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December edition of Smart Money
3.12.2025Welcome to our December edition of Smart Money. Here’s a summary of what’s included in this month’s edition:
On page 6, we outline five practical steps to help you reduce tax, maximise savings, and help strengthen your long-term plans. As the 2025/26 tax year end approaches on 5 April 2026, now could be the time to review your finances and check you’re making full use of the allowances and reliefs available to you.
On page 7, we examine how history has shown that attempting to time the market often leads investors to miss opportunities rather than achieve better results. Many people may feel hesitant about investing, preferring to wait until markets feel calmer or the “right time” appears. However, both history and experience indicate that timing the markets is nearly impossible, even for investment professionals.
On page 8, we highlight that almost half of UK adults do not know how much they have saved for retirement. We look at why awareness varies so widely across generations, why many people feel uncertain about their retirement prospects, and the practical actions that can help restore clarity and confidence, including tracing forgotten pension pots.
On page 11, we look at the significance of having conversations about inheritance, which is one of the most sensitive yet crucial aspects of financial planning. We investigate why open dialogue is important and provide guidance on how to approach succession planning with clarity and confidence. Many families often avoid conversations about wealth transfer, but with an increasing number of estates subject to Inheritance Tax and a rise in Will disputes, remaining silent could prove to be costly.
Get in touch
If you would like to discuss any of these topics, or if you wish to schedule an initial consultation, please contact us.advise-me@fosterdenovo.com
A pension is a long-term investment not normally accessible until age 55 (57 from April 2028 unless the plan has a protected pension age).
The value of your investments (and any income from them) can go down as well as up, which would have an impact on the level of pension benefits available.
Your pension income could also be affected by the interest rates at the time you take your benefits.
The Financial Conduct Authority doesn’t regulate trust planning and most forms of inheritance tax (IHT) planning.
The financial conduct authority does not regulate tax and trust advice and will writing.
Some IHT planning solutions put your money at risk, and you may get back less than you invested. IHT thresholds depend on individual circumstances and the law. tax and IHT rules may change in the future.
The tax treatment is dependent on individual circumstances and may be subject to change in future.
Foster Denovo Limited is authorised and regulated by The Financial Conduct Authority. Registered office: Foster Denovo Limited, Ruxley House, 2 Hamm Moor Lane, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 2SA.
