Downton and Ali Associates
info@downtonandali.co.uk
020 3021 0075 or 020 3135 0246
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 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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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 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...
Do you feel like you have to jump through more hoops when applying for a mortgage just because you’re self-employed? And not sure which way to turn? We’re here to help. We are mortgage advisers and we can help you navigate the self-employed mortgage market and any of...
Knowing what to do if you’ve been scammed and where to get help is crucial. Here are five key steps to recover from a financial scam. 1. Act quickly Time is crucial when dealing with financial scams. Take immediate action if you think you’ve been scammed to minimise...