Lowes Magazine Issue 128

PLANNING

Contined...

What our clients say about us Many Lowes clients leave us reviews on . These are very public reviews which anyone can read. People can leave a comment and rate us using the star method, with one star being poor and five stars excellent. To date Lowes has received over 200 reviews, with an average of 4.9/5 stars. An accolade we are justly very proud of. Here are a few of the comments people have left on Google about Lowes. Rod Longshaw “We have been clients for over 10 years and we have yet to experience failure in the advice we have been given. We have gained wealth over this period and have grown to trust the company and our own advisor. Phones are answered promptly and courteously by a human being, and if the person we are calling is not available then the switchboard operator gets them to phone back when arranged. It’s these seemingly little attentions to detail that make for excellent ‘customer relations’. “We have no hesitation at all in recommending Lowes to others.” Ian Lawson “Year after year Lowes continue to provide sound financial advice. The recommendations for their structured product investments have so far resulted in significant returns, which is very welcome in these times of high inflation. I would highly recommend their service.” David Park “I have used Lowes for many years. They have offered excellent advice. They are trustworthy and friendly. Lowes are totally focused on customer satisfaction. I have recommended the company to friends and relatives.”

Peace of mind Over and above better management of tax and investments, one of the key motivators that I have come across for people to seek help from an Independent Financial Adviser is the peace of mind it brings with it. Clients tell me that knowing their financial planning, pension, tax and investment arrangements are being overseen and arranged by professionals, takes a weight off their shoulders. This is backed up by recent research by Royal London. The assurer found that people receiving advice feel more confident about their ability to cope. In a survey among consumers nearly half (46%) said they’re extremely or very worried about the cost of living, compared to just 21% of advised clients. Clare Moffat, Head of Technical at Royal London, summed it up nicely in my view, saying: “Having a financial adviser to actively manage a client’s wealth brings many benefits, other than just the expected financial benefits. It’s the softer skills that advisers deliver alongside advice, like reassurance and peace of mind, that bring the value of financial advice to life for clients, helping them to feel better about themselves and their finances, especially in times of crisis.” With over 50 years of helping clients under our belt, Lowes has decades of knowledge and experience, which we use on behalf of our clients to help them get through periods of uncertainty, like we are currently experiencing. If you know someone who might benefit from having Lowes at their side, please do put them in touch.

IHT tax trap HMRC’s receipts from IHT keep on rising and frozen allowances will see more and more estates become liable to the tax. The Office of Budget Responsibility has predicted that the amount collected from IHT receipts will grow from £7.2 billion for this tax year to £8.4 billion by 2027/28. We all want to look after our families and avoid paying unnecessary tax. In order to get the best possible solution in place, we recommend that clients undertaken IHT planning as early as possible. There are various ways we can help you, depending on your circumstances. These can include establishing a trust, using gift allowances and investing in vehicles that qualify for tax relief. If you’ve not done so already, please talk to your Lowes adviser.

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