IFA Blog

Independent Financial Advice ... Simplified

There are still 1.99% tracker mortgages available to those who qualify. There are two schools of thought on interest rates at the moment. 1 They have to rise to keep inflation in control. 2 After the massive Quantative Easing, rates will almost surely stay low for a much longer period as shown by Japans interest rates over ten years,after their quantative easing programme.

ISA 'S The Tax Efficient Savings Product

6th October 2011

ISA stands for Individual Savings Account and it's simply a special type of savings and investment account, which is more or less immune from tax.

Stocks and shares ISA
They are two main types of ISA. The first is a stocks and shares ISA.

Everyone aged 18 and above can put up to £10,680 into a stocks and shares ISA for the 2011/12 tax year.

Find out how you can get a stocks and shares ISA using an Independent Financial Adviser.

Cash ISA
The second type of ISA is a cash ISA. Unlike stocks and shares ISAs, the minimum age limit for cash ISAs is 16.

You can put up to £5,340 into a cash ISA for the 2011/12 tax year.

Cash ISAs are currently the most popular of the two types.
However stocks and shares ISA are more likely to keep pace or exceed inflation depending on your attitude to risk.
Therefore its possible to make gains in real terms even in todays disappointing savings markets.

Insurance Advice

6th October 2011

Another good reason for getting advice is based on a true story.

I recently spoke to someone who had applied for life insurance through a well known supermarket chain.

They have a mortgage of £150,000 with 17 years remaining.

An application was submitted over the phone for £115,000 of cover for 16 years.

Now I can only speculate as to how this happened and people do sometimes make mistakes but when I spoke to the applicant they couldn’t think of any reason why the ‘adviser’ had got it so wrong and they certainly seemed to know their mortgage balance and term.
Was there a communication problem over the phone or something lost in translation or Could it be the ‘adviser’ was really more of an ‘order processor’ and didn’t double check or even ask the right questions?

What’s hard to understand is an application had already been submitted with the wrong cover but there is a regulated process and the applicant should have seen or at least discussed a quote before it went that far .
No checks were made and the whole case had to be resubmitted with correct details resulting in further underwriting by the provider and a delay in the policy being on risk.

INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL ADVISERS ARE WORTH THEIR WEIGHT IN GOLD!!!!

Downbeat Journalism

2nd June 2011

In todays world of instant information are we taking too much notice of every financial opinion?
Is it any wonder that Britain is being portrayed by journalists as one of the world's gloomiest nations when just about every financial Hack seems to be elbowing his/her way to the front to encourage it.
Sensible reporting is essential in providing information which has balanced and lasting credibility-not just knee jerk reactions to the latest obscure market survey which we are being bombarded with on almost a daily basis.
We must ask ourselves just how much our own personal circumstances have really changed since the downturn and formulate a positive ongoing strategy for the future.
Dont look back look forward!!!

INTEREST RATE RISES

31st May 2011

Homeowners are being warned to prepare for rising interest rates as surging inflation makes a rise in the Bank rate increasingly likely. "It looks likely that, with inflation running away from the Bank's target range, rates will rise and soon," says The Independent. The questions then are how fast rates will rise and whether that means you should fix your mortgage or not. The money markets are predicting a base rate of only 1% by the end of this year, around 2.25% at the start of 2013 and 3% by 2014.

SELF INVESTED PERSONAL PENSIONS

13th May 2011

A pension remains one of the most tax efficient ways of saving for retirement and in our opinion a Self Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) offers by far the most exciting opportunities. You can manage your SIPP completely online, enabling you to buy, sell and switch between investments at the click of a mouse.

Like all pensions, a SIPP offers tax relief of up to 50% on contributions and there is no Capital Gains Tax or any further Income Tax to pay. However, whereas traditional pensions typically limit investment choice to a shorter list of funds, normally run by the pension company's own fund managers, a SIPP offers you the opportunity to invest where you like.

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Independent financial advice

12th April 2011

Independent Financial Advisers
A simple way to describe an independent financial adviser is that of a financial problem solver. Generally speaking, a client will look to interact with an IFA because they have any number of financial issues to deal with, sometimes ones that need handling immediately. This may be simply because their finances have got into a bit of a mess and they are unsure what to do. Or it may be that someone has recently received an inheritance or a lump sum and does not know how best to invest it successfully. Another reason maybe that someone has started a family and does not know the best way to protect their loved ones and their income. These are just a few examples but suffice to say that there are numerous good reasons why people seek out the help of an independent financial adviser.
A good, knowledgeable and professional independent financial adviser will help educate their client on an array of financial products and services whilst helping with the decision making process on these choices. This advice will be specifically tailored to each individual’s circumstance and the decisions made will be based on the extensive experience and research gathered by the IFA on their behalf.

An Independent Financial Adviser will meet the potential client, if desired, to determine which financial options match their objectives in areas such as pensions, investments and savings. They can help to answer any technical questions and proactively manage any investments so that they stay on track and perform to their true potential over time. Then, should any lifestyle change occur (marriage, divorce, parenthood, change of employer or business for example), the independent financial adviser can help to adjust these arrangements accordingly.

Finding the right IFA is an important step in trying to cure any current or future financial worries. A good independent financial adviser will look to develop a strong long-term relationship with each client so that future problems can be solved on the basis that they are fully aware of their client's aims and objectives for the future whether they be short, medium or long term.

Of course finding such an important cog to help your financial well-being is half the battle but fortunately uglymoney,s free service is specifically designed to help you find a professional, ethical, impartial and possibly local independent financial adviser who will help you to achieve your aims. All advisers are committed to give you caring and truly impartial advice.

All the independent financial advisers have specific specialist areas so that you can search until you find someone that exactly meets your requirements.

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Bank of England Interest Rates

7th April 2011

Experts predicting no change in rates for this afternoon,indeed forecasters say there may be no change until winter time.
UK growth is slower than expected and a rate change will hinder recovery.
(no mention of the long term effects of quantative easing).

Famous Financial Quotes

7th April 2011

“Nothing is so well calculated to produce a death-like torpor in the country as an extended system of taxation and a great national debt.”
William Cobbett Quotes

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Retirement Planning

5th April 2011

The living cost of a single university student is estimated to be £193.50 per week in the UK.
The married persons pension provision is £156.15 per week,now we all know that pensioners don't live on pizza and pints, but that is a significant deficit in income.
It's a Fact that we all need to put aside more income toward retirement,and in the light of new government rules about to be finalised,is this the right time to review your current situation?

Famous Financial Quotes

5th April 2011

“I figure you have the same chance of winning the lottery whether you play or not.”
Michael Mcshane

Famous Financial Quotes

4th April 2011

A bank is a place that will lend you money if you can prove that you don't need it. ~Bob Hope

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House prices

2nd April 2011

With house prices now back to 2005 levels have we now seen our "period of correction".Is it the right time to look at buy to let investment again,has the Market reached it's bottom?
There seems to be bargains to be had all over the country right now.

Famous Financial Quotes

30th March 2011

EVERYTHING YOU WANT IN LIFE HAS A PRICE CONNECTED TO IT.

THERE'S A PRICE TO PAY IF YOU WANT TO MAKE THINGS BETTER, A PRICE TO PAY JUST FOR LEAVING THINGS AS THEY ARE, A PRICE FOR EVERYTHING.
(Harry Browne investment adviser and American presidential candidate)

Negative Equity Mortgages

10th March 2011

Yet another bank is offering negative equity mortgages allowing you to move even if your home is now valued at less than you owe on your mortgage.
Talk now to one of our experts about your personal situation!

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TIME TO GO TO THE MARKET ?

8th March 2011

As the financial markets start to stabilise,equities are an excellent investment again,proven to give returns above inflation over the long term.
Talk to us about your personal investment scenario!

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