By John Cossons, Equity Release Adviser with Anstee & Co. This article is based on a real equity release case. A 71-year-old client of mine had sold her property and was looking for a new house closer to her family. In an ideal world, she would have loved to buy a bungalow. However, she did [...]
If you have a pension, do you know how much you have saved or more importantly, what level of income will it produce for you in retirement? Firstly, have you reviewed those old pensions from past employers? If the answers “I’m not sure”, then follow these top tips about, questions to ask about your pension [...]
Whether it’s called Estate Duty, Capital Transfer Tax or now Inheritance Tax (IHT) death duties have been around for centuries. The purpose of these taxes has always been the same. To raise revenue for the Chancellor. Initially, the tax was aimed at only the very rich but over the years the bar has lowered with [...]
This guide will give you an indication of the major costs associated with buying your first house or flat in England. The processes and fees for Wales and Scotland are different. We will look at the cost of moving home, your deposit and solicitor fees. This guide will help you budget for these costs to [...]
With all the market volatility seen recently understanding your investments has never been more important. When was the last time you sat down with a financial planner to review your objectives and your attitude to risk? Hence your circumstances may have changed and you may be taking more risk and seeing more volatility than you [...]
The mortgage industry estimates that over two million of us are paying too much for our mortgage. Homebuyers have not taken note of when their fixed or discounted rate deal has ended and have gone onto their mortgage lenders standard variable rate (SVR). With a remortgage, a homebuyer could save themselves a considerable about of [...]
It is estimated that to put a child through private school from reception to sixth form costs more than £200,000 in school fees. You also need to budget for the extras like uniforms, school trips and music lessons. Over the last ten years, private education fees have risen well above inflation with no indication that [...]
Putting a retirement plan in place. If you’re in your late fifties/early sixties and starting to think about retirement, there is certainly a lot to think about! The important thing is to first get an idea of what level of income you will need in retirement so that you can comfortably enjoy your well-deserved leisure [...]
Venture Capital Trusts (VCTs) are investment companies that are listed on the London Stock Exchange and are run by a Fund Manager. They offer investors the chance to invest in small firms, not quoted on the stock exchange, who are looking for further investment to help them grow. A VCT, is highly tax-efficient, as the [...]
Recent figures from the consumer group "Which" show that nearly half (46%) of homeowners are overpaying their mortgage. The largest group overpaying being the under 25's. So, should you be thinking about overpaying your mortgage? Why should you overpay your mortgage? Overpaying allows you to save on your interest payments. This saving can be substantial [...]
