Managing your savings and investments

Taking investment risk should be a calculated and purposeful strategy.

You may already have an investment portfolio or you may be looking to invest for the first time to achieve an objective such as early retirement or planning for your children’s education.

In an often complex and changing marketplace our experience and expertise can help you to make the right decisions and to achieve your goals. See How we work for further information.

We will communicate clearly with you in terms you understand and provide you with a transparent charging structure with no hidden costs.

At the heart of our business are a team of professional, experienced staff with key specialisations. Our resources are further enhanced by working closely with legal and tax advisors and other professionals.

There are a wide range of investment products available to individual investors. We have summarised below some of the main areas where we can help you:

Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs)

Many UK savers use ISAs as a tax-efficient method of saving and they have become a cornerstone of investment portfolios.

In April 1999 ISAs replaced PEPs as the popular tax efficient savings vehicle in the UK.

Interest and dividends from investments held in an ISA are free from income tax (IT) and capital gains are not subject to capital gains tax (CGT).

The current investment limit for ISAs is £7,200 per tax year in a Stocks and Shares ISA. Up to £3,600 can be invested into a Cash ISA and this has the effect of reducing the amount that can be invested into a stocks and shares ISA for this tax year by a similar amount

It has been proposed that from 6th October 2009, people aged 50 or over will have an increased ISA subscription limit of £10,200 of which up to £5,100 can be invested into a Cash ISA. This limit will be increased for all ISA investors from 6th April 2010.

At Amber Wealth Creation we are able to advise on new ISA investments and also to review existing ISA portfolios to ensure that they are invested in appropriate funds.

You may also like to consider consolidating existing ISA funds to allow for easier management and a more coherent investment strategy by having all of your funds in one place.

Further details about ISAs and other investments is available from the Financial Services Authority website www.moneymadeclear.fsa.gov.uk. Please also refer to HMRC website www.hmrc.gov.uk/isa.

Please contact us for more information about ISA investments.

Investment Bonds

Investment bonds are single contribution life assurance policies that are treated differently in tax terms to most other investments.

They can be tax efficient particularly for higher rate tax payers and as trust investments.

Both onshore and offshore investment bonds are available to UK resident investors.

Investment bonds can be used to produce a tax-efficient income by means of regular

If you have an existing investment bond you should review it regularly to ensure that it continues to meet your objectives in a tax efficient manner.

Reasons for reviewing your bond could include:

• You are considering taking withdrawals.
• You are considering gifting assets (eg to your children).
• To ensure the investments are performing well.
• To ensure that the asset allocation is suitable for your stated tolerance to investment risk.

Note: trustees, higher rate taxpayers and persons in receipt of the age allowance in particular should seek our advice before encashing an investment bond.

Please contact us for more information about investment bonds and how to manage them.

Collective investments.

Collective investments include unit trusts, Open Ended Investment Companies (OIECs) and investment trusts.

They are a popular way of spreading investment risk.

Many of these funds can also be held in ISA accounts.

National Savings & Investments

National Savings & Investments offer a range of investment and savings products that are guaranteed by the UK Government. They can therefore be considered very secure investments.

Some investments are tax-free and index-linked savings are also available where returns are linked to inflation.

National Savings products can be an important part of investment planning. .

Further information can be found on the National Savings website – www.nsandi.com

Amber Wealth Creation Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. FSA Registration No: 401162.
Please note that the Financial Services Authority does not regulate taxation and trust advice, wills, bank deposits, national savings and some forms of buy to let mortgages and commercial mortgages.
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