Investment Advice
Investment Advice
Your money should work as hard as you have. We build investment strategies around your goals, your tax position, and your attitude to risk. Recommendations are drawn from the whole of the UK market, with no commercial arrangements with fund providers that could influence our advice.
We Can Advise You on a Range of Investments Including:
Stocks & Shares ISA
Tax-efficient investing up to £20,000 per year. All growth and income within the ISA wrapper is free from UK tax, with no restriction on access.
General Investment Accounts
Investment outside the ISA and pension wrapper with no contribution limits or restriction on access. Used when tax efficient accounts have been fully utilised.
Investment Bonds
Single-premium insurance contract that allows you to invest in a range of funds with unique tax benefits. Onshore and offshore bonds have distinct tax treatment that must be assessed alongside your wider financial plan. We advise on whether an investment bond is appropriate for your circumstances and which structure is right for you.
Self-invested Personal Pensions (SIPP)
Pension investment with full control over how your money is invested. Contributions attract tax relief at your marginal rate.
Junior ISA & Junior SIPP
A Junior ISA allows you to invest up to £9,000 per year on behalf of a child, with the same tax benefits as an ISA. A Junior SIPP allows contributions of up to £2,880 net per year, with the government adding basic rate tax relief on top. Eligibility rules and restrictions on access apply.
Pension Investment Strategy
If your pension is invested in a default fund, it may not reflect your actual risk profile, time horizon, or retirement goals. We review existing pension investments as part of any financial planning engagement.
Portfolio Reviews
Already invested but unsure whether your portfolio is still right for you? We review existing arrangements (costs, asset allocation, tax efficiency, and alignment with your goals) and advise on what, if anything, should change.
Tax-led Investments
Certain investments offer significant tax reliefs (including income tax relief, Capital Gains Tax deferral, and inheritance tax exemptions) in exchange for investing in qualifying early-stage businesses or venture capital trusts. These are high-risk and typically illiquid investments which are not suitable for most people. We can advise on eligibility, structure, and how they fit into your overall plan.
Values-based Investing
We can incorporate certain factors that are important to you (like sharia compliance or environmental concerns) into your investment strategy. We research available options across the market and advise on the trade-offs involved.
The value of investments and pensions and any income from them can fall as well as rise. You may not get back the full amount invested. Levels and bases of, and reliefs from, taxation are subject to change and their value will depend upon personal circumstances. The favourable tax treatment of ISAs may be subject to changes in legislation in the future. Taxation and pension legislation may change in future. Please note that the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) does not regulate some aspects of estate planning or trust advice.
How We Build Your Investment Strategy
1. UNDERSTAND YOUR GOALS
When do you need the money? What is it for? Your investment strategy is shaped entirely by your objectives ~ not by a portfolio we apply to everyone.
2. ASSESS RISK PROPERLY
Attitude to risk and capacity for loss are different things. Your attitude describes how you feel about volatility. Your capacity describes how much a fall in value would affect you. We assess both, because a strategy built on attitude alone can leave you dangerously exposed.
3. BUILD AND MONITOR
We use your goals and risk assessment to research a suitable portfolio. Then we implement the agreed strategy and review it regularly (at least annually) and whenever your circumstances change. Investments are not a set-and-forget decision.
Investment Advice ~ Your Questions Answered
What is the difference between a stocks and shares ISA and a SIPP?
Both are tax-efficient wrappers for investment but they serve different purposes. A stocks and shares ISA allows you to invest up to £20,000 per year with all growth and income free from UK tax, and withdrawals are flexible with no restriction on timing or purpose. A SIPP is a pension wrapper. Contributions to it receive tax relief at your marginal rate, making it significantly more tax-efficient going in, but access is restricted until age 55 (57 from 2028) and withdrawals are taxed as income after you've received tax-free cash. Most clients use a combination of both, weighted by their income, tax position, and time horizon. The right split is specific to your circumstances and is part of what a financial plan determines.
What is a General Investment Account and when would I need one?
A General Investment Account (GIA) is a standard investment account with no annual contribution limits and no restriction on access. It does not benefit from the tax advantages of an ISA or pension wrapper, meaning capital gains tax and dividend tax may apply on returns. A GIA is typically used when you have exhausted your annual ISA allowance, when you need short-to-medium-term investment flexibility, or when your pension contributions are restricted. The tax implications of a GIA make it particularly important to coordinate with your wider tax position, which is a standard part of how we advise.
Can you review investments I already have?
Yes. A portfolio review is a common starting point for new clients. We assess what you currently hold: the cost of each product, the asset allocation, the tax efficiency, and whether the strategy still reflects your goals and risk profile. We then advise on whether any changes are warranted and, if so, what the costs and benefits of making those changes are. There is no presumption that change is needed. The outcome of a review is sometimes confirmation that your existing arrangements are appropriate
Our Fee for Investment Advice
Our investment advice service starts from £1,500. This covers a full review of your financial position, a written investment strategy and personal recommendation, and the implementation of your agreed plan. Most clients move to an ongoing service following the initial advice, which includes at least one annual review, portfolio monitoring, and priority access to their adviser. Ongoing fees are agreed separately. Download our Key Facts for full fee details.
Related Services
RETIREMENT PLANNING
Turning your investments and pensions into a sustainable retirement income requires its own advice process.
TAX & ESTATE PLANNING
The tax treatment of your investments is an important part of any estate plan.
BUSINESS OWNERS
Investing business sale proceeds requires particular care around tax, timing, and structure.
Would you like a review of your current investments?
Email : email@blackmountwealth.co.uk | Phone : 0141 286 4342