Money Matters Advice from the Experts

You’ll be gone, but don’t forget...

One of the topics that deeply divides people is whether they should undertake any planning to mitigate the inheritance tax liability that their beneficiaries will face when they are gone.

Last updated 16 September 2011
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk

A wait of expectations

Do you plan to retire in comfort? A new car, perhaps a few exotic holidays and generally spending your time doing the things you’ve always wanted to?

Last updated 16 September 2011
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk

A trust can have its tax benefits

Regular readers cannot fail to have noticed that I believe that the trust is an extremely useful instrument in managing one’s financial affairs.

Last updated 9 September 2011
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk

Who’s showing an interest?

As an independent financial adviser I talk to clients every day about various issues surrounding their financial planning needs.

Last updated 26 August 2011
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk

Know your business to let banks help

businessdistrict268 We all know that choosing the right banking products is important; this is even more crucial when it comes to your business.

Last updated 26 August 2011
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk

Get turned on to an offset mortgage

stackcoins157 The reductions in interest rates over the last few years may have been good news for borrowers, but the same cannot be said for savers.

Last updated 22 August 2011
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk

Can you ride out the recessionary storm?

As I write this article world stock markets are in turmoil. Markets which had rebounded strongly at the end of the last recession appear to be entering muddy waters once more.

Last updated 19 August 2011
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk

Face this problem head on

houses198 Most households have been impacted by the economic climate over the past few years, with increased bills, reduced income or even loss of employment.

Last updated 19 August 2011
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk

Beat the tax man, fill up your ISA allowance

stackcoins128 Individual savings accounts – or ISAs – were introduced more than a decade ago.

Last updated 12 August 2011
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk

Don’t let your dream holiday home become a nightmare

What a beautiful dream it would be to have your own holiday home – probably somewhere in the sun. But if your dream is not to turn into a financial nightmare, you should make sure that you are well prepared for the potential pitfalls.

Last updated 12 August 2011
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk

Don’t get caught out by credit cards

The basics

Last updated 5 August 2011
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk

Government scheme will help buyers from the first rung up

firsttime58 The last decade was not particularly kind to first-time buyers. Demand and competition for houses in the first half of the decade caused prices to rise at an alarming rate. The ‘credit crunch’ put a stop to the seemingly endless price rises, but also resulted in mortgages becoming much more difficult to obtain as lenders demanded large deposits and adopted much tighter lending criteria.

Last updated 5 August 2011
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk

Doorstep ‘tax haven’ will be bad news for Cumbrians

edinburgh297 A tax haven is a country or jurisdiction where tax rates are markedly lower than is the norm. Many are in far flung parts of the world such as the Caribbean but some, such as Malta and Cyprus, are in the EU.

Last updated 29 July 2011
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk

Don’t wreck your chances for successful renovation

converted297 Buying a run-down property to renovate is an attractive option for home buyers who are motivated by the prospect of achieving a profit from the increase in its value after the improvement works are completed.

Last updated 29 July 2011
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk

Support for that first step

dragonsden205 You could be considering becoming your own boss for a variety of reasons. It could stem among other things from a change in personal circumstances, a good business idea or a specific business opportunity coming your way.

Last updated 22 July 2011
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk

How you can make your money grow, despite the gloom

tractor217 The June inflation figures released on July 12 by the Office for National Statistics gave some good news – the annual rate of inflation fell, with the consumer price index (CPI) figure standing at 4.2 per cent down from 4.5 per cent in May and the retail price index (RPI) figure down from 5.2 per cent to five per cent.

Last updated 22 July 2011
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk

Who picks up the care tab?

The provision for long-term care for the elderly is a subject that is constantly in the media and, with the annual cost of a room in a nursing home estimated to be on average £35,984 (source: Care of Elderly People UK Market Survey 2010/11), how to pay for care can be a major concern for many people.

Last updated 18 July 2011
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk