Equity Release; the good, the bad and the ugly
A short guide to equity release Some retired people might find themselves house rich, but cash poor. Equity release can be a way of redressing the balance. The language used by equity release firms in the numerous television and newspaper adverts is enticing; “Access the value of your home, tax-free.” How much tax-free cash could […]
Let’s talk about debt
Shortly after the credit crunch, UK household debt (not including mortgages) dropped sharply as lenders, with a reduced appetite for lending money, tightened lending criteria. This slowly loosened in subsequent years and it appears household debt is on the rise again. UK household debt now stands at a record £15,400 per household. The TUC will […]
When doing nothing becomes the most expensive option
I was reading recently that women only save a third of the amount that men do by the time they approach retirement. This worrying statistic is primarily due to time taken out of their careers to look after a family but also due to the fact that there is a gender pay gap, with women […]
Sterling and Law’s Central Investment Proposition
At Sterling and Law it is our view that if a client was to meet with two different advisers and provide them with the same information and objectives the investment advice coming back from the advisers would be very much the same. This is the driving force behind our Central Investment Proposition. It represents the […]
Discipline = Freedom
One of the great things about our modern age is the huge library of information available to us at our fingertips. You may, if you’re like me, simply be unable to imagine how we got anything done before the internet. How did we buy birthday presents for kids? How did we look for new places […]
Why it’s crucial to make a Will
Statistics show that a shocking 70% of people in the UK do not have a Will! These are shocking figures. Life is full of uncertainty and you should be prepared for any situation. In the unfortunate event that you should die unexpectedly, a Will is a must-have document if you want any of your wishes […]
Renting v buying – how do we compare with Europe?
Renting v buying – how do we compare with Europe? I often hear people say that young people in the UK worry too much about getting onto the property ladder. Why not be more like some of our European neighbours, who are happy to rent for their entire lifetimes without feeling robbed? What are the […]
Helping elderly relatives and you plan for the future (part 3)
In the previous 2 notes in this series we have discussed the basic assistance required help an elderly person manage their finances, plus a couple of different options to help pay for their care. Today I wanted to discuss more tax planning around inheritance tax. Last week the Government announced that revenues from inheritance tax […]
Helping elderly relatives and you plan for the future (part 2)
Caring for elderly relatives is a highly stressful time. As it happens to virtually all of us at some point in our lives, there are certain decisions you can make today to make life easier for both you and your relatives or parents. Previously we discussed the importance of making sure wills and powers of […]
Do you want to give your child a financial head start?
At the age of 18, I remember chatting to my friend George who was about to turn 18 himself. George was all excited. He simply couldn’t contain himself and his 18th birthday couldn’t come soon enough. I couldn’t understand what all the fuss was about however, after probing a little further, he revealed to me […]
