
Mortgage lending was up by a healthy 15% in June, but was boosted by seasonal demand for first time buyer mortgages. In the broader picture, the market is still slow, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders CML Read More

Mortgage lending was up by a healthy 15% in June, but was boosted by seasonal demand for first time buyer mortgages. In the broader picture, the market is still slow, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders CML Read More
The Financial Services Authority is urging homebuyers to take qualified, independent financial advice when choosing a mortgage. Good independent financial advice will ensure that mortgage holders get a deal that is affordable, sustainable, and exactly right for them.
The number of mortgage approvals continues to rise as the annual ‘spring bounce’ in the mortgage market has finally arrived – two months late, but better late than never. Remortgaging is the market driver, says the British Bankers’ Association (BBA). Read more…
Inheritance tax planning and writing a will can be subject to hidden costs, especially if you appoint an executor to your estate. Consumers are often not made aware of the bill they will receive, and should certainly ‘shop around’, says the Office of Fair Trading. Click headline for further details.

Plans for a £1m Inheritance Tax threshold are cancelled, leaving Inheritance Tax allowances at previous levels. This leaves consumers exposed to a potential Inheritance Tax liability of 40% on portions of their wealth.
Over half of adults in the UK are neglecting the need to make a will to ensure efficient inheritance tax planning, according to a new survey published this week by Barnardo’s. The children’s charity has also revealed that almost three-quarters (74%) of cohabiting couples also have no will in place.
The new tax year, which began on 6th April 2o1o, offers a golden opportunity for tax savings. Make use of your brand new tax allowances to fine-tune your financial planning, and minimise tax. With financial advice you can streamline your savings strategy by getting the best savings rate and fully utilising your ISA cash allowances. You can ensure you take advantage of your allowances for Capital Gains Tax, if you are selling an asset. You can plan to maximise tax reliefs from pensions contributions. You can gain 30% tax relief on investments in Venture Capital Trusts (VCTs). You can take the necessary steps to avoid 40% Inheritance Tax on wealth passing to your children and heirs. If you are an employer, you can plan for the upcoming government NEST scheme, which will require you to have, or set up, a pensions department that offers a pension to all employees.

Good news for first time buyers, ISA savers, and business owners in the budget. Here is our roundup of personal finance news and the budget changes, hot out of that little brown briefcase on Downing Street.

New proposals for a National Care Scheme will provide in-home healthcare for the elderly to those who pay £8,000 to join. Proposed payment options include a 10% inheritance tax, forfeiting state pension income by working longer, or planning ahead with pensions savings or a bond investment.

Do you love the taxman more than you love your own children? If not, then don’t risk leaving them an Inheritance Tax bill of 40% on the wealth you leave behind! You stand to save thousands or even hundreds of thousands with good inheritance planning. The first step is to check how much you would owe, with our new Inheritance Tax Calculator.
















