Username:
Password:
Forgotten password?
Not Registered?   
clarity INDIVIDUAL  

|HOME|GROUPS|INDIVIDUAL|TRANSACT|RESEARCH|CLARITYLAW|

INDIVIDUAL NEWSLETTER - January 2008

Introduction
This newsletter has the following subjects each of which you can jump to by pressing on the headings below.

Newsletter Library

We keep a library of previous issues which can be accessed by the link below.

Newsletter Library

Please remember that the information contained in these archives items is not subject to ongoing review or comment.

return to top
 

Online Finance Awards

We are proud to announce that we have won the ‘Best Online IFA’ category in the 2007 Online Finance Awards, in addition we were Highly Commended in the ‘Best Financial Advice Site’ category.

We would like to thank all of our clients, your ongoing constructive feedback has helped make the website what it is today. With your continuing feedback we hope to keep developing the website in a client-focussed way. For further information about the awards please see our e-mail alert on the subject or visit the official awards website.

Online Finance Awards Results

External Site Official Website

return to top
 

Capital Gains Tax

You may wish to familiarise yourself with the new rules regarding capital gains tax, these rules will come into effect from April 2008. We have produced the following article giving examples of how calculations will be made in future tax years.

PDF Taper Tribulations

Please be aware that some taxpayers may benefit from the new flat 18% charge, others however will suffer. If you are considering making disposals you may wish to discuss whether these would be better executed under the present regime, or deferred to the new tax year.

return to top
 

School Fees Planning

A high-quality education is one of the most valuable gifts a parent or guardian can give a child. If you choose to privately educate your children it can be one of the largest financial commitments that you make. With the costs soaring above the rate of inflation School Fees are likely to become an even greater burden in the future. The article below explains the potential costs in greater detail and how clarity can help you to plan for these costs.

PDF School Fees Planning

return to top
 

Tax Year End Planning

As you will no doubt be aware, the end of the 2007/08 tax year, 5th April 2008, is fast approaching. To assist with your thoughts we have summarised the issues we feel should be considered when planning for the tax year-end. Please bear in mind that these are general comments on the subject, for more tailored comments please contact your usual clarity advisor.

PDF Tax Year End Planning

return to top
 

Self Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs)

The link below provides further information on SIPPs. Many individuals should consider the appropriateness of SIPPs in light of the New Pension Regime introduced with effect from 6 April 2006 and the need to monitor their pension investment/strategy more closely. Further advice should be sought from your usual clarity adviser.

PDF Types Of Pensions

Please see document below for a comparison of the three SIPP products that we recommend. These products are provided by James Hay, FundsNetwork & Cofunds. If you are thinking of utilising a Self Invested Personal Pension for managing your benefits, and would like advice on the subject, please contact one of our advisers.

PDF SIPP Product Comparison

return to top
 

Protected rights to be allowed in SIPPs

Clients who have consolidated existing personal pensions into a Self Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) will be pleased to hear that the DWP has started consultation on draft regulations to permit protected rights funds to be held within SIPPs. The consultation period is open until 29 February 2008, with the implementation date expected to be October 2008.

Consolidation of any protected rights monies that have previously had to be retained outside of a SIPP will allow for greater investment choice, and easier administration and reporting.

For further information, please see the DWP document below.

External Site DWP Document

return to top
 

Cofunds SIPP

Cofunds have recently released their own SIPP product, it is provided in association with Legal & General and clients that have not yet considered a SIPP product may be interested to hear that if you have pension funds in excess of £275,000, there is the advantage of no Annual Fee. For further details of the Cofunds SIPP product, please read our news and views article below.

Cofunds SIPP News & Views Article

For those clients with an existing SIPP with holdings in Cofunds (typical with James Hay SIPPs), it is possible to move your holdings to the more competitively charged Cofunds SIPP without any out of market time or cost. If you would like to discuss this further, please contact your usual clarity Adviser or PDF enquiries@clarityglobal.com

return to top
 

Consolidated Online Valuations

We are pleased to announce our new consolidated valuation service, many of you will have already used the service, for those who have not, an example of the consolidated valuation can be found below. For further information about the online valuations please see our 'About online valuations' page detailed below.

PDF Valuation Example

About Online Valuations

The Consolidated valuation is available for those clients with holdings in Cofunds and FundsNetwork. For those clients with Cofunds holdings under their James Hay SIPP, please note that we don't currently receive the cash information from James Hay. If you wish to view an online valuation of your Cash Account or other non-Cofunds holdings within your SIPP you can register directly with James Hay using the link below.

James Hay Online Valuations

Please be aware that due to security issues you must be logged in to view your valuation, and you will only be able to view your own holdings. Spouse / partners and children will need a separate individual login to view their holdings. When you add your reference number to your profile, it may initially take up to 24 hours for your valuation information to become available.

Consolidated Valuation

We are happy to create login details for other family members but require a separate e-mail address for each family member, full name and date of birth. Please contact PDF enquiries@clarityglobal.com with any requests.

return to top
 

Cofunds

We continue to suggest the Cofunds platform for all ISA and unit trust investments going forward. You can also use Cofunds to hold all your existing PEPs, ISAs and Unit Trusts/OEICs. The benefits are that you are able to access a consolidated valuation, asset allocation model and risk profile through ALL your holdings....and there is no additional annual charge! Please see the attached link for further information on Cofunds.

Cofunds Explanation

For those clients who are interested in transferring their holdings to the Cofunds platform, we are offering a FREE administration service, to assist with the completion of forms and to help the process of transferring your holdings to Cofunds run as smoothly and as quickly as possible. For further information please see the article below.

PDF  Cofunds Administration Service Details

If individuals do not wish to utilise the Cofunds platform there are other alternative routes of investment. Please contact your usual clarity adviser to discuss matters further.

As detailed above, online valuations are available via this website. In addition the link below shows the portfolio detail that can also be obtained by clarity for investments held in Cofunds. Please note that this cannot be accessed online by clients, but is available on request.

PDF  Example X-Ray

Online dealing in ISA, OEICs and Unit Trusts via Cofunds (no initial commission and significant discounts) is also available.

Cofunds Online Dealing

return to top
 

Market Comment

The following news article provides some details on current changes in the market, and points of interest for investors.

PDF  Market Commentary - January 2008

Please also see the graph which shows movement of the major indices in 2007.

PDF  Graph Of Major Indices

return to top
 

Fund Management Updates

The attached News Articles detail some recent fund changes which you should be aware of. If as a result of these you feel that you may wish to switch fund holdings, please contact your usual clarity adviser.

Schroder Global Properties Securities

M&G American Fund

return to top
 

Pension Choices

As a number of clients will now have SIPP investments, we will no longer be tracking the insured funds as we have done previously. If you wish to discuss specific insure fund choices or discuss SIPP selection, then please do get in touch. For those with Clerical Medical or Legal & General policies, there are some links here to original buy notes for these funds if you wish to refresh your understanding of asset allocation.

PDF  Clerical Medical Performance UK Equity

PDF  Clerical Medical Performance Adventurous Managed

PDF  Clerical Medical Performance Balanced Managed

PDF  Clerical Medical Performance Cautious Managed

PDF  Legal & General UK Index Tracker

PDF  Legal & General Global Equity Fixed Weights Index

For spouses / partners and children who have Stakeholder Pensions plans, or who are interested in acquiring a stakeholder policy, the link below will take you to the stakeholder buy list which has been researched by clarity, this includes the current suggested funds for stakeholders.

Stakeholder Buy List

Individuals with access to Group Arrangements via their employer should consider their options before proceeding further.

return to top
 

Unit Trust/OEIC/ISA Choices

Here is detail of the current suggested funds. You should ensure that you consider utilisation of your ISA allowances. Please do not forget ISA allowances for spouses and children over the age of 16 for a cash ISA and 18 for an equity ISA.

Buy List

The clarity buy list provides further information on the specific funds & managers, together with details of the charges. The list covers both Unit Trust and ISAs.

If you would like to see some performance figures on the main managed fund options then please use the link here.

PDF Managed Fund Performance Figures

return to top
 

Unit Trust/OEIC/ISA Choices

Here are some useful links to sites where you can research your fund selection. Do make sure, however, that you transact via clarity to make sure you get the nil initial commission terms.

External Site  www.lipperweb.com

External Site  www.morningstar.co.uk

External Site  www.ft.com/fundratings

Individuals should note that if they access the above links they will be leaving the clarity website.

return to top
 

Unit Trust/OEIC/ISA Transactions

All individuals are eligible to use our nil initial commission, discounted service, whether or not advice is taken from us. Forms for Unit Trust/ISAs can be downloaded through this website by selecting the link here.

Pick Up Unit Trust/ISA Forms

We are suggesting all future deals are placed through the "Cofunds" dealing platform. This not only allows access to the existing range of funds on similar or better terms, but also gives consolidated valuations and geographical analysis. If interested, you can deal now on this basis. Please contact us for details or ask for the "Cofunds Pack" when requesting forms. Please see Cofunds section for further information.

PDF enquiries@clarityglobal.com

PDF Unit Trust Application Form

PDF ISA Application Form

PDF Key Features - General

PDF Key Features - Fund Specific

If individuals do not wish to utilise the Cofunds platform there are other alternative routes of investment. Please contact your usual clarity adviser to discuss matters further.

return to top
 

Cash Investment

Indicative rates for those holding money in cash. Remember that long term cash has historically performed poorly relative to other asset classes.

Cash Investment Rates

return to top
 

Mortgage Rates

The linked page provides a summary of the rates currently available.

Mortgage Rates

Please note that the mortgage market is competitive and subject to change. Individuals should check that the rates are still current before proceeding further.

return to top
 

Advisers

The link provides further information on the clarity team.

Adviser Details

return to top
 

Risk Warnings/Suitability

Investments transacted by clarity as a result of this Newsletter are treated as "Direct Offer" investments. Whilst we have offered generic product details, you have personally decided whether the investment is suitable to your circumstances and is affordable. Please see the detailed note and also Terms of Business and Key Facts documents. It is important to read the full notes.

PDF Suitability

PDF Risk Warnings

PDF Terms Of Business

return to top
 

 

INDIVIDUAL Links
Online Valuations
Portfolio Management
Newsletters
Research
Investments
Pensions
Best Rates
Calculators
Literature Downloads
Software Downloads
Financial News
BBC Front Page News


ABOUT US |TEAM PROFILES |LOCATION |CONTACT US |SITE MAP | TROUBLESHOOTING  |
clarity is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority
©2009 clarity. All rights reserved