Any mortgage borrower in the UK is likely to be aware of the tough lending conditions that have dominated the market in the last few years. Lenders have tightened their criteria and getting a mortgage has become much harder than it was in the boom years. The goal posts continue to move even now, as [...]
More »Category : Financial planning
New Rules to Break Open Pension Pots
David Gow
11/04/2012
THE government have introduced new flexibility for pension savers with small pension pots, allowing them to take their fund as a one-off lump sum rather than having to buy an income with it. HM Revenue & Customs estimates that this will affect around 25,000 people who are aged over 60, who have total pension rights [...]
More »New Tax Year Planning
Daniel Clayden
05/04/2012
As we enter a new tax year, the big question has to be ‘What part of my finances should I be looking at right now?’ The overriding issue has to be making sure that your money does not leak away due to tax inefficiency, in other words ensuring that you don’t pay more tax than [...]
More »George Osborne’s ‘Reforming Budget’
Danny Cox
22/03/2012
George Osborne described this as the “reforming Budget” with the aim of stimulating the economy in part by reducing tax for lower earners and companies. It is important to put this Budget in context. The Budget deficit, the amount of new money we are borrowing year on year is falling but the total Public Sector [...]
More »Take Tax Action
Karen Barrett - Unbiased
02/03/2012
Lots of us – particularly in the current economic climate – have got our heads round having our loyalty cards with us when we’re out shopping, or searching online voucher sites for discounts before we head out for a meal. Checking prices online when making higher value purchases is second nature too and we’re all [...]
More »What to be aware of in the run up to the ISA season
Jason Witcombe
20/02/2012
Those who leave their ISA subscription until the end of the tax year will have the usual mad rush to get their investments made by 5th April, which falls on a Thursday this year, and the more organised amongst us will be wanting to get the applications in as early as possible in the 2012/13 [...]
More »What kids should know about money
Joss Harwood
30/01/2012
Our kids are accomplished consumers, bombarded by advertising, and it’s easy to learn how to spend money. Sadly there isn’t a culture of financial education in schools, which leads to an ignorance of financial planning that is anything but bliss for many young adults as reality kicks in. Action at home is required. First, rewind [...]
More »2012 – A lesson in money
Jaskarn Pawar
10/01/2012
We decided to ask some of our independent financial advisers what they thought the best to come out of 2012 will be in terms of our personal finances and the response below really caught our attention. “I think with the problems people are facing regarding their finances there has never been more focus on the [...]
More »Divorce – how a specialist IFA can help you achieve a fair financial settlement
Scott Gallacher
04/01/2012
Unfortunately, a significant number of marriages end in divorce. Should this happen to you it is vital that, as well as speaking to your solicitor, you also obtain the advice of a Resolution accredited independent financial adviser (IFA). A specialist divorce IFA will be able to assist you in completing certain paperwork (such as the [...]
More »Financial Planning for 2012
Daniel Clayden
23/12/2011
As we wave goodbye to a year of austerity and uncertainty, to quote Peter Cunnah (lead singer from the band D:Ream) surely “Things Can Only Get Better” … well maybe not yet, as 2012 looks like it may well bring more of the same. In a climate of increasing volatility and rising inflation coupled with [...]
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