How does the mortgage market work
Posted by siteadmin on Monday 6th of July 2020
How does the mortgage market work?
There are times in our lives when we can all use some help and guidance. Buying a home is one of those major steps that is much easier to take if you are well- informed and get some good advice.
Whether you are a first-time buyer or someone who has moved before, things change, so it’s useful to understand the mortgage market.
Each year, thousands of consumers finance the purchase of their homes with a mortgage or re-finance existing mortgages. With mortgage debt accounting for over 80% of total...
Lasting Powers of Attorney
Posted by siteadmin on Wednesday 1st of July 2020
You may have already arranged a Will* to deal with matters in the event of your death, but have you considered what would happen if you became unable to handle your affairs while still alive?
Peace of mind
Have you considered how a physical or mental illness could affect your ability to manage your personal affairs? If the prospect of this worries you, you should consider setting up an LPA. This is a legal document which allows you to appoint one or more people to either help you make legal decisions, or to make them entirely on your behalf....
Estate Planning
Posted by siteadmin on Monday 29th of June 2020
Estate planning encompasses not only preparing your finances to ensure your assets are protected for your loved ones once you are gone, but it’s also about ensuring you have enough money to live on.
It starts with obtaining a comprehensive view of your assets. Assessing the value of your estate and ensuring the right documentation is in place is a first port of call (such as Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA), and the formation of any relevant Trusts).
Valuing your estate
In order to establish the value of your estate, first calcula...
Investing for Children – The Junior ISA
Posted by siteadmin on Wednesday 24th of June 2020
There was welcome news for young savers in the March Budget with the government announcing the Junior ISA (JISA) allowance was to be more than doubled, from £4,368 to £9,000 from 6 April 2020.
JISA and CTFs both benefit
JISAs replaced Child Trust Funds (CTF) in 2011, but those who still
hold CTF will continue to benefit from the increased allowance. Both JISA and CTF are a tax efficient way to build up savings for a child. It is not possible to have both a JISA and a CTF.
Savings for children
A junior ISA can be opened for any child under 1...
The growth of the Chinese economy
Posted by siteadmin on Monday 22nd of June 2020
Last year, predictions were made that by the end of 2020, China would topple the US off the top spot as the world’s biggest economy. The same research detailed that once the US fell behind China, it would be unlikely to ever regain the top spot.
Since China began opening its capital markets in 1992, the country has gradually won the confidence of international investors and has flourished as the world’s fastest-growing major economy. In the last two decades, China has seen average economic growth of around 9% a year.
Level playing fiel...
Mortgage payment holidays – three-month extension
Posted by siteadmin on Sunday 7th of June 2020
The Government has announced the requirement for lenders to extend the initial three-month mortgage payment holiday scheme by a further three months. They felt that the extension was necessary because it would be too sudden and soon to end the scheme now for those currently experiencing financial difficulties.
This means help and support will continue for those currently struggling with their mortgage repayments, providing borrowers already taking a holiday with the ability to extend their holiday period until 31 October 2020. Customers who...
How secure is your business?
Posted by siteadmin on Monday 1st of June 2020
Business protection is a crucial element in a company's financial future, but how many have cover in place?
You may have covered the tangible assets in your business, but have you protected the most important asset; the people who contribute directly to your bottom line?
If the answer is no, you could be putting your business at risk. After all, if you lost a key employee, this could impact the day-to-day running of the business, it could hit profits and create problems repaying an outstanding business loan.
Research by Legal & Genera...
