Estimates suggest that well over one million borrowers have lapsed onto their lender's default standard variable rate (SVR). Has this happened to you? If so, now could be the perfect time to consider a remortgage, to get your finances in good shape for the year ahead. Do you know your mortgage rate?If your current tracker, fixed rate, or discount m...
Need help getting to know your SVR?
As a nation, we aren't great with our financial acronyms and terminology. Life is busy and our heads are often full of important things to get done to make it through the week, without having to worry about whether we know our LTV from our ERC! You're certainly not alone if you're feeling financially flustered. Recent research has found that more t...
Tax-free investing - it's time to talk
With the first wave of Child Trust Funds maturing this year, there's a great opportunity to talk to your children about the benefits of saving and investing. If one of your children has recently celebrated their 18th birthday then there's a good chance they'll have some money in a Child Trust Fund (CTF), which they can now access for the first time...
Mortgage Payment Holiday Update November 2020
On 17 November the FCA confirmed guidance for homeowners struggling financially due to coronavirus. The mortgage payment holidays scheme, first announced in March and then extended in May, has been further extended until 31 March 2021. How does it work? Those who have not yet had a payment holiday will be eligible for payment holidays of 6 months i...
INVESTMENT UPDATE: What to make of the as yet undecided US Presidential Election
As you are no doubt aware, the result of yesterday's US presidential election is not yet known. With 43 states having declared their results, the race is much tighter than the polls predicted and neither Donald Trump nor Joe Biden have enough votes from the electoral college to claim a victory. To do so, they need to gain at least 270 of the electo...
Protecting your business in difficult times
During the past few months, millions of businesses have been forced to shut temporarily, with employees furloughed or working from home under very difficult circumstances. With various business sectors reopening in July, many have suffered significant financial damage due to lockdown. For some businesses, productivity has been lost due to illness a...
Spreading the risk!
Stock markets do not react well in times of uncertainty and the effects of the pandemic continue to pile pressure on financial markets worldwide. During periods of increased volatility, such as we have seen over the last few months, the importance of spreading risk and considering the longer term, remain constant investment principles. Why diversif...
Update on mortgage payment holidays...
On 17 March 2020, as the country teetered on the brink of lockdown, the Chancellor announced that homeowners struggling financially due to coronavirus would be able to take a three-month mortgage payment holiday. What does this mean for me?The extended application deadline now coincides with the end of the furlough scheme. This means, if your workp...
COVID-19 affects retirement plans for over three million
Recent research shows 1 in 10 UK adults with a pension (and not yet retired) have reduced or stopped pension contributions because of Covid-19. 1 in 10 UK adults have reduced or stopped pension contributions1 in 4 workers are worried about paying for every day essentials1 in 5 workers are worried about keeping up with mortgage or rent payments The ...
Exchanging contracts? Get insured first.
Purchasing a property can be a busy, stressful time and it can seem like there are a million things to remember. Some things however, are more important to remember than others – for example, getting the right insurance in place at the right time. Many people believe that they only need to take out buildings insurance once they move into their new ...
If you are nearing retirement and assessing options for your pension pot, don’t act in haste. Talk to us.
Are you approaching retirement? If you are nearing retirement, you may have been particularly worried about the impact of recent market volatility on your pension assets and perhaps you are reassessing your retirement plans. There are several things to consider if you are planning to retire, which will depend very much on your own circumstances. Si...
Mortgage affordability in a post-COVID world
Back in March, the Bank of England slashed interest rates to an all-time low of 0.1%, in a bid to alleviate the severe economic pressure caused by coronavirus. As the base rate cut fed through to mortgage rates and with the continuing pressure of a closed mortgage market, lenders responded by withdrawing mortgage offers, increasing rates and pullin...
The world is changing – so should your insurance!
The world is changing rapidly in a way that nobody could ever have expected, meaning your personal and financial circumstances are likely to have changed. It is important to regularly review all aspects of your finances and that includes reviewing your protection insurance, to make sure your policy provides adequate cover for your changing needs. U...
Talk to us, don't act in haste. Stay protected!
The coronavirus outbreak has impacted everyone across the globe, leaving many individuals and families in a precarious financial position. The crisis has shown that financial hardship can strike when we least expect it, demonstrating the importance of protection cover. As people's anxiety about their financial future intensifies, it's likely that m...
Mortgage Payment Holidays
The Chancellor's announcement back in March, offering 3-month mortgage payment holidays for homeowners experiencing financial difficulties due to COVID-19, came as welcome news to many people. Mortgage lenders agreed with the Treasury that any customers who are in 'difficulty' will be eligible. Initial uptakeRecent data has revealed over 1.2 millio...