First steps to investing

Posted by siteadmin on Thursday 9th of June 2022

There is no right time to begin investing but there are some decisions to make that could affect your returns. If you are 7 years old and saving your pocket money for a PS5, 17 saving the money from your first job for a car, 27 saving for your first house or 57 and finalising your retirement plans which include a dream holiday, we can provide personalised advice for you.

Angela was looking at ways she could reduce her inheritance tax. After spending some time researching, she realised she could make small gifts to as many people as she like...


Funding your child's university education

Posted by siteadmin on Thursday 9th of June 2022

Funding-childs-university-education-OW-branded.pngSarah and Andrew’s 10-year-old twins, Isabelle and Isaac, couldn’t be more different. While Isabelle is boisterous and full of beans, Isaac is gentle and reserved. The children do have one thing in common though - they’re both extremely bright and they already know exactly what they want to do when they grow up. Isabelle loves animals and wants to be a vet; and Isaac is a very talented artist and has his heart set on art school.

When they found out they were getting two for one, Sarah and Andrew couldn’t have been happier. But bringing up t...


The value of mortgage advice

Posted by siteadmin on Monday 23rd of May 2022

Mortgages - Sorting the fact from the fiction

Lindsay and Sam have just found out they’re expecting their first baby. Although they’re excited at the prospect of starting a family, it’s come as a bit of a surprise and their current living situation is far from ideal. They’ve been staying with Lindsay’s dad in his two-bedroomed terrace for just over a year while they save up a deposit for their first house. The lack of space and privacy has proved challenging to say the least. Adding a baby into the mix seems like a terrible idea.

On ...


First steps to investing

Posted by siteadmin on Monday 16th of May 2022

There is no right time to begin investing but there are some decisions to make that could affect your returns. If you are 7 years old and saving your pocket money for a PS5, 17 saving the money from your first job for a car, 27 saving for your first house or 57 and finalising your retirement plans which include a dream holiday, we can provide personalised advice for you.

Angela was looking at ways she could reduce her inheritance tax. After spending some time researching, she realised she could make small gifts to as many people as she like...


Review your pension contributions

Posted by siteadmin on Thursday 12th of May 2022

 

Tina is a fit and vibrant 59-year-old who expected retirement to offer a whole new lease of life. She was looking forward to using her increased leisure time to explore Europe while indulging her passion for climbing. However, after going through her finances, she’s now concerned she won’t be able to afford her monthly bills let alone pay for trips abroad.

Tina has always managed her day-to-day finances really well, but she never sat down and worked out how much she’d need for a comfortable retirement. A 2021 Which survey found that a ...


The value of financial advice

Posted by siteadmin on Thursday 12th of May 2022

Financial advice isn’t just for the super-rich with complex tax situations and offshore bank accounts. It can be invaluable for anyone with financial goals.

Whether you're saving for your future, buying your first home, remortgaging or want to protect your home and income – speaking to an expert can make all the difference.

Saving for your future

Robyn and Tim met in their late 20s and soon got married. They were keen to get on the property ladder so spoke to a financial adviser who helped them form a savings strategy.

They both opened a...


Why cohabiting couples should make a will

Posted by siteadmin on Monday 25th of April 2022

When Tom and Pete bought their first property together, life couldn’t have been better. They both had good jobs pulling in decent salaries and were excited about spending the rest of their lives together.

They chatted about making a will a few times, but somehow life always got in the way. Until one day, 10 years after moving in together, Pete got a call that would change his life forever – Tom had been killed in a car accident.

The intestacy trap

On top of grieving for his partner, Pete found he was also facing an uncertain financial fut...


Get Savvy Against Scammers

Posted by siteadmin on Monday 25th of April 2022

Retired teachers Paul and Mary are devoted parents and grandparents to their three children and eight grandchildren. As their family started to grow, they decided they wanted to begin saving for their grandchildren’s future. Disappointed with the returns from their savings accounts, they decided to look into other investment opportunities. After comparing a number companies online, they settled on one and made a £30,000 bank transfer. Within just a few months, their initial investment had grown sizably.

Soon afterwards, their eldest grandch...


Key Dates For Your Finances 2022

Posted by siteadmin on Tuesday 19th of April 2022

Now’s a good time to make sure your fully prepared for the financial year ahead. To make it easy we’ve summarised the key dates and facts and figures below.

1 April

National Living Wage (for age 23+) rises from £8.91 to £9.50

National Minimum Wage rises to £9.18 (for 21-22-year olds), £6.83 (for 18-20-year olds), £4.81 (for 16-17-year olds) and £4.81 (for apprentices under 19 or in the first year of their apprenticeship).

Council tax bills rise by up to 2.99% (including a 1% social care precept) although there may be some regional variat...


Start of the tax year checklist

Posted by siteadmin on Wednesday 6th of April 2022

he new tax year on 6 April 2022 is a great time to review your finances.

The new tax year means annual allowances are reset and ready to be reused – to help you make the most of your money. This year more than ever, with interest rates and inflation on the rise, it’s a great time to review your pensions and investments with your adviser.

Note: The following figures apply to the 2022/2023 tax year, which starts on 6 April 2022 and ends on 5 April 2023.

ISAs
The maximum you can invest across your ISAs is £20,000 (if it’s a cash ISA, stocks a...