Swiss private banks are failing to address rapidly declining profitability and are too focused on defensive measures to implement a radical transformation that will allow them to generate competitive advantage and sustainable growth, says KPMG.
In the furore over the removal of the tax exemption on foreign earnings, it has become clear that many South African expats are not fully aware of their existing tax obligations on offshore savings and investments and time is running out, warns Old Mutual Wealth’s David Denton.
Inheritance tax receipts have risen steadily since 2009/10 and while it is still a small slice of the UK’s overall GDP, the percentage is increasing and advisers need to help clients plan accordingly as it’s not just the wealthy that can be hit, Killik & Co’s Sarah Hollowell tells International Adviser.
The UK tax office has recently updated its rules for transferring any unused portion of basic and additional IHT thresholds when the first person in a marriage or civil partnership dies.
A fintech accelerator programme, Super Charger, has teamed up with Standard Chartered Bank and Allianz to help foster and develop Malaysia’s fintech market.
Employee incentive arrangements where workers are paid using gold bullion are “abnormal” and not a “reasonable course of action”, according to an independent panel set up to advise the UK government on disputes over potentially abusive tax arrangements.
The financial regulator of the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) has signed partnership agreements with its two financial services counterparts based in Malaysia’s financial hub, Labuan.
HM Revenue & Customs’ action on tax avoidance, evasion and organised crime has brought in record additional revenues of £29bn ($37.6bn, €32.9bn) in the past fiscal year, as revealed in its latest annual report.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has said it is looking to work with the UK government to allow savers to access their pension pots without taking drawdown amid fears consumers need greater protection in the non-advised drawdown market.
Intergenerational wealth disparity, tax simplification and removal of the £1m lifetime pension allowance are all addressed in a remarkable letter to the prime minister from Brewin Dolphin chief executive David Nicol.
Changes in regulation coupled with a transformation in client expectations and increased use of technology means financial advisers need to review their business model to ensure they have a business that is future fit, says Old Mutual Wealth’s Mike Leeson.
The use of partial surrenders of offshore bonds can still make for a good tax-planning strategy, says Utmost’s Simon Martin, ahead of a restitution process set to be introduced by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) later this year.
