The Blincoe Blog
We write in plain English - no jargon, no waffle - just useful ideas to help you take control of your money, plan ahead, and make smarter decisions.
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“An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.”
- Benjamin Franklin
Bubble Talk Returns: What It Means for Investors in 2025
In this week's blog, we explore why bubble talk is back and, more importantly, what you should do about it.
If I Were Chancellor for a Day…
With the Autumn Statement weeks away, we have played Chancellor for a day — exploring tough but realistic ways to restore stability and strengthen UK finances
Why Annuities Deserve a Second Look in Today’s Retirement Market
With rates rising and new tax rules ahead, annuities are regaining appeal as a way to secure guaranteed income in retirement.
Where You Hold Your Investments Matters: A Guide to Asset Location
Many investors focus on what to invest in, not where. But your investment ‘wrapper’ can be just as important for long-term growth
US Equities: Dystopia, Utopia, or Something in Between?
Most portfolios hold around 50% US equities. Some see this as too much, others too little. We explore both sides of the debate.
What Happens When You Die Without a Will?
Around 60% of UK adults don’t have a Will, leaving estates distributed by intestacy rules that rarely match personal wishes or modern family dynamics.
How Discretionary Trusts Can Cut Your IHT Bill and Protect Family Wealth
In this week's blog, we're talking about discretionary trusts — one of the most flexible and practical tools in the IHT planning toolkit.
Why No Portfolio Is Truly Passive: The Active Decisions Behind Passive Investing
Passive investing sounds simple, but when you’re managing a whole portfolio, every decision is active. In reality, no portfolio is truly passive.
Childcare Costs and the £100k Cliff Edge: How Pension Planning Can Save Thousands
Discover how the latest childcare support can save your family thousands, and how smart pension planning can ensure you don't miss out.
Markets Keep Climbing — Why Investors Should Stay Grounded
It's been a truly extraordinary run for global stock markets. Here is why investors should stay optimistic, but realistic about what comes next.
From Pensions to ISAs: 10 Overlooked Tax Mistakes That Could Cost You Thousands
This is the third in our trilogy exploring some of the most common pitfalls we encounter in financial planning, today's focus turns to tax. We look at 10 common mistakes and how to avoid costly errors.
Are General Investment Accounts Still Worth It? Tax Changes, Strategies, and Pension Pairing Explained
The once-popular General Investment Account (GIA) has come under pressure in recent years. While GIAs have lost some shine, they’re far from redundant. For many clients, the ability to blend them with pension contributions to preserve basic rate treatment keeps them firmly in the financial planning toolkit.
Autumn Statement Preview: 7 Tax Changes We Might See (and How Likely They Are)
The Autumn Statement looms and the usual crystal ball gazing and Westminster whispers have already begun. In this weeks blog we look at what might be coming – rumours, reality, and red herrings.
Will Your Pension Be Taxed Twice? What the 2027 ‘Double Death Tax’ Means for Families
From April 2027, pension funds will no longer be exempt from Inheritance Tax – and in many cases, could be taxed twice: IHT on death, then income tax on withdrawal. For some, the combined hit could exceed 60%. However, there are steps that can help reduce or even avoid the so-called Double Death Tax.
Smart Cash Management: 4 Tax-Efficient Strategies to Maximise Your Savings
Whether it’s restructuring accounts between spouses, using cash savings platforms to secure best-in-market rates, or taking advantage of tax-free returns via Premium Bonds or UK Gilts, the right strategy can materially improve after-tax outcomes—often with minimal effort and no increase in risk.
Who Really Holds Your Investments? Understanding the 4 Layers of Protection When Investing Through an Adviser
When you invest through a financial adviser, there are several different parties involved in the management of your investments. Each plays a crucial and unique role. Many investors worry: "What happens to my money if one of these companies fails?" It's a valid concern, and one that UK financial regulations address through robust protection mechanisms.
10 Common Investment Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them): A Guide for Smarter Long-Term Investing
This is the second in a three-part series on common financial planning mistakes. In this installment, we cover ten common investing pitfalls—from chasing dividends to home bias and poor diversification. Small missteps can have big long-term impacts.
Top 10 Pension and Retirement Planning Mistakes — and How to Avoid Them
This is the first in a three-part series on common financial planning mistakes. In this installment, we look at retirement—an area where financial decisions are often shaped as much by emotion and uncertainty as by hard numbers.
Drawdown vs Annuity: Which is Better?
When it comes to drawing income from your pension, two core options dominate the landscape: flexi-access drawdown and annuity purchase. Each offers distinct benefits and trade-offs. Increasingly, the best solution lies not in choosing one over the other — but in combining both to create a plan that balances security, flexibility, and control.
Tax-Efficient Ways to Extract Profits from Your Company: Salary, Dividends, Pensions & More
What’s the most tax-efficient way to take money out of your company? There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but this blog explores proven strategies to help you extract profits smartly and sustainably.
