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Mearns-Begley Wealth Management

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Mearns-Begley Wealth Management

Mearns-Begley Wealth Management is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. SJP Approved 03/12/2024

James's Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority).

17/08/2026

If you live abroad, there may be many appealing reasons to return to the UK for your later years. But the emotional pull – such as wanting to be closer to family or return to a familiar place – should be balanced against the costs of returning home. You will need to weigh up the relative cost of living in the UK and your overall financial position, including the tax rules that apply to returning expats.

If your retirement plans involve sunshine and sandals, moving back to the UK is unlikely to be at the top of your bucket list. But for many, the UK does offer significant advantages. These include the National Health Service, which may be especially valuable to older expats.

Meanwhile, UK savers and investors also benefit from strong consumer protection laws and transparent financial regulation.

And indeed, many people have already been persuaded. In the 2025/26 tax year, 143,000 UK British nationals returned to the UK. Of this group, 12,000 were over-65s, according to the Office for National Statistics1.

If you are considering moving back to the UK, considering a number of different aspects and how they compare in different countries could help clarify your decision.

Read more: https://partnership.sjp.co.uk/article/detail/sjpp/coming-home-to-retire-tax-implications-for-returning-expacts

04/08/2026

Losing a partner, a parent, or going through a divorce, are among the most difficult life experiences you can face. It can happen quickly too, without much warning. Not only will there be strong and complex emotions to deal with, but for many women it means a sudden and significant change to their finances.

For some women it might be the first time they’ve had to manage a property, investments, or a large sum of cash on their own.

Making decisions about your wealth at such pivotal points in life can be stressful and overwhelming. So how can women be confident they’re making the right choices for their future when their finances change
overnight?

Read more: https://partnership.sjp.co.uk/article/detail/sjpp/when-finances-change-overnight-inheritance-divorce-and-new-responsibilities

28/07/2026

With the support of 90% of Labour MPs (349 in total), Andy Burnham has replaced Sir Keir Starmer as the UK’s prime minister for the remainder of this parliament, ending in August 2029 (at the latest). While pledging to do things differently, there are many challenges ahead. We take a closer look at some of the domestic issues the new prime minister may consider priorities.

Read more: https://partnership.sjp.co.uk/article/detail/sjpp/burhams-britain-economic-priorities-to-consider

22/07/2026

Does your business rely on the talent or expertise of a key individual? If so, how would it fare if they were no longer able to work?

Small to medium businesses in the UK are notoriously underinsured, leaving them exposed to serious risks. For many, the loss of a key person may result in a major risk. However, putting protection in place to cover this risk can help shield your business from financial vulnerability in the event that one of your key people falls seriously ill or dies.

Read more: https://partnership.sjp.co.uk/article/detail/sjpp/could-your-business-survive-losing-its-most-valuable-person

13/07/2026

After losing someone close to you even simple tasks can feel overwhelming – and dealing with finances can be hardest.

But you don’t have to tackle everything at once. When you feel ready ask a family member or friend to help you.

There are some practical and legal steps to go through. While these can feel daunting, taking it one step at a time can make things more manageable.

Read more: https://partnership.sjp.co.uk/article/detail/sjpp/managing-finances-in-bereavement.html

06/07/2026

Changes to inheritance tax (IHT) rules which will bring most pensions into scope from next April are changing how people think about retirement planning, with more turning once again to annuities.

For many years annuities have been firmly out of fashion. This followed the introduction of pension freedoms in 2015 which made it much easier for people to take out money from their pension fund, rather than having to buy an annuity. The low interest rate environment of recent years also made annuities less attractive.

That picture is now starting to shift. Demand for annuities has picked up again in recent years, with sales returning to levels not seen since before pension freedoms.

There are a number of reasons why more people are choosing to use their pension pots to buy annuities. As well as offering a guaranteed income, in some cases, they can also reduce the size of your estate for IHT purposes. Meanwhile, rising interest rates have led to higher annuity rates, making them yet more attractive.

Read more: https://partnership.sjp.co.uk/article/detail/sjpp/the-axable-benefits-of-buying-an-annuity

29/06/2026

A place in a nursing home can cost £1,267 a week or even more1, and anyone with significant assets won’t qualify for state support. As we are all living longer, it is something more of us will need to consider and plan for in later life.

Our guide explores who qualifies for help towards social care and care home costs. It also looks at the complex rules around gifting assets and how this is viewed under the means test for care fees.

Read more: https://partnership.sjp.co.uk/article/detail/sjpp/can-i-gift-assets-to-avoid-paying-care-home-fees.html

17/06/2026

Retirement planning is becoming more challenging.

New figures from Pensions UK show that the income needed to maintain different standards of living in retirement has increased over the past year, largely due to rising everyday costs such as food, transport and household bills.

For many people, retirement can feel like a distant goal. Yet the research highlights the importance of reviewing plans regularly rather than assuming existing arrangements will always be enough.

The findings suggest that while many workers are on track to achieve a basic standard of living in retirement, far fewer are on course for the level of lifestyle they would ideally like. This gap can often develop gradually as living costs rise and personal circumstances change.

One of the key messages from the report is that retirement planning should be viewed as an ongoing process rather than a one-off exercise. Regular reviews can help ensure savings, investments and long-term goals remain aligned with changing circumstances.

Whether retirement is decades away or just around the corner, taking time to understand what lifestyle you would like in later life can be a useful starting point when assessing whether your current plans are likely to support those ambitions.

Read more: https://partnership.sjp.co.uk/article/detail/sjpp/pensions-uk-report-figures-paint-dire-picture-of-nations-saving.html

10/06/2026

As retirement approaches, many people start thinking more carefully about investment risk. But de-risking doesn't necessarily mean moving everything into cash or giving up on growth.

In simple terms, de-risking means adjusting your investments over time to make them more aligned with your goals, income needs and comfort with risk.

A few key points to consider:

💡 Retirement can last decades, so growth may still play an important role even after you stop working.

💡 Diversification can help reduce reliance on any one area of the market, although it does not remove risk entirely.

💡 Taking withdrawals during market downturns can affect long-term outcomes, which is why some retirees build flexibility into their income plans.

💡 Your attitude to risk may change over time, making regular reviews of your investments important.

There isn't a universal age or milestone when everyone should de-risk. The right approach depends on your circumstances, objectives and how you plan to use your money in retirement.

The challenge is finding the right balance between protecting what you've built and ensuring your investments continue to support you throughout retirement.

After all, de-risking isn't about avoiding risk completely. It's about making sure your investments remain aligned with the life you want to live.

Read more: https://partnership.sjp.co.uk/article/detail/sjpp/approaching-retirement-what-is-the-right-time-to-de-risk.html

Address

18-22 Melville Street
Edinburgh
EH37NS

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Website

http://carleymearns.co.uk/

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