Life

When it comes to your children’s future, not much is predictable. You don’t know if your child will be gay or straight, artistic or sporty, a deep-sea diver or Wimbledon champion. However, one thing you can be fairly certain of is that they’ll need a place to live when they grow up. How do you ensure the Bank of Mum and Dad has enough in it to help them?

You might think that a sudden inheritance could breed reckless spending. But for Brits under 34, of which  90% or more want to get on the property ladder, a first home trumps frivolity.  

Families come in all shapes and sizes – some you’re born into, some you choose, and some who choose you. Here are our top tips for managing the finances of your family, whatever yours looks like.

Twixtmas – the period between Christmas and New Year – is about the closest we come in the UK to downing tools. It’s a wasteland of inactivity interrupted only by the occasional Boxing Day sale or TV film you’ve seen ten times before. So how about this year we treat it as an opportunity to take time for ourselves and get on top of our finances? We’ve got a few ideas to get you started.

There will always be moments in your financial journey where you’ll find yourself drifting into uncharted waters. Situations that lead us to question the usual approach to our finances.

For many people, the fifties are the decade when thoughts turn to retirement. Whether or not you want to retire early, it’s important to know how much you have and what you can do to give yourself as comfortable a lifestyle as possible. I’ve advised dozens of clients in their fifties. Here’s what I’ve found.

Getting your head around income protection and working out whether you need it (and if so, how much) can be a bit complicated. Our friends at Anorak helped us put together this list of frequently asked questions.

Are you a freelancer, contractor, sole proprietor or otherwise self-employed? If you’ve set yourself up with a limited company, you can make employer contributions to your pension directly from your company in a way that’s very tax-efficient. Here’s how.

Inheritance tax is charged at 40% and applies to nearly all types of property, possessions, savings and investments on the owner’s death. By making the most of your tax-free allowances, and with other measures such as giving gifts, you can lower your bill.

We’re all saving for something. Whether it’s a first home or that much needed holiday, we know that putting away money now can help us at a later date. But that’s easier said than done.  

So you’ve taken the plunge. Or perhaps you haven’t quit your job yet but you’re thinking about it. You’ve got a great idea for a start-up, you’re about to become a contractor, or maybe you’re set to open that vegan bakery you’ve dreamed about. Here’s our guide to becoming self-employed.

Our philosophy at Nutmeg is that every investor should be able to know exactly where their money is invested. But we believe that this transparent approach should not stop at investment. We’re now working with Pact Coffee, a firm that trades directly with farmers around the world to ensure customers know exactly who grew the beans in their cup.