Forward Plan IFA Ltd

The Autumn Budget is now less than eight weeks away.

📅 On Wednesday 28 October, Chancellor John Healey will deliver his first Budget, and we're already starting to see plenty of speculation about what might (or might not) change.

The Government has said the Budget will be built around fiscal discipline and giving families and businesses greater stability.

As we always say at Forward Plan, rumours aren't something you should base financial decisions on.

So for now: 28 October. One for the diary.

When did you last actually look at your pension?

Not just glance at the annual statement and put it in a drawer. I mean properly look at it.

Do you know:

- How much you've built up?
- Where it's invested?
- What you're currently paying in?
- Whether it's on track for the retirement you want?

It's very easy to spend 30 or 40 years paying into a pension without ever really knowing what it's likely to give you at the end.

You don't need to check it every five minutes.

But you should understand what you've got and whether it's doing the job you need it to do.

If you don't know, perhaps it's time for a review.

📞 01303 767650
🌐 www.forward-plan.co.uk

With the bank holiday weekend coming up, just a quick note to let you know we’ll be closing the office at 5pm on Friday and reopening at 8.30am on Tuesday.

I hope you all get the chance to enjoy a bit of a break!

Sitting on the beach, watching the kids build sandcastles means your mind’s probably not on pensions.

But unlike a sandcastle, a child’s pension won’t be washed away by the next wave. It’s something that can last a lifetime.

✅ One of the most tax efficient ways to save for your child’s future

✅ Only a parent or guardian can set it up but anyone can contribute

✅ Starting early means more time for contributions to grow and compound

✅ Can also help reduce your Inheritance Tax liability

Small steps now could mean a much stronger foundation for their future.

📞 01303 767650
🌐 www.forward-plan.co.uk
📧 [email protected]

The countdown to this year's Autumn Budget has officially begun.

Chancellor John Healey has confirmed that his first Budget will take place in October with the Government saying it will focus on moving more money and power out of Westminster and into communities across Britain.

We'll undoubtedly hear plenty of rumours between now and then about pensions, tax, savings and investments.

As always, my advice is simple: don't make financial decisions based on speculation.

We'll be keeping an eye on the announcements and, once we have the facts, explaining what they could mean for you and your financial plans.

A quick one for you… 👇

True or False?

From April 2027, any unused pension funds left when you die will be included in your estate for Inheritance Tax calculations.

What do you think? ✅ ❌

✅ It’s True.

This key change means pensions and inheritance tax are now closely tied together and that could have a big impact on what you leave behind.

Executors will be responsible for reporting and paying the tax. It’s not about worrying, it’s about planning ahead.

If you’d like to talk through what this might mean for you or your family, I’m here.

📞 01303 767650
🌐 www.forward-plan.co.uk

Today, as we look up at the sky for the solar eclipse, it got me thinking about something completely different.

It's easy to put financial planning in the "I'll deal with that later" pile.

Until suddenly, something changes and you realise you don't have a clear picture of where you stand.

Good financial planning is about bringing things into focus.

Understanding where you are now, where you want to go and whether your current plans are helping you get there.

You don't need to wait for something to happen before you take a closer look.

Sometimes, financial planning means doing more than sitting behind a desk.

Earlier this week, I travelled to Surrey to meet two of my clients as they sat down with their solicitor to update their wills.

As their independent financial adviser, I was there as a third party to help make sure everything fitted together with the wider financial plans we'd already put in place.

It also meant my clients had someone they knew and trusted alongside them throughout the meeting.

I'm pleased to say everything went smoothly and it was lovely to hear the solicitor comment on how valuable it was to have me there to support the process.

Financial planning isn't just about pensions and investments.

It's about working together with other professionals and supporting clients through some of life's most important decisions.

Sometimes that means getting out of the office and being there in person.

When we talk about financial planning, it's easy to focus on pensions, investments and tax.

But ultimately, it's about giving people confidence that their money is working hard for them.

Receiving messages like this from clients makes what we do so rewarding.

Helping clients plan for the future and supporting them along the way is what Forward Plan is all about.

📞 01303 767650
🌐 www.forward-plan.co.uk

financial planning kent | financial planner kent | financial adviser | independent financial adviser | financial planner folkestone

I’ve played a lot of rugby over the years and one thing it teaches you is that timing matters.

It’s the same with this new rule change around pensions.

From 2027, whatever’s left in your pension when you pass away might now be taxed as part of your estate. That wasn’t the case before and for many families, that’s a game-changer.

If you’re married, own your home and have a decent-sized pension pot, this is something to look at now.

Give me a call or send me a message if you’d like to chat.

📞 01303 767650
📧 [email protected]