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Last January, as a new decade dawned, little did we know how the next 12 months would unfold. Now, as another year begins, there are growing shoots of optimism but, whatever the year does bring, a crucial lesson from 2020 is undoubtedly the need to prioritise financial wellbeing in order to ensure we can cope […]

Whatever 2021 has in store, we want to reassure you that we’re here for you and your financial planning needs. In addition to uncertainties created by the pandemic, Brexit, trade and political issues will no doubt persist. As always, the only real certainty is that we live in uncertain times. There are many factors involved […]

When the property market reopened in mid-May last year, pent-up demand, combined with many people reassessing their housing needs following lockdown, led to a surge in buyer demand. Demand was further bolstered when, in July, the Chancellor announced a Stamp Duty holiday, during which the first £500,000 of most residential property purchases in England and […]

Most people (98%)1 appreciate the impact their home has on their sense of wellbeing, which can be thrown into turmoil if problems with neighbours present. Nearly two thirds of Britons (64%) have had a dispute with a neighbour2, with Welsh residents having the most gripes (72%), followed by those in Northern England (70%), South West […]

According to Barclaycard Payments1, the UK population spent £40.6bn, or a staggering £771.34 each, on dispensable items to alleviate lockdown boredom. The ordinary… Popular purchases included takeaways (24%), summer clothes (19%) and garden plants and flowers (16%) – but not everybody was so conventional. And the bizarre Topping the list of the weirdest items purchased […]

Granny and Grandad lend a hand Nearly half (48%) of grandparents have stepped in to shore up their financially-struggling grandchildren during the pandemic1. This help has come in the form of cash (32%), childcare (8%) and assistance with rent and mortgage payments (6%). FCA announces new mortgage support Borrowers struggling to make their mortgage repayments […]

It seems the months spent at home have been put to good use as the nation reflected on their living space and chose to spend an average of just over £4,000 each on renovating their homes, since lockdown commenced in March. A study1 has highlighted that the key area for improvement has been upgrades to […]

Are you on the ball? ScamSmart campaign targets football fans In the last three years, over £30m has been lost to pension scammers, with losses ranging from under £1,000 to £500,000, with some rare cases topping the £1m marker. A new ScamSmart campaign is aimed at football fans, after discovering they are highly likely to […]

If so, you’re part of 37% of the UK population who managed to put away more money during lockdown, as daily expenditure on commuting and leisure activities dramatically decreased. What’s more, it looks like Britain’s growing army of savers are here to stay, with 36% stating they aim to keep cutting costs post-lockdown1. Could savings […]

Your first port of call should be getting your finances in good shape before lenders review them and assess your ability to make repayments on your loan. Some top tips for standing yourself in good stead include:  Save – To improve the chances of being offered a mortgage on favourable terms, save as much as […]