How to make ISAs work for you
Posted by siteadmin on Wednesday 6th of October 2021
Make the most of your tax allowances by using the different types of ISAs that are available.
Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) were first introduced in 1999 and are a tax-free way to save into a cash savings or investment account. There lots of different types of ISA available, but the right one for you will depend on your financial goals. We explain how they work so you can choose the one that is best for you.
Cash ISA
A cash ISA works in the same way as traditional savings account but you won’t have to pay tax on any of the inte...
Can your pension sustain your retirement
Posted by siteadmin on Wednesday 6th of October 2021
Working out how long your pension pot will need to last – as life expectancy rises – is worth thinking about sooner than later.
The lockdown caused many people to reassess their lifestyles, which for some meant choosing early retirement. But what retirees have found is that pension pots are not matching the period of time needed to enjoy a comfortable life.
Life expectancy is going up. The Office for National Statistics offers an online calculator which gives an estimate of life expectancy – and with it an idea of how many years p...
Social Care: Reform and Funding
Posted by siteadmin on Tuesday 14th of September 2021
Social Care Reform funding 7 Sep 21.pdfInvestment Update - Markets reflect uncertainty over Delta variant
Posted by siteadmin on Wednesday 1st of September 2021
The pandemic continued to unsettle global financial markets during August.
August turned into a month of highs and lows for markets, especially in Europe. There was positive news that the euro area’s economy grew by 2% in the second quarter, which was then countered by a heavy fall in share prices, with the FTSE 100 in London, Frankfurt’s Dax and the Europe Stoxx 600 all dropping more than 2%.1 Causes for concern in Europe centred on fears of a new wave of Covid-19 as well as a reduction in economic stimulus measures.
US Federal Reserve ...
Should we be concerned about rising inflation?
Posted by siteadmin on Wednesday 21st of July 2021
Most economists expect inflation to pick up over the next few months as lockdown restrictions ease and shops and restaurants reopen. But is this a cause for concern?
As lockdown measures begin to lift, financial markets are making their adjustments in anticipation of a rise in inflation, with bond yields picking up (meaning prices have fallen) and stock markets rotating from defensive sectors into cyclicals.
What is inflation?
Put simply, inflation measures the change in the prices of goods and services. If it rises then it takes...
Unlocking the value of your home
Posted by siteadmin on Monday 24th of May 2021
The number of people using equity release schemes fell last year as older homeowners grew more cautious.
Older homeowners seemed to be more reluctant to release cash from their homes in 2020, according to the Equity Release Council. Data from the trade body shows drawdowns from lifetime mortgages fell by 21% last year and 10% fewer plans were agreed than in 2019.
This drop suggests the coronavirus pandemic affected the equity release market in 2020, with activity slipping to a four-year low between April and June. Yet the ...
How to make the most of your lockdown savings
Posted by siteadmin on Monday 24th of May 2021
The pandemic has reportedly created 6 million accidental savers, but what's the best way to use this extra cash?
The effect of the lockdown on millions of bank accounts has been to boost savings for people whose incomes have remained the same but whose spending has dropped.
With the prospect of life returning to a new normal, it’s a chance to think about how to make the most of these savings and build on them too.
Where were savings made?
Working from home meant the cost of commuting was put on hold. Holidays were not booked, an...
Winter Issue 20/21
Posted by siteadmin on Monday 25th of January 2021
Could you live on the State Pension?
Posted by siteadmin on Friday 8th of January 2021
Let’s be honest, on the morning of 21 October few of us were waiting with bated breath as the latest UK inflation stats were revealed. But, for millions of people, that moment was significant.
That’s because the September (Consumer Price Index) CPI inflation figure forms part of the government’s ‘triple lock’ formula used to determine the forthcoming rise in the level of State Pensions.
Triple lock
The triple-lock safeguard was introduced by the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition in 2010 and aims to ensure that the value of the State...
Do I really need a survey?
Posted by siteadmin on Friday 8th of January 2021
Well, the short answer is yes.
Contrary to costs such as legal fees, estate agency fees or Stamp Duty, having your new home surveyed isn’t actually compulsory. However, with a property being the most expensive thing most of us will ever buy, the price of not having it checked by a surveyor could be devastating.
If you buy a property for the seller’s asking price and later find it has serious defects, it’s too late to back out of the purchase or renegotiate a price with your seller. You’re also likely to find yourself paying o...
