Unsuspecting Business People Refinance Banks
A pre-budget report just before an election is never going to be too painful. If we expected anything other than vote winning ideas we were unrealistic in our expectations. Such was my lack of interest; I avoided doing any of my normal phone ins and newspaper/website contributions and went to watch Snow Patrol with the […]
Pensions and overseas banks leading the way for business finance
My bank is telling me that it is still very active in lending in the commercial market but they are not supporting me and my commercial finance broker is struggling to assist me with my business finance. Are banks really being more relaxed with their lending or is this all hype?
£28,876 Cost To Use An Estate Agent Financial Adviser
Buying a home, and in turn ascertaining which are the best financial solutions for your family is rated one of the most stressful scenarios you can possibly go through. It is most amazing the sales tricks that are applied by salesmen at estate agents who now seem to be ‘financial advisers’. In a number of recent scenarios we have heard of estate agents insisting that customers see their mortgage adviser before they are allowed to view a property, a highly dubious if not illegal practise that could be costing customers and homeowners’ families tens of thousands of pounds.
Who’s behind petrol prices?
‘Oil sharks sit off Brixham coast’. ‘Dear oh dear’ I thought as I passed the newsagent window. And like most of these things I yawned and resigned myself to that old saying ‘it’s like that déjà vu all over again’. So is there any credence to the fact that bad boys are sitting off the coast ripping us off? I can’t believe I am even giving this space but here goes: Firstly, when oil was driven to $147 last year the resulting petrol price (which was blamed on oil) was less than it is today. Crude oil is priced at $77.07 today. (1) Explain that then.
Advice for Lottery Winners
£45.5 million. That surely is a good Saturday morning reading when you pick up your lottery winnings. But it isn’t all plain sailing as some of you might think! Consider the problems Les and Samantha, the lottery winners now have. There may be some mild sarcasm to follow.
Who Should Write Your Will – Solicitor or Will Writer?
I read your article which explained that putting assets into trust was not a way to get around care costs. My will writer advised me of a ruling that says that Local Authorities cannot recover assets placed in Trust providing they were transferred more than 6 months before the claimant was placed into care. Is this true?
Will the tories simplify care costs?
I suppose like any run up to an election, noise is catapulted beyond comprehension. We all have short memories and in practise will the proposals ever apply? Probably not. But I suppose we all want to believe the best will happen and we can rely on a government and that is why proposals are being slung around like a politician coming up to an election!
Business People Bail out Banks
I was speaking to someone a moment ago who asked me what I did. ‘I am an independent financial adviser’. I said. ‘Ah, you are the cause of the problems in the economy then!’ He blubbered. I responded with ‘yep, every last bit of it, every last bit’.
UK Banks Still Cash Constipated
We all know the banking sector is one of the biggest cash cows for the government in terms of tax. The banking sector has however really let itself down. The phrase ‘a job in the bank, is a job for life’ sits firmly along with that of ‘bricks and mortar boy, bricks and mortar’ and […]
Banks’ Complaints Are Exposed
Financial regulators have taken some abuse of late in relation to their monitoring of banks, yet banks have seemingly been allowed to close the door behind them on their antics of the last few years. Apathy! But consumers and investors are now in the wonderful position of finding out if their bank is one of the bad boys or not. The Financial Ombudsman Service has made available for the first time a range of complaints information relating to individually-named financial businesses.
Repayment Mortgage Or Interest Only – Which Is King?
Mortgage owners everywhere are being asked to seek mortgage advice on their methods of repaying their mortgage – apparently. Or so the headlines go. When a customer takes out a new mortgage they have a choice on whether or not to take out a repayment or interest only. What’s the difference and which is better?
Tax Kills
I read an interesting report which showed that 10 million people in the UK (a third of the working population) are not saving for retirement. That will be an interesting demographic time bomb; you can expect strong measures in terms of employer and employee compulsion into pensions to follow.