Clarity Backed by Expertise

  • The amount you need to retire comfortably depends on the lifestyle you want, when you plan to retire, your expected spending and the income available from pensions, investments, savings and the State Pension. At Boundary Financial Planning, we use retirement and cashflow planning to model how your finances could develop over time and whether your existing assets are likely to support the retirement you want. We can also model different scenarios, such as retiring earlier, spending more in the first years of retirement or helping children financially. This gives you a much clearer answer than simply aiming for an arbitrary pension figure.

  • Combining several pensions into one arrangement can make your retirement savings easier to manage, but pension consolidation is not automatically the right choice. Existing pensions may contain valuable guarantees, protected benefits, lower charges or other features that could be lost if they are transferred. An independent financial adviser can review your existing pensions, their investments, charges and benefits before deciding whether consolidation would improve your overall retirement plan. Boundary Financial Planning helps clients across Reading and Berkshire understand what pensions they already have and whether bringing them together could provide better organisation, investment choice and long-term planning.

  • Whether you should prioritise a pension or an ISA depends on your income, tax position, age, access requirements and long-term goals. Pensions can provide valuable tax advantages and are particularly important for retirement planning, while Stocks and Shares ISAs offer tax-efficient investment growth with greater flexibility over when the money can be accessed. For many high earners, the most effective strategy involves using both rather than choosing one or the other. We look at your pension allowances, ISA allowances, expected future income and wider financial position to determine how your savings could be allocated most effectively.

  • For the 2026/27 tax year, the standard UK pension annual allowance is £60,000, although the amount available to you can be lower depending on your income, previous pension withdrawals and individual circumstances. High earners may also be affected by the tapered annual allowance, while unused pension allowance from previous tax years may sometimes be carried forward. Pension contributions can therefore be particularly valuable as part of tax-efficient financial planning, but the rules can become complex. Boundary Financial Planning can calculate the contribution level available to you and consider personal and employer pension contributions as part of your wider financial plan.

  • High earners can often improve their tax position through careful use of pensions, ISAs and other available allowances, although the right strategy depends on your income and circumstances. Pension contributions can be especially valuable for higher and additional-rate taxpayers, while ISAs provide a tax-efficient environment for long-term investments. Business owners and company directors may have additional planning opportunities through their company. At Boundary Financial Planning, we help high earners in Reading, Berkshire and the Thames Valley coordinate their pensions, investments and long-term financial objectives so that tax efficiency forms part of the overall plan rather than being considered in isolation. Specialist tax advice may also be required in more complex cases.

  • Before investing a lump sum, you should consider what the money is for, when you may need it and how much investment risk you are comfortable taking. A financial adviser will normally consider your emergency savings, existing pensions and investments, tax position and future objectives before recommending an investment strategy. The money could potentially be divided between ISAs, pensions, General Investment Accounts and other appropriate investments depending on your circumstances. Boundary Financial Planning helps clients create diversified investment portfolios designed around their objectives and wider financial plan rather than simply selecting an investment product in isolation. The value of investments can fall as well as rise.

  • Inheritance Tax planning can involve a combination of lifetime gifting, pensions, investments, trusts, insurance and careful estate planning, depending on the size and structure of your estate. The best approach is usually to understand your potential future Inheritance Tax liability early and then consider how wealth can be passed to children or other beneficiaries without compromising your own financial security. At Boundary Financial Planning, we help families model their future wealth and explore appropriate intergenerational and inheritance planning strategies. Where legal or specialist tax advice is needed, we can work alongside your solicitor or accountant so that your financial and estate planning remain coordinated.

  • An independent financial adviser helps you make informed decisions about your pensions, investments, retirement, tax planning and wider financial future. Unlike an adviser who is restricted to certain providers or products, an independent financial adviser can consider a broader range of suitable solutions when making recommendations. At Boundary Financial Planning, we look at your whole financial position rather than treating pensions, ISAs and investments separately. This can include retirement and cashflow planning, pension consolidation, investment advice, tax-efficient planning, inheritance planning and helping you make decisions after receiving a large lump sum or selling a business. We provide independent financial advice to individuals, families, high earners and business owners across Reading, Caversham, Berkshire and the wider Thames Valley, with the aim of creating a clear long-term plan that evolves as your circumstances change.

  • You can make gifts during your lifetime, but the Inheritance Tax treatment depends on the amount, type of gift and how long you live after making it. UK rules include several gifting exemptions, while some larger gifts may fall outside your estate for Inheritance Tax purposes if you survive for the required period. The important question is not simply how much you can give away, but how much you can afford to give without affecting your own future lifestyle or retirement security. Financial planning and cashflow modelling can help determine an appropriate gifting strategy before assets are transferred to children or grandchildren.

  • The rules around pensions and Inheritance Tax are changing. From 6 April 2027, most unused pension funds and pension death benefits will be included in the value of an individual's estate for Inheritance Tax purposes, subject to certain exclusions. This means pensions will need to be considered much more closely alongside investments, property and other assets when planning how wealth will eventually pass to the next generation. For clients with substantial pensions and estates, reviewing beneficiary arrangements, retirement withdrawals and wider estate planning before the rules take effect could become increasingly important.

  • Financial advice can be particularly valuable when your finances become more complex or the consequences of getting a major decision wrong become significant. An independent financial adviser can help bring together your pensions, investments, tax planning, retirement, estate planning and family objectives into one coordinated strategy. The value is not simply in choosing investments; it is also in understanding what you can afford to do, identifying potential problems, using available allowances appropriately and adapting your plan as your circumstances change. Boundary Financial Planning works with high earners, business owners, families and people approaching retirement across Reading and Berkshire who want greater clarity and confidence over their long-term finances.

  • How much you can borrow for a mortgage depends on your income, expenditure, deposit, existing debts, credit history and the affordability criteria of individual lenders. Although some lenders use income multiples as an initial guide, a full mortgage assessment looks at much more than salary alone. Bonuses, commission, dividends and other income may also be considered depending on the lender. This is particularly important for high earners, company directors and people with more complex income structures. Boundary Financial Planning provides mortgage advice in Reading and Berkshire and can compare suitable lenders while considering how the mortgage fits alongside your wider financial commitments.

  • It is usually sensible to start reviewing your mortgage 6 months before your current fixed or introductory deal ends. This gives you time to compare your existing lender's options with alternative mortgage deals and consider whether your circumstances or borrowing requirements have changed. A remortgage can potentially help you secure a new interest rate, alter your mortgage term, change repayment structure or raise additional borrowing, although fees and early repayment charges must also be considered. We can review the wider mortgage market and help determine whether staying with your existing lender or switching to a new mortgage is more appropriate.

  • Yes. Self-employed people and company directors can obtain mortgages, but lenders can assess their income in different ways. Depending on the lender, affordability may be based on salary and dividends, business profits or other measures of company income, and lenders can also differ significantly in how many years of accounts they require. This means choosing the right lender can be particularly important for directors, business owners and contractors. Boundary Financial Planning provides mortgage advice for self-employed clients and company directors in Reading and Berkshire, including clients with more complex income arrangements that may not fit a standard high-street lending assessment.

  • Income protection insurance can provide a regular income if illness or injury prevents you from working for an extended period. It can be particularly important if your household relies heavily on your earnings, you have a large mortgage or your employer provides limited long-term sick pay. The right level of cover depends on your income, monthly expenditure, savings, employer benefits and how long you could comfortably manage without being paid. Rather than treating income protection as a standalone insurance policy, we consider how protecting your earnings supports your mortgage, family and wider financial plan.

  • The amount of life insurance you need depends on what you want the policy to protect. This could include repaying a mortgage, replacing lost household income, supporting children, covering school or childcare costs or leaving financial security for your partner or family. Existing employer death-in-service benefits, savings and other insurance should also be considered before deciding how much cover is appropriate. Boundary Financial Planning can review your existing protection and recommend an appropriate level and type of life insurance, critical illness cover or family protection based on your actual financial commitments rather than simply choosing an arbitrary amount of cover.