Banks and Building Societies have been encouraged by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to offer more flexibility to struggling mortgage holders. Following a meeting with the Chancellor, banks and building societies have agreed to offer more flexibility to borrowers impacted by increasing rates and struggling with payments, including:

• Being able to talk to their mortgage lender about their ability to afford payments with it having no impact whatsoever on their credit score
• Switching to interest-only for six months without impacting credit score
• Imp...

The mortgage market is going through another unpredictable time with mortgage lenders withdrawing mortgage deals and increasing rates in a reaction to the recent news that inflation is slowing at a less- -than-expected rate.

Do you need to remortgage now?
If you’re due to remortgage now, don’t panic! The good news is that help is at hand.

Despite the recent withdrawal of some mortgage products and rates, we still have access to thousands of mortgage rates and can search an extensive panel of lenders for you, finding deals and options ...

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When it comes to investing your money, making small regular investments can provide more benefits than investing a lump sum. Through regular investing, you can invest a small amount into the markets every month. Investing little and often is a great habit to develop and instil in younger family members, too. Instead of saving up a chunk of money to invest in one lump sum, investing this way can make a significant difference to your overall levels of wealth over the longer term. One big benefit of investing a small regular sum is that, instea...

The cost of living crisis has dominated the headlines since inflation began to creep up from historic lows in mid-2021. While the Covid pandemic began the inflationary increase, the situation was made worse by the war in Ukraine, which pushed up energy and food prices even further. Following such an extended period of price rises, you may be concerned about your household finances and long-term plans. If you want to understand how you can tweak your expenses and finances to best protect your wealth through the cost of living crisis, read on ...

Household bills have increased rapidly during the past year. The current cost of living crisis began with the Covid pandemic, causing problems for economies around the world and creating global supply chain delays. The war in Ukraine simply heightened an already difficult situation. Following such an extended period of price rises, you may be concerned about your household finances and long-term plans. If you are retired and rely on a defined contribution (DC) pension for your income, read on for five options that could help you make your pe...

Being self-employed can be a rewarding and fulfilling career choice, allowing freedom to work to your terms and pursuing passions. However, it also comes with its challenges, one being financial insecurity. Unlike those working within a company, if you’re self-employed you are responsible for your own financial stability. This means taking the necessary steps to protect yourselves from unexpected events.

While it may seem like an added expense, the cost of financial security is a small price to pay for the security it provides. Most of us don’t think twice when it comes to protecting our vehicles or mobiles phones and pets, so why not do the same when it comes to your source of income. Here are some ways you can protect yourself if you’re self-employed:

Income Protection

Being self-employed means your income y is directly tied with your ability to work. This means if you’re unable to work due to illness or injury you could suffer significant loss of pay. Income protection pays out a regular tax-free income, on a short or long-term basis, to cover expenses such as your rent or mortgage, bills and other living costs if you are unable to work.

This valuable insurance could help reduce stress, prevent your family suffering financial hardship, and give you the breathing space to help you get back on your feet when you most need it.

Critical Illness Cover

If you were to be diagnosed with a serious illness such as heart disease, it would have a significant impact on your ability to work. Critical illness cover usually pays out a tax-free lump sum if you’re diagnosed with a serious illness covered by your policy. These usually include, cancers, heart attacks and strokes.

Life Insurance

If you were to pass away unexpectedly, your family could be left in a difficult financial situation. Life insurance pays out either a lump sum or regular payments on your death, giving your dependants financial support after you’re gone. This can help them to cover expenses such as funeral costs, mortgages, bills and provide them with financial security during a difficult time.

If you’d like advice on how to protect your finances, or you’d like to review your protection needs, please get in touch.

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If the end of your fixed rate mortgage is on the horizon (even if it’s months away), then it’s a good idea to start looking at your options today.

 If you haven’t got a new deal in place when your fixed rate mortgage ends, your lender will put you onto their standard variable rate, which tends to be higher than the rates on most other mortgage options. So it pays to get the right mortgage for you in place.

 When it comes to remortgaging, some people prefer to search the market themselves. This could be time consuming, and the right d...