Castell Wealth Management

Are you an entrepreneur or SME owner? Let us introduce you to Game Changers. Connect with like-minded people who have 👏 changed the game 👏 at this exciting event that we are proud to support.

Hosted in partnership with Venture Café London Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA) and Fora, this event at The Jellicoe, Kings Cross will bring together innovators, advisers and entrepreneurs under one roof.

🐯 The team Castell Wealth Management are excited to donate a safari to any new GC members that join between now and the event, that will be attended by one of our top advisers in Q1 2026!

At Castell Wealth Management, we specialise in helping SMEs thrive, not just survive. Whether you're scaling, exiting or navigating growth, we offer tailored advice across:

✅ Corporate benefits to attract and retain top talent
✅ Cash flow and tax planning for long-term stability
✅ Business exit strategies* to secure your personal and professional future

Contact us to receive your invite! 📩 We can't wait to see you there!

*Exit strategies may involve the referral to a service that is separate and distinct to those offered by St. James's Place.

According to the Office for National Statistics, based on an analysis of the data gathered during the 2021 census, an estimated 13.6% of boys and 19% of girls born in the UK in 2020 are expected to live to at least age 100.* Longer lifespans mean people are inheriting later, and, crucially, that many inheritances are shrinking, as retirement income needs to stretch for longer.

Lump sum inheritances can change a family’s fortunes. They are often used to pay off mortgages early, cover independent school fees or even launch a new business venture.

So, when it comes to passing your own money on to your children and grandchildren, it can be hard to accept that some of your money may not reach those you love due to inheritance tax (IHT) payable on your assets.

You may be able to mitigate some of what could be payable by making full use of exemptions, gifting, trusts and other tax-efficient strategies during your lifetime.

The levels and bases of taxation, and reliefs from taxation, can change at any time and are generally dependent on individual circumstances.

Trusts are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

*Source: Office for National Statistics website, past and projected period and cohort life tables: 2020-based, UK, 1981 to 2070.

International Women’s Day | 8th March 2025

Women often juggle multiple financial responsibilities: protecting their family, managing career transitions and securing their future.

Our specialists at Castell Wealth Management are here to help women with everything from navigating divorce or separation to planning for retirement. We provide expert advice to help women take control of their financial future with confidence.

The best results come from good habits and investing a little time.

Smart tax planning today helps secure your legacy for tomorrow. It’s about building the right financial habits now to protect and grow your wealth for the long term.

Taxation rules can change at any time and are dependent on individual circumstances.

Last year’s Budget changes means it’s more important than ever to get on top of Capital Gains Tax (CGT), so you can manage your assets as tax-efficiently as possible.

If you sell or dispose of an asset that’s gone up in value, you may pay Capital Gains Tax (CGT) on the profit, or gain.

This tax year, the first £3,000 of any ‘capital gain’ is tax-free, but you may need to pay CGT above that threshold.

CGT now stands at 18% for basic taxpayers, and 24% for higher or additional taxpayers who dispose of any asset.

This is a complicated area of tax-planning. Some people pay who could have mitigated some or all of the tax, while others forget to declare gains, and may even face fines.

Which is why it’s wise to get your head around CGT and seek professional guidance, so you don’t end up paying more than you need to.

The levels and bases of taxation, and reliefs from taxation, can change at any time and are generally dependent on individual circumstances.

Correct for tax year 2024/25.

We all want to do the right thing for our families and loved ones, both now and when we’re no longer around.

While thinking about the years ahead, we also need to be thinking about the present. Later-life and legacy planning can feel like being pulled in all directions. You may want to help your loved ones now, especially with the squeeze on household budgets. But you also owe it to yourself to make sure you have enough money to feel financially secure as you get older.

That’s quite a balancing act. But with careful planning and advice, you might be surprised at how much you can achieve.

In the Autumn Budget, the Chancellor announced that unspent pension pots are proposed to be counted as part of an estate and taxed. Many people had planned to pass these on tax free. Now, they may face higher inheritance tax bills than expected.

Despite this, there are still ways you can leave money to younger generations:

1️⃣ Use your annual gifting exemption. You can gift up to £3,000 per year (£6,000 for couples) tax-free, reducing the size of your estate over time.
2️⃣ Make a gift of over £3,000. Note, however, that if you pass within 7 years of making the gift, the money may still count as part of your estate.
3️⃣ Support loved ones regularly. Gifting money regularly – such as helping with childcare or school fees – can be inheritance tax-free if made from disposable income.
4️⃣ Take out a Lifetime Assurance policy. This can help cover any eventual inheritance tax bill.
5️⃣ Use trusts. Trusts not only offer tax advantages, they also provide control and protection, helping safeguard family wealth against risks such as divorce, bankruptcy or reckless spending.

The levels and bases of taxation, and reliefs from taxation, can change at any time. The value of any tax relief depends on individual circumstances.

Trusts are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Whether it’s eating greens or putting a little extra cash aside each month, good habits will set them up for the future.

With the end of the Tax Year approaching, it's time to cultivate good habits in your financial life. One of the best? Proactive tax planning!

Whether you're a business owner or an individual, making tax planning a regular part of your good habits can make a big difference to your financial future and that of your family.

Review your plans, get ahead of upcoming tax changes and set yourself up for success. It's all about building those good financial habits!

Taxation rules can change at any time and are dependent on individual circumstances.

The Budget has left thousands wondering whether to draw their pension, take the hit on income tax but then be able to gift some of the money to loved ones.

What you could do?
🍂 Use your annual £3,000 IHT gifting exemption (£6,000 for a couple) to give money to family or loved ones during your lifetime, instead of as an inheritance. This will reduce the size of your estate over time.
🍂 Make a gift of over £3,000. If, however, you die within 7 years of making the gift, it will be counted as part of your estate.
🍂 Make regular monthly ‘gifts’ to family members, or cover some of their outgoings, such as childcare or school fees on a regular basis. These are tax free – so long as they’re genuinely made from disposable income and do not affect your own standard of living.
🍂 Consider spending more of your pension pot on yourself, or others.
🍂 Take out a Lifetime Assurance policy to help cover the eventual IHT bill.
Another route to consider is to accept your IHT liability but protect your family by planning for it. You could, if you have the disposable income, take out a whole of life insurance policy to cover off the anticipated bill. These policies last for your whole lifetime and pay out a tax-free lump sum to your family when you die. This lump sum can be used to pay the IHT. It can provide peace of mind for everyone, as well as a comforting sum of money. You would need to be sure you’d be able to afford these payments to the end of your life.

The levels and bases of taxation, and reliefs from taxation, can change at any time and are generally dependent on individual circumstances.

As the end of another tax year approaches, don’t forget this golden opportunity to enhance your pension.

By making additional contributions before the deadline, you can unlock valuable tax allowances and reliefs, significantly boosting your pension pot.

Seize the chance to maximise your contributions and enjoy those important tax benefits.

The value of your investment can go down as well as up. You could get back less than you invested.

Taxation rules can change at any time and are dependent on individual circumstances.

At the end of 2024, the Castell Team had the opportunity to celebrate their amazing achievements at the Christmas party at Clays! 🏆 It was a night of fun, laughter and recognition as we celebrated each member's unique contributions and milestones. Here's to an even more incredible year ahead! ✨

As we step into 2025, it's the perfect time to set goals that secure your financial future. Here are our New Year’s Resolutions to help you take control of your wealth this year:

1️⃣ Review Your Financial Goals
Whether it’s saving for retirement, a dream home or your child’s education, now is the time to reassess your priorities and set achievable targets.

2️⃣ Plan for the Unexpected
Top up your emergency fund to cover at least three to six months’ expenses – just in case!

3️⃣ Maximise Tax Efficiency
Take advantage of tax-efficient allowances before the end of the tax year.

4️⃣ Create (or Stick to) a Budget
Make 2025 the year you finally track your spending. You might be surprised by how much you can save with small adjustments.

5️⃣ Check Your Protection Plans
Life can be unpredictable. Review your critical illness cover, life insurance, and family protection plans to ensure you have peace of mind.

✨ This year, invest in more than just your wealth – invest in your peace of mind.

The value of a St. James's Place investment will be directly linked to the performance of the funds you select and the value can, therefore, go down as well as up. You may get back less than you invested.