawdown (officially called 'drawdown pension' in the legislation) they have to physically choose to go into flexible drawdown, and they have to qualify. If they want to take income drawdown and either don't choose to go into flexible drawdown, or they don't qualify, they'll go into capped drawdown instead (it's in effect the default option).
To see if this opportunity would suit your circumstances, please contact us today:
info@sc-ifa.co.uk or call 0845 5046444]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2011-08-23T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=73]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Financial Adviser - Opportunity]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[As a progressive and growing company, Scottsdale Consulting would like to talk to you, if you are an experienced adviser, looking for an opportunity to work in a professional environment and you have the personal skills to work in a team and on your own initiative.
The current financial climate means that good advice is essential and we pride ourselves on being an advice based practice,&nbsp;cultivating longstanding client relationships&nbsp;by trust and integrity.
We offer Holistic Financial Advice to both Personal and Corporate Clients and with our range of expertise covering the whole spectrum from Protection, Retirement Planning, Investments and Estate Succession. We also have a vibrant Mortgage department which continues to expand.
We have offices in Milton Keynes, London and Edinburgh and are expanding in each location.
For an initial conversation to explore if this is the right opportunity for you, please contact
Debra Cooke -&nbsp; Managing Director
email - d.cooke@sc-ifa.co.ukTel&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; - 0845 5046430 Web&nbsp; - www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2011-08-23T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=74]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Is there an Alternative to PPI?]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[British banks are still reeling from the legal ruling forcing them to reopen thousands of claims over the mis-selling of payment protection insurance (PPI) and potentially pay up to &pound;5bn in compensation.
The Financial Services Authority deemed these policies as too expensive and unsuitable for most customers but are there any alternatives?
Not all PPI policies are bad however and, in theory, there is nothing wrong with this type of insurance. There have been significant issues with whom it is sold to and how much it can cost. PPI is usually sold alongside loans and credit cards, designed to help you meet those repayments in the event of an accident, sickness or unemployment.
The problem with PPI is not with the insurance itself but how it was sold. For example, in most cases, the self-employed could not claim. Also, some companies were aggregating premiums for the full loan term into the loan capital, and then if someone paid the loan off after, say a couple of years, they would take eight years' unused premiums.
Worse still, people had signed up to buy PPI without realising it, or asking for it, and others have been unaware that it can be much cheaper to buy standalone PPI rather than buy a policy from the firm that sells you the mortgage, loan or credit card. Rules are now in place to improve PPI; where borrowers must be informed that the PPI is optional and not a prerequisite of the loan or for getting the loan.
All PPI providers must show how many customers have made successful claims on their policies. With such bad press the new rules will do little to persuade many consumers that a protection product is a good idea.
Fortunately, there are a few useful alternatives.
Permanent Health Insurance Income protection insurance or permanent health insurance (PHI) is a good option, and typically pays out 50 to 60 per cent of your income if you cannot work (but does not automatically cover redundancy). Your health and lifestyle is examined upfront, so pre-existing medical conditions and occupation are accounted for in the premium.
For this reason, income protection policy payout rates are good. The best and biggest benefit to income protection over PPI is flexibility. You decide when the cover starts, whether it's after one month or even a year of being unable to work. This enables you to fit the policy around any cover you have from your own savings or your employer and unlike PPI, which is short term and pays out for only one or two years, income protection is paid out until you either return to work or retire.
Critical Illness Insurance Critical Illness Insurance is worth consideration too, as it pays out a lump sum, rather than providing a regular income and works as additional protection if you can afford it. This is designed to help financially should you suffer from a serious illness such as cancer or a heart attack, but not accidents or conditions such as stress. It is often used to pay off a mortgage or other debts. You can cover your own position by saving the&nbsp; recommended 6 months home expenses coverage for mortgages, bills etc. Additionally, check to see what sort of sick pay scheme is in place at work.
Your employer may offer a top-up to statutory sick pay (SSP) so find out exactly what they would pay you and for how long. Then check state benefits to see what you would be entitled to if you were unable to work because of illness, accident or disability. SSP is paid for up to 28 weeks, covered by your employer, working out to &pound;81.60 per week at the current rate. Making sure you have adequate cover in place to protect yourself from being out of pocket as a result of an accident, sickness or unemployment is an important consideration, especially if you have a mortgage and a family to look after.
For more information click below, email us at info@sc-ifa.co.uk or call 01908 226400
http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/personal-protection.php
&nbsp;]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2011-08-22T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=70]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Tax Efficient Life Assurance]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Company owners are often looking for ways to extract benefit from their company without incurring a tax liability.
Now you can set up a Life Assurance plan to protect your family and have the premium paid by your company.
The Advantages
1: The Premium is tax deductable against Corporation tax2: The Benefit is Tax-free3: The Sum assured can be up to 20 x Income including Dividends4: It is NOT classed as a Benefit in kind and as such is NOT a taxable benefit5: It does NOT form part of your Pension Life Time Allowance6: Cover can continue to age 75
This costs no more that normal life Insurance and it could be to your advantage to simply re-arrange your existing protection under these new terms.
It is important NOT to cancel any existing arrangement until your new plan is accepted and ready to start!
For a no obligation comparative Illustration please contact us at:-
Info@sc-ifa.co.uk
Tel. 01908 226400]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2011-08-22T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=71]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Your Guide to The Pension Landscape ]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Your pension is likely to be your second largest asset after your home and pension decisions are difficult to reverse. A big decision now is whether or not to buy an annuity, as the obligation to do so, after you reach a certain age, has been abolished.
For people without substantial savings, buying an annuity is generally the right choice, as it provides a guaranteed income for the remainder of your life, but it is wise to check the market for the best rates. If you are in poor health generally, providers will sometimes offer you an enhanced deal, potentially up to 30 per cent more than for those in good health. If you are a smoker or if you have conditions such as high blood pressure, you may be able to gain better terms.
However, a drawback to an annuity is that it can be based on your age, lifestyle, health and payments cease when you die. Annuities can be purchased on a joint-life basis so that they continue to be paid to your spouse on your death, or with a guarantee that they will be paid for at least 5 or 10 years, regardless of whether you live or die. A more recent development is the capital protected annuity where the return on your death is the original investment less any income paid out, less 55 per cent tax.
All of these options will tend to reduce the level of income payable from outset, ie: they cost. A new consideration is the European Court ruling, which took place on 1 March 2011 to ban UK insurance firms from gender-pricing annuities. This ruling, will in effect, reduce the annuity income for men by up to 13 per cent, due to their life expectancy when compared to women.
Currently, annuities are individual to male and female life expectancy, but in December 2012 the rates become unisex. Annuity rates will be further worsened by another EU directive, Solvency II, which will come into effect in 2013, this will force life companies to value their annuity liabilities using government gilt rates, rather than the corporate bonds currently used which provide better returns. With the annuity changes, pensions can now be used to pass assets to heirs free of inheritance tax, subject only to a 55 per cent &lsquo;recovery charge&rsquo;.
Previously the penalties in the old system could be as high as 82 per cent once unauthorised payment charges were added to IHT. Why a recovery charge? If you withdraw 25 per cent from an imaginary &pound;100,000 fund as tax-free cash, then the new charge of 55 per cent on the remaining &pound;75,000 works out at 41.25 per cent of the original &pound;100,000, a little more than the initial relief high earners receive.
There are two new income drawdown options capped and flexible, both allow you to choose to take no income and tax-free cash can be paid at any time after the age of 55. The &lsquo;unsecured pension&rsquo; rules, which allow cash withdrawals subject to annual limits, will continue under the new capped rules; with the amount of drawdown being limited to 100 per cent of the relevant annuity calculation derived from the Government Actuary&rsquo;s Department tables, instead of the 120 per cent applied before 6 April 2011.
The flexible option allows room for manoeuvre beyond capped drawdown. You can draw unlimited amounts from your pension so long as you have secured a separate income of at least &pound;20,000 per year, which is the &ldquo;minimum income requirement&rdquo;. This must comprise of guaranteed payments, such as income from pensions. Another important point from the new annuity rules is that compulsory annuitisation has always meant a cautious approach to investing in the last few years before the annuity purchase, with a gradual switch to low-risk bonds and cash.Now that you will not be forced to irrevocably convert your savings into an annuity, you will be able to keep your investments in higher growth assets, including volatile assets such as equities.
Scheme pensions People in ill-health have the option of the &lsquo;scheme pension&rsquo;, which sets income based on life expectancy. This may be of interest to men under the new unisex annuity regime. The level of income drawn down is based on the individual&rsquo;s own life expectancy, taking into account their age and specific health problems, the size of the fund and the&nbsp; nvestment strategy. These amounts are likely to be generous because the aim is to deplete the fund at a rate that will consume all the capital during the member&rsquo;s lifetime.
To discuss how you can get the most out of your pension planning, please contact us&nbsp; or further information
e. info@sc-ifa.co.uk &nbsp;t. 0845 5046430]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2011-08-04T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=68]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Uncertain Markets]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[
Despite agreement being reached on raising the government&rsquo;s debt ceiling in the USA, markets have continued to fall in recent days. The debt ceiling is usually a technical issue and is raised regularly, without normally being commented on by the outside world and in common with almost everyone else in the market we always expected agreement to be reached, to prevent the US Government having to default on its obligations. However political brinkmanship caused the stakes to be increased well beyond comfort levels last week, fuelled by the relatively unusual situation of different parties holding majorities in the House of Representative and the Senate.
Although crisis has duly been averted, the protracted debate has served to focus attention on the rapid growth in the US deficit, and the apparent lack of a plan to bring it back to normal levels within a measureable timeframe. This has been an unwelcome reminder to markets of the fragility of sovereign budgets in the developed world, following so quickly on the deal to finance Greece&rsquo;s debts that addressed Greece&rsquo;s immediate crisis, but did little to resolve long term structural problem in the Eurozone. Indeed it is now evident that the deal has not arrested growing worries that the much bigger economies of Spain and Italy may also need external help in financing their deficits. Meanwhile economic statistics continue to suggest that economic growth in the developed world may be slowing from the levels of the last year, potentially putting further strain on government finances.
Hence the weakness of recent days. We expect nervousness and volatility to persist. However we are also aware that the timetable for the raising of UK interest rates seems to have been deferred, that company results are still tending to surprise on the upside, and that corporate cash flow continues to improve. Valuations and dividend yields also look attractive in comparison with other asset classes as long as we do not experience a credit shock similar to that of 2008/9. So we feel that strong nerves may indeed be needed in the coming weeks, but they are called for at this moment.
by Richard Cumming-Bruce BA SIE (Dip), Senior Investment Researcher.&nbsp; PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT


The views expressed above are based on information which we believe to be reliable, but are not guaranteed as to accuracy or completeness by Principal, and any expressions of opinion are subject to change without notice. This article is for information purposes and should not be treated as advice to buy or sell any particular investment.
]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2011-08-04T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=69]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Latest Exciting Development in Pension Legislation.]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[With Royal Assent now granted, Flexible Drawdown is officially legal!
Flexible Drawdown is a new and exciting opportunity in the pensions market &ndash; and a potential game-changer in terms of income and tax planning for customers in retirement.
What is Flexible Drawdown?
Flexible drawdown is a form of 'income withdrawal' or 'income drawdown' where clients can take pension income directly from their pension fund. There's no limit on the amount of income they can take from their pension fund each year, which means they can take as much or as little as they like. In fact if they want to, they can take out all the funds in their arrangement as one single payment. However, any income is taxed under PAYE so taking all the funds out at once may take them into the next income tax band. So, some people may be better off spreading the income over more than one year to minimise the income tax they pay.
The key thing about flexible drawdown is that if they want to take income drawdown (officially called 'drawdown pension' in the legislation) they have to physically choose to go into flexible drawdown, and they have to qualify. If they want to take income drawdown and either don't choose to go into flexible drawdown, or they don't qualify, they'll go into capped drawdown instead (it's in effect the default option).
To see if this opportunity would suit your circumstances, please contact us today:
info@sc-ifa.co.uk or call 0845 5046444&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2011-07-27T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=67]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Ethical Investments]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Ethical Investing is no longer the poor relative of the Investment world. Now major fund houses are realising that there is a growing demand amongst prudent investors. Notwithstanding, 'Ethical' means different things to different people, there is a general consensus. Individual preferences can be accommodated within portfolios and the assets can be held within virtually any tax wrapper.
An Ethical Portfolio can be held inside your tax-efficient ISA allowance (&pound;10,680 annually). Dividends from equity investments within an ISA are effectively subject to income tax at 10%, deducted at source. Higher rate taxpayers benefit, as they have no further tax to pay. All ISAs are free of capital gains tax.
One of the top Discretionary Fund Managers ( DFMs) available to us offers an Ethical Investment Model designed by fund managers with a wealth of experience, including managing assets for the Rowntree Trust and nearly 50 charities.
If you would like to find out more about ethical investing, please contact your Scottsdale for more information.
Example Ethical Portfolio
TOP 10 HOLDINGS
F&amp;C Stewardship International 12.0%Jupiter Ecology Fund 11.0%First State Asia Pacific Sustainability 8.0%Aviva Sustainable Future Corporate Bond 6.5%Aegon Ethical Corporate Bond 6.5%F&amp;C Ethical Bond 6.5%Legal &amp; General Ethical Trust 6.0%F&amp;C Stewardship Growth 5.0%Premier Fellowship 5.0%Aegon Ethical Equity 5.0%
Contact : info@sc-ifa.co.uk]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2011-07-26T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=66]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Scottsdale Launch Corporate Facebook Page.]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Face to face, personal, professional advice is at the very heart of the Scottsdale Consulting business ethos.
According to Atlantra Media &ndash;
&lsquo;If Facebook were a country, it would be the 3rd most populated country in the world.&nbsp; With over 500 million users it is a powerhouse for communications and organization.&nbsp; Revolutions are beginning on the pages of Facebook and moving to the streets&rsquo;
As a deeply personal business Scottsdale aims to be accessible and relevant to the generation that it is serving and the Scottsdale Facebook Page aims to feature up-to-date news and reviews to keep visitors informed in this ever changing economic environment.
Please visit the page and, as is the custom, &lsquo;like&rsquo; the page.
Thank you.
We look forwards to meeting you in this great social space.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Scottsdale-Consulting-Ltd/254372394589055]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2011-07-22T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=63]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Business Protection - Would your company survive without it?]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Whether you are a Director, Sole Trader, Partnership or Limited Company, the Owner / Directors are often seen as key&nbsp; ie: people without whom the business would struggle or even fold. A key person for this type of insurance is described as: someone with specialist skills or knowledge or particularly important areas of responsibility whose loss to a business would adversely affect its profitability. This would certainly be the Owner or Directors and other key employees.
The need for Keyman insurance is to compensate a business for loss of profits on the death, critical illness, or incapacity as a result of sickness or accident of an employee.
As a business owner you will have considered disaster recovery and contingency planning; but have you thought about how the loss of a particular person would impact on the profitability of the company?
Read more at the link below:
http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/newsletters/newsletters-July-August2011/PDF/Page_9.pdf]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2011-07-22T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=64]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Proud Sponsors of Elstow CC ]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Scottsdale Consulting are delighted to be among the sponsors of the Elstow Cricket Club 1st XI, 2nd XI, Midweek and Development teams.
James Tanswell a valued&nbsp;financial adviser with Scottsdale consulting regularly plays for the team.
Elstow CC is a growing, community cricket club in Elstow, a beautiful village just south of Bedford.
They&nbsp;are already on the lookout for new players, both senior and junior, for next season.
http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/images/team-photos/JamesTanswell.jpg]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2011-07-22T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=65]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Scottsdale - Breakfast Briefing]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[We are pleased to announce that our next 'Breakfast Briefing' will focus on the benefits of our Bespoke Private Client Service.
You are invited to this popular venue in the heart of the City, and to&nbsp;enjoy a full English Breakfast during the course of the presentation.
Green&rsquo;s Restaurant, 14 Cornhill, London, EC3V 3ND&nbsp;
Thursday, 28th of July 2011 at 7.30 a.m.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Breakfast served at 8.00 a.m. concluding by 9.30 am.&nbsp;
Our breakfast briefing will include a presentation by Stephen Jones, Chief Investment Officer of Principal Investment Managers who will describe what is involved in Discretionary Fund Management (DFM), and what is happening in the global investment market.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
DFM offers investors a personalised investment portfolio, which is tailored to individual requirements and is managed daily by a named professional investment manager.
This will be followed by a brief explanation of our valued Private Client Service and a demonstration of the advanced financial planning software, which we use exclusively for the benefit of our private clients.&nbsp;
This invaluable tool gives a comprehensive view of a private client&rsquo;s financial situation and is also used to &lsquo;test drive&rsquo; any proposed changes, before committing to a course of action.As places are limited we would be grateful if you would RSVP to Vicky Brown at v.brown@sc-ifa.co.uk or on 0845 5046444. &nbsp;If you have any special dietary requirements please let us know.
The breakfast menu and full directions to Green&rsquo;s restaurant are available on request.]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2011-07-20T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=62]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Scottsdale Clients Can Now View Portfolios Online]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Using the latest WRAP technology&nbsp;clients of Scottsdale Consulting are now able&nbsp;to view their investments online at any time.&nbsp; The WRAP, hosted by Novia,&nbsp;enables busy people to monitor and analyse their holdings when it suits them to do so.&nbsp; Investments&nbsp;held in Bank Accounts, Unit Trusts, Investment Trusts, OEICs, ISAs, Investment Bonds and SIPPs are held on the system along with stocks and shares.
Being able to view all of your assets and liabilities on a single system at any time of the day or night is a great time saver and puts you firmly in control of your finances.
Why not contact Scottsdale for a demonstration of the Novia WRAP?]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2011-07-15T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=61]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Free Download - Latest Bulletin]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[For the latest topical discussion on relevant financial issues that may affect you, please download our latest financial news bulletin by clicking below.
http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/newsletters/julyaugust2011.html]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2011-07-13T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=60]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Scottsdale Accolade - 100 Leading Advisory Distributors]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Scottsdale Consulting Ltd appears in the prestigious 2011/12 publication - &lsquo;The Directory&rsquo;, which lists &lsquo;100 Leading Advisory Distributors&rsquo;, complied and published by Owen James.&nbsp;
It is an honour to be included and confirms the company&rsquo;s commitment to providing a first class professional service to clients.&nbsp;
Scottsdale continues to expand without losing the personal touch and by embracing new technology, the client experience is enhanced.&nbsp;
&lsquo;It is an honour and responsibility to be included amongst other great household names&rsquo;, said director Paul Vallance, &lsquo;Our aim is to continue offering quality advice to our clients from our offices in Milton Keynes, London and Edinburgh. We are also delighted with the success of our international arm operating from Spain where we serve the expat community, providing bespoke investment advice.&rsquo;]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2011-07-11T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=59]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Complying with the Trustee Act 2000]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Scottsdale Consulting has developed an investment solution for solicitors who act as, or advise, Trustees. The objective is to provide sound, independent advice with a clear audit trail, so that solicitors can be certain that they are fulfilling the prerequisites of the Trustee Act, and in the process acquiring 'Best Advice' for their client.
Background&nbsp;
The Trustee Act 2000 has imposed additional obligations on trustees with regard to investments held within a trust.&nbsp; Although these obligations are useful in ensuring that trust assets are invested appropriately and are regularly reviewed, the resulting costs impact disproportionally on smaller trusts.&nbsp; In many cases, the costs would actually exceed any investment growth leading to erosion of capital.
Trustee Act 2000&nbsp;
The act is an important piece of legislation with wide ranging implications for all trusts and trustees in England and Wales.&nbsp; Trustees must consider and adapt to the requirements, except where a trust deed overrules the Act.
There are 3 main areas to consider:&nbsp;
1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A statutory Duty of Care applying to all trustees
2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A wider General Power of Investment
3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Additional rules on the appointment of Nominees,&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Custodians and Investment managers&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Trustees must consider the following:&nbsp;
&bull;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Review the aims of the trust and its objectives
&bull;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Decide which of the duties should be delegated to agents
&bull;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Check that investment advice is provided by someone qualified to give it
&bull;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prepare, review and revise as necessary an investment policy statement (see below)
&bull;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Review and agree the asset allocation in light of any change in the objectives and the investment policy
&bull;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Set appropriate benchmarks and regular review dates
&bull;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ensure that there is a record of each stage in the process
&nbsp;Investment Policy&nbsp;
Every trust must have a written investment policy statement, which should explain the objectives of the trust.&nbsp; It will help to determine a strategy to generate a sufficient return to fulfil these objectives over the short, medium and long term.&nbsp;
The written statement should cover:&nbsp;
&bull;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The overall level of return expected and minimum yield required
&bull;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The income or capital requirements
&bull;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The ability to distribute capital in the place of income
&bull;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The nature of timing of any liabilities
&bull;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The liquidity requirement, including dates of planned expenditure
&bull;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The marketability of the investments &ndash; important if income needs to be raised quickly
&bull;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The time horizon of the trust &ndash; less than five years or long term
&bull;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The time horizon over which performance will be assessed
&bull;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The residence and tax status of the trust and the beneficiaries
&bull;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Any socially responsible investment constraints
&bull;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Other tax and legal constraints&nbsp;
Taxation&nbsp;
From 6 April 2010 a new &ldquo;Super Tax&rdquo; rate applies to individuals with income over &pound;150,000.&nbsp; This new 50% rate also applies to Discretionary and Accumulation Trusts receiving bank interest or rental income.&nbsp; It adds a new higher 42.5% tax rate to dividend income.&nbsp; Therefore trustees of discretionary trusts that do not distribute income over the &pound;1000 allowance could see significant increases in their tax liability.&nbsp; The administration and reporting requirements relating to income tax are considerable and add to costs.
&nbsp;http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/contact-scottsdale.php]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2011-07-07T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=58]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Scottsdale Expands the Board]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Scottsdale Consulting Limited is delighted to have added Paul Vallance, Dominic Andersen and Nick Konkol to the board of directors.&nbsp; Their long experience of Financial Services along with great enthusiasm will help Scottsdale with its development plans.]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2011-06-22T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=57]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Beware of Pensions Death Tax]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[The pensions changes in April this year were generally welcomed.&nbsp; Removing the requirement to buy an annuity at 75 was particularly popular.&nbsp; However, the changes to how Income Drawdown pension funds are taxed&nbsp;on death was not all good news - but have been overlooked by the mainstream media.
Pension funds from which benefits have been taken are subject to a tax charge of 55% on death if paid as lump sum (this was increased from 35%).&nbsp; A surviving spouse might elect to have a pension paid instead which would be taxed as income.
Uncrystallised pension funds (i.e. from which no benefits have been taken) can be paid as a lump sum free of tax on death before age 75.&nbsp; On death after 75, a tax charge of 55% will apply.&nbsp; It should be noted that this is an improvement on the previous arrangement under which it was highly unlikely that any lump sum death benefit would be available.
Pension rules are complex and they impact on other areas of financial planning such income tax and estate planning.&nbsp; Professional advice is essential.]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2011-06-17T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=56]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Free Download - Latest Bulletin]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[For an unbiased report on relevant financial issues, please download the latest Scottsdale Consulting 'Money Matters' commentary
View our May/June Money Matters Newsletter]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2011-06-03T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=54]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Subscribe here ]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Scottsdale produces a regular financial commentary on topical financial issues.
To be certain&nbsp; of receiving the next bi-monthly 'Money Matters' bulletin, please click on the link below.
Subscribe Here]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2011-06-03T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=55]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Two thirds believe they will never own a home.]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Nearly two-thirds - 64 per cent - of 20-45 year olds believe they will never get on the housing ladder, according to a survey by Halifax.
But the survey, which was produced by the National Centre for Social Research and surveyed 8,000 people between 20 and 45 years of age, shows 77 per cent of non-homeowners still aspire to own their own home.
&nbsp;]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2011-05-31T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=51]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Base Rate Remains at 0.5%]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee has kept UK intrest rates at 0.5%.&nbsp; This is depite inflation being double the Bank's target rate of 2%.
The decision can be seen as a sign that the economy continues to grow only slowly and that low pay rises coupled with increased taxation are expected to bear down on inflation over the coming months.]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2011-05-05T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=50]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[The Devil's in the Detail]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Careful examination of the raft of new pensions legislation reveals that members of Final Salary pension schemes could be the biggest losers.&nbsp; Although the annual allowance for pension contributions of &pound;50,000 seems generous, the way in which annual increases to final salary benefits is translated into an assumed contribution,&nbsp;might land some scheme members with a tax charge.
Provisions are included to provide for one-off pay rises such as might arise from a promotion but higher earners getting an annual pay rise might get a nasty shock in a few years time.&nbsp; If you are in a Final Salary scheme and earn over about &pound;60,000 (Doctor, Civil Servant, Head Teacher perhaps) you might want to take advice.
Contact Mike Wilson at m.wilson@sc-ifa.co.uk if you want to know more.
]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2011-04-07T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=49]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Pension Rules Change - Again]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Described as the biggest change to pensions legislation since "A Day" in 2006, the latest changes took affect from 6 April 2011.&nbsp; New rules govern how much can be paid into a pension, how the benefits can be taken at retirement, how the fund might be taxed on death and what penalties might be applied if limits are broken.
There was never a better time to have an audit of your pension plans.]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2011-04-06T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=48]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Scottsdale Sponsor  Elstow CC]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Scottsdale are delighted to announce a sponsorship deal with Elstow Cricket Club for the up and coming season. Elstow were formed in 1946 and have developed into a highly successful, progressive community cricket club with two senior teams and a rapidly expanding youth section. Currently chasing the Division 1 title in the Bedfordshire Indoor Cricket League, preparations are also well under way for the start of the outdoor season and an assault on the Morrant Four Counties League. Scottsdale are proud to join forces with such a highly regarded and successful club.]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2011-02-15T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=47]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Scottsdale Expands into Scotland]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Scottsdale Consulting has started trading in Scotland from 1st February 2011.&nbsp; Based in central Edinburgh the team presently consists of Jim Wight, Yvonne Wight and Mike Wray.
Additional experienced financial advisers are being sought to expand the the team and to enable us to service clients throughout Scotland.]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2011-02-01T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=46]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Big Changes at Barclays]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[&nbsp;According to Harry Wilson of the Daily Telegraph.
&nbsp;'Barclays is set to lay off about 1,000 staff in the UK as the lender cuts the financial advisory staff at its branches.' 'The jobs are being culled as Barclays prepares to end its branch-based financial planning service next month,' 
This leaves Barclays investment customers in a vacuum.
As Independent Financial Advisers, Scottsdale Consulting is offering personal and confidential advice to both individuals and businesses affected. 
Browse&nbsp;our Web Site for more information&nbsp; on how we can help.
&nbsp;www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2011-01-31T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=45]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Player of the Month]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Scottsdale's very own Nick Konkol has been named Player of the Month in October by the Woolwich
&nbsp;
Top Of The League is an industry recognition scheme in association with Woolwich mortgages from Barclays. The aim is to recognise two outstanding individuals each month who will be named Player of the Month or Manager of the Month. Top of the League nominees have all delivered excellent service in their company or community, for colleagues or clients. Each month during the football season Woolwich talent scouts will be hunting out star players and managers in all major networks, clubs and brokerages. They will then be whittled down to a short list of five names, before the winners are chosen by our panel of judges. Winners will be presented with the same Barclays Premier League Player or Manager of the Month trophies that the football greats receive and other ]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-11-17T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=44]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[New Responsibilities for Employers]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[From October 2012 there will be new legal duties on employers designed to help more people working in the UK save for their retirement.
Employers will have to enroll your workers into a workplace pension scheme that meets or exceeds certain legal standards.&nbsp; These standards set out a number of things, including the minimum amount of money an employer has to contribute towards a workers&rsquo; pensions.&nbsp;
What are the minimums?
The minimum contributions will start at a low level.
Once all employers are meeting their duties, the minimum levels of contributions will start to gradually increase. This process is known as phasing.
The table below explains how minimum contributions will work over time.




&nbsp;


Minimum percentage of qualifying earnings that must be paid in total


Minimum percentage of qualifying earnings that employers must pay




October 2012 to September 2016


2%


1%




October 2016 to September 2017


5%


2%




October 2017 onwards


8%


3%




Once phasing is complete there will be a minimum total contribution of 8 per cent of qualifying earnings that will be payable for each member. This 8 per cent includes a minimum employer contribution of 3 per cent of qualifying earnings.
This means if you choose to pay just the minimum required by you as an employer, you will contribute at least 3 per cent of qualifying earnings.
The further 5 per cent of a worker's qualifying earnings will be paid in contributions from their pay, which includes the government's contribution in the form of tax relief.

Up to &pound;3,600* per year can be paid into each member&rsquo;s retirement savings pot. 
NEST Corporation is not allowed to accept transfers in or pay transfers out except in very limited circumstances. 

*The contribution limit is &pound;3,600 in 2005 terms. This limit will be adjusted in line with earnings growth for when the scheme is launched in 2011, following which it will be adjusted annually.
What are contributions based on?
The amounts are based on a worker&rsquo;s qualifying earnings. These are their total annual earnings of more than &pound;5,035 but not more than &pound;33,540.*
Total earnings include a worker&rsquo;s salary, wages, overtime, bonuses and commission, as well as statutory sick pay and statutory pay they receive during maternity, paternity or adoption leave.
*2006/07 terms. These figures will be updated for 2012.
http://www.nestpensions.org.uk/meeting-employer-duties.aspx]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-11-01T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=42]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Company Directors Save Money]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[It is now possible for company directors to protect their families with life assurance paid for by the company.&nbsp; If properly set up, the cost is fully deductible and is not a benefit in kind on the director.
Compared with the cost of paying life assurance premiums from taxed income, this represents a very considerable saving.&nbsp; For a 40% taxpayer the savings amounts to over 47% when income tax and National Insurance contributions are taken into account.]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-10-19T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=41]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Our New Address]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[When our beautiful old offices at Bradwell Abbey urgently needed&nbsp; refurbishment, Scottsdale Consulting moved to Regus House for 12 months.&nbsp; Now a year has passed and the work has not been carried out.&nbsp; As a result, we have moved to a new permanent address in Linford Wood.&nbsp; The full address is contained in the Contact Us section.]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-08-31T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=40]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[No Need to Buy an Annuity at 75]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[The Government has indicated the requirement to purchase a pension annuity by age 75 is to go.&nbsp; To give itself time to consult on the alternatives, there is an interim change to the relevant&nbsp;age from 75 to 77.
The proposal has been welcomed as annuities rates are currently at historical lows.&nbsp; Anyone considering taking pension benefits now has more options than ever before and should seek professional advice.
Top Tip - never accept the annuity offered by an Insurance Company without looking at the open market.]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-08-25T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=39]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Australian Tax Changes]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Foreign Accumulation Funds (FAF) Taxation
Until very recently there was an Australian tax known as Foreign Investments Fund (FIF) tax which required you to calculate the investment growth on an annual basis on certain UK pension benefits, convert this growth into Australian dollars and add this amount to your taxable income. This income was to be included in your Australian tax return and was taxed at your highest marginal rate of tax, should you not have qualified for a FIF exemption.
However, this FIF legislation has been repealed very recently and replaced with Foreign Accumulation Funds (FAF) tax legislation.
Whilst this new legislation was effective from the 1st of July 2010 the details are yet to be fully legislated.&nbsp; However, our understanding as per the following statement, provided in the form of Draft Explanatory Material (ex Jeff Bowman &ndash; International Tax Accountant) is that all UK pensions - whether employer sponsored, personal pensions (including SIPPS and group personal pensions) - will be exempt:
&ldquo;Australian residents cannot accumulate certain passive income in offshore entities and thereby defer, or even avoid, Australian tax. The rules tax residents on an accruals basis on their share of income accumulating in such offshore entities".
(However,) &ldquo;An investor that is a &lsquo;complying superannuation fund&rsquo; [in the final version this reference will be to &lsquo;complying superannuation entity&rsquo;], (under section 995-1 of the ITAA 1997), as well as any other type of specifically listed fund will be excluded from the operation of the anti-roll-up rule. [Schedule #, section @FAF35]&rdquo;.]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-07-16T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=38]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[3.99% Mortgage Fixed for 5 Years]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Despite mortgage funds being in very short supply, Scottsdale Consulting has obtained a tranche of funds at an unbelievable rate.&nbsp; The details are as follows but you will need to contact us quickly to take advantage.
3.99% fixed until 31/07/2015
&pound;995 arrangement fee
No&nbsp;legal fees
&pound;250 cashback
Maximum of 75% Loan to Value
Valuation fee &pound;280 to &pound;1098 depending on value
20% Overpayment per annum without penalty
Portable
Contact Nick Konkol on 01908 226400 for more information.&nbsp; Or email n.konkol@sc-ifa.co.uk]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-07-02T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=37]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Emergency Budget Headlines]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Budget highlights&nbsp;
&bull; The standard rate of VAT will be 20% from Tuesday 4 January 2011.
&bull; The personal allowance will rise by &pound;1,000 in 2011/12, but higher rate&nbsp;taxpayers will not benefit because the basic rate limit will be cut.&nbsp;
&bull; From 23 June 2010, the rate of capital gains tax will increase to 28% for&nbsp; higher and additional rate taxpayers, but will remain at 18% for basic rate&nbsp; taxpayers.
&bull; Entrepreneurs&rsquo; relief will continue at 10% and from 23 June 2010 the lifetime limit will be raised to &pound;5 million per person.
&bull; The main corporation tax rate will fall to 27% from 1 April 2011 and be&nbsp;reduced by 1% a year in the following three years.
&bull; The small profits corporation tax rate will reduce to 20% from 1 April 2011.&nbsp;
&bull; The annual investment allowance will be cut to &pound;25,000 from April 2012.&nbsp;
The writing down allowances for plant and machinery will also be reduced.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&bull; The effective requirement to buy an annuity at age 75 will be scrapped&nbsp;from April 2011.
In More Detail
Income tax bands and personal allowances
The personal allowance for those under 65 will rise by &pound;1,000 to &pound;7,475 for 2011/12.
The basic rate limit for 2011/12 will be reduced, so that higher rate taxpayers will not benefit from the increase in the personal allowance.
National insurance rates and bands
The main national insurance contribution (NIC) rates will rise by 1% in 2011/12, as previously announced. The employer&rsquo;s NIC (secondary) threshold will rise by &pound;21 a week more than indexation to reduce the impact of this increase.
The upper earnings/profits limit (UEL/UPL) will continue to be aligned with the higher rate threshold (the total of the under-65 personal allowance plus the basic rate limit) by reducing the UEL/UPL.
Deduction of income tax at source
HM Revenue &amp; Customs (HMRC) will be given the power to make regulations to amend when and how a taxpayer other than a company should report income tax deducted from payments of interest, patent royalties and other annual payments.
Individual savings accounts (ISAs)
For tax years starting from 6 April 2011, the annual ISA investment limits will increase each year in line with inflation as previously announced. The new limit will be based on the annual retail prices index (RPI) increase to the previous September and rounded to a multiple of &pound;120.
Child trust fund
As announced on 24 May 2010, Government contributions to child trust funds will be reduced to a basic &pound;50 from 1 August 2010 and then the contributions will cease completely from 1 January 2011.
Deferring the requirement to buy an annuity
The effective requirement to use registered pension scheme funds to buy an annuity at age 75 will be scrapped from 2011/12. Pending implementation of the necessary changes, from 22 June 2010 the age threshold will rise from 75 to 77. This change will also apply for the purposes of inheritance tax (IHT) charges for pension scheme members aged 75 or more.
For members of money purchase pension schemes who reach age 75 after 21 June 2010, the strict alternatively secured pension (ASP) income limits will apply from age 77. Immediately before their 75th birthday, members will become entitled to income withdrawal and a tax-free pension commencement lump sum in respect of any uncrystallised funds (ie funds that have not yet vested).
Pensions tax relief
Legislation will be introduced to repeal the Finance Act 2010 measures that introduced the high income excess relief charge, which was due to operate from 2011/12. The Government will instead use the existing allowances structure to restrict higher and additional rate relief for pension contributions. The Budget Red Book saysthat &lsquo;provisional analysis suggests an annual allowance in the range of &pound;30,000 to &pound;45,000 would raise the necessary yield&rsquo;.
Pension taxation &ndash; NEST
As previously announced, legislation will enable the National Employment Savings Trust (NEST) to be registered with HMRC for tax purposes. Once registered, NEST will be treated as an occupational scheme.
Real estate investment trusts (REITs)
At present, a UK REIT must pay cash dividends (property income distributions) to meet the requirement under REIT rules to distribute 90% of profits from its property rental business. From the date of Royal Assent, a UK REIT will be able to issue stock dividends instead of making a property income distribution, as previously announced.
Venture capital schemes
As previously announced, for venture capital trusts (VCTs) there will be a change in the definition of eligible shares and the minimum holding of such shares will rise to 70% from the current 30%.&nbsp;
Company shares will be excluded from qualifying for VCTs and enterprise investment schemes (EISs) if the company is an &lsquo;enterprise in difficulty&rsquo;. The current rule that a company must have a qualifying trade carried on wholly or mainly in the UK will be replaced with a requirement that the company must have a permanent establishment in the UK, as previously announced.
Legislation will be in the Finance Act, but no date has yet been set for implementation. The new eligible shares rule will not affect funds raised by VCTs before the implementation date.
Income tax adjustments between settlors and trustees
From 6 April 2010, as previously announced, settlors who receive repayments of tax on trust income because their personal tax rate is lower than the trustees&rsquo; rate will be required to pass such repayments to the trustees. These payments to trustees will be disregarded for IHT purposes.
Guardianship orders
From 6 April 2010, as previously announced, payments made to individuals who care for children under special guardianship orders will be free from income tax.
Tax changes to trusts compensating asbestos victims
Where a company has set up a trust before 24 March 2010 to pay compensation to asbestos victims, the trustees will be exempt from income tax, capital gains tax and inheritance tax. The trusts that will benefit are those set up as part of an arrangement made by a company with its creditors. The tax relief applies from 6 April 2006 and was previously announced.
The 50% income tax rate (42.5% for dividends) applies to all trusts that accumulate income. If you are a trustee, you should consider whether you could save tax by restructuring the way in which the trust&rsquo;s investments are held. Remember also the maximum rate of CGT for trusts is only 28%.
Income tax relief for shared lives carers
Shared lives carers, including adult placement carers, staying put carers and certain kinship carers will qualify for the same income tax relief as foster carers. The new relief, to be known as qualifying care relief, will have effect from 6 April 2010 and was announced in the 2009 Pre-Budget Report.
Seafarers&rsquo; earnings deduction
The seafarers&rsquo; earnings deduction will be extended to EU and EEA seafarers from 6 April 2011, as previously announced in the 2009 Pre-Budget Report.
Enterprise management incentive (EMI)
The requirement that a company granting qualifying EMI options must operate wholly or mainly in the UK will be replaced with a condition that the company must have a permanent establishment in the UK. The change will take effect from the date of Royal Assent and has previously been announced.
Tax credits
From April 2011, the income threshold for the withdrawal of the family element of child tax credit (CTC) will be reduced from &pound;50,000 to &pound;40,000 and the withdrawal rate will be increased from 6.67% to 41%.
The baby element of CTC will be scrapped from April 2011 and the planned 2012 increase for one and two-year-olds announced in the March 2010 Budget will not be introduced.
From 2012, the 50 plus element will be removed from the working tax credit. The withdrawal rate for the other tax credits will rise to 41% (from 39%) and the income disregard will drop from &pound;25,000 to &pound;10,000, both from April 2011.
Furnished holiday lettings
The plans to repeal the furnished holiday lettings provisions have been scrapped. However, the Government will undertake a consultation with a view to changing the existing tax &nbsp;treatment of furnished holiday lettings from April 2011. Changes expected include an increase in the number of days on which properties are either available for letting on a commercial basis or actually let. There may also be restrictions on the use of loss relief.
CAPITAL GAINS TAX
Capital gains tax (CGT) rates and annual exemption
There will be a new rate of CGT of 28% from 23 June 2010. For individuals, the rate of CGT remains at 18% where their net taxable gains and taxable income are less than the income tax basic rate limit, currently &pound;37,400. The 28% rate applies to gains or parts of gains that exceed that limit. Trustees and the personal representatives of deceased persons are subject to the 28% rate rather than the 18% rate on all taxable gains.
Gains on disposals before 23 June 2010 continue to be liable to CGT at 18% and will not be taken into account in calculating the rate or rates that apply to gains realised from that date.
The annual exempt amount (AEA) will remain at &pound;10,100 and will continue to be indexed in future years.
In calculating the CGT that is payable, taxpayers will be able to deduct losses and the AEA in the way that will minimise the tax due.
For example &ndash; George has taxable income from his employment and investments of &pound;24,000 (after his personal allowance) in the tax year 2010/11. He made two capital gains during the year: &pound;15,000 in May 2010 and &pound;34,000 in July 2010.
He chooses to set his AEA of &pound;10,100 against his July gain, because that would be more advantageous for him. So the tax on his May gain would be &pound;15,000 x 18% = &pound;2,700.
His July gain of &pound;34,000 is reduced to &pound;23,900 by the AEA. This gain is added to his taxable income for the year of &pound;24,000, making a total of &pound;47,900. Up to the basic rate limit of &pound;37,400, the gain of &pound;13,400 is taxable at 18% &ndash; &pound;2,412. Above &pound;37,400, &pound;10,500 is taxable at 28% &ndash; &pound;2,940. So the total CGT is &pound;5,352. George saved CGT by setting his AEA against the gain taxable at 28% rather than 18%.
CGT deferral reliefs
Capital gains may be deferred in certain cases &ndash; for example, they may be held over against a qualifying corporate bond (QCB) received as consideration on a company share sale or deferred by investment in an enterprise investment scheme (EIS). In such cases, the gains become taxable on a subsequent chargeable event &ndash; for example, when the QCB is encashed or the EIS shares are sold.
It is confirmed that where pre-23 June 2010 gains are deferred and become taxable after that date, they will be subject to the new CGT rates.
Entrepreneurs&rsquo; relief
The lifetime limit for entrepreneurs&rsquo; relief has been increased from &pound;2 million to &pound;5 million for disposals after 22 June 2010. Entrepreneurs&rsquo; relief applies to the disposal of qualifying business assets by individuals and certain trustees. Gains that qualify for the relief are subject to a tax rate of 10%.
BUSINESS TAX
Corporation tax rates
The corporation tax rates are as follows:
12 months to 12 months to 31 March 2011 31 March 2012
Small profits rate 21% 20%
Marginal rate 29.75% 28.75%
Main rate 28% 27%
It is proposed to cut the main corporation tax rate to 24% reducing the rate by 1% a year over a four year period.
The relevant limits for corporation tax are reduced proportionately where a company is associated with other companies. The associated company definition will be simplified from April 2011, so that this rule will only apply where businesses are fragmented between various companies to reduce their corporation tax.
Annual investment allowance (AIA) and writing down allowances (WDAs)
The 100% AIA expenditure limit will be reduced from &pound;100,000 to &pound;25,000 from April 2012.
The rates of WDAs for new and unrelieved expenditure on plant and machinery will be reduced as follows from April 2012:
􀀀 Main pool plant and machinery expenditure 18% (currently 20%).
􀀀 Special rate pool expenditure 8% (currently 10%).
A hybrid WDA rate is calculated for accounting periods that straddle April 2012. From April 2010, business expenditure on new unused zero-emission goods vehicles qualifies for a 100% first year allowance. The 100% relief applies for five years to April 2015 and is capped at total qualifying expenditure of &euro;85 million over this period per undertaking or group.
Research and development (R&amp;D) tax relief 
For many years, companies have been able to claim enhanced tax relief on their qualifying R&amp;D expenditure. Current rates are 175% for small and medium-size enterprises (SME) and 130% for large companies. However, it is no longer necessary for the relevant SME incurring the R&amp;D expenditure to own the intellectual property generated by the R&amp;D. This applies for accounting periods ending on or after 9 December 2009 as previously announced.
NIC exemption for new regional businesses
During a three-year qualifying period, new businesses which start up in targeted areas
outside London, the South East and the East of England will get a reduction in their employers&rsquo; NICs. These employers will not have to pay the first &pound;5,000 of class 1 employer NICs that would otherwise be due in the first 12 months of employment. This will apply for each of the first ten employees hired in the first year of business.
Get the timing right for your investment in new business equipment. At present, businesses of any size will generally benefit from immediate tax relief on the first &pound;100,000 a year spent on most types of equipment. However, this allowance will fall to &pound;25,000 from April 2012. So it could be worth bringing forward major investments.
The measure will apply in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, and the following English regions: the North West, North East, Yorkshire and Humber, West Midlands, East Midlands and South West.
The scheme is intended to start no later than September 2010. Any new business set up from 22 June 2010 that meets the criteria to be announced will benefit from the scheme.
Capital distributions
With retrospective effect from 1 July 2009, distributions of a capital nature will still fall within the exempt distribution rules for companies as announced earlier. For example, a distribution from reserves created by a reduction of capital will qualify as an exempt distribution, despite being capital in nature.
VALUE ADDED TAX (VAT)&nbsp;
Change of standard rate
The standard rate of VAT will increase from 17.5% to 20% from Tuesday 4 January 2011. Goods and services that are currently exempt from VAT or subject to VAT at the zero or 5% rates will not be affected by this change.
Anti-forestalling rules will counter schemes that aim to apply the 17.5% rate to goods or services supplied after 3 January 2011 by invoicing or paying in advance. A supplementary VAT charge of 2.5% will be payable where the customer cannot recover all the VAT on a supply and any of the following conditions are met:
􀀀 The supplier and customer are connected.
􀀀 The supplier funds the purchase.
􀀀 The payment is not due for at least six months.
􀀀 The value of the supply is &pound;100,000 or more, unless the prepayment or advance invoice is normal commercial practice.
Flat rate scheme
Small businesses can start to use the flat rate scheme if their VAT-exclusive turnover is no more than &pound;150,000, but they must leave the scheme if their VAT-inclusive turnover exceeds &pound;225,000. This exit turnover figure will rise to &pound;230,000 from 4 January 2011.
The flat rates that are applied to gross sales under the flat rate scheme will increase on 4 January 2011 to reflect the increase in the standard rate of VAT. Businesses may leave the flat rate scheme at any time.
Extract from Tax Assist Acountants report.
All details contained here are based on a current understanding of the changes announced in the chancellors emergency budget 2010,&nbsp;but refinements may follow.
This should not be viewed as advice and personal consultantions to discuss your situation&nbsp;are recommended and can be made with our specialists at Scottsdale Consulting Ltd]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-06-23T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=36]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Tackling the Budget Deficit]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Where the Axe will Fall.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne revealed today where the initial &pound;6.2 billion of cuts will be made.
As promised by the new coalition government, there are to be sweeping cuts to tackle the UK's budget deficit.
In the first swathe of cuts the following areas were selected:-A freeze in civil service recruitment will save around &pound;600 million.Child Trust Fund payments will be reduced and then stopped altogether, saving &pound;520 million.
IT, suppliers and property will be cut by &pound;2 billion while consultancy and travel fees will be slashed by &pound;1billion.Departmental savings will be made in the following areas:
Transport&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&pound;683 million
Communities and Local Government &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&pound;780 million
Business&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&pound;836 million
Education&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&pound;670 million
Department for Justice&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&pound;325 millionDevolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will have to save &pound;704million - although this could be deferred.
The Emergency Budget is set to take place on 22 June 2010.]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-05-24T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=35]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Long Term Care Insurance]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Demographic projections reveal that by 2050 there will be 41% more people aged between 65 - 84. Many of these people may face the prospect of needing professional residential care.
There are many ways of preparing for this and, at the same time, addressing the issues of estate succession.
It is important to get professional advice as early as possible in order make the best use of your hard earned resources.
Scottsdale will be delighted to help.]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-04-23T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=34]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[International Opportunity]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Many people don't relaise that 75% of the revenue generated by FTSE100 companies now comes from overseas.&nbsp; This means that their profits can actually increase when Sterling falls.
Investors can access these major companies via blue chip equity funds - many with handsome dividend yields.&nbsp; Contact Mike Wilson on 01908 226400 for more information.]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-04-21T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=33]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Overseas Pension Transfers]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[As part of our service to people emigrating to Australia and New Zealand, Scottsdale Consulting has partcipated&nbsp;in several important exhibitions recently.
In conjunction with our partner National Australia Bank, we had&nbsp;stands at&nbsp;Working-In Expos in London &amp; Manchester and at the Down Under Live event in Leeds during&nbsp;March.
If you would like to to be invited to future emigration events contact us at info@sc-ifa.co.uk]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-04-06T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=32]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[New Investment Opportunity]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[The New ISA Allowance is now in force.
From 6 April 2010 the annual ISA allowances have been increased.
For Stocks and Shares ISAs, the limit has risen from &pound;7,200 to &pound;10,200 per tax year for each individual.
The cash ISA allowance has also increased to &pound;5,100 from &pound;3,600.&nbsp;
The maximum overall investment in a tax year is limited to &pound;10,200.
Since 6 October 2009 these increased limits have applied to inverstors over 50, but they now apply to everyone over 18 (16 for cash ISAs).
&nbsp;]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-04-06T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=11]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Budget 2010 Highlights]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Budget Highlights 2010
The Chancellor delivered the Budget Speech today amidst a packed house of commons. Here are some of the highlights
Stamp Duty Holiday for first Time Buyers, with purchase price of up to &pound;250,000
The tax relief is not retrospective .The key date is the date of completion.
If you have completed your purchase before 00:01am Thursday 25 March then you paid the tax due at the time and you cannot get it back.
However, if you are still in the purchase process and the purchase price is less that &pound;250,000, no stamp duty will be due.
Stamp Duty Hike
However, bad news for high-end buyers. Properties over &pound;1 million will be subject to 5% Stamp duty charge, but this does not come into force until next year.
Inheritance Tax
The threshold is frozen at &pound;325,000 for four years.
Savings 
The annual ISA limit (&pound;10,200 from next month) to increase annually in line with inflation.
Fuel Duty 
3p increase will be staggered - 1pc in April, further 1p rise in October, rest in January.
Small business - Entrepreneurs' relief for Capital Gains Tax doubled to &pound;2m and taxed at 10pc.
Business rates will be cut for one year from October.
Annual investment allowance doubled to &pound;100,000.
RBS and Lloyds will provide a total of &pound;94bn of new business loans, nearly half to smaller firms.]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-03-24T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=31]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Interest Rates - What can we expect?]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Interest rates affect us all in one way or another, whether this is directly through mortgage repayments, which for most people, are the largest single commitment, or indirectly through the businesses that we work for or trade with.
There is a cross section of opinion amongst &lsquo;experts&rsquo; in the financial field, but most are agreed that we should not expect much increase in the Bank of England Base rate during 2010.
When asked about their expectation for the rate by the end of 2011, estimates varied from, at the lower end 1.5% suggested by Edward Bonham Carter&nbsp; Chief executive of Jupiter Asset Management,&nbsp; to 3.5% predicted by Sam Smith Chief executive of finance firm FinnCap 
Ros Altmann&nbsp; A governor of the London School of Economics, who expects the rate to be around 3% by the end of 2011, added the following comment :-'At the moment, interest rates are artificially low, which is distorting other markets, especially bonds. Inflation is picking up, but the authorities may keep thinking this is only temporary and fail to react soon enough. During 2010, I'd expect rates to start rising - they can't stay at these low levels for too long. By 2011, rates are likely to be still higher, unless there has been another panic. 
&nbsp;]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-02-08T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=28]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Will the Euro-zone break up?]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[&nbsp;
After years of economic bridge building the European single currency project is threatening to unravel. The 'one-size fits all' policy framework is under intense pressure as the economic health of member states show significant signs of divergence. 
Core nations, such as France and Germany, have returned to a recovery path, while peripheral states, such as Greece, Ireland, Spain and Portugal, are suffering from structural weaknesses and rising unemployment.&nbsp;More worryingly, the political will that has united the Euro-zone throughout the recession is beginning to show signs of frailty. The greatest concern appears to focus on Greece's spiralling deficit but investors are also wary about further contagion.
Origin: Standard Life Investments Weekly Focus]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-01-27T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=27]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Out of Recession]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[The UK economy emerges from recession, after figures show the economy grew by 0.1% in the last three months of 2009.
In an interview with the BBC today the Chancellor, Alistair Darling, said he was &lsquo;confident&rsquo; that we are going to see a recovery, but advised caution and refused to be drawn on his expectations for the next quarter.
He warned that though he was confident that recovery was on the way, there would yet be &lsquo;bumps along the road&rsquo;
Vince Cable, spokesman for the Liberal Democrats said that this was &lsquo;scarcely a recovery at all&rsquo;. Whilst he admitted it was important to be confident, he described the economy as being in &lsquo;a very very fragile state&rsquo;, comparing the situation to a patient following a heart attack and on life support.
News from the High Street
A survey conducted by the BBC today showed that although some shop units remain empty, the mood is generally positive for the year ahead.]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-01-26T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=26]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Lasting Powers of Attorney – an update ]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Lasting Powers of Attorney (&lsquo;LPAs&rsquo;) were created by the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and came into force on 1 October 2007. The LPA provides a means for the donor to choose someone they trust to make decisions for them in the event that lose the mental capacity to make these decisions themselves.
There are two types of LPA. The personal welfare LPA enables the appointed attorney/s to deal with decisions relating to the personal healthcare and welfare of the Donor when the donor lacks the necessary capacity to do so. The property and affairs LPA can additionally provide for the donor&rsquo;s financial matters to be managed on their behalf while they still have capacity as well as when they lose capacity.
From the perspective of professionals and organisations serving the long term care sector, these can be important documents to have in place when dealing with clients coming into residential care. Having LPAs in place for clients can enable their financial affairs to be dealt with speedily and efficiently and provide invaluable input for issues relating to a donor&rsquo;s welfare. It gives a point of contact and makes sure that the right person is making the decisions.
However there are currently lengthy delays of about four months in registering the LPAs at the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG). As LPAs are not effective and cannot be used until they have been registered, this can cause real difficulties for elderly clients. It is therefore crucial that LPAs are considered at an early stage of planning to ensure that they are effective when they are really needed.
The introduction of LPAs has introduced many more safeguards for donors which can also assist those dealing with their care. For example, the requirement for registration of the LPA with the OPG and the keeping of a central register means that it should be easier to check the validity of an LPA. Attorneys can also be checked and this should help to prevent potential fraud and abuse of this system.
One last point to note is that before making an LPA, a donor has to demonstrate that they have the capacity to understand what they are doing. If this cannot be established then the alternative is for an application to be made to the Court of Protection for a Deputy to be appointed to act for that person. In addition to taking away the power for a person to choose who is to act for them, this is a much lengthier and more costly process. This route can cause long delays that can be difficult and distressing for all involved. Therefore, make sure they are put in place now.
We are grateful to Franklins Solicitors for this article.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-01-21T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=24]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Intestacy Changes – Increases for the Statutory Legacies ]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[The amounts received under the statutory legacies increased from 1 February 2009. The statutory legacies are the amount that a surviving spouse or civil partner are permitted to inherit under the intestacy rules if their spouse//civil partner dies without leaving a Will. The increases are:-

From &pound;125,000 to &pound;250,000 where the deceased is survived by their spouse or civil partner and children
From &pound;200,000 to &pound;450,000 where the deceased is survived by their spouse or civil partner, their parents or their siblings, but no children

If the estate is over these limits, then division of the remaining assets are divided in accordance with other provisions of the intestacy rules.
&nbsp;
The intestacy rules are a set of laws used when someone dies without a Will in place. They distribute the estate in a strict order depending on the composition of the deceased&rsquo;s family. Spouses and civil partners receive the statutory legacy as explained above. What else they receive depends on their individual family structure.
&nbsp;
While these increases are welcome, they still do not give the same protection to your loved ones as a properly drafted Will. There is a commonly held assumption that when a partner dies, the survivor will inherit everything, but this is clearly not the case. Unmarried couples are particularly vulnerable as they have no automatic right to receive anything under the intestacy rules.
&nbsp;
We would always advise that you should seek careful professional advice relevant to you and your own situation when drafting a Will. If you would like any advice, please contact a member of our specialist Private Client team at either our Milton Keynes or Northampton offices by calling 01604 8282821 or using the contact form on our website.
&nbsp;We are Grateful to Franklins Solicitors for this article.]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-01-21T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=25]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Tax Deadline Day]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[The following Tax Events are due on 31 January 2010:
Deadline for submitting your 2008/09 self assessment return (up to &pound;100 penalty if your return is late). Balance of your 2008/09 tax due, plus first payment on account for 2009/10.


What this means for you?This deadline is relevant to individuals who need to complete a self assessment tax return and make direct payments to HMRC in respect of their income tax, Class 4 NI and any capital gains tax liabilities. There is a penalty of up to &pound;100 if your return is not submitted on time.The balance of any outstanding income tax, class 4 NI and capital gains tax for the year ended 5 April 2008 is due for payment by 31 January 2010. Where the payment is made late interest will be charged. The first payment on account in respect of income tax and any class 4 NI is also due for payment by 31 January 2010.



&nbsp;]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-01-18T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=23]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[2009 a Good Year for Equities]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[All major equity indices posted positive returns in the last quarter of 2009 to round off a good year.&nbsp; The FTSE 100 recorded its best annual gain since 1984 when it closed at 5412.88.&nbsp; The rise in the year was 22.07%.&nbsp; In the US the S&amp;P 500 was up 23.5% in 2009.
However, this does not necessarily mean that the bear market is over and that there are no risks awaiting investors.&nbsp; A cautious approach is recommended with sensible diversification between asset classes.]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-01-12T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=22]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[V or W that is the Question!]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[When will Recovery Begin?
A debate is running on the BBC News&nbsp; web site between Danny Gabay, from Fathom Consulting, a former Bank of England economist and Steven Bell, chief economist at hedge fund GLC, who is more optimistic.
The argument is over the UK&rsquo;s &nbsp;longest running recession on record. In particular, When will recovery begin and what form will it take?
Danny Gabay is adamant that the recession, although aggravated by the fall of Lehman Brothers, was already a fact in the US for almost a year before this.
He highlights the use of what he calls the 4 most dangerous words in economics, "this time is different", uttered by some in the boom years. These same people are now saying, &ldquo;Recovery will be the same&rdquo;.
He argues that recovery will take a &lsquo;W&rsquo; shape rather than a sharp &lsquo;V&rsquo; . He explains,
&lsquo;It ( history) teaches us that recessions due to financial or banking crises are deeper, last far longer and produce shallower recoveries. That is especially true if they are highly synchronised across the world, like the 1930s depression&rsquo;.
Steven Bell is more optimistic and believes that the risk has been averted and the recovery in global trade and production is V-shaped. In addition, the policy stimulus is massive.
He goes on to say,
&lsquo;Fiscal policy [like the VAT cut and the car scrappage scheme] has done its job, but even as it fades, monetary policy is gaining traction. 
Capital markets have reopened, with massive corporate bond issuance in the first half of the year now giving way to buoyant equity issuance. Emerging markets are enjoying a boom and growth in the developed markets is accelerating. 
The UK is benefiting from this improved environment with one important and powerful advantage: sterling has fallen by some 25% since the crisis began. 
The benefits to tourism are already evident; exporters will be helped too. The lags for overall production are longer but the ultimate effect is even more powerful. 
Economists have spent the last six months revising their near-term growth forecasts up. It's time they recognised that the world has changed. 
The recovery is here and its real&rsquo;.
Quotes from BBC News 16 November 2009
Who ever is correct, it is certainly important to prepare and plan.
For help with your Financial Planning contact :&nbsp; mailto:info@sc-ifa.co.uk
&nbsp;]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2009-11-16T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=16]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Personal Accounts - The debate]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Personal Accounts &ndash; The Government Attempt to Address the Pension Provision Shortfall.
To encourage us to put more into our pensions, eligible workers will be automatically enrolled into a new workplace pension called a personal account from 2012. But will these accounts encourage us to save retirement?
The government estimates that seven million employees are saving too little for retirement, so from 2012 it is introducing the personal accounts scheme for employees who don&rsquo;t currently have a good quality work-based pension plan.
Employers will have to automatically enrol all eligible workers (aged over 22 and earning more than &pound;5,000 a year) into either a workplace pension scheme or a personal account. Automatic enrolment means that instead of choosing to opt into pension saving, as happens now, workers will have to go through the effort of opting out of the personal account or company pension plan if they don&rsquo;t wish to save that way.
Employers will have to contribute 3% of each employee&rsquo;s salary to the workplace pension scheme, while a further 4% will be taken out of the employee&rsquo;s pay before tax. The government will pay in another 1% in tax relief. Contributions will be capped at &pound;3,600 a year, though if you have spare savings you can pay in up to &pound;10,000 in the first year.
But will personal accounts really encourage more people to save for retirement?
Yes says Tim Jones, chief executive of Personal Accounts Delivery Authority:
Current population projections suggest the number of people aged 65 and over will double by 2055. While the state pension can give people a foundation income, for many it will not be enough. At least seven million of us may not be saving enough for our retirement. The government's workplace pension reforms seek to address this.&nbsp;From 2012, all employees will be enrolled into a pension scheme and will have a right, should they stay opted-in, to a contribution from their employer. As one of the workplace pension schemes that employers can use to meet their new duties in 2012, the personal accounts scheme is a key aspect of the reform.
The scheme ensures the gap in provision is filled for those who currently don't have access to workplace pensions, either because their employer doesn't provide one, or because they don't meet the qualification criteria.
Under many existing workplace pension arrangements, seasonal workers, contractors and women who take career breaks miss out. Many employers will choose to use the personal accounts scheme to ensure these groups receive their employer contributions.
Personal accounts will be a low-charge pension scheme accessible to all employers who want to use it, in particular those on low to moderate earnings. The impact of lower charges can be substantial on smaller pension pots, boosting the final value by as much as 40%.
The scheme will be run by a not&ndash;for&ndash;profit trustee corporation, solely in the interests of its members.&nbsp;The scheme will also help facilitate a culture of pension saving among people who have not previously engaged in saving for their retirement, supporting these people in their attempt to take some responsibility for their future.
No says Steve Bee, head of pensions strategy at Scottish Life:
Our pension system is far from perfect, but saving for a pension today is a voluntary act; no one is compelled to save. From 2012 that will change when millions of employees who are not in company pension schemes will be auto-enrolled into qualifying workplace pension schemes.
It will not be compulsory for employees to remain as members of such schemes, but it is hoped that inertia will prevail and they will stay opted in.
I think we deserve a pension system that does right by people who do the right thing. Plenty of people already do the socially responsible thing of deferring income for later in life. People saving for the future are doing the right thing by themselves and by the rest of us.
I don't like the way our current pension system can act against people who, although they don't earn very much, choose to do the right thing and save, yet still stand to lose out through the withdrawal of the means-tested entitlements that non-savers benefit from in retirement.
This is a fundamental issue that will lead to enormous problems if millions of people are to be auto-enrolled into pension saving without this unfair system being reformed first.
The government's response to the problem has been to introduce a new qualifying workplace pension scheme that will have very low charges &ndash; personal accounts. But to me that is ducking the real issue.
Unless every pound paid into a pension scheme by employees and their employers provides at least a pound's worth of value to the employee in retirement, such an investment could be an unsuitable one for them to make.
What people in this country need is a reformed pension system that does not penalise savers. Whether we need a new pension scheme called 'personal accounts' is not really the relevant question.
Moneywise 26 October 2009 ( Used By Permission)
For Specific Advice on your company&rsquo;s pension options, please contact &nbsp;a Scottsdale Business Specialist at:-
mailto:info@sc-ifa.co.uk
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2009-11-05T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=15]]></link>
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<item>
<title><![CDATA[The Business Protection Gap]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Business Protection helps businesses carry on trading if a key member of staff, shareholder or director dies or contracts a critical illness during the term of the plan. However, according to recent research by Legal and General, just 4% of business owners have Business Protection cover in place even though:

69% say losing a key individual would have the biggest impact on their business. 
29% say they&rsquo;d cease trading within 3 months &ndash; and 44% within a year. 
47% have nothing in place to establish what would happen in the event of the death of a business owner.

The three forms of Business Protection &ndash; key person protection, shareholder protection and business loan protection &ndash; are based around life assurance and critical illness cover.
The Research was commissioned by Legal and General through the British Chamber of Commerce in April 2009.
The findings are based on a sample of over 1000 responses from their members.
The groundbreaking research has revealed that gap to be &pound;1.1 trillion.
This includes:
&nbsp;

Corporate debt gap of just under &pound;300 billion
Shareholder protection gap of over &pound;400 billion
Key Person protection gap o over &pound;400 billion

&nbsp;
For More Information, please contact us:
mailto:info@sc-ifa.co.uk
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2009-11-04T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=14]]></link>
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<item>
<title><![CDATA[Life Expectancy]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Life Expectancy
&nbsp;
Ironically, the longer you have lived, the longer you are likely to live.
&nbsp;
The Office of National Statistics - 29 October 2009 shows that:-
&nbsp;
A Male born in Milton Keynes today has an average Life Expectancy of 76.2 Years compared to a national average of 76.0
&nbsp;
A Female born in Milton Keynes today has an average Life Expectancy of 80.3 years compared with a national average of 80.7
&nbsp;
Compare this with a male already aged 65, who can expect to live, on average, a further 15.8 years and a female aged 65 now can expect to live, on average, a further 18.8 years.
&nbsp;
This is good news and should encourage us to plan early for a long Retirement or, as some are now calling it,&nbsp; &lsquo;The Third Age&rsquo;. A&nbsp; period in life, unconstrained by earlier responsibilities and presenting an opportunity to fulfil many life time ambitions]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2009-10-29T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=12]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[We have now moved to temporary offices]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Like the economy, our beautiful and historic farmhouse at Bradwell Abbey, the headquarters of Scottsdale Consulting Limited for many years, is in need of a little restoration work.While the renovation is taking place, we&nbsp;have relocated&nbsp;to temporary offices for approximately twelve months.&nbsp; We&nbsp;have taken everything with us: desks, people, expertise, even our existing telephone number.&nbsp; The only thing that&nbsp;has changed is our address which you will find on the Contact Us page.]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2009-10-14T00:00:00+00:00]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.scottsdaleconsulting.co.uk/scottsdale-news.php?newsid=10]]></link>
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