Independent financial advisers were responsible for 2% of the complaints made by customers with regards to the financial services industry last year, according to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) a drop of 1% compared with the previous 12 month period.
However, the number of disputes against banks rose by 2%, giving them a [...]
ISA money:National Savings are offering a good instant access 2.5% from as little as £100 deposit.
Longer term fixes Leek Building Society 5 year 4.40% if you have the full £5 100. Or Nationwide Building Society at 4.25% fixed 4 years from only £1.
Non ISA money: With ICICI Bank you can lock away for [...]
With property values bottoming out and signs of the return to small but positive increases in values lenders are slowly starting to reduce the amount they need as deposit. The rates are not softening much at all, even though savers are seeing their interest payments continually cut.
The best rate for a first time buyer [...]
These are the four phases of an economic cycle and as mentioned earlier we have moved out of recession, only just and entered the recovery phase. Each phase is characterised by different behaviour of interest rates, inflation and activity.
In this phase we expect an environment of low inflation
and rising output
If history is any guide, the [...]
For those bold enough investing globally for bonds and equities seems to be the way ahead.I regularly attend seminars, read financial papers and there is a consensus that most fund management groups believe the perception of where we invest will change over the next few years. The UK while not likely to fall [...]
The starting point for stamp duty was raised from £125,000 to £250,000 for two years for first time buyers in the Budget yesterday.
But there has been much confusion over what exactly the definition of a first-time buyer is and who can benefit from the chancellor’s announcement.
According to HM Revenue & Customs, a first time [...]
Good news. From 6 April 2011 the ISA limits will be increased in line with inflation on an annual basis. Should the RPI figure be negative and there is a real chance of this in the future, there will be no change to the ISA subscription limits. The cash ISA limit will continue to be [...]
The 2008 Pre-Budget Report has now been confirmed and the 2010/11 rates for the lifetime allowance of £1.8 million and the annual allowance of £255,000, will not increase and those rates will continue to apply for a further five tax years up to and including the tax year 2015/16.
Tax relief at 40% for [...]
A number of life offices have confirmed the life and critical illness payouts for the last year.The average age for a payout out on a life policy was mid fifties, but 44 for critical illness.
Legal and General rejected less than 2% of claims for non-disclosure and around 4% for not meeting policy conditions. Overall [...]
Last year’s Finance Act brought in the anti-forestalling tax net and has left a number of people bemused about paying further amounts into pensions.
With our taxes say VAT likely to go up and personal allowances due to be frozen we should maximise what relief we can secure.
There are key advice opportunities [...]
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