At Fortress Financial, we aim to:
- Provide honest professional advice
- Deliver effective solutions by understanding client needs
- Keep up to date with development in the financial services
Post:
3 Joymount,
Carrickfergus,
Co. Antrim
BT38 7DN
Email / Telephone:
T: 028 9335 5111
M: 079 1505 4749
E: info@financialadvisorcarrickfergus.com
Bonds
Investment Bonds are unit-linked, life insurance-based investments. They are suitable for those who want to invest a lump sum of over £5,000 for the medium to long term. They can be used to increase the value of your money or to provide a regular income of up to 5% per year. This income is regarded as a return of your capital rather than investment gain and has no tax liability. Investment Bonds are particularly useful in 3 situations
1. They are particularly attractive from a tax point of view for people who are presently higher rate tax payers, but are likely to be basic rate taxpayers when the Bond is cashed in.
2. The 5% withdrawal can be especially useful for retired people as it has no impact on any means-tested benefits. It also offers an added benefit for over 65s who receive a significantly higher personal income tax allowance. This tax allowance for 2011/12 is £9,940 for those aged 65 to 74 and £10,090 for those aged 75 and over. However this allowance decreases by one pound for every two pounds of income that exceeds £24,000 in the 2011/12 tax year. As the 5% does not count as income, it has no impact on personal tax allowances, although gains upon encashment can affect the increased tax allowance for those over 65.
3. Because of its status as a life assurance policy, you can place an Investment Bond under a trust. This means you can give it away, lend it or assign it without creating a tax liability. As inheritance tax planning is all about transferring money from one person to another, the investment bond has a big part to play.
So in summary
- Anyone over 18 can invest in a Bond
- Bonds invest across the asset classes of Cash, Fixed Interest, Property and Equities.
- You can select a Bond with a category of risk that reflects your attitude to risk
- Income tax is paid within the Bond, but it has benefits for higher rate tax payers.
- You can take an annual or monthly income from the Bond.
For each of the above investments there are complexities. So contact us for advice so that you can be guided to make the right choice with your investment.