Our Blog
Investing for children
As a parent, you want to do everything you can to ensure that your children have a bright and secure future. One way to do this is by investing on their behalf. Not only can they start adulthood with some savings, but getting children involved early with saving also...
What does an interest rate cut mean for mortgages?
Every six weeks or so, all eyes are on the Bank of England and its Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) – the group that decides whether interest rates will be increased, held or cut. How they choose to act has an impact on how much it costs banks to borrow money and what...
The essentials you need to know about credit checks before borrowing money
The information a lender finds during a credit check is important – it could affect whether you’re able to borrow money, including through a mortgage, and the interest rate you’re offered. Yet, they can also seem perplexing. Indeed, a Royal London survey found that a...
It’s time for a fresh look at your finances – where should you start in 2025?
The start of a new year presents a great opportunity to set out your goals and aspirations for the coming 12 months. For others, it can also mean new beginnings, new challenges or simply a fresh start. No matter your mindset for 2025, now is a great time to review...
Have a healthy new year with the additional health services included in your protection insurance
As a new year begins you may want a fresh start for you and your families’ health. Did you know that many insurance policies offer access to a range of health and wellbeing services that can help? You also don’t need to make a claim to use them as your protection...
Stamp Duty relief is changing – what first-time buyers need to know
If you’re a first-time buyer, there are two words that you might not be familiar with – stamp duty. When you are thinking about buying your first home you'll have been saving for a deposit and thinking about how you will pay to kit out your home but there are other...
Movers face upcoming changes to stamp duty relief – what you need to know
If you’re looking to move house, there’s an important date to mark in your calendar – Monday, 31st March 2025. This is the day that the current stamp duty relief will end and thresholds will change in England and Northern Ireland. But what does this mean for your...
New Year’s resolutions over the Christmas period
The festive period seemed to start early this year with Christmas music played in stores from the middle of November. It seems to indicate that people are starting their Christmas preparations well in advance – or certainly that the shops would like them to. As we go...
Saving for your child’s university education
Saving for your child’s university education requires careful planning and budgeting. By starting early, considering investment opportunities, encouraging your child to save, looking for scholarships and bursaries, and planning, you can make saving for university a...
Brian’s Sri Lanka Challenge Day 6: Uda Walawe to Galle (approx. 89km)
This year my annual charity bike challenge takes me to Sri Lanka. It will be a hard challenge with 457km of riding and numerous climbs over 6 days. I am raising funds for The Openwork Partnership Foundation, who give grants to small local charities supported by the...
