by Brian Downton | J, Jan, 2016 | blog, general
As spring moves into summer, people can start to think about their physical shape and how good they look in their holiday clothes. How about also taking a few minutes to look at your financial shape? Making sure you’ve ticked off all the boxes in this 10-step...
by Brian Downton | J, Jan, 2016 | blog, general
With university fees of up to £9,000 a year and predictions that students might be paying back their loans in their 50’s, financial planning after graduation has never been more important. This blog article will explore the top ten most important financial...
by Brian Downton | J, Jan, 2016 | blog, protection
After a lifetime of saving and prudence, you may well have accumulated a great deal of personal financial wealth that will outlast you. However, without a will to state who will benefit from your wealth, much of the hard work you have put in over the years might be...
by Brian Downton | J, Jan, 2016 | blog, general
Paying tax is an onerous duty and one we all wish we didn’t have to do. Judging by recent newspaper headlines, it seems that if you are rich and famous tax avoidance is almost compulsory. Whilst actual tax evasion is illegal (ie stashing it under your mattress), tax...
by Brian Downton | J, Jan, 2016 | blog, wealth-management
“Breaking up is never easy” but sometimes it’s the best you can do. The Abba hit “Knowing Me, Knowing You” was released in 1976. A lot has changed since then, but breaking up still remains a painful and potentially expensive matter. The Basics of Divorce There are...
by Brian Downton | J, Jan, 2016 | blog, wealth-management
Retirement isn’t what it used to be. A century ago, when old age pensions were first introduced, life expectancy was far lower than it is today. After a life of hard manual work, most people of retirement age, enjoyed on average, only 31 percent of their total...
by Brian Downton | J, Jan, 2016 | Budget
On 8th July 2015, George Osborne will deliver the first completely Conservative budget since Kenneth Clarke in 1996. Given that George Osborne delivered his last budget on 18th March 2015, you could well we asking yourself “Why do we need another budget now?” The...
by Brian Downton | J, Jan, 2016 | blog, wealth-management
The phrase “use it or lose it” is very relevant to ISAs. As of April 6th 2015 you have 366 days to save up to £15,240 in your ISA. Even though 2016 is a leap year, giving you an extra day to achieve this, it’s recommended to get off the starting blocks quickly. Let’s...
