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Last year was challenging, with job losses and pay cuts causing many to tighten their budgets. It was particularly difficult for the self-employed, with many freelancers losing income as companies cut costs and stopped using contractors. Despite government grants being available, many self-employed workers have found they are not eligible. Almost five million people in […]

Launched in September 2020, the Green Homes Grant is a government scheme that allows homeowners in England to claim vouchers of up to £5,000 to help pay for energy-saving home improvements. Examples include insulating your home to reduce your energy use or installing low-carbon heating to lower the amount of carbon dioxide your home produces. […]

The equity release market is gradually showing signs of recovery following the initial lockdown last spring, although activity is still below the previous year’s levels. A total of £963m of equity was released in Q3 2020 by new and returning customers, according to data from the Equity Release Council (ERC), up 38% from Q2 but […]

Decimalisation 50 years on Shillings and pence were replaced with ‘new pence’ on 15 February 1971, in what proved to be quite a complex process. On ‘D-Day’ businesses had to switch their accounting and pricing to decimal, banks had to adapt their part-computerised, part-manual systems and everyone had to learn the new system, including school […]

With the end of the tax year fast approaching (Monday 5 April), if you have cash that you don’t need to access in the short term and would like to use some or all of this year’s ISA allowance, don’t leave it too late and risk missing out on this opportunity to save tax-efficiently; remember […]

Here’s a quick reminder of your mortgage ready tips for the year ahead: Advice – Choosing the right mortgage deal can be a challenge, which is why we’re here to advise and support you throughout the process and help you find the right deal for your circumstances. Budget and Be prepared – Go through your […]

Whatever 2021 has in store, we want to reassure you that we’re here for you and all your financial planning needs. While the year is expected to see the global economy rebound from the COVID-induced recession, the pace of recovery is indeterminable. In addition to uncertainties created by the pandemic, Brexit, trade and political issues […]

Last January, as a new decade dawned, little did we know how the next 12 months would unfold. Now, as another year begins, there are growing shoots of optimism but, whatever the year does bring, a crucial lesson from 2020 is undoubtedly the need to prioritise financial wellbeing in order to ensure we can cope […]

Whatever 2021 has in store, we want to reassure you that we’re here for you and your financial planning needs. In addition to uncertainties created by the pandemic, Brexit, trade and political issues will no doubt persist. As always, the only real certainty is that we live in uncertain times. There are many factors involved […]

Did you know that the phased increases to State Pension age (SPA) reached 66 for both men and women in October 2020 and it’s set to rise further? The minimum age for taking funds from a personal pension is also set to rise in 2028. Getting to know your pension ages, and what you can […]