The March/April TIPS financial magazine is now available to download on our website and is all about experiencing life to the full.

Robert Kiyosaki, the American businessman and author of best-selling book Rich Dad, Poor Dad, once remarked, ‘Making money is common sense. It’s not rocket science. But unfortunately, when it comes to money, common sense is uncommon’. As we continue into 2019 with the uncertainties surrounding Brexit, we look to de-mystify the ever-changing landscape of the financial world.

What better place to start off then tax-efficient investing? Each tax year, we are each given an annual Individual Savings Account (ISA) allowance. The ISA limit for 2018/19 is £20,000, and anyone wishing to utilise their allowance should do so before the deadline at midnight on Friday 5 April 2019. The date marks the end of the 2018/19 tax year. It is a ‘use it or lose it’ allowance, meaning that if you don’t use all or part of it in one tax year, you cannot take that allowance over to the next year.

Over time, with life expectancy and the cost of living rising, it could mean that some retirees are at risk of running out of pension income in later life. Part of this magazine looks at what you can do to make sure that you have a big enough pension to meet your needs for your entire retirement.

This time of year is you last chance to get your tax affairs in order before the end of 2018/19 tax. We’ve provided a summary of some key tax and financial planning areas which may be appropriate to certain taxpayers and should be considered prior to the end of the tax year.

Some people may believe that since they have reached their 60s and ‘retired’, the hard work is over. But there are probably another three or four decades ahead, so it’s not the time to be without expert professional financial advice.

At the time of writing, the UK Government is still in negotiations with the European Union over the terms of its planned withdrawal on 29 March 2019. The challenges facing the UK economy are unclear.

We hope you enjoy the latest issue of our TIPS financial magazine. Whatever your next step is in life, we’ll help you make your next big decision easier by getting the most out of your finances. To discuss your situation please contact one of our independent financial advisers here.

*Information is based on our current understanding of taxation legislation and regulations. Any levels and bases of, and reliefs from, taxation are subject to change. The value of investments may go down as well as up, and you may get back less than you invested.