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ACCOUNTANTS We specialise in supporting small businesses and can help with: ● Self Assessment Tax Returns FOR SMALL ● Business Accounts ● Corporation Tax ● Bookkeeping and VAT ● Business Start-ups BUSINESS ● Payroll and RTI ● Help with CIS ● Fixed Fees agreed in advance ...and much more

01902 755557 www.taxassist.co.uk/wolverhampton

At TaxAssist Accountants we specialise in supporting small business. We can help with: • Self Assessment Tax Returns • Business Accounts • Corporation Tax • Bookkeeping and VAT • Payroll and HR ...... and much more. For your FREE, no obligation initial consultation contact your local office:

Stourbridge

Unit 3, Winwood Court, Norton, Stourbridge, DY8 2AE 01384 371111

Stourport

Anglo House, Worcester Rd, Stourport-On-Seven, DY13 9AW 01299 519160

Commercial Mortgages BTL & HMO Bridging Short Term Finance Development Funding Asset Finance

For confidential advice without obligation call the team on 07968 609752

mshephard@whiterosefinance.co.uk www.wrf-shephard.co.uk

RETIREMENT AT 55……

A DISTANT DREAM

Siobhan Record Our Lifestyle’s Financial Expert

Some of us will be planning to retire at age 55 (the earlier the better heh?) however HM treasury have recently issued draft legislation to increase the Normal Minimum Pension Age (NMPA), the earliest age that a pension saver can access their pension savings without penalty. The increase from 55 to 57, is proposed to take effect from 6th April 2028 and could adversely impact those that are intending to access their pension benefits before age 57.

Who is affected?

• Savers born before 6 April 1971 should be unaffected as they will reach 55 by April 2026 and age 57 before April 2028. • Savers born on or after 6 April 1973 will be able to access their pension savings at age 57. • Savers born after 6 April 1971, but before 6

April 1973, will reach the current NMPA on their 55th birthday and will have access to their benefits until 6 April 2028, at which point they will seemingly not have access until their 57th birthday – possibly an unwelcome surprise!

Awareness as the legislation unfolds…

• The Government have stated that they will provide further advice on the proposed transitional arrangements in due course. • There will be rules that protect members of schemes who, as at 5th April 2023 had an unqualified right to access benefits at an age less than 57. • A window is created for individuals to join a scheme that offers protected retirement age before 5th April 2023 – does your scheme offer this? • Care should be taken if you transfer your individual pension after 5 April 2023 as it will result in a ringfence of the transferred funds complete with a retention of the right to access those benefits at the earlier age and no further contributions or transfers can be made to those ringfenced assets. Do you need to review your arrangements sooner rather than later?

If you are interested in knowing more about how I work, our low-cost investment philosophy and you have investments of over £100,000 why not give Jo a ring on 01562 745730 to arrange a no obligation 30-minute free meeting in our offices.

The information in this article does not constitute investment advice; you must not rely on the content when making investment decisions without taking advice. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. The value investments and the income from them, may fall or rise and investors may get back less than they invested.

Our Finance & Legal

TALBOTS LAW APPOINTS NEW CEO TO DEVELOP 5-YEAR EXPANSION PLAN

One of the Midlands leading independent law firms has appointed a new CEO to help it capitalise on a record year of performance.

Talbots Law, which employs more than 280 people across its six offices in the Black Country and Worcestershire, has named Dave Hodgetts as its new Chief Executive Officer.

The experienced Commercial Director and qualified accountant joins after a strong 25-year career with Taylor Wimpey and E.ON, with one of his first tasks being to put in place a significant 5-year growth plan that will involve consistent organic growth, the opening of new offices and the potential for future acquisitions.

He will look to build on the company’s core values of trust, innovation and delivering expert legal advice in a way that clients understand, an approach that has seen annual fees grow by 26% during a pandemic to reach £16m by the end of 2021.

“This is a very exciting time to be joining Talbots, a law firm that dates back more than 200 years and one that boasts an excellent reputation,” explained Dave, who, outside of work, enjoys spending time with his family, travelling and football.

“We have emerged from the pandemic in a very strong position, with growth across all of our core areas of law, including residential property, trusts and estates, dispute resolution, commercial, family and criminal defence.”

He continued: “My task is to use the operational and commercial experience gained working for two PLCs to develop a 5-year plan that will build on Talbots’ strong position in the region, whilst naturally staying true to our core values. “Everything is in place; the outstanding people we employ, the passion to look after the interests of our clients and the desire to continuously be better. We just need the longer-term strategy in place that takes the company into new geographic areas, capitalises on national services more and achieves expansion through a blend of organic growth and complementary acquisitions.”

Talbots Law, which has offices in Codsall, Dudley, Halesowen, Kidderminster, Stourbridge and Wolverhampton, has recruited an additional 50 staff over the last twelve months, with another 30 positions to fill between now and the end of the year.

These range from administrative roles and trainee solicitors to experienced residential property experts and Director level appointments.

For further information, please visit www. talbotslaw.co.uk or follow @talbotslaw on twitter. Mary & Dave