What makes a house buyer choose to buy a particular house? What do they have in mind when they look at houses to buy? If, for whatever reason, you are determined to sell your property, you can’t dwell on the state of the house sales market, even if it is sluggish or saturated with unsold [...]
Read moreThe National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF) and the Pensions Institute (PI) at Cass Business School published a joint report early in 2012, suggesting that around half a million people retiring each year are being short-changed by up to £1bn from their total future pension income, because overwhelming obstacles stop them getting the best deal [...]
Read moreThe Centre for Economic and Business Research (CEBR) indicated in a recent report that the UK economy is probably already in recession, with negative GDP growth in the fourth quarter of 2011 and the first quarter of 2012. The CEBR has also revised down its forecast for growth for 2012 as a whole, from 0.7% [...]
Read moreAn increasing number of new cash ISA products are being sold with additional interest as a bonus percentage, usually for no more than the first year. Investors who do not review their ISA holdings on at least a yearly basis may find that a later interest yield is dramatically less that they expected. Some people [...]
Read moreNow that the Government has announced a clear timetable for the roll-out of auto-enrolment, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) suggests that employer pension contributions could break the ‘savings stalemate’ for more than half of people. The opportunity to benefit from employer contributions remains the single biggest reason for people to stay ‘auto-enrolled’ in new [...]
Read moreA very powerful voice in the world of UK business and finance, the Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) sets interest rates. In setting an interest rate, the MPC judges that the rate will enable the UK’s inflation target to be met. The Monetary Policy Committee, MPC, is made up of nine members – the Governor, Sir [...]
Read moreThe Financial Services Authority (FSA) is making it obligatory for all banks, building societies and credit unions in the UK to prominently display, in every branch and on every website, how much compensation savers could claim in the event of an institution failing. This is part of a continuing effort by the FSA and the [...]
Read moreThousands and thousands of clients across the UK have long-standing and happy relationships with their Independent Financial Adviser. However, the world of financial services is changing on December 31st this year, and it may be that your independent adviser is no longer fully independent after that date. The Financial Services Authority is implementing the Retail [...]
Read moreAt this time of year many people are still looking at ways to save money having endured some heavy spending over the past couple of months. It therefore makes good sense to review what is usually people’s biggest monthly expense. Reviewing your mortgage on a regular basis does often have worthwhile benefits – but if you [...]
Read moreJanuary got off to a predictably slow start, at least in Europe and it was January 9th before Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy met for talks. Unsurprisingly, they were worried about the credit crunch and – no surprise here either – Greek debt. Other countries greeted 2012 less sluggishly and China and India reported a [...]
Read more
