Financial Planner Online's assembled team of budget experts have reacted with surprise and interest to some of the Budget announcements today.
Mike Morrison, AJ Bell's head of platform marketing, said: "An excellent budget for Financial Planners. The changes to tax allowances are good and changes to Isas are positive."
He said the "pensions bombshells - no need to buy an annuity and flexible drawdown MIR reduced to £12,000 p/a" were positives.
Andrew Roberts, partner at SIPP and SSAS provider Barnett Waddingham
Described it as "welcome surprise".
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He said: "There was no shock removal of the tax-free cash sum on retirement or restriction to tax relief on contributions and there seemed to be a strategy for a long-term pensions.
"This is good news, provided a new government doesn't tinker."
Alison Steed, consultant at Financial Services Media UK, said: "This Budget is going to keep Financial Planners extremely busy, what with the rise in the annual Isa limits to £15,000 and the new Isa format which allows savers to put as much or as little as they want of this into stocks and shares or cash.
"In addition, the major pension changes will provide a wide range of items that Financial Planners will not only need to address with clients, they will also need to educate clients about. The HMRC investigation into the misuse of EIS and VCT schemes could also keep financial planners busy."