By John Cossons, Mortgage and Protection Designer at Anstee & Co.

Firstly, what is a Green Mortgage, and should I have one?

A green mortgage is meant to increase the appeal of owning a green, or energy-efficient, property. On top of the savings, you’ll make on your energy bills each month. Also, the idea is that lenders give you cashback and/or a better interest rate when you take out a green mortgage.

Tell me more about a Green Mortgage.

Green mortgages generally fall into two categories:

• Those that reward you for living in an energy-efficient home. Here, if the property you’re buying or living in has an EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) rating of A or B, you’ll get cash back or a better interest rate on your mortgage.
• Those that reward you for carrying out ‘green’ home improvements. Green improvements could include replacing single-glazed windows, upgrading your heating system, or installing solar panels, for example. So, typically, lenders will offer you a discounted interest rate or cashback on any money you borrow to upgrade your home’s energy efficiency.

Lenders are willing to offer incentives of this nature because they increasingly see energy-efficient properties as less risky purchases and more likely to hold their value. What’s more, if a homeowner is spending less on their energy bills each month, there’s less of a chance they’ll struggle to meet their mortgage repayments.

What is an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)?

An energy performance certificate is a document which indicates how energy efficient a property is. They are required whenever a property is built or sold, with certificates lasting for 10 years.

The rating system goes from A to G, with the most energy-efficient homes getting an A rating, and the least getting a G. Between October and December 2021, more than 370,000 new EPC certificates were lodged in England, of which 84% had an energy-efficiency rating A or B. Older properties typically have worse EPC ratings, it is estimated that just 10% of pre-1900 homes have at C rating or better.

Details of a property’s EPC rating are normally available online. Use the Gov.UK database if the property you’re researching is in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, and the Scottish Register for properties in Scotland.

Are Green Mortgages a good deal?

Unfortunately, not yet. The reduction in the interest rate is very small and if there is a cashback it is usually somewhere between £250 and £500. It is commonplace to find a better deal from another lender using their standard mortgage range.

How Anstee & Co can help you with a Green Mortgage.

We are a firm of Independent Mortgage Brokers. This means that the financial advice we provide is unbiased. We look at all the financial options open to you from “the whole of the market”. Our expertise covers all aspects of financial planning including pensions, investments, and estate planning.

To find out more and to see how we can help you why not arrange a meeting today. The initial meeting is at our expense and is without obligation.

Our Head Office is based at Kettering, Northamptonshire-

Additionally, we have advisers who live and make use of meeting rooms in-

• Bedford, Bedfordshire
• Market Harborough, Leicestershire
• Northampton, Thrapston, and Wellingborough in Northamptonshire.

We make full use of video conferencing facilities such as-

• Microsoft Teams
• Facetime

We can also arrange a conference telephone call. So, there is no need to visit an office as all work can be handled remotely. The choice is yours.

If you have any thoughts on this article, ” What is a Green Mortgage?”  then we would love to hear from you.

Finally, the information contained in this article is for information purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Anstee & Co. is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

AS A MORTGAGE IS SECURED AGAINST YOUR HOME, IT COULD BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP THE MORTGAGE REPAYMENTS.

For many of us, our working life is stretching out. As our life expectancy rises and pension provisions become less generous reviewing your financial plans has never been more important.

As we work longer, it is highly unlikely that we will have just one career path. The day’s of a “job for life” has gone.  So, at some point, you will want to re-evaluate your working life. This might be your choice or maybe forced on your through redundancy or ill health.

The idea of a midlife financial review has never been more necessary.

What is a midlife financial review?

A midlife financial review or plan will focus on your financial situation, your work aspirations and most importantly, your physical and emotional wellbeing, that all-important work-life balance.

A plan will help you gain a clear perspective on what you want your future to look like. Many dismiss the idea without giving it careful consideration. Working with your independent financial planner you can make assumptions to see what your future will hold. So, you may be surprised to find that you have more flexibility than you thought.  This may mean going part-time, changing roles, winding down to retirement, or taking early retirement. Unless you have a financial plan, you will not know.

How Anstee & Co can help you with your financial plans.

We are a firm of Independent Financial Planners. This means that the advice we offer is unbiased. We will look at all the solutions available to you. We use cash flow modelling tools that will help you see what your finances will look like going forward. So why not contact us today. The initial meeting is at our cost and without obligation.

Our main office is situated in Kettering Northamptonshire

Alternatively we can make use of video conferencing tools such as-

• Microsoft Teams
• Facetime

If you have any thoughts or comments on this article, “How a midlife financial tweak can transform your retirement.”, then please let us know. We would welcome your thoughts.

Finally, the information contained in this article is for information purposes only and does not constitute advice. No action should be taken based on this information alone. Anstee & Co. is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

With an ageing population, more people than ever are looking for ways to pay for later-life care. In this article, we will look at the options available and how we can help you with financial planning at what often is a difficult time.

If you are not eligible for State funding you are referred to as “self-funded”. So, the difference between the cost of care and the income of the self-funder is referred to as “the shortfall”.

From our clients and their families, we find that the key concerns are-

• How to fund the shortfall.
• Can the care needs be met for the remainder of the “self-funders” life?
• Preservation of the assets for the future benefit of family and dependents.

The advantages of being independent.

This area of financial planning is specialised. At Anstee & Co we have a team of independent financial advisers who have taken additional professional qualifications in long-term care planning. Being independent means that we will not be influenced by the providers of financial products. Our advice is unbiased. This is unlike some advisers who will only sell their services or work from a limited panel.

What the long-term care plan will cover.

Firstly, we will ensure that all available state benefits that you are entitled to have been claimed.

We will then look at all the options considering cost and risks.

Working with you, we will draw up a cash flow forecast. The forecast will look at the length of time your existing savings and investments will provide the income needed. The financial adviser working with you will also look at all the alternatives. When planning, they will also consider the effects of inflation and investment returns.

How Anstee & Co can help with planning for later-life care costs.

We are a firm of Independent Financial Advisers (IFA’s). This means that the financial planning advice we offer is unbiased. Our experience covers all aspects of personal financial planning, including pensions, estate planning, protection insurance and investments. As previously mentioned, we are a team of Financial Planners who specialise in long-term later-life care funding.

We would welcome the opportunity to discuss how we might be able to provide you with the financial advice and help you require. Why not contact us today? The initial fact-finding meeting is at our cost and is without obligation.

Our Head Office is located at –

• Kettering, Northamptonshire

Our team of financial planner live and make use of meeting rooms in-

• Market Harborough, Leicestershire
• Bedford, Bedfordshire
• Northampton and Wellingborough in Northamptonshire

We also make full use of video conferencing facilities such as-

• Microsoft Teams
• Facetime

We can also arrange a conference telephone call. The choice is yours. There is no need to visit an office as all work can be handled remotely. Meetings can be arranged at a time and in a way that is convenient for you.

If you have any thoughts or comments on this article, “Later-life funding for long-term care.”, then we would love to hear from you.

Finally, the information contained in this article is for information purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. No action should be taken based on this information alone. Anstee & Co is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

First of all, putting a retirement plan in place is key. The saying, “We don’t plan to fail, but we fail to plan”, has never been truer. If you are in your late fifties/early sixties and starting to think about retirement, there is certainly a lot to think about! So where do you start?

Let us plan.

To start with you need to get an idea of what level of income you will need in retirement so that you can comfortably enjoy your well-deserved leisure time.

It is a good idea to take time to detail what you spend now and the same for when you’re retired. So, it is often surprising how many costs you will no longer incur, for example, to name but a couple, commuting expenses and work clothes. Conversely, with more free time, you may spend more on leisure pursuits and travel.

So, what might your sources of income be in retirement? They could include: –

• The State Pension
• A Workplace Pension
• Personal Pension
• Property rental income
• ISAs
• Stocks & Shares
• Equity Release
• Premium Savings Bonds
• Savings you may have accumulated

Of course, these are only some of the options that might be available to you and it is important to assess the ways to utilise your income to your best advantage.

Our team of highly qualified independent financial planners have the experience and planning tools to help you to draw up a detailed retirement plan. Our planning tools can build in the cost of inflation to ensure that you will not run out of money. We can also show you the best time to pass on any wealth to your children and grandchildren in the most tax-efficient way. All steps to help you to secure your financial future

This link will take you to our short video to show you how it works.

How Anstee & Co can help you with your retirement plan.

We are independent financial advisers. This means that we offer unbiased financial planning advice. We look at all the options available to you from the whole of the market. This is unlike some financial advisers who work from a limited panel or recommend only their products. This initial, “getting to know you” meeting is at our expense and is without obligation. So, our experience covers all aspects of personal financial planning, including pensions, estate planning, savings and investments and personal protection insurance.

We would welcome the opportunity to have a coffee with you and discuss how we may be able to provide you with the advice you require. Why not contact us today?

Our head offices is located at Kettering, Northamptonshire.

Additionally, our financial planners live and make use of meeting rooms in –

• Bedford, Bedfordshire
• Market Harborough, Leicestershire
• Northampton, Thrapston and Wellingborough in Northamptonshire.

So, why not take the first step in securing your financial future today?

Finally, if you have any thoughts or comments about this article, “Retirement. Are you ready for it? we can help”, then we would love to hear from you.

The information contained in this article is for information purposes only and does not constitute advice. No action should be taken based on this information alone. Anstee & Co. is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

So, what is equity release?

Firstly, equity release is designed for homeowners aged 55 and over to release money from the property they live in without having to make any regular repayments. There are two types of equity release-

Lifetime Mortgages and Home Reversion Plans.

Both are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Using any of these products allows you to draw down a lump sum or regular smaller sums from the value of your property. Above all, you can still do this while remaining in your home.

It can play a role in retirement funding and the money, which is tax-free, can be spent on anything you like:

• Paying off existing debts including your mortgage.
• Gifts to the family to help them get onto the property ladder.
• It can be used just to help with day-to-day living.
• Maintaining your independence by improving your home.
• Special treats such as a nice holiday or a new car.
• Literally, anything you like (as long as it’s legal).

How Anstee & Co can help you with equity release.

We are Independent Financial Advisers (IFA’s). All our equity release advisers have taken additional qualifications in this field.

Being, independent means that we look at all the financial options available to you from the whole of the market. Also, some financial advisers offer just their own company’s products or work from a limited panel of providers.

As equity release is long-term lending we would recommend that it is something that you do not rush into. Maybe talking this through with your family may be a good idea.

Meetings can be arranged at a time and location that is convenient for you, including your home. Our Head Office is located in Kettering Northamptonshire.

Additionally, our financial advisers live and make use of meeting rooms in-

• Bedford, Bedfordshire
• Northampton, Towcester, Thrapston and Wellingborough in Northamptonshire
• Market Harborough, Leicestershire

To find out more about equity release and to see is it right for you, visit our website for more information.

Points to consider.

The initial fact-finding meeting is at our expence and without obligation.

• Our fee of £895.00 is paid by your solicitor to us from the money released from your home on completion.  We only charge a fee if we have been able to obtain a loan for you.
• The plans we recommend have a no negative equity guarantee. This means that you will never owe more than your home’s value
• Equity release will reduce your estate’s value and may affect any means-tested benefits that you are eligible for.
• A Lifetime mortgage is a loan secured against your home. So, it is the most popular form of equity release. With a Lifetime Mortgage, you will still own your home.

Finally, the information contained in this article is for information purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Anstee & Co. is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and we are proud members of The Equity Release Council.

These products are lifetime mortgages or home reversion plans. Equity released from your home will be secured against it.

By Rachel Efetha, Chartered Financial Planner, based in Bedford, Bedfordshire.

According to the insurer, LV= the UK worker will change jobs every five years on average.  Assuming you have a new pension for every job, the average 40-year-old will have accumulated five Pensions. Below are the top three reasons why you should review your existing Pension Contacts.

Reason One – High Charges

The first few pensions they will have taken out will date back to the 1990s when charges were astronomical compared to today’s market.  Typically, you would be paying around 1.5% annual management charge (AMC) plus around £2-£3 pm policy fee, and have initial units, relating to the first two years’ premiums with even higher charges associated with them.

Charges came down in April 2001 with the introduction of Stakeholder pensions. With AMC capped at 1%, this was changed to 1.5% in April 2005.

However, the introduction of Workplace Pensions has made the market even more competitive, with AMCs below 0.5% for those with larger funds.

Another reason you might have high charges is if you are in a SIPP.  A SIPP is a Self-Invested Pension Plan. They allow you to invest in direct shareholdings, use the services of a Discretionary Fund Manager or purchase commercial property.  SIPPs usually have higher charges than a Personal Pension (PPP) or Stakeholder Pension (SHP) to reflect the fact that they are more sophisticated.  However, I see far too many clients who have a SIPP and are invested in collective funds that can be accessed far more cheaply in a PPP or SHP.

Reason Two – Fund Performance

Whilst funds you were recommended 5, 10 or 20 years ago might have been flagship performers at the time, they could now be fairly lacklustre. This may be due to changes in the fund manager or investment stance.

Another common reason for underperformance is the myriad of pension providers that have been taken over and closed their funds to new business.  A closed fund has little incentive to outperform the market as they are not trying to attract new money. They are very unlikely to have a star manager with an outstanding track record.  In addition, it has to fund new purchases from selling other holdings as there is no cash coming into the fund. This will make it a bit sluggish to respond to opportunities in the market.

Reason Three – Risk Profile

As we get older, and retirement becomes more of a reality, our attitude to risk tends to lower, as we have less time to make up for any losses in the markets.  You need to regularly review your risk profile and ensure that the funds you have invested in, match the level of risk you are willing to take and the timescale you have until retirement.

You should also review any pensions which have ‘life styling’.  This was the standard practice on employer-sponsored pensions. “Life styling” automatically started dis-investing your pension funds the nearer you got to retirement. It did this in order to end up fully invested in gilts at your retirement age.  This is because annuity rates are based on gilt yields, and so by investing in gilts, you were protecting yourself from stock market falls and locking into annuity rates.  However, with the popularity of Flexi Access Drawdown, many clients are now staying invested for 20 or 30 years beyond retirement, and so need some stock market exposure to get the best out of their pension funds, albeit at a lower level than when they were working.

Conclusion on why you should review your Pension Contracts

Even if you are contributing at a good rate into a current scheme, and know that you are funding at the correct level in order to fund the retirement income you desire, or if you are contributing the most you can afford and can’t put any more into a pension. These three reasons should demonstrate that you still need to review what you already have.

How Anstee & Co can help you review your Pension Contracts.

We are a firm of Independent Financial Advisers (IFA’s). This means that the advice we offer is unbiased.

There are many factors to consider with retirement planning and the process may seem complex and time-consuming. Also, our expert independent advisers will support you at every step and do most of the work for you.  Simply contact Rachel or the team and we can guide you from start to finish.

The initial meeting is at our cost, so why not contact us today. A meeting can be arranged at your home or at one of our head office located at-

• Kettering, Northamptonshire

Additionally, our financial planners live and make use of rooms in-

• Bedford, Bedfordshire
• Market Harborough, Leicestershire
•  Northampton, Wellingborough and Thrapston in Northamptonshire.

Also, we make full use of video conferencing facilities such as-

• Microsoft Teams
• Facetime

We can also arrange a conference telephone call. So, there is no need to visit an office as all work can be handled remotely. The choice is yours. Our expertise covers all aspects of financial planning including pensions, investments and mortgages.

If you have any thoughts on this article, “3 reasons why you should review your existing Pension Contracts”, then we would love to hear from you.

Finally, the information contained in this article is for information purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Anstee & Co. is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

Many people perceive pensions to be overcomplicated. However, the basic principle is a simple one.

First of all, it is worth understanding the benefits of saving into a pension scheme and not just relying on the State Pension. The State Pension will provide you with a foundation, but for most of us, it may not be enough to live on.

How much is the State Pension?

Presently  the full new State Pension is for 2026-27 will be  £241.30 per  week. This is probably a lot less than what you planned to retire on or to give you the standard of living you hoped for when you retire.

It should also be highlighted that the maximum state pension amount and is only available to you if you have made full National Insurance (NI) contributions. You generally need at least 35 qualifying years of NI contributions. To find out how much you will get, go to the government’s website, “Your Pension”.

What are my options?

If you are looking for more income in your retirement what are your options? You really only have three choices-

• Delay your retirement
• Start saving more
• Plan for a lower standard of living in retirement.

What are the advantages of saving into a pension?

As the government is encouraging you to save for your retirement, they have given Pensions a number of important advantages over other forms of savings. A good way to look at a pension is just a long-term savings plan with tax relief. Getting tax relief on pensions means some of your money that would have gone to the government as tax goes into your pension instead.

If you save for your retirement through a defined contribution pension scheme your regular savings are invested. This money is invested with the aim that it grows over time. There is no guarantee on what returns you are likely to receive. Your return is linked to the level of risk you are prepared to take and the length of time (term) that the money is invested for. The aim being is to provide you with an income in retirement.

Presently, you can access the money in your pension pot from the age of 55. However, HMRC propose to increase the minimum retirement age from 55 to 57 in 2028, at the point that the State Pension age increases to 67. From then on, the minimum pension age in the tax rules will rise in line with the State Pension age so that it is always ten years below.

Take advantage of your employer.

If you are employed your employer is now required to enrol you into a workplace pension scheme. This is known as automatic enrolment.

If you have access to a workplace pension you should consider taking advantage of it. Staying out is like turning down a pay rise as your employer will also make contributions into your pension plan as well.

Alternatively, if your employer will contribute to your pension regardless of whether you pay into it, then you should join the scheme whatever your financial circumstances.

What happens when I retire?

You can usually take up to 25% of your pension savings as a tax-free lump sum.

If you’ve built up your own pension pot in a defined contribution scheme (as opposed to a salary-related pension scheme) you can then use the rest of your pot as you choose once you reach the age of 55. This is increasing to from age 55 to 57 in 2028.

How Anstee & Co can help you with your Pension.

We are a firm of Independent Financial Advisers (IFA’s). We look at all the financial options that are available to you. The advice we offer in unbiased.

If you are interested in having a comfortable retirement and feel that you should be saving more why not arrange a meeting. The initial fact-finding meeting is at our expense and without obligation. Meetings can be arranged at a time and place that is convenient for you. Why not arrange your appointment today?

Our office is located at-

• Kettering, Northamptonshire

Additionally, we have financial planners that live and make use of meeting rooms in

• Bedford, Bedfordshire
• Market Harborough, Leicestershire
• Northampton, Wellingborough and Thrapston Northamptonshire.

The information contained in this article is for information purposes only and does not constitute advice. No action should be taken based on this information alone. Everyone’s circumstances are different which is why we recommend arranging a meeting with one of our financial advisers.

By John Cossons, Mortgage and Protection Designer.

With the ever-increasing cost of living, is your retirement income keeping up? 

We are all feeling the pressure of the rising cost of fuel to heat our homes and keep our cars moving, along with the relentless increase in the general cost of living. You may have a small, mortgage that was manageable but, with increasing interest rates, is becoming increasingly hard to service without impacting your lifestyle.

When you are still working you have the opportunity to increase your income with a pay rise, doing overtime or changing your employer. However, once you retire your income is pretty much set and it can often start to reduce in real terms due to inflation.

There is possibly one asset that you have that has historically outpaced inflation and tapping into this resource could be the way to ensure that you have enough money to continue with a reasonable lifestyle for the foreseeable future.

What are the options?

Releasing some of the equity that is tied up in your home could relieve the pressure.

With an equity release loan, you could provide yourself with an additional income stream or the funds to improve the energy efficiency of your home or to upgrade your car to an electric model.

Equity release loans allow you to pay what you can afford and vary your payments if your circumstances change. The interest rate is fixed for life, and you are not required to make any payments. However, as any unpaid interest is added to the loan and rolls up many people choose to pay all or some of the interest if they can.

There is an option to take a lump sum in advance and then draw down additional funds when they are required. You would only attract interest on the funds released now and any further drawdowns would start to attract interest, at the prevailing rate, when they are taken.

How Anstee & Co can help you maintain your retirement income.

We are a firm of Independent Financial Advisers (IFA’s). This means that the financial advice we provide is unbiased and from the “whole of the market” We look at all the financial solutions available to you. Not just an equity release mortgage.

Remember that equity release is a long-term financial commitment and is not right for everyone. So, it is often a good idea to involve your family before making any decisions.

Additionally, we are proud members of the Equity Release Council and are directly regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

Why not arrange a face-to-face meeting to find out more? Also, we can come to your home, or we can meet you at one of our meeting rooms located at:

• Kettering, Northamptonshire
• Bedford, Bedfordshire
• Market Harborough, Leicestershire

Why not arrange a meeting today to obtain a personal illustration and to see how we can help you secure your retirement income? The initial meeting is at our expense and is without obligation.

If you have any thoughts on this article, “Is your retirement income, keeping up with inflation?”, then we would love to hear from you.

Finally, the information contained in this article is for information purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Anstee & Co. is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

These products are lifetime mortgages or home reversion plans. Equity released from your home will be secured against it.

Many mortgage borrowers are now making overpayments to reduce the impact of higher interest rates. A recent study undertaken for Barclays Bank found that nearly a quarter of homeowners overpaid their mortgage.

Why should you overpay your mortgage?

• Overpaying allows you to save on your interest payments. This saving can be substantial over the term of the mortgage.
• You will own your property outright sooner.
• With more equity (the difference between your house value and the outstanding mortgage) in your home, you could be able to
  get a better rate on your next mortgage deal.
• You would be less likely to move into negative equity if house prices fall.
• Low rates on savings accounts.

Why should you not overpay your mortgage?

• If you have other personal borrowings like credit cards or personal loans. Then these debts should be looked at first. The
  interest rate on this type of unsecured borrowing is normally higher than that on your mortgage.
• You need some available cash. You may have to dip into that emergency fund you have for unexpected car repairs or if the
  boiler needs replacing.
• Do not over-commit. It may be easy to overpay, but it is never as easy to take the money out again with an additional mortgage
  advance. Budget carefully, especially if your income fluctuates with overtime and bonuses.
• Check that you can overpay your mortgage. Most lenders allow you to overpay your mortgage by up to 10% even if you have a
  fixed or discounted rate. Check your mortgage offer or speak to your mortgage broker.

Should I have an offset mortgage?

How Anstee & Co can help with your mortgage.

The initial meeting is free and without obligation. Why not arrange a meeting today to discover your options.

• Kettering, Northamptonshire

• Bedford, Bedfordshire
• Market Harborough, Leicestershire
• Northampton, Thrapston, and Wellingborough in Northamptonshire.