by Brian Downton | J, Sep, 2016 | blog, protection
It’s official: Raising a child is now more expensive than buying the average house. Average price of a semi-detached house in the UK = £219,255. Cost of raising a child to age 21 in the UK = £231,843. You’ve insured your home, but how do you go about insuring your...
by Brian Downton | J, Sep, 2016 | blog, protection
Most of us wouldn’t think twice about protecting our home, car, TV or smart phone – we even insure our holidays and pets. But there’s one aspect of protection that too few of us consider – what happens to our homes and our livelihoods in the event we have an...
by Brian Downton | J, Sep, 2016 | blog, general
Everyone is unique. We all think – and work – differently. Some people are good with words, and others, numbers. The same might be true when it comes to planning and managing our finances. But however different our approaches might be, we probably all have similar...
by Brian Downton | J, Sep, 2016 | blog, protection
Between 3 December 2015 and 3 January 2016 there were over 22,000 flood claims, with an estimated £1.3bn being paid by insurers following the destruction caused by storms Desmond, Eva and Frank. How do you know if you’re at risk? More than 5.5 million homes are...
by Brian Downton | J, Aug, 2016 | blog, protection
If you’ve ever imagined your own funeral do you think of a grand procession and a marble headstone or an altogether more demure affair? Before you start planning your funeral make sure you know fact from fiction. For instance, did you know: you don’t have to use...
by Brian Downton | J, Aug, 2016 | blog, general
Dividends Allowance As of April 2016 the Dividend Tax Credit has been replaced by a new tax-free Dividend Allowance. This means you won’t have to pay tax on the first £5,000 of your dividend income, no matter what non-dividend income you have. Any dividends you...
by Brian Downton | J, Aug, 2016 | blog, mortgages
European legislation hits the UK mortgage market Back in March 2011 the European Commission proposed a new directive on credit agreements for consumers secured on property, referred to as the European Mortgage Credit Directive (MCD). The new rules came into force on...
by Brian Downton | J, Aug, 2016 | blog, protection
Ever bought something online that doesn’t quite fit? Sticking with the same provider year-on-year for financial products such as insurance or savings accounts may mean you’re not getting the best deal. But using price comparison sites when renewing your policy isn’t...
