How can I get my children on the housing ladder?
WE have seen numerous ideas coming from the UK Government regarding supporting the housing market. The housing market – the depreciating asset that appreciates in value. We can see why. Rising house prices give a feeling of confidence. If I am in debt for £10,000, it really hurts. If I am in debt for £200,000 […]
Will interest rates rise and should I fix?
IT’S that pivotal moment right now. Is a fixed rate mortgage best, or should I wait to see what happens with inflation? And another question I have been asked is, how long to fix for, and what the best rates are. I will cover them all. Inflation rising sustainably (ie not a sharp spike and […]
Stamp licking budgets
MOST Budgets are like a stamp-licking competition, especially now that you don’t need to lick them. You build up to the excitement of something happening and hey presto, nothing does. Whilst last week’s Budget delivered reasonably benign information from Rishi Sunak, we have ‘Tax Day’ to follow. This ‘day’ will create a plan for long-term […]
Part 3: Equity release: – What would an independent financial adviser recommend?
OVER the last two weeks we’ve talked about the pros and cons of equity release. Choosing where you go for advice is one of the most important factors to consider. Equity release The first port of call is an independent financial adviser (IFA). There are a range of options but none serve you like an […]
Part 2: How safe is equity release?
FOLLOWING last week’s column on when equity release can be used, here are a few pointers for you to avoid any pitfalls. The Money Advice Service suggests that you always use an independent financial adviser (IFA) and check they are on the FCA register. That is your starting point. Equity release If you use a […]
Part 1: Is equity release ever a good idea?
TAKING a break from watching Anthony Bourdain on my Netflix documentaries during rainy Sunday lockdown, my television turned on to a mainstream television to be hit with an advert selling equity release. Selling it like it was a bar of chocolate. It isn’t. Realising I am out of touch with adverts (I’ll watch mainstream TV […]
Looking at the upsides of Bitcoin
GIVEN Joe Biden’s inauguration in the USA followed by his move to protect the environment, I broke the column chain I was going to cover last week on Bitcoin to cover ESG markets (in short ethical and sustainable models of investing). But, back to Bitcoin and I’ll cover that in two columns: One is the […]
Trump – end of an error, launch of ESG
THIS week was supposed to be a follow up to last week’s column on Bitcoin, and its pluses and minuses. But I could not let the inauguration of Joe Biden and its impact on both the economy and ESG (environment, social, governance) investing go astray. For too long, we’ve lived in an era of phoney […]
Bitcoin is back – but what do you wanna see?
BACK in 2017, many in this column asked me if Bitcoin was a good idea. Those questions are back in abundance again. And it’s here to stay. Bitcoin is regularly pushed at me along with blockchain ledger as if it is the same thing. It is not. They are not related in price at all. […]
Get rich quick schemes? ‘Tulipmania’ is not something you’d want to be involved in
I’VE had a few questions over the Christmas and New Year break about some of the get rich quick schemes which keep appearing. Get rich quick schemes Sitting in our armchair in the last few days of our lives, thinking back in time, what might we say is the biggest takeaway in terms of our […]
Get ahead of the ‘tax wonks’
TAX . . . it’s as interesting a subject as a talk on ethics with a politician in the freezing cold. I have nothing against tax per se, it’s the inequitable application of it, coupled with the inequitable use of that money that bothers me. Ned Flanders in the Simpsons caps it off better than […]
Making money resolutions work
NEW year resolutions face many challenges. Many are just box ticking dreams. Those that work are built on a real ‘why’ – a solid reason, that when you come to the courageous crossroads of a decision, drives you straight in the right direction rather than procrastination or defeat. So start with learning from the past. […]