Posted by William on June 22nd, 2009 in Investment Advice Hi folks I thought it would be a worthwhile exercise today to look at some diverse opportunities for investment in what are still very unsettled times. Whether we are in a bull market or just a bear market rally is quite a question when respected fund managers such as Neil Woodford and Anthony Bolton currently take completely contrasting views. The FTSE 100 fell back 2.6% last Monday further serving as a cautionary check to us all. ... Read Full Story

Posted by William on May 28th, 2009 in Pension Advice With many more options available now to provide you with income in retirement it really is important that you get proper independent financial advice to help you choose wisely the best product suited to you. One product which has been around for some time and is maybe just now getting due prominence is the Flexible Annuity - and it’s certainly worth considering it as you begin your retirement planning. The definition of a Flexible... Read Full Story

Posted by William on April 30th, 2009 in Tax Advice Hi everyone, just thought I’d let you know I’ve uploaded a 12 Page 2009 Budget PDF for you to download. It gives you a great information on the following in a really easy to read/understand format. Some highlights include… ISA limits Capital Allowances Business trading losses Tax relief on pension contributions Top rate of income tax details Personal income tax allowance details It also covers… PERSONAL AND TRUST ... Read Full Story

Posted by William on April 24th, 2009 in UK Financial Advice Leaving aside all the politics of the latest budget (described as the most important for decades) the following is a brief summary of the main aspects from the perspective of an Independent Financial Adviser. Here goes then… A big increase in ISA limits, a dramatic hike in income tax for the highest earners and a radical revision of macro-economic forecasts are probably the key points from today’s budget.  The Chancel... Read Full Story

Posted by William on April 22nd, 2009 in Pension Advice It is a surprising fact that some people spend more time planning a holiday than they do for their own retirement. However my many years in financial planning have taught me that those who take the journey to retirement more seriously, usually have a smoother trip and much more fun as a result. When I speak to clients who have already retired what comes across is that happily they often dispel many of the pre-conceptions associated wit... Read Full Story

Posted by William on April 1st, 2009 in Tax Advice According to unbiased.co.uk British taxpayers will waste over £10bn in unnecessary tax in 2009. With the end of the tax year nigh, time is rapidly running out if you want to curb your tax bill and maximise allowances. So what should you be doing if you want to take advantage of tax regulations and save a few bob? ISAs Now ten years old ISAs allow people to keep cash as well as assets such as property, stocks and shares in a tax-free wrapp... Read Full Story

Posted by William on March 26th, 2009 in Pension Advice Hi everyone, it’s one thing to save carefully for a pension only to find yourself caught out by not knowing the tax rules that apply to these savings plans. In what I hope to be a series I’ll be putting a number of PDF’s clearly laying out the HMRC instructions up on our site so you won’t find yourself on the back foot. If there was ever a time to make sure that every aspect of your retirement planning was tripl... Read Full Story

Posted by William on March 6th, 2009 in Investment Advice Hi everyone, thought this piece of news will be of benefit… The Brandeaux Student Accomodation Fund is opening it’s doors again to new investors after the suspension of dealing eleven weeks ago. The fund will re-launch with a new share class after the Brandeaux team were forced into defensive action after a sudden high level of redemption requests from a major broker left the fund in a vulnerable position. The launch date of th... Read Full Story

Posted by William on February 23rd, 2009 in UK Financial Advice Gordon Brown has announced that he intends to take a tougher stance on the world’s biggest tax havens. He seems to be particularly fixated with Switzerland, whilst Barak Obama made similar comments relating to The Cayman Islands during his Presidential campaign. Speaking at his monthly press conference, the Prime Minister said… “We want the whole world to take action. That will mean action against regulatory and tax have... Read Full Story

Posted by William on February 10th, 2009 in Investment Advice At a time when UK savers are paying the highest price for the current slump with the BOE (Bank of England) base rate sitting at a record 1% (having dropped a whopping 3.5% in just 4 months), what are the alternatives for savers seeking a safe refuge and a reasonable return in the current crisis? Today let’s look at some potential homes for your cash and review how they’ve been performing recently… Index Linked... Read Full Story