News:

Over the last twelve months, our in-house AIM portfolios showed a total return of just under 37%. The FTSE-AIM index generated a total return of 10.2% over the same period. These are portfolios that invest in shares we consider eligible for Inheritance Tax Business Property Relief. A useful tool that is available for estate planning, this relief allows clients to have access to the capital and income from such shares whilst avoiding inheritance tax, provided certain conditions and criteria are met. The AIM market recovered some of the ground it lost so spectacularly in the fourth quarter of 2018; this is good news given that the index has had to weather Brexit complications as well as company specific issues, for…[more]

During the festive period the London markets close early on the last working day before Christmas and New Year. We will therefore be closed from 1 pm on 24th and 31st December, although on all other business days we will be available as usual. We hope you have a merry Christmas and wish you a prosperous 2020.

Our registered address will change to 30 Market Place West, Ripon HG4 1BN with effect from the 14th October 2019.  As we do not expect the alterations to this listed building to be completed before the end of April 2020, our actual office during the seven months from October to April will be on the first and second floor of 24 Market Place West, Ripon HG4 1BN. We plan to move out of our existing office in Harrogate over the weekend of 12th/13th October.  Our telephone numbers and email addresses will not change and although there may be a brief weekend hiccup as our services are disconnected for the move, we expect our phone lines to be working properly in…[more]

We are pleased to report that David, who worked for us on a consultancy basis, has successful applied for a permanent position with a national firm. We are very pleased for him, and although we will miss his stories of thespian derring-do and the tribulations of gardening in Garforth, we are cheering David on as, in his own words, he moves “onwards and upwards”.

April Fools Day had its moments – but 650 grown men and women arguing on the banks of the Thames was the cause for little wit beyond irony. Five days later, as we move into the new tax year, a few small but positive changes may bring a bit more cheer. From the 6th of April income tax rates in England & Wales will remain the same, but the income tax bands will move in taxpayers’ favour.  The personal allowance increases by almost 5.5%, and the basic rate band widens by almost 9%, which combined should save the average Britain around £130 in tax each year.  For investors we’ll see a very minor increase in the capital gains tax allowance,…[more]

In marked contrast to the fog and confusion in the press, a referendum held on Valentines Day delivered a clear result of 87% in favour of adopting the Ripon City Plan, a neighbourhood plan under which local residents now have more of a say in planning decisions. Only residents of Ripon were eligible to vote, and turn-out was not particularly high at 22%, but the plan has been approved and has legal force. Haydn, Marie and Michael all live in Ripon and all voted, so it has been a pleasant distraction from the subject of the other referendum.