Philip Wright's opinion | Date: 27 December 2007

I am thinking of switching adviser, what will happen to the investments I hold with my current adviser?

Sarah Morley's opinion | Date: 31 December 2007

I have £2000 to invest; will an adviser be interested in seeing me?

Matthew O'Grady's opinion | Date: 2 January 2008

Which is better paying fees or commission? How will I know which is best for me?

Carl Brooker's opinion | Date: 19 February 2008

Do people think now is a good time to be investing in the stock market?

Carl Brooker's opinion | Date: 25 February 2008

Or should I hold off until market conditions improve?

Carl Brooker's opinion | Date: 3 March 2008

Carl Brooker's opinion | Date: 26 March 2008

I have heard that mortgage providers are reducing the number of first time buyer mortgages they offer, will I find it harder to get the right mortgage for me?

Carl Brooker's opinion | Date: 31 March 2008

Should I keep my savings in the bank?

Carl Brooker's opinion | Date: 14 April 2008

Carl Brooker's opinion | Date: 17 April 2008

Carl Brooker's opinion | Date: 23 April 2008

Britain’s second largest bank’s share were down 4.7% at £3.55 yesterday valuing the bank at £36 billion. RBS are expected to take additional hits to the value of it’s assets including the ABN AMRO wholesale business it purchased last year.

It looks like the impact of the U.S. subprime mortgage crisis and subsequent credit crunch continues to show it’s ripple effect worldwide.

Carl Brooker's opinion | Date: 25 April 2008

If you are looking to remortgage and are worried about the impact of the credit crunch on your finances, it may be worth considering a longer term fixed rate mortgage and discussing the options with your IFA or Mortgage Adviser.

As well as reducing their product range in response to the credit crunch, lenders have also been changing their pricing and charging more upfront fees. A typical mortgage fee of £1,500 could cost you £7,500 over ten years, if you remortgaged every two years, when the fixed term ends.

However, homeowners looking to take out a fixed rate mortgage deal could actually benefit financially from opting for a five year fixed rate term rather than the more popular two year terms, as this could save them around £4,500 over a ten year period.

Finding a mortgage with a good rate is also important, and some longer term fixed mortgages will restrict your flexibility, so you need to study the detail, however help is at hand as a good mortgage adviser will be able to help you find the right deal.

Carl Brooker's opinion | Date: 2 May 2008

Not surprisingly, investors are taking a cautious approach to investing new money in 2008, but this doesn’t mean investors should do nothing, now is the time to review your portfolio and ensure it will meet your investment needs in more uncertain times.

With market volatility at record levels and uncertainty about the impact of the credit crunch on the economy and personal finances it is not surprising that 2008 has been a slow year for investing new money into equity ISAs.

However, now is a good time to review your portfolio with an IFA (Independent Financial Adviser) and ensure you feel comfortable with your investments.

A year ago, you might have been happy putting extra investment into a higher risk fund, perhaps an Emerging Market fund, but is your attitude to risk still the same, or are you feeling more cautious?

IFAs can help perform a portfolio review and help rebalance your portfolio to align it with your current attitude to your investments.

's opinion | Date: 6 May 2008

Many people believed that property prices could only go one way, and that their property could keep them comfortably in retirement. But with a widely predicted slowdown in the housing market, it may be wiser to diversify your investments.

An IFA (Independent Financial adviser) can help you set up a pension or build a portfolio of investments to help secure your future. Talk to a Financial Adviser today.

Carl Brooker's opinion | Date: 9 May 2008

The Bank of England last week agreed to swap £50bn of residential mortgages on lenders bookers for government bonds in an effort to encourage Banks to lend again, however it is not clear whether this will help first time buyers or remortgagers.

The Council of Mortgage lenders said “We will have to wait and see. Lenders will have to try to use the government bonds to raise funds and this will in part determine whether they can start offering cheaper loans, and by how much. We can’t say how long this will take”.

For first time buyers, many lenders have already increased the level of deposit they demand, with the best rates reserved for those with the largest deposits.

For those looking to remortgage in the next six months, start talking to an IFA or a Mortgage adviser now, especially if you are seeking a tracker loan as their availability and rates are more dependent on the state of the wholesale money markets.

One thing is clear, with products and rates changing so quickly, it is well worth talking through your options with an IFA or a Mortgage adviser.

Carl Brooker's opinion | Date: 15 May 2008

The Government started a consultation this week on reforming elderly and social care.

By 2031, there will be more than 20m people over the age of 60 in Britain and rising age dependency ratios mean it is increasingly difficult for working families to support elderly relatives' Long term care needs.

Home & Capital business development director Simon Little says: "The UK’s ageing population means a growing number of elderly people will require care in the future. But many people’s financial provision in retirement is inadequate – not helped by the end of final salary pension schemes for example – and paying for care is already becoming a struggle.”

One option is equity release whereby elderly homeowners – many of whom are reluctant to seek financial support from family - can stay in their own homes and, where required, use the equity in their properties to cover the costs of care.

For those not yet nearing retirement the solution is long term saving and pension planning to build up financial security for your retirement.

An IFA can advise you on all these options, talk to an adviser today.

Carl Brooker's opinion | Date: 19 May 2008

A survey by research agency NMG into ethical investments found that 23 per cent of advisers have seen an increase in enquiries for green investments. This demand has led to 70 per cent of IFAs who deal in savings, investments and pensions to offer advice on green and ethical investments.

Are you interested in finding out more about ethical investments? Talk to one of our advisers today.

Carl Brooker's opinion | Date: 21 May 2008

Financial advisers have an excellent opportunity to help younger people protect themselves from medical costs, research suggests.

Standard Life Healthcare said that recent research shows that as many as three in four (75%) adults under the age of 25 would like options for funding healthcare presented to them by an adviser.

The insurer's latest research found that around one in every two people (48%) would expect a financial adviser to help them protect themselves from medical costs in case they can not or do not want to wait for NHS treatment.

The research also showed that one in four (27%) people who have used a financial adviser had received advice on saving or insuring against the advent of healthcare costs.

"This shows the increasing awareness of the reality of medical costs as well as the size of the opportunity that still exists for advisers," said Mike Hall, CEO, Standard Life Healthcare.

The research was conducted by TNS and is part of Standard Life Healthcare's regular insights into people's attitudes to customer service, it said. More than 1,000 adults aged 16 and over were interviewed and 70% of those surveyed had previously used a financial adviser.

Carl Brooker's opinion | Date: 27 May 2008

A new report suggests that Equity release products have not been impacted by the credit crunch, with rates remaining steady, in stark contrast to conventional mortgage products.

Equity release is increasingly being used in inheritance tax planning as a way of passing money to heirs, or as an alternative to downsizing.

“The main mortgage market has been awash with increased pricing and reduced loan-to-value lending limits in recent months. The equity release market has remained relatively unscathed in this respect to date, and has not seen the constant repricing and rapid withdrawal of mortgage products evident elsewhere.” said David Black, the report’s author.

So those considering taking out equity release on their homes, either to reduce inheritance tax (IHT), or to provide future income – are being advised to do so now and benefit from the current value of their properties. To find out more, talk to one of our advisers today.

's opinion | Date: 28 May 2008

The number of house repossessions in Wigan is increasing quickly, it has been revealed. The credit crunch and rising cost of borrowing are being blamed after more than 280 repossessions took place in the town in the first quarter of this year – a 19 per cent increase on the same period in 2007.

Now the borough's Lib Dem Euro MP is demanding the British Government take action to provide more free expert financial advice.

The North West is the region with the highest increase in home repossessions since last year – a hike of 24 per cent. The average increase nationally is 16 per cent.

Mr Davies claims this is a visible indicator of the stress felt in many over-borrowed households and is backing his Party's calls for more government help for those affected.

The Liberal Democrats claim that 60,000 homes in the UK are at high risk of repossession.

Their study focused on homeowners spending 75 per cent of their income on mortgage repayment, and found that it is double the number whose homes were repossessed last year.

The party claims a housing crash could be averted through a national network of financial advice centres. Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) usually provides financial advice for those already in debt difficulty but comprehensive support is needed to help people before their debt becomes a crushing burden.

Mr Davies said: "Although there is some financial education and help for people when they are in difficulty, the focus should be on tackling this problem before it occurs.

"As living costs rise and the credit crunch starts to bite, families are forced to cut back on essentials in order to keep a roof above their heads.

"All too quickly a small debt grows out of control and people don't know where to turn." The Lib Dems are also calling for the government to work with the banks to ensure that as many families as possible can stay in their homes, either through payment holidays or part ownership schemes. Mr Davies said: "Repossession must only ever be a last resort. Lenders must seek all possible alternatives before taking such action."

Source Wigan Today

's opinion | Date: 9 June 2008

Retirees are four times more likely to have to return to work if they have never taken independent financial advice, a new report claimed this week.

Looking at the correlation between preparation for retirement and financial wellbeing once retired, the study, by MGM Advantage, also revealed that pensioners are twice as likely to need to downsize property if they have never seen an IFA. It said 50 per cent of retirees in Edinburgh had to cut living standards, the highest level in the UK, despite the city having the highest level of retirees with pension fund investments.

"It is a startling acknowledgement of the contribution financial advisers have made to the quality of life in retirement," said Chris Evans, chief executive of MGM Advantage. "We now know for certain that there's a direct link between financial security in retirement and seeking financial advice, even if you don't have a substantial nest egg."

Source business.scotsman.com

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