I will often advise clients that Banks and Building Societies are for banking your money and nothing more. Their other services such as financial advice fail to offer value for money with extortionate commissions taken by advisers offering often the banks own products which are generally poor performers. They offer no ongoing service to these [...]

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While I am in blogging mood, I thought I would update you on my views on interest rates. Over the last 12 months I have indicated that I felt interest rates would remain stable with possibly 1 or 2 rate rises before Spring 2012. I now honestly believe in light of the current climate, interest [...]

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I have indicated to many clients this year that I expected little or no growth. Most recently, the markets have declined, and sharply so this morning due to the ongoing concerns with the debt crisis in Europe. Italy is now stealing the headlines with previous countries including Greece, Ireland, Portugal and Spain having made names [...]

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The Coalition released its latest budget yesterday and here is a summary of the main points. The Coalition will consult on simplifying tax system by merging income tax and National Insurance although NI will not be extended to the over 65′s. 2011 to 2012, Personal Allowances for Non and Basic Tax payers will increase by [...]

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Many clients are wondering about the new rules from pensions that apply from April this year.You will have heard in the press about the scrapping of compulory annuitisation at age 75. To be honest it never really existing anyway and the new rules are just a slightly different version of what was already there. However [...]

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