Five ways to maximise tax year-end planning opportunities 2025/26
Welcome to our latest issue. As the 2025/26 tax year-end approaches on 5 April 2026, now is the time to review your finances to ensure you've maximised all available allowances and reliefs. Tax year-end planning can help you save money, improve your long-term investments, and make better use of government incentives before they reset in April. On page 08, we’ve provided five key areas to consider before the deadline. Taking action before 5 April can help you reduce your tax, maximise allowances, and strengthen your financial position. Reviewing your ISAs, pensions, and estate plans now ensures you make the most of every opportunity.
Death and money are two of life’s unavoidable realities, yet they remain subjects many of us hesitate to discuss. This reluctance often extends to inheritance, a topic that many families find uncomfortable. The consequence of this silence is significant, as an increasing number of estates are affected by Inheritance Tax (IHT), and disputes over Wills are becoming more common in UK courts. Learning how to discuss succession planning is no longer just wise; it is essential. Turn to page 13.
Some people delay investing because they’re waiting for “the right moment.” The idea of buying when prices are low and selling when they’re high seems sensible in theory, but in practice, it’s very difficult to perform. Even experienced professionals struggle to accurately predict short-term market movements, and headlines or emotions can easily cloud judgment. On page 09, we explain why history shows that market timing often causes investors to miss opportunities rather than achieve better results.
From 1 January 2025, private schools across the UK were required to apply 20% VAT to tuition and boarding fees. The change represents a significant shift in education funding and has placed substantial financial pressure on families with children in independent schools. Effective cash-flow management and early financial planning can help protect long-term goals while maintaining access to independent education. As with most complex areas of planning, there is a balance to be struck between tax efficiency, control and flexibility. Read the article on page 06.
A complete list of the articles featured in this issue can be found on pages 02 and 03.
Please note that this publication was prepared prior to Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Autumn Budget on Wednesday, 26 November 2025.
Risks : Buying Investments can involve risk. The value of your Investments and the income from them can go down as well as up and is not guaranteed at anytime. You may not get back the full amount you invested. Information on past performance is not a reliable indicator for future performance. This information is intended for educational purposes and should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell a particular security. The views expressed here are subject to change without notice and we can’t accept any liability for any loss arising directly or indirectly from any use of it.
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Chasing the returns of the biggest stocks in the US?
If top stocks exert a gravitational pull on the broad market’s return, the Magnificent 7 (Apple, Nvidia, Amazon, Tesla, Meta, Microsoft, Alphabet)have acted like the TON 618 black hole over the US the past few years.1 Accounting for about one-third of the S&P 500 Index’s weight2, the performance of these stocks has been a big driver of market-capitalization-weighted US large cap stock index returns.
This force can pull in a positive or negative direction. In 2024, the S&P 500 returned 25.0%. This was driven heavily by the Magnificent 7, which returned 48.3%. The other 493 stocks in the index collectively returned 15.9%. This year, the opposite effect has played out: The Magnificent 7 returned –12.3% through March 12, compared to –0.8% for the “S&P 493.”
The swings in performance for a US large cap index make a compelling case for global all cap diversification, which helps lessen exposure to the Magnificent 7. While non-US stocks underperformed the US in 2024, the MSCI All Country World ex USA IMI Index is outpacing the US thus far in 2025. Diversifying across regions and market capitalization is one way to mitigate the impact of a handful of stocks.
Risks : Buying Investments can involve risk. The value of your Investments and the income from them can go down as well as up and is not guaranteed at anytime. You may not get back the full amount you invested. Information on past performance is not a reliable indicator for future performance. This information is intended for educational purposes and should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell a particular security. The views expressed here are subject to change without notice and we can’t accept any liability for any loss arising directly or indirectly from any use of it.
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THE NOT SO MINI BUDGET
Kwasi Kwarteng definitely hit the ground running with the largest tax cuts in a Budget since Anthony Barber 50 years ago!
He’s scrapped the 45% top rate of income tax, reduced the Basic Rate of tax (from 20% to 19% from April 2023) abolished the cap on bankers’ bonuses and reversed the recent National Insurance rise which was proposed to fund health and social care. There will also be cuts to Dividend taxes. A lot of the changes favour higher earners.
This has led to a slide in the value of the Great British Pound, and the cost of borrowing looks set to increase. The idea is that the mini-budget stimulates the economy. Let’s wait and see.
We know you’ll have different priorities for your wealth at different points in your life. Whatever your financial aims, we can help you achieve them.
