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.
Some families have found it easier to save more than normal during the pandemic, due to reduced outgoings on things like commuting, holidays and entertainment. If you have a mortgage, overpaying is one option worth considering. Benefits of overpaying In a low-rate environment, savings rates are likely to be lower than your mortgage rate, so any overpayments are likely to
Divorce can be an incredibly stressful time for couples and the financial impact it can have only adds to the pressure. The number of couples getting divorced surged by almost a fifth in 2019. Although data for 2020 has not yet been released, after the strains of the last year or so, unfortunately, it would hardly be surprising if this
The Government has announced the earnings trigger and qualifying earnings band for auto-enrolment purposes for 2021/22. The earnings trigger is one of the three key factors which ultimately governs who gets enrolled into a workplace pension scheme through automatic enrolment. The government’s view remains that if the trigger is too high, then low to moderate earners who can afford to
You’ve got savings, a pension, perhaps even stocks and shares. You’re on track… right? The truth is our financial health could do with a check-in every now and again, and making some small changes can pay dividends, especially in mid-life. Although you might have begun your adult life on the right foot, cut to thirty years later, and changes in
New research suggests environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing is set to continue gaining prominence, with ESG issues increasingly converging into mainstream investment strategies. A growing trend The last few years have seen a substantial rise in ESG investing around the globe, driven by an increasing desire for investors to know both where their money is going and that it
What’s stopping clients adopting wealth transfer strategies? It might be that they’d rather spend it on themselves or put it aside in case they need it for the future, but if they do want to transfer their wealth, the older generation could be missing out on significant opportunities to help the generations that follow. A recent consumer research report asks
Anyone buying their first home from July 1, 2021, can get stamp duty relief at the same level as that before July 8, 2020. This is a discount to help first-time buyers get on the property ladder. This means you’ll pay: • Property purchase price up to £300,000 – zero per cent stamp duty • The portion from £300,001 to
The government is planning to launch the UK’s first green gilt in 2021 in response to “growing investor demand”, as announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak. He said it would be the first in a series of new issuances, with the government keen to position the UK as a world-leading green finance hub ahead of the COP 26 international climate talks
Did you know that the phased increases to State Pension age (SPA) reached 66 for both men and women in October 2020 and it’s set to rise further? The minimum age for taking funds from a personal pension is also set to rise in 2028. Getting to know your pension ages, and what you can expect to receive, is vital
In the latest Trusts and Estates Newsletter, HMRC has warned against applying too early for a Grant of Representation, in order to avoid delays. A Grant of Representation includes both a Grant of Probate (where the deceased had a valid will) and Letters of Administration (where there is not a valid will). The process is known as ‘confirmation’ in Scotland.