Planning Your Financial Future – Diagnosis Before Prescription Is Best!

Look out for Financial Planning Week, coming w/c 21st November. This campaign is promoted by The Institute of Financial Planning (IFP) with the aim to raise awareness of how important Financial Planning is to people’s lives. The IFP say: “Putting some simple financial plans in place and making some smart decisions to help achieve your [...]

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Using Trusted Financial Advisers And Getting Organised

Have you ever decided to clear out the garage or box room that is full of junk that has gathered over the years? It’s a great feeling when all the hard work pays off and you suddenly find you could actually fit the car back into the garage, or have a new room in the [...]

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Planning Your Goals & Big NHS Pension Changes

Recently we’ve touched on the subject of happiness, and what is needed to be happy, click here. We’ve also mentioned the fact that, generally, people can start to really think about living the life they love and want if they are financially secure, and feel in control of their lives. After all, it’s difficult to [...]

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Is Financial Planning The Key To Happiness?

This was the title of an article that appeared in one of the ‘trade mags’ we receive, New Model Adviser. This publication was launched a few years ago to cater for the emerging breed of fee based planners that were seen to be the future, rather than the old fashioned product salespeople that have dominated [...]

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Year End Mini Tax Guide 2011

As we’re now approaching the end of the tax year we thought you might be interested in reading a copy of the latest guide that we’ve compiled. The ‘Year End Mini Tax Guide’ aims to provide you with tips and strategies to help you make the most of your money, and hopefully save tax at [...]

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Financial Adviser / Planner, How Do I Choose One? – Hot Topics Q & A

Q. I’m approaching retirement and have some major financial decisions looming. I think that using the expertise of a good financial adviser will help me, however I’m not sure how to choose the right one as there appears to be so many different types to choose from! How do I find the right one? A. I understand [...]

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Independent Financial Advice – Can A Bank Really Provide It?

As we read a lot of articles every week on a wide variety of subjects, a very common one that keeps on coming up is the appalling reputation of the banks. Time after time we read of the banks’ sales people selling products that are totally unsuitable to unsuspecting customers. Which? Magazine has recently carried [...]

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Tracker Funds vs Active Funds – Where To Invest?”

Readers of Financial Tips will have seen many articles that we have written talking about how to invest your money. It goes something like this: Check if you even need to invest more by having your planner build you your own financial forecast. After all, if your big picture looks very good, why not spend [...]

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Investment Costs – What Is The ‘Real Deal’?

We have visited this subject many times, but make no apology for doing so again. If you currently have investments in Unit Trusts, Stocks & Shares ISAs or Pensions, or are planning to do so, then reading this article could save you a small fortune over, say, 10 – 20 years. Let’s take a look [...]

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Commission or Fees – How Should I Pay For Financial Advice? – Hot Topics Q & A

Q.  I’ve been thinking about using a financial adviser to help me with my retirement planning.  I’ve read a lot about whether one should pay the adviser via commission or fees. Which payment option do you think would be best for me? A. The first point to clarify is that commission is generated when you purchase certain [...]

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