Latest news with #Acumen
Scotsman
2 days ago
- Business
- Scotsman
Guidance on legacy issues and tax on estates
Andrew Sutherland | Supplied Q&A Andrew Sutherland of Acumen Financial Planning answers a widower's queries about his estate. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Q I am a widower in my 80s. I was wondering if my estate will have to pay Capital Gains Tax on shares I hold when I die, or would they only be caught by Inheritance Tax [IHT] if I am above the ceiling? I have two houses, and shares totalling £564,000. My wife did not pay IHT. A While I can provide general commentary about the areas you raise, for specific recommendations or advice to be made, further information would be needed from you. The answer to your first question is that Capital Gains Tax (CGT) effectively dies with us. Your beneficiaries would stand to inherit your shares from you with a clean slate, and any future gains would be taxed from the value at the time they inherit them. Any amount of CGT payable in your lifetime can be managed and mitigated by using your annual allowances. Furthermore, your income position needs to be taken into account. One consideration for you at this stage will be Inheritance Tax. Whether this would apply to you is hard to establish at this stage, however: Each individual taxpayer in the UK benefits from a nil-rate band of £325,000. This is the first portion of your estate, which will not be liable to any IHT. Each individual also benefits from a residence nil-rate band of up to £175,000, contingent on your home having a value of that sum or more, the value of your overall estate not exceeding £2,000,000, and your home being passed on directly to your lineal descendants. This means that each individual can benefit from up to £500,000 of nil-rate bands before any IHT becomes payable. For spouses, there is no IHT to pay on assets inherited by the surviving partner. If your wife passed the entirety of her estate to yourself, then you will have inherited 100 per cent of her nil-rate bands, meaning you should only be liable for IHT on your estate above £1,000,000, depending on the value of your home. Based on you having two properties and a share portfolio, it is possible that you may have a potential liability to IHT should your estate exceed a million pounds, and the tax would be applied at a rate of 40 per cent on the value over that threshold. It would be wise to take action now, to achieve your best possible outcome. A deeper analysis will be required, and working with a qualified financial planner will provide the assistance, guidance – and advice if needed – that you require. Attending Acumen's IHT event at the Bonham Hotel in Drumsheugh Gardens, Edinburgh, on 27 August may help you, and be the first step to engaging a financial professional.
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Scotsman
30-06-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Putting shares into an ISA wrapper
Andrew Sutherland | Ross Johnston/Newsline media Q&A Andrew Sutherland of Acumen responds to a reader, likening them to Mr Buffet Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Q I have shares in six companies which in total cost £15,000 and using dividend reinvestment plans [DRIPS], and are now are valued at £56,000 before brokers fees. Last year I received dividends of £2,087 on which I paid £535 Income Tax. Obviously these shares should be in an ISA wrapper so I would not have to pay tax on the dividends, but would I have to sell them first and pay Capital Gains Tax, then buy a separate Stocks and Shares ISA? Or can they just be put into an ISA wrapper, say over three years, to remain within the annual limit? A Well done! You have followed the strategy of one of the world's greatest investors, Warren Buffett –buy and hold. This is prudent, as is seeking to hold your investments within an have provided total figures so we can look at your portfolio in aggregate, but for specific recommendations or advice, further information would be needed. We can, however, illustrate the mechanics involved with switching the shares into an ISA. Once within an ISA, income from the shares would be free from Income Tax and any future growth would also be the way into the ISA, CGT would apply to any chargeable gains which exceed its annual exempt amount, currently £3,000. This means you could release £4,000 from your portfolio each year tax free. Anything above this would be liable to CGT at 24 per cent as you are a higher rate taxpayer. However, to do so would take a considerable number of years to transfer your portfolio into an ISA, dampening the benefit of the improved tax efficiency. Essentially, the transfer into an ISA is a balance between achieving future tax-free income and paying a degree of CGT in the meantime in order to make the switch more quickly. To achieve this, by releasing about £23,500 you would raise £20,000 for an ISA contribution after CGT has been deducted. By adopting this approach, over three years you would expect to pay a total of nearly £7,700 in CGT and expect to save some £1,070 in income tax over the same period – a total net cost of more than £6, cost would effectively take 13 years to recoup in reduced Income Tax. Tax associated with raising the full ISA allowance annually would be onerous and take a significant period to pay off so the most prudent solution to mitigate for tax will be either somewhere in between raising the full ISA allowance and only raising £4,000 each year, or continuing to bear the ongoing tax burden. Reaching a conclusion would be made much easier in partnership with a qualified financial planner acting as a sounding board. Acumen Financial Planning Ltd is authorised and regulated by the FCA, FRN 218745. The content of this article is the opinion of Andrew Sutherland and does not constitute advice or recommendation
Morocco World
20-06-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Morocco Among Top 5 Countries Targeted by $132 Million Climate Fund
Marrakech – Morocco has been selected as one of the five priority countries for the second funding cycle of the Acumen Resilient Agriculture Fund (ARAF II), a $132 million venture capital fund aimed at strengthening climate resilience for small-scale farmers. The fund will support innovative agricultural enterprises in Morocco, Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Nigeria, and Uganda. The geographical distribution of financing will depend on the projects submitted to the fund, whose lifespan will cover 12 years with a six-year investment period. ARAF II builds on the success of its predecessor and aims to generate a tangible impact on vulnerable communities while managing climate, financial, and social risks. In Morocco, companies operating in the agricultural and para-agricultural sectors will be supported through three key thematic areas. The fund intends to support the establishment of aggregation platforms by investing in companies offering combined solutions: climate-resistant inputs, affordable credits, training, and purchase agreements to guarantee income. Digitalization is also among the components of the financing program. ARAF II will provide support to Moroccan companies developing ICT solutions to connect farmers with suppliers, provide weather information, training videos, and market price data. The fund may also invest in structures offering innovative financial solutions, allowing access to affordable credit, savings products, and insurance (for weather, livestock, yields) to diversify the income of small farmers and strengthen their resilience. By focusing on local businesses and digitalization of services, Morocco is strengthening its orientation toward sustainable, inclusive, and technologically connected agriculture. By the end of the funding cycle, ARAF II aims to reach 19.85 million direct and indirect beneficiaries across the six target countries. ARAF II is a blended finance venture capital fund focused on adaptation, which aims to strengthen the climate resilience of smallholder farmers and agricultural value chains. Its objective is to promote increased productivity and food security in Africa by identifying and developing ecosystem-enabling enterprises that offer integrated solutions through innovative business models. Read also: World Bank Releases $250 Million to Support Morocco's Agri-Food Systems Program Tags: agriculture in MoroccoClimate Resilience
Time of India
18-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
From centre court to centrestage
Serena Williams , the 23-time Grand Slam champion and founder of Serena Ventures , is stepping onto a new kind of court – the world of venture capitalism and social impact – with a significant presence at Cannes Lions 2025 . Addressing an audience on the French Riviera, Williams articulated her vision for long-term investment, describing venture capitalism as a 'waiting game' – a commitment spanning a decade to witness the development of investments. Williams announced a significant USD 12 million investment from Serena Ventures into a new program designed to support entrepreneurs. This initiative aims to narrow the access gap in health and hygiene services globally. The strategic ambition behind such endeavors focuses on opening markets, transforming industries, and creating new innovations. The long-term goal of this collaborative effort is to reach five million people with "lifesaving solutions" by backing up to 200 entrepreneurs and small startups worldwide. This goal, with a target check-in around 2030, is hoped to be achievable with the right partners. The urgency of the mission was underscored by reflections on the stark realities many face. It was acknowledged that those in developed regions often "live in a bubble," taking basic health and hygiene for granted. The question was posed: "Is it shocking to you that so many people suffer from lack of basic health care in this day and age? Yes." It was further observed that when one steps "a little bit outside of that bubble and you see what sadly majority of the world lives don't have these easy access that we just don't even think twice about." This disparity was linked to a lack of investment. Williams herself conveyed her anticipation for the long-term outcomes of this partnership. "I feel like the most thing I'm looking forward to is 2030 and to see what the results are," she said. Her focus, she reiterated, is on "how many lives are these companies affecting and changing for the better." A key element of this new program is empowering women entrepreneurs. The discussion highlighted a "powerful shift where women entrepreneurs are not just included, they're not just backed funded, but they are empowered to lead the change." Catherine Casey of Acumen echoed this sentiment, stating, "When you invest in extraordinary women founders and with the right capital and support, they'll create thriving businesses that make their communities healthier." The call to action for aspiring healthcare entrepreneurs is clear. Williams concluded with a powerful message, urging the audience to "look at the change you can make when you invest in diversity." This initiative, launched from the global stage of Cannes Lions 2025, represents a fusion of strategic investment and social responsibility, aiming to leverage entrepreneurial spirit to address critical global health and hygiene challenges, with a keen eye on the long-term impact.
Techday NZ
04-06-2025
- Business
- Techday NZ
JLL unveils AI Property Assistant to boost real estate returns
JLL has introduced JLL Property Assistant, an artificial intelligence solution designed to provide real estate owners with AI-driven recommendations and insights to enhance property performance and financial returns across retail, industrial and office segments. JLL Property Assistant operates using JLL Falcon, an AI platform developed specifically for the real estate industry, and features an interconnected approach by integrating with JLL's data sources and applications. Neil Murray, Chief Executive Officer of Real Estate Management Services at JLL, commented on the new product offering: "JLL Property Assistant will help our clients unlock the true potential of artificial intelligence for the real estate they own. Built on JLL Falcon, the tool provides a unique, interconnected experience that streamlines operations, enhances decision-making, and drives unparalleled value creation. These components--AI, data and best-in-class applications--form the foundation of JLL's property management technology platform, a one-of-a-kind, unified software suite purpose-built to advance the performance and returns of our clients' properties." The AI-powered assistant delivers recommendations for property teams to enhance various elements of building performance, including operational processes and tenant sentiment. It works in concert with Acumen, JLL's business intelligence platform, which compiles data from multiple systems. This includes financial data from accounting solutions like Yardi and MRI, operational details from Prism by Building Engines, as well as additional proptech applications. Property and asset managers interact with JLL Property Assistant using a natural language chat interface, allowing users to pose questions such as, "Which retail assets have the highest vacancy risks in Q3?" or "What does our net operating income (NOI) look like year-to-date?" The solution draws information from JLL's enterprise data warehouse to quickly provide relevant answers. According to details provided, JLL Property Assistant offers a range of potential benefits. These include faster, data-driven decision making through the generation of tenancy reports, auto-generation of stacking plans, analysis of expense trends, and identification of tenant retention and occupancy insights. Operational efficiency may be boosted through features such as reviewing high-priority task statuses, identifying tenant satisfaction matters, and analysing work order trends. The tool also offers insights to support greater profitability and financial health, providing access to operational budget breakdowns, vacancy filling suggestions, and the ability to easily generate finance reports. Security protocols are a key aspect, with JLL Property Assistant adhering to enterprise-grade standards to ensure the protection of client data. At the same time, the system makes use of anonymised global benchmarks sourced from JLL's comprehensive data holdings. Yao Morin, Chief Technology Officer at JLL, said: "Our AI-powered assistant fundamentally transforms the management of property for investors, delivering unprecedented efficiency, data-driven insights, and optimised performance. The tool empowers property managers and owners to focus on strategic initiatives and enhanced property performance, ultimately driving greater value for their portfolios and revolutionising the industry."
