THE MUSICIAN’S ANSWERING SERVICE

THE PROFESSIONALS CHOICE

NEWSLETTER

May 1998

Masters Yard 180a South Street Dorking

Surrey RH4 2ES

MAS: 01306 880669 ACCOUNTS: 01306 880404 FAX: 01306 888041

M∙A∙S NEWSLETTER

May 1998

Welcome to our fourth Newsletter. If you would like to make a

contribution to the next issue, please let us know.

We would like to welcome:

Abbie, who has a Music degree from Middlesex University;

Angela, who has studied English and Modern History at St Andrews;

Sophie, who has a Masters in History from Durham.

We would like to say goodbye to:

Gill who worked at the Diary for well over two years, and is now at

/: COMÂmf, aiding contemporary music-making for amateurs.

We wish her every success!

Our current staff are:

Isobel (Manager), Louise (Senior Co-ordinator),

Celia, Dan, Heidi, Tania, Fiona, Beth,

Abbie, Sophie and Angela.

A CHANGE OF NAME
	It has been decided that our service will officially be known as the Musician's Answering Service, and we will phase out the `Smith's' reference. This term often caused confusion amongst people who rarely
used the diary service, so a change had to be made. Diary staff will now answer calls using the M•A-S abbreviation.

IF YOU WANT A PEP, THIS COULD BE YOUR LAST OPPORTUNITY

PEPs were launched in 1987 as part of the Government's campaign to widen share ownership. PEPs have now become a key financial planning tool, but unfortunately are shortly to be replaced by ISAs. The good news is, if you purchase a PEP now, you will be able to keep it, and the tax benefits that go with

it. If you had been prudent — or fortunate — enough to have invested the maximum in PEPs since 1987, you would now have tucked away £82,200. Adjust that sum for investment growth and you would by now have a considerable lump sum to do with as you please. Increasingly PEPs are being used to meet school fees,

cover university costs, boost retirement income and repay a mortgage. in a nutshell, PEPs are simply a tax-efficient way of investing in shares. By investing in a PEP, you ensure that the investment capital you are establishing should never be touched by the taxman.

For further information, contact Robert Turrell, Managing Director,

Blair Financial Planning Ltd. on 01732 743092.

A LIFETIME OF MUSIC

DICK MORGAN

After 45 years of blood, sweat and tears — and quite a few good laughs — Dick's farewell and positively final performance was at Air Lyndhurst on May 14" 1998. Dick is going to spend the summer in France, but from September onwards, friends are welcome on 01929 425047 (Swanage). He says a Benefit a concert before Christmas would he appreciated!!!

BUDGET UPDATE

The new Government's first Budget in July 1997 was relatively limited, dealing with

the 'windfall tax'. The recent Budget was the first opportunity to make

substantial changes. Significant main points as follows:

• Existing PEPs and TESSAs allowed to continue alongside new individual savings accounts Major changes are to be made to the original proposals which were announced in the autumn. PEPs and TESSAs can be opened until 5th April 1999. Any TESSAs in existence on that date will continue to be able to be funded until their life has expired. This is in addition to the ISA investment limits. PEPS can also continue to be held after 5th April 1999. iSAs will have a maximum investment of £7,000 in year one, reducing to £5.000 per annum in the following years. • Inheritance Tax A substantial amount of press comment prior to the Budget indicated that the threshold might well have been reduced by the new

Government. However, tiie Chancellor merely increased the threshold from £215,000 to £ 223,000 with effect from 6th April 1998. The tax rate remains unchanged at 40% for the excess of chargeable estates over the threshold. • End of `Bed and Breakfasting' to CGT The practice of selling a shareholding and immediately repurchasing in order to realise a gain and increase the base cost of one's holding has now been outlawed. • Stamp Duty Rise in stamp duty for property over £250,000. • Small changes to personal taxation Tax Bands and Personal Allowances increased in line with inflation.

For further information call: Mike Harding. Harding Whiteman, 36 Rose Hill, Sutton, Surrey. SM1 3EU. Tel: 0181 6-41 0102 Fax: 0181 641 4002

Bulletin

Board

The MAS clients listed below have recently changed address and/or telephone numbers; please check with MAS for details.

Paul Edmund-Davies

Brian Thomson

Kate Moore

Carolyn Scott

Clare Hutchings

Bruce Martin

Jon Carnac

Wendy Phillips

Neil Evans

Omar Khokher (Bass Trombone) has just returned from a long stay in Tenerife.

GETTING NETTED

John Georgiadis now has another string

to his bow, being WebMaestro (!) to the

Musicians Gallery Website, a specialist

Internet site for professional musicians.

View at:

http://www.musiciansgallery.com

or contact John for details

A MUSICAL MEDICAL

SERVICE

The Cardinal Clinic offers a service called `Octave' whose aim is to assist performing artists for whom illness can destroy the ability to earn a living. Octave arranges quality treatment for a range of problems such as bad posture, voice box nodules, hand damage, depression. stage fright and excess alcohol. Where necessary. Octave will raise the funds to pay for treatment in full. If you would like more information please call on 01753 850501.

C. V. PUBLICATION

The current publication is now complete, but feel free to send in your C.V. for the next edition. If you would like your current entry updated – as this is not done automatically - then give us a call. Any queries regarding C.V.s should be discussed with Isobel or Tania.

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