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 [...]
You must check and manage your credit score regularly. Why you might ask? Well, it can affect your ability to borrow money or access financial products such as mortgages, loans and credit cards. So, what is a credit score? It is financial information held about you on a credit report, also known as your [...]
Recent figures from data analyst Moneyfacts, show that equity release rates are falling. For the first time in more than a decade, equity release rates have dropped to an average below 5%. Most lenders now charge an interest rate of 4.99% for releasing funds from your home. This is down from 5.1% from just a [...]
By Rachel Efetha, Chartered Financial Planner. Yesterday morning I was pleased to present a Dementia Friends Information Session to the BRI Networking Breakfast in Northampton. The Information Session helps to explain what dementia is and encourages the audience to take action after participating, from something as simple as wearing their Forget-Me-Not Dementia Friend badge to [...]
By Rachel Efetha, Chartered Financial Planner. At the end of November, four members of the team attended the National Financial Planning Symposium in North Greenwich. Symposium /sɪmˈpəʊzɪəm/ Noun A conference or meeting to discuss a particular subject A drinking party or convivial discussion, especially as held in ancient Greece after a banquet (and notable as [...]
Should they be included in your retirement portfolio? As retirement planning becomes increasingly more complicated, holding Venture Capital Trusts (VCT’s) or Enterprise Investment Schemes (EIS’s) in your portfolio may prove beneficial. So how can they save you from paying too much tax? Venture Capital Trusts. First of all, VCTs are companies that are listed on [...]
Listen out for our colleague Darren Amos who will be on radio BBC Northampton. He will be appearing on the Stuart Linnell show just after 5.00 pm commenting on today’s Budget. Darron Amos, Independent Financial planner with Anstee & Co. based in Kettering.
Sam Williams, trainee paraplanner, is part of the band playing in the “West Side Story” production at Northampton’s Royal and Derngate Theater. The production by Northampton Musical Theatre Company is Sam’s third taste of show business after working on previous productions of “Grease” and “The Wizard of Oz” both at the Derngate. West Side Story [...]
So what is Inheritance Tax and how does this affect you? Inheritance tax is a tax on your assets that belong to you when you die. Each person can pass on up to £325,000 (£650,000 for a couple) without their heirs having to pay any inheritance tax (IHT). Above this amount, the estate is taxed at [...]
If you have an estate that is worth more than £325, 000, Inheritance Tax (IHT) of 40% is paid on the excess. You can pass on your estate to a spouse or civil partner completely tax-free on death. If you leave it to your children or others, they will not benefit in the same way. [...]
