Oh really!

I really don’t believe that this is the best that the cream of advisers has to offer. In fairness Martin didn’t really proffer much, but the one thing he did say was spot on. Don’t court publicity. What are these guys thinking of? There’s a 20 year age difference. So assuming that the wife lives to 95 she has 57 years to run. Why even think of any investments? Stuff the whole lot into a decent bank account currently paying 3.2% - after tax that’s £582,400 per year. Couldn’t they rub along on that? Inflation – so what? IHT – so give a few million it won’t leave you skint. Apart from Martin’s advice on privacy they very best advice is to emigrate – ASAP. Especially before UK taxes rise. Cyprus may appeal. Especially their low tax regime. Channel Islands? If you’re worried about IHT – Italy doesn’t have any, but other taxes might be a little heavy. Switzerland is great if you love snow. If you’re very adventurous you could live like kings in Panama with a very favourable tax regime and with the cost of property you could no doubt live in a castle. Worried about your friends and relatives? You can ship ‘em over whenever you feel like it. To talk about £10,200 ISAs isn’t worthy of one of the UKs best advisers. Even 4 of them would only equate to 0.09% of the amount. Footling at the edges. Alternately, if they were very stingy and only spent £798,000 per year it would last them 57 years – not counting any interest at all. Do you wonder why financial services get a bad name?

Posted by: Harry Katz

Harry Katz……dear dear dear.

Please, get off the internet and go and do some work. If you cant see the sarcasm (the exclamation mark was the clue) in Peter's comments re IHT, tax etc then read it again.   Everything you have recommended in your comments is typical of a tied agent. In other words, 'If it were me m'lad, this is what I wood do, ye knaw'.   Peter has simply laid out a number of points but clearly the advice he would give would depend on what a customer's needs (which he clearly wont know) would be and where they placed their values.   Your idea of shipping out to leave the ugly Uk is perhaps a reaction of your view toward life in general, so get out more, enjoy things, read a book perhaps. Maybe do some work rather than sitting on the internet boring us all to death with your views, customers will like that. You'll feel god, they'll feel good. It will help your self esteem.   No really, the world isn’t as dangerous as you think it is and if you read what both Martin and Peter have written and its positive intent rather than your prejudiced view of the world and all those around you, you would see it. So, get of the internet, ask if what you ae doing now will help you achieve what you want in life, (if you don’t know that - find out) and then make a decision to focus your time better bd achieve what you want.   Go see some clients, ask them what they find important rather than what you find important. It’s a really good use of your time and you'll feel much better, but do get out more, you'll find you see things for what they are.

Posted by: The Realist

45.5 million squid

Having been both a tied agent and an ifa for nearly 30 years ,i read with great concern all your views,WHAT world are you all living in ? 45 million squid in the bank !! for god sake dont you all realise that Liverpool Football Club are in CRISIS,with no money to purchase new signings in January,they could lend Benetez 30 million to buy David Villa and that would reduce all iht and get rid of all their and our headaches or buy half of Newcastle and ask the other winners to stump up their half and they wouldnt have a worry in the world except how mant seasons they 80 million would last.

Posted by: The lost soldier