Richard McKeown - Sovereign Wealth

25/02/2026

Did you know...
It’s often thought that the highest
tax rate applicable in England, Wales
and Northern Ireland is 45% but that’s
not the case. If you earn more than
£100,000 per year, you could be taxed
at an effective rate of 60% on income
between £100,000 and £125,140

27/11/2025

Follow the Autumn budget yesterday I would like to share with you the key take aways pertinent to financial planning:

- Freezing of income tax thresholds for a further three years
- From 2029, pension contributions made through salary sacrifice schemes to face national insurance charge - though reliefs for income tax (or corp tax for businesses) remain the same.
- A 'mansion’ tax on homes costing upwards of £2 million
- Additional 2% tax on interest on cash, dividends and rental income
- Cash ISA allowances reduced to £12,000pa (no change for those aged over 65).
- Stocks and Shares ISA allowance remains at £20,000pa.

You can read are full review here:
https://partnership.sjp.co.uk/article/detail/sjpp/the-autumn-budget-2025-topline-announcements.html

We will also be holding a webinar on Friday 28 November at 12:30pm to 13:30pm - if you would like to attend, please click here:
https://sjp-co-uk.zoom.us/webinar/register/9717611376298/WN_i8cdqgOfT9eKKRXhmxkoyg #/registration

If you have any questions on how the changes affect your own financial planning, then please reach out.

The Budget lowdown – the topline announcements

24/10/2025

Long Term Care Planning:
I am pleased to announce that I have recently passed the CF8 Long Term Care exam with the CII (Chartered Insurance Institute).

This means I am licensed to provide advice around covering the cost of Long Term Care should you, or your relatives, ever have the need to pay for residential or nursing care. Cost of such care can be very expensive, and can run the risk of depleting the estate, and/or the need to change the care provider, which can be disruptive. There are, however, solutions available to guard against such occurrences.

More details can be found on my website: https://www.richard-mckeown.co.uk/later-life-planning/

If this is ever need, for you or your friends and family, please feel free to reach out.

The average cost of staying in a UK residential care home is currently around £1,406 per week, increasing to £1,558 for nursing care. It’s important to consider and plan for the potential need for long-term care, to ensure your finances can support you for as long as necessary.

27/03/2025

I am pleased to announce that I have been included in The Times Top Rated Advisor Guide for the 4th year running

https://guide.vouchedfor.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/VouchedFor-2025-Top-Rated-Guide_150325-2.pdf

A key theme in the Guide is helping clients avoid emotional responses to investing.

Please have a read through the guide, which you may find useful.

21/03/2024

Looking at ways to reduce your tax bill before 5th April? If you would like to know how please reach out.

22/02/2024

Tax year end is a little over 6 weeks away. Many people ask me whether it makes more sense to invest into a Pension or an ISA. Both have their merits. Please see our useful guide below. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to reach out.

30/01/2024

If you earn more than £100,000, don't get caught out by the 60% tax trap. Earnings above this figure begin to lose your personal allowance for income tax on a tapered basis.
Pension contributions can reclaim both your income tax and your personal allowance if you fall into this trap.
For more information please feel free to reach out.

09/01/2024

With less than 3 months to go before the end of the tax year, have you made use of all of your available tax allowances?

Since April 2023 annual pension allowances have increased to upto £60,000pa, which allows for greater scope to reclaim tax.

Pension contributions also reduce your "adjusted income" which gives the potential to reclaim any lost Personal Allowance, and to qualify for Free Childcare and Child Benefits which are lost when your income reaches £100k and £50k respectively.

For more information, please feel free to reach out.

14/06/2022

I am looking to recruit a Financial Services PA/Administrator to work with me from our Leeds office in Thorpe Park.

Salary £20k-£24k based on experience. Industry experience is useful though not essential.

Please feel free to share

14/03/2022

Make the use of your allowances before Tax Year End on the 5th April

29/07/2021

What does retirement mean to you? New SJP video: https://youtu.be/Q9WH4Eee5wM

Everyone’s answer will be different. The important thing is that when you retire, you know what’s right for you.

Wherever you are in your journey, see how we can help you plan for the retirement you deserve.

The value of an investment with St. James's Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds selected and the value may fall as well as rise. You may get back less than the amount invested.

Sovereign Wealth Limited is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James's Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority).

Everyone’s answer will be different. The important thing is that when you retire, you know what’s right for you.Wherever you are in your journey, see how we ...

20/07/2021

Did you know?

A recent report(1) by the International Longevity Centre (ILC) think-tank has found that those who have sought professional financial advice are better off by an average of £40,000 compared to those who did not take advice.

Increases in liquid assets and pension wealth were identified for both the ‘affluent but advised’ and the ‘just getting by but advised’ groups surveyed, with greater savings and equity investment levels also apparent.

This is why it pays to get professional financial advice when it comes to managing your wealth and assets.

Contact me today to get started!

The value of your investment can go down as well as up. You could get back less than you invested.

(1) ILC, what it's worth-Revisiting the value of financial advice, November 2019, based on 2014/2016 calculations. Receiving professional financial advice between 2001 and 2006 resulted in a total boost to wealth (in pensions and financial assets) of £47,706 in 2014/2016

Sovereign Wealth Limited is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James's Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority).