Why invest? Company investments

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1 Why invest? Company investments

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3 Is your company deposit making cents? Financial inertia may be costing your business more than you know. Has your company surplus cash on its balance sheet? Interest rates are close to zero* and inflation can have a real negative effect on your company s future purchasing power. Is there a risk in taking no risk? Is it time to consider taking on some investment risk for more potential reward? * Source: Central Bank of Ireland, July 2016 Why invest? 03/12

4 Company investor checklist 1 Is your company on track to meet its financial goals? 2 Do you distinguish between short-term working capital and long-term investments? 3 Does your company's rules allow you to invest? 4 Have you looked at how your company s investments are doing lately? 5 Are your company s investments diversified? 04/12 Why invest?

5 Has your company money to invest? Many companies are looking for the potential to make a better return and optimise their tax position. Many owners are concerned with how to extract money from their company tax efficiently. Contributing to a pension remains one of the most tax efficient ways of extracting money from your company. For surplus company money, owners are faced with how to get a potential reward while considering the close company surcharge on investment income. Choosing the right investment for your company can be difficult. Investing through a life investment policy* may be a first step. Talk to your financial adviser about how to get started. That way, you can continue to do what you do best. *A savings or investment policy with an insurance company. Why invest? 05/12

6 The smart choice - investing through a life investment policy You can t avoid taxes but you can manage them For companies, exit tax is charged at 25%. This is the final tax liability for the company +. So, your company s money has the potential to grow, with the return being compounded over time. The investment growth isn t reduced by taxes each year. The policy s growth is taxed on withdrawal, assignment, every eight years or on death. Flexibility You can invest a lump sum. You can also invest smaller regular amounts which allows your company to ease itself into investing. You can also switch between investment options to suit your company s changing circumstances or attitude to investment risk. Ease of administration If you choose a life investment policy, the insurance company calculates, deducts and pays the exit tax to the Revenue for you. This is the final tax liability for your company. 06/12 Why invest?

7 Investment choice Your company will probably be able to invest in similar assets whether you invest through a life investment policy or invest directly. With a life investment policy you can diversify within one policy with one provider. If you invest directly, you may have to hold and manage investments in separate accounts with multiple providers. Close company surcharge Most close companies are subject to a surcharge of 20% on their investment and rental income which is not distributed within 18 months of the accounting period in which it arose. By choosing to invest long-term money in a life investment policy, you can avoid the surcharge if the return is not treated as income in the company accounts +. + as advised by external tax advisers. What is a close company? Most Irish resident companies are close companies. They have the following characteristics: Controlled by 5 or fewer participators or controlled by any number of participators who are directors On distribution of its full income, more than 50% goes to five or fewer participators or participators who are directors A participator is a person having an interest in the income or capital of the company. Why invest? 07/12

8 Why choose Standard Life? Invest with a trusted company Standard Life is a leading provider of long-term savings and investments. We ve been in Ireland since 1834 and have been helping generations of Irish customers plan for their future. Standard Life Investments Standard Life Investments manage the majority of our funds. Headquartered in Edinburgh, they are global active asset managers with more than talented professionals. You have a wide choice You can choose from a wide range of funds, deposits or exchange traded funds. + Source: Standard Life Investments, 31 December /12 Why invest?

9 You decide how your company s money is invested As your company s investment attitude might change over time, it s important you have a number of investment options. The Synergy Investment Bond and Synergy Regular Invest gives you choice including our popular Global Absolute Returns Strategies Fund and MyFolio fund range. Deposits Funds Your options Exchange Traded Funds Warning: The value of your investment may go down as well as up Warning: This investment may be affected by changes in currency exchange rates You can find more information in our Investment Options Guide (SYI01). This is available from your financial adviser or Why invest? 09/12

10 Important things to consider Laws and tax rules may change in the future. The information here is based on our understanding of the situation in October We recommend you get financial advice. Your decision to invest should not be based on the information in this guide 10/12 Why invest?

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12 Pensions Savings Investments Find out more Talk to your financial adviser about how to plan for your company s future, they ll give you the information you need to get you started. Also, you can call us or visit our website (01) Mon-Fri, 9am to 5pm. Call may be monitored and/or recorded to protect both you and us and help with our training. Call charges will vary. facebook.com/standardlifeireland youtube.com/standardlifeireland Standard Life Assurance Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority in the UK and is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland for conduct of business rules. Standard Life Assurance Limited is registered in Dublin, Ireland (905495) at 90 St Stephen s Green, Dublin 2 and Edinburgh, Scotland (SC286833) at Standard Life House, 30 Lothian Road, Edinburgh EH1 2DH. SLWI V Standard Life, images reproduced under licence