Downton and Ali Associates
info@downtonandali.co.uk
020 3021 0075 or 020 3135 0246
You may have heard the term ‘mortgage prisoners’ but not know exactly what it is. Mortgage prisoners are those who are trapped in their current mortgage deal and are unable to remortgage or move. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has estimated around 150,000...
Since it was launched in 2013, the popular Help to Buy scheme has enabled almost 170,000 households to buy homes; who may not otherwise have been able to. An extension to the successful scheme was announced in the Autumn 2018 budget, now making it available until 2023...
Understanding inflation and its impact on your portfolio is important because rising prices can reduce the value of the money you get back from your investments. What is inflation? Inflation is a term used to describe a rise in prices. In the UK, it is measured by the...
What does average look like? Information released by the Office for National Statistics shows the average British man, Mr Average, is 38, will live to 85 and earns £31,103. The average British woman, Ms Average, is 40, will live to 88 and earns £25,308. The LV= risk...
Whichever side of the Brexit debate you have been on, Friday 31 January 2020 undoubtedly marks a momentous point in the country’s history. For at the stroke of 11pm, the UK will cease to be a member of the EU: the divorce will finally have been sealed. It’s clearly...
When it comes to building your investment portfolio, you might have been warned about avoiding putting all your eggs in one basket. It’s wise to spread your money across a range of different investments. That way, if the value of one of them falls, it should have a...
What music do you want played at your funeral? A quick look at the current top 10 funeral songs turns up some predictable results. 'My Way' by Frank Sinatra is favourite, followed by 'Time to Say Goodbye' in second place. Another more ironic choice is 'Always Look on...
As you approach retirement, you probably want to know when you can afford to stop working. Having worked hard throughout your career you deserve to enjoy your retirement without having to worry about your finances. It may be worth reviewing your pension contributions...
Why you should consider modernising your pension As well as giving you greater freedom over how you access your savings, there are several other benefits when modernising your pension: — Take full control of your pension...
A new survey has revealed the South West is the happiest place to live in the UK, with Wales coming in as the least happy. The survey by Lloyds Bank and YouGov looked at factors such as: home ownership, salary, household size, knowing your neighbours, loneliness,...