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.
The government is giving people more time to pay National Insurance (NI) contributions towards their State Pension. Extending the deadline means that people have more time to properly consider whether paying voluntary contributions is right for them Taxpayers now have until 5 April 2025 to fill gaps in their National Insurance (NI) record from April 2006 that may increase their
From 2025, all newly rented properties will be required to have an EPC rating of C or above, more stringent than the current requirement of E or higher. Existing tenancies will have until 2028 to comply with the change, after which millions of properties could risk becoming unrentable if landlords don’t make the necessary changes.
Martin Perrett from Blackfinch Group presents a really informative video regarding Inheritance Tax Planning, covering different planning options, advantages of Business Relief and who could benefit from using Business Relief as part of their overall planning solution. We hope you find this video of interest
Latest information from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) revealed IHT receipts for April 2021 to March 2022 were £6.1bn, 14% (£0.7bn) higher than in the same period 12 months earlier. Factors at play Receipts have increased partly due to higher death rates during the pandemic, as well as due to the rise in property prices which has seen more families
Getting a foot on the property ladder is an aspiration that dates back generations. Unfortunately, some mortgage myths are just as old. If you’re looking to buy, it’s important to know fact from fiction. MYTH 1: You need a perfect credit ratingA bad credit history can have a negative impact on your mortgage application, but it doesn’t make getting a
Estate planning options can be limited where a power of attorney is in place. Any decisions made by the attorney will need to be in the best interest of the donor on whose behalf they’re acting. Planning will of course depend on the donor’s circumstances and wishes but making lifetime gifts or settling assets into trust is typically difficult, especially
It is hardly a secret that young people face significant barriers on their way to purchasing their first home. Quite apart from prohibitive house prices and stringent affordability criteria, a lack of understanding of how the mortgage process works is also holding them back. According to a survey by Paymentshield, 52% of adults aged 18–34 say they have a fairly
Creating plans and setting goals are important at all stages of life, even if they inevitably change as we progress through life’s journey. Similarly, investment strategies also need to adapt as we move from one life stage to the next. Twenty and thirtysomethings Arguably, financial decisions made in early adulthood are more important than any other and the key one
After much speculation, in September, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, confirmed suspension of the average earnings component of the pension triple lock to avoid a disproportionate rise of the State Pension following the pandemic. For the 2022-23 tax year only, the new and basic State Pension will increase by the higher of either 2.5% or the consumer
Important information – please remember that the value of investments and the income from them can go down as well as up, so you may not get back what you invest. Four questions our financial advisers hear There are multiple options if you’re approaching retirement and looking to access your pension savings. Those options mean you have the flexibility to