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Base rate: all you need to know
You have more than likely heard the term ‘base rate’ banded around in the news over the
last few months, but what does it actually mean? Why does one rate have such an impact on so many mortgage products nationwide and why has the base rate risen? We take a
look at all you need to know about the base rate and how it can affect you...
Smoking and Vaping: how can it impact your insurance?
New research conducted by Royal London has revealed that smokers can save up to £16,000
on life insurance premiums by quitting. According to the insurer, non-smokers could be entitled to lower rate premiums if they have avoided tobacco, or nicotine
replacement products such as e-cigarettes, for at least a year. So, how much of an impact on your life insurance can stopping smoking have?...
Spring statement: VAT cut for going green
The announcement of the spring statement brought the news that VAT on energy saving materials is set to be scrapped. Chancellor Rishi Sunak said the move was partly due to
rising energy costs as homeowners look to use as little energy as possible in order to save on their bills. The move will see materials such as solar panels, heat pumps
and insulation be entirely exempt from VAT for the next 5 years...
What will ‘levelling up’ mean for you?
At the beginning of February, the government released their ‘levelling up’ white paper –
a document that sets out a “complete system change” of how government operates that will be put into practice in order to level up the UK. The paper outlines 12 new
national missions with a view to them being achieved by 2030. So, what are these new missions and how could they impact you?... How essential is Income Protection?
It’s relatively common knowledge now that the cost of living will be going up in April
of this year and there is plenty of apprehension surrounding the subject. Now with recent events in Europe heightening that concern, many plan to slash any non-essential
outgoings in order to help deal with the increased energy costs – so where does Income Protection fall on the scale of necessity?... Average asking prices for UK homes soar in February
The average asking price for homes in the UK rose sharply in February as strong demand for properties in London and elsewhere with homes in shorter supply. According to
Rightmove, asking prices have experienced the biggest monthly increase since the company started recording such data in 2001. With property prices already high, this
revelation comes as welcome news for homeowners looking to sell... Does the interest base rate rise affect you?
You may already be aware that on Thursday the Bank of England increased the base rate from 0.25% to 0.5%. This is big news in the financial services industry and could
have a significant impact on your mortgage and savings. To discuss all of your options following the base rate rise or to simply talk through the best solution for you contact your adviser today.
New year, new protected you? Protection in 2022
2021 was another unprecedented year for the Insurance industry with climate
change summits, wildfires, stuck cargo ships and of course the COVID-19 pandemic. It seems that everything that has happened over the last 12 months has
presented a new challenge for the industry, challenges that are regularly being overcome...
How to move safely during the pandemic
As more uncertainty looms overhead with the Covid-19 pandemic seemingly worsening once again, the potential for further restrictions is a constant consideration on
the minds of many. Restrictions can play havoc with anyone’s plans, but what happens when it comes to moving house? Covid has been around for a while now and
we’ve all learned a lot in the process, so we thought we’d put together some top tips for moving house safely during the global pandemic...
Key worker products – what’s out there?
After nearly two years of key workers holding the country up on their shoulders through
their immeasurable effort and sacrifice throughout the pandemic, more and more mortgage products are becoming available with exclusive benefits specifically for key
workers. So, what do you need to know when it comes to benefiting from these special rates?... Critical illness cover – what you need to know
Critical illness cover (or CIC) is a type of insurance that is often sold alongside life
insurance. It is designed to provide you and your family with financial stability if one of you were to fall seriously ill. It’s of course not a nice thing to think about
but preparing for the worst is always a good way to ensure you have a safety net to fall back on if a critical illness were to prevent you from going to work... Rising Inflation: How does it affect you?
Base rate rise: How will you be affected?
The Bank of England recently announced an increase to its base rate from 0.1% to
0.25%. This will inevitably have an affect on everyone in the country. With further increases potentially set to occur in the next couple of years – how could
this change affect your mortgage, your finances and your day-to-day life...
First homes: is now the time to buy?
Although it is likely that interest and mortgage rates will increase as we hopefully
head towards the light at the end of the COVID tunnel, there are still plenty of rates currently at an all-time low. The stamp duty holiday may be over, however, the
housing market is still in an exceedingly positive place with high demand and low interest rates... AMI release latest protection industry report
Earlier this month, AMI released their latest report that opens up some really
intriguing protection-based conversations. The report delves into several recent surveys of consumers and advisers alike that have provided some surprising (and
some unsurprising) statistics. Chair of AMI, Andrew Montlake, said that this report “represents a continuing journey to help understand and improve the industry
not just for those within it, but more importantly for the thousands of people that choose to work with... Zero-carbon homes: a look to the future
Hope Rises in Bristol is offering revolutionary social housing solutions for young people at risk of homelessness by building net-zero carbon homes. These homes
were on display at the COP26 to showcase green housing solutions that tackle both the housing crisis and the climate crisis – but could this be a common form of
housing in the future?... First time buyers: what are the options?
2021 has seen some welcome good news in the first-time buyer market, with mortgage
affordability for people buying their first home improving by 20% since the turn of the year according to Mortgage Broker Tools’ latest index. We take a look at some of
the newer options available to first-time buyers that can help to get you on the property ladder... Mental health support: What do insurers offer?
From one pandemic to another, mental health struggles are all too familiar to a large
percentage of UK residents. An invisible illness can be hard to battle and even harder to explain – especially to an employer. Issues with mental health can be an
incredibly valid reason to take time away from work to recover, so we’ve delved into what insurers can help you get back into the best frame of mind... Self-employed mortgages: what are the options?
The global pandemic has forced thousands of people up and down the country either permanently or temporarily out of work. With a spike in job losses and redundancies, more
people than ever have decided to become self-employed. Without a steady, guaranteed monthly income, getting a mortgage while self-employed can be a daunting task, so let’s
take a look at the options available to you...
How you can save energy at home
Now that summer is officially over and the cold winter months draw ever closer, there’s
no doubt energy bills will be on the minds of many. To put your worries at ease, here are some top tips to help you save energy as the nights grow longer...
Understanding General Insurance
With normality resuming and furlough coming to an end, many people are returning to
their pre-covid lifestyles. Throwing caution to the wind, however, is never normally the best option – and the same applies when getting insured. General insurance is a
nonlife insurance cover for damage or loss that can cover all sorts of things to help protect yourself as the world begins to move on from the pandemic...
The buy-to-let market: where are we now?
After a whirlwind past 18 months, it would seem some form of normality is on the horizon. The pandemic has changed the face of the housing industry drastically given the
unprecedented level of uncertainty we were all subjected to. So, how has the buyto-let (BTL) market changed as we finally emerge from the other side?...
Working from home – how has it changed?
It would seem that we’ve made it through the worst of the pandemic with life slowly
starting to return to normal. Workers are now legally allowed to return to offices up and down the country with the worst of the Covid-19 pandemic thought to be behind us
- but has 18 months of flexible working opened the door for working from home to become the ‘new normal’...
Child Protection: What are the options?
With ‘back to school’ time now upon us, we take a look at what the protection industry
has to offer when it comes to child cover. No one ever wants to think about a child falling ill but preparing for the worst is always a good mindset when it comes to
protection...
What is Open Banking?
Green Mortgages: is sustainability the way forward?
The climate crisis is a real concern amongst most people in today’s world. More and more
people are taking measures in their everyday lives in order to combat the effects of climate change – but can your living situation benefit both the planet and your
pocket?... Re-mortgaging and home offices: does flexible working mean flexible living?
Over 50% of British homeowners are looking to renovate in 2021. With home offices
skyrocketing in popularity due to the pandemic and an increase in flexible working – we take a look at how best to go about setting up your own home working area and how
financing such a task through Remortgaging can be beneficial... The end of Furlough – how to stay covered
As Covid restrictions finally begin to ease in the UK, many who were forced out of work due to the virus are now able to return to something that vaguely resembles
normality. With this, the end of the furlough scheme is in sight...
Loan to income vs loan to value: what does it all mean?
Loan to income and loan to value (or LTV) are phrases you often hear in the mortgage
industry. The two terms are easy to mix up, understandably, but they are very different. It’s important to know the difference because both loan to income and loan to
value are key factors used to determine how much you can borrow for a mortgage.
Critical illness cover vs income protection: do you need both?
Critical illness cover and income protection are often confused, with many people
assuming if they have one, they don’t need the other. However, these policies and the cover they provide do offer different benefits, so let us explain the difference, and
why it’s often worth having both.
What is ‘specialist lending’?
Specialist lending is a phrase you might
hear batted about by mortgage advisers, but what does it mean? And if someone’s suggested it as an option for you, you might be wondering if it’s a bad thing. Well, here
is our guide to everything specialist lending. What is remortgaging?
Over 30% of people aren’t sure what the term ‘remortgaging’ means but it is a great way
to save money on your monthly mortgage payments! If you’re one of the many people in the dark about remortgaging then don’t worry, you’re not alone and we’re here to help.
Here’s our complete guide to remortgaging... Is your relationship protected?
Can you hear it? The sound of chocolates, roses and PDA approaching. Valentine’s day is
round the corner. It might not be the most romantic thing to do but now is a great time to make sure your policies are keeping you and your loved one protected. Your
relationship might be ready for the next step but is your insurance?... Holiday Homes: the how, where and why of buying a second property
We don’t know about you, but we’re really
craving a holiday. Sun, sea and sand… yes please. 2021 may be another year of staying a little closer to home. But don’t despair. You can still create a getaway of your
very own with a second home. So, here’s our guide to buying a holiday home... |
