Welcome to our blogs which relate to the financial services you may be interested in from mortgages to pensions; protection to auto-enrolment and many more. So why not grab a drink and enjoy the read.
How a guarantor-backed mortgage could help After more than 10 years, the current Help to Buy scheme in England is coming to an end (it is set to continue in Wales, albeit in a different iteration). Introduced in 2013 in an attempt to kick-start a sluggish housing market still struggling to recover from the effects of the financial crisis, the
With a lifetime mortgage, you can use your home to fund what’s important to you. You might have heard about ‘releasing money from your home’ through equity release. But what do you actually know about it? There are a whole load of ifs, buts and uncertainties around this type of financial arrangement. So we’re here to help you pull apart
Largely unknown, yet widely available, the Additional Permitted Subscription (APS) is a highly beneficial allowance for surviving spouses or civil partners of ISA investors. This legislation grants ISA holders the ability to pass the entire value of their ISA to their partner after death. Simply put, the Additional Permitted Subscription (APS) works in the form of a one-off increased ISA
This new tax year brings with it many changes to state pensions – some small, others significant.Salaries, benefits and pensions have been affected as new rates and new levels of taxation came into effect. State Pensions have changed. That’s important, as for millions of retired people across the UK, State Pensions are their primary source of income. These changes will
Taking on easier work but working for longer has its benefits. Early retirement is the ultimate dream. However, slowing down your approach while taking on a part-time or a more junior role before stepping back could boost your pension by tens of thousands of pounds.The pay cut would be more than offset by extra savings – potentially adding as much
Tens of thousands of teenagers in the UK who have not yet claimed their matured Child Trust Funds savings could have thousands of pounds waiting for them, reminds HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). Child Trust Funds are long-term savings accounts set up for every child born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011. To encourage future saving and start
The UK government has committed to making the UK carbon neutral by 2050. This means that for all CO2 produced in the UK each year, the same amount will be cancelled out by energy-saving measures. With our homes making up 22% of the UK’s total carbon emissions, we all have a part to play in reaching these targets. That’s why
The nil rate band is the threshold above which Inheritance Tax is payable. In this article, we look at it in more detail – read on to find out how much it is, what it applies to and how it works alongside the newer residence nil rate band. What is the nil rate band and how much is it? You
The later-life lending sector is growing significantly, with people using it for many different reasons. Figures from the Equity Release Council revealed that in Q2 2022 £1.6bn of property wealth was withdrawn, which includes 12,485 new equity release plans, equivalent to 205 plans being agreed each working day. In contrast, the sector saw 8,454 new equity release plans agreed in
Are you a homeowner and wishing to help your children or grandchildren onto the property ladder, but don’t have the cash available to do so? There could be a solution… Family Assist schemes within the mortgage market are becoming more popular and readily available. Your son/daughter (or grandchild) could potentially obtain a 100% mortgage or put down only a very