Simply Money Newsletter Summer 2017
WHY THE SELF-EMPLOYEDNEED A PENSION NUDGE Working for yourself has never been so popular. According to figures from the Office for National Statistics, there are around 4.8 million self-employed workers in the UK. Whilst many of this number are young people seizing the opportunity to go it alone, some are in their 50s, 60s and […]
Simply Home Finance Summer 2017
HOW THE HOUSING MARKET MUST CHANGE TO MEET NEW NEEDS The arrival of the summer months is usually a busy time for estate agents. However, it seems that the market is being held back by a lack of supply. In their April survey, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors reports that there is a marked […]
U-turn on probate fees
Ahead of the general election, the government postponed plans for a sharp rise in probate fees. Obtaining a grant of probate is the process by which someone is given authority to deal with the property, money and possessions of a person after they die. It is usually applied for by the executor of a Will […]
What will baby boomers do with their wealth?
WHAT WILL BABY BOOMERS DO WITH THEIR WEALTH? Although it has been suggested many grandparents are spending the kids inheritance, research1 shows that they are much more likely to be focused on passing money on to the next generation. Indeed, fears have been voiced that they are often putting the needs of other family members […]
Does your mortgage need a makeover?
With interest rates remaining low, and many lenders offering competitive deals, this could be a good time to review your existing mortgage arrangements. The monthly mortgage repayment is often a family’s major outgoing, so it’s a good idea to review your mortgage from time to time to see if there’s a better deal currently available […]
Trends in living
Owning your own home is a desirable goal for many people. However, over the last few years, property prices have kept on rising most of the time, putting the home-owning dream beyond the reach of many. Home ownership has fallen in percentage terms and a higher proportion of home owners than ever before are aged […]
The trouble with the triple lock
The “triple lock” was introduced in 2010 by the coalition government. It’s the government’s guarantee that the state pension will increase each year by whichever is the greatest of CPI inflation, average earnings or 2.5%. Its future looks slightly more certain following the Conservative pact with the DUP. With an ageing population, the cost of […]
Remarriage- Why you need to update your will
If you want to be sure that your wishes concerning your money and possessions will be met when you die, then it’s vital to have an up-to-date Will in place. NOT SAVING ENOUGH Drawing up a Will is a straightforward process and prevents disputes between relatives, enables you to pass your assets on to future […]
Be aware- New online scams reported
Reports from Action Fraud, the UK’s national fraud and cybercrime reporting centre, show that the number falling victim to holiday fraud has soared by a fifth. In 2016, 5,826 cases were reported, up nearly 20% on the previous year. Websites offering non-existent airline tickets, online accommodation and timeshares were amongst the types of scams reported. […]
Parents are more likely to insure their possessions than their health
Whilst 75% of UK families have home contents insurance, only 13% have income protection insurance for themselves or their partner. Yet the data gathered in a recent survey1 reveals that 43% of parents are concerned that they or a member of their family could develop a serious illness. More than one in four UK families […]