by Brian Downton | J, Aug, 2017 | Charity Blog
Welcome to my latest Charity blog post. I spent most of August on holiday with my wife Lynn and son, Jack. We celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary by renewing our vows. It was a wonderful occasion in Corfu, where we have enjoyed many holidays over the years. I am...
by Brian Downton | J, Aug, 2017 | blog, corporate, protection
If something happened to you, your co-owners or employees, could your business survive? A study by Legal and General shows 40% of businesses would fold in less than a year following the death or critical illness of a key person. The loss of a key person within a small...
by Brian Downton | J, Aug, 2017 | blog, general
In the wake of the 2015 General Election, the Conservative Party confirmed it would deliver on its Manifesto promise that parents could pass their property up to the value of £1m to their children free of Inheritance Tax, thanks to a new ‘family home allowance’. The...
by Brian Downton | J, Aug, 2017 | blog, Pensions
Could you survive on £8,000 a year or less, in retirement? If you’ve given up work to look after your family, you’ll be among those least likely to save for retirement simply because you have no income. And when it comes to the State Pension, you’ll usually need at...
by Brian Downton | J, Aug, 2017 | blog, mortgages, Pensions
The news is always full of stats about first-time buyers In 2016 there were an estimated 335,750 first-time buyers – the highest figure since 359,900 in 2007 The average first-time deposit has more than doubled since 2007 to more than £32,000 • the average price...
by Brian Downton | J, Aug, 2017 | blog, mortgages
The decision to sell up and move to a smaller property could come as a result of children flying the nest, the need to free up cash, or both. Whatever the reason, there are costs to downsizing that are important to know about before you make the move. The ‘hidden’...
by Brian Downton | J, Jul, 2017 | blog, mortgages
The way landlords can claim tax relief on their mortgage finance costs has changed. Up until 5 April 2017, landlords could deduct mortgage interest from their rental income before calculating how much tax they should pay. Now, however, tax relief on Buy to Let...
by Brian Downton | J, Jul, 2017 | blog, general
Two thirds of working households in the UK consider themselves to be ‘just about managing’ financially, according to research. The Resolution Foundation, which researches the living standards of those on low to middle incomes, has identified six million Jams (as they...
