Saving for your child's university education
Posted by siteadmin on Monday 2nd of December 2024
Saving for your child’s university education requires careful planning and budgeting. By starting early, considering investment opportunities, encouraging your child to save, looking for scholarships and bursaries, and planning, you can make saving for university a manageable goal and give your child the best possible start in life.
What is the average cost of university?
The annual cost of an undergraduate degree is £9,250 for most students in the UK. However, in England this figure is due to increase to £9,535 as of September 2025.
As w...
Protect your children's school fees
Posted by siteadmin on Tuesday 19th of November 2024
“Insure” your child's education with financial protection
Investing in your child's education is a top priority for many parents, but life's unpredictability such as unexpected illness or injury could make it challenging to keep up with financial commitments such as school fees. That's where financial protection such as income protection and critical illness come in - offering a safety net to keep your child's education on track, even if you become too ill to earn an income.
Why financial protection matters
- Financial security amidst u...
Are you protecting your investment contributions?
Posted by siteadmin on Tuesday 19th of November 2024
Planning for the future involves more than setting money aside with financial investments and savings; it requires consistency and commitment. Yet, life's unexpected events, like illness or injury, can disrupt your investment journey. These curveballs might make it challenging to maintain your planned investment contributions.
That's why it's essential to consider how you can protect your investment contributions, ensuring they remain steady and uninterrupted if the unexpected were to happen.
Income protection is essential for your inves...
Protecting your wealth for your lifestyle and your family
Posted by siteadmin on Tuesday 19th of November 2024
We work hard to build a comfortable life for ourselves and our loved ones, but what happens if the unexpected happens and we become too ill to work. How can we ensure that our security today and our financial legacy remains intact for the next generation?
One of the most effective ways to protect our wealth is by incorporating income protection and critical illness cover into our financial planning. These two insurance options provide a safety net during challenging times, offering financial support when we need it most.
Together, these ...
Are you protecting your pension contributions?
Posted by siteadmin on Tuesday 19th of November 2024
When it comes to planning for retirement, making sure your pension contributions are on-track is important. But life can throw curveballs like illness or injury which could make it tough to keep up with contributions.
Why Income Protection matters
Income protection insurance is designed to pay a proportion of your income, approximately 60-70%, if you are unable to work due to illness or injury. This financial safety net ensures that you can continue to meet your financial obligations, including pension contributions, even if you're unable ...
Stamp Duty relief not extended for buyers
Posted by siteadmin on Monday 4th of November 2024
Stamp Duty relief not extended for buyers – what you need to know before rules change
In Labour’s first Budget since taking office, the Chancellor announced her plans to fix the so-called ‘black hole’ in the UK’s public finances and increase investment in public services, setting out £40 billion worth of tax rises.
While changes to stamp duty did form part of her plans, an extension or permanent change to stamp duty relief for movers and first-time buyers was sadly not included. So, what does this mean for those looking to move or buy?
...Keep calm and carry on: the true value of financial advice
Posted by siteadmin on Tuesday 29th of October 2024
There’s a lot to think about when managing your finances. It’s a complex subject and misinterpretation can be costly. Even a minor adjustment could have significant impacts on your long-term plans.
That’s where financial advisers come in. It’s their job to break down complex changes and explain how they affect your specific circumstances. They can help you avoid pitfalls and optimise your financial plan to achieve the outcomes you want.
Day-to-day financial advice for everyone
Most people think about getting advice when they have a specif...
8 types of financial scams to be aware of
Posted by siteadmin on Tuesday 20th of August 2024
Fraudsters use a variety of approaches to convince you to part with your money. Here are 8 financial scams you should be aware of.
1. Impersonation fraud
Scammers often pretend to be a familiar organisation like your bank, a utility provider or HMRC. They might inform you of a (fake) threat to your account and offer to help move your money to a more secure location, or they might claim that you’ve failed to make a payment and encourage you to settle it immediately.
Fraudsters may also pretend to be an individual you trust, such as a famil...
The Value of Investment Advice
Posted by siteadmin on Monday 29th of July 2024
Seeking advice on how to look after your money may not be as fun as the immediate thrill of spending it, but it could be a rewarding decision in the long run.
Investing can be a daunting task, especially if you're not sure where to start, that’s where advice can be handy. A financial adviser can help you understand your financial situation, develop an investment plan, and choose the right investments for your needs to meet your goals.
Value of investment advice
Assess where to invest – Getting advice from a financial adviser can expose yo...
One in five first-time buyers are extending their mortgage term
Posted by siteadmin on Monday 22nd of July 2024
Affordability challenges prompted a fifth of first-time buyers to opt for a mortgage term of 35 years or more in Q4 of 2023 according to a report from UK Finance, twice as many as the year before.
A longer mortgage term might seem attractive at first glance, but there’s a hidden catch. Let’s look into it.
A longer mortgage term could reduce monthly repayments, but...
This is the main draw of a longer mortgage term for first-time buyers. Borrowing a large sum of money and opting to spend more time paying it back means your monthl...