Services
Savings and Investments
Why are we encouraged to save money?
From childhood, most of us are told to put away money to save for the future – perhaps for something special; or maybe to be sure that when we really need something we have the funds to acquire it, without taking on debt. People’s aims are broadly the same; to provide for future needs, and to protect ourselves against unexpected expenditure, events and inflation.
When planning your finances, it is important to distinguish between savings and investments. Savings are generally funds that you set aside that can be accessed relatively quickly. These savings are often for a specific need or purchase, like a holiday or a new car. The most common way of saving is into a bank account (‘deposit’ account) where the money can be accessed in an emergency, and for every £1 you put in, you will get £1 back and possibly some interest. In other words, the original capital is guaranteed.
Investments are designed to be held for a longer term, usually at least 5 years. You need to be comfortable with tying up this money for a period of time and should not consider investments unless you have some savings in place. Most investments are not guaranteed to return your money in full, although do offer the prospect of potentially higher returns than deposit accounts. Returns, risk and volatility are the factors that will determine a suitable place for your investments.
The value of investments may fall as well as rise. You may get back less than you originally invested.
Pensions
Pensions are designed to enable people to save sufficient money during their working life to provide an income stream so they can live comfortably after retirement.
There are many different ways to save for retirement and the taxation and investment elements of pensions can be baffling. As specialists, we can explain, recommend and monitor your pension for you.
We also specialise in at-retirement advice as this is even more complex than accumulating a pension pot! There are many retirement options to consider especially since changes were made by the Government in 2015. It is very important to seek advice tailored to your specific future retirement goals, future desired income needs and tax position.
THE FINANCIAL CONDUCT AUTHORITY DOES NOT REGULATE TAXATION ADVICE.
Pensions are a long-term investment. You may get back less than you put in. Pensions can be and are subject to tax and regulatory change; therefore, the tax treatment of pension benefits can and may change in the future.
Estate Planning
We know it can be tough to talk about Estate Planning and Inheritance Tax however it is critical if you want to ensure your Estate is managed as you would wish after you’re gone.
Estate Planning tasks can include making a Will, naming Executors and beneficiaries and setting up funeral arrangements.
Our main area of advice is helping to mitigate the Inheritance Tax (IHT) which could become due on your Estate. IHT used to be something only the wealthy expected to pay when someone died, but soaring house values have meant that many more people may worry that they will leave behind an Inheritance Tax bill after they die.
We can help put a plan in place for clients to ensure their Estate passes to their loved ones in the most tax-efficient way when the time comes.
Personal & Business Protection
Financial products are probably at their most useful when they are protecting our families, our incomes or our property.
Though insuring ourselves against an undesirable event such as sickness or death may not be a pleasant thing to think about, the benefit of being able to set financial worries aside at emotionally difficult times cannot be overlooked.
There are various ways in which a family can protect itself and with the large range of products available there is usually an appropriate policy for most circumstances and most budgets.
We can advise on the many ways to protect your family and your standard of living when you need it most.
We also specialise in business protections which insure businesses against the financial effects of key persons being diagnosed with a critical illness or dying. How the arrangement is set up depends on the type of business and its particular needs. It is imperative that sole traders, partnerships and limited companies consider insuring against all eventualities.
Mortgages
We understand that finding the right mortgage can be a daunting task.
Mortgages are usually the biggest single transactions in most people’s lives. Buying a property can be a stressful and time-consuming experience; these days, the financing of a mortgage is a case of finding and selecting the most suitable mortgage, rather than simply accepting a lender’s offer.
Our experienced Independent Financial Advisors (IFAs) are here to guide you through the complex world of mortgages and specialise in providing comprehensive mortgage advice tailored to your unique needs and financial goals. We aim to make the process smooth and hassle-free with our expertise and personalised approach.
Whether you’re a first-time buyer, a homeowner looking to remortgage or an investor seeking buy-to-let options, we have the knowledge and resources to assist you every step of the way.
