Five essential tips to protect yourself from financial scams

Posted by siteadmin on Wednesday 11th of September 2024

2 Five-tips-to-protect-yourself-from-financial-scams-1-Twitter.png

Cybercriminals use a wide range of tactics to con people out of their money. Stay one step ahead with these five crucial tips to avoid financial scams.

1. Stay informed

Knowing how to spot a financial scam is your first line of defence. Fraudsters are constantly changing their tactics so regularly educating yourself about common approaches like phishing, identity fraud and romance scams are crucial to staying one step ahead.

Action Fraud and other consumer protection organisations offer a wealth of valuable resources and updates on emer...


Investing for children

Posted by siteadmin on Wednesday 28th of August 2024

As a parent, you want to do everything you can to ensure that your children have a bright and secure future. One way to do this is by investing on their behalf. Not only can they start adulthood with some savings, but getting children involved early with saving also helps them learn important lessons about money.

The earlier you start investing, the better. Time is a powerful tool when it comes to investing, and the longer you have, the more time your money has to grow. Even if you can only contribute a small amount each month, starting ear...


The Value of Mortgage Advice

Posted by siteadmin on Wednesday 21st of August 2024

Harry and Sam have been staying with Harry’s dad in his two-bedroomed terrace for just over a year while they save up a deposit for their first house. The lack of space and privacy has proved challenging to say the least and would now like to start searching for their own house.

Despite having saved up a good deposit, friends have warned the couple they would have no chance of getting a mortgage due to their working situation. Sam is a self-employed, successful roofer, but has only been working for himself for two years. His friends have to...


Tips to finding your first home

Posted by siteadmin on Wednesday 7th of August 2024

2 Tips-to-finding-your-first-home-1-Twitter.png

Searching for your first home can be an overwhelming experience, but when it’s the biggest purchase of your life, you need to ensure that it’s right for you. There are so many things to consider, so to help you with one of the biggest decisions in your life, we have drawn up some helpful tips and guidance when finding your first home.

Start with an open mind

There is the danger of becoming too fixated on certain locations or certain properties. It’s important to be open when searching for your first home, ensuring that you’re considering...


The Value of Investment Advice

Posted by siteadmin on Wednesday 31st of July 2024

Seeking advice on how to look after your money may not be as fun as the immediate thrill of spending it, but it could be a rewarding decision in the long run.

Investing can be a daunting task, especially if you're not sure where to start, that’s where advice can be handy. A financial adviser can help you understand your financial situation, develop an investment plan, and choose the right investments for your needs to meet your goals.

 

Value of investment advice

Assess where to invest – Getting advice from a financial adviser can expose...


The essentials you need to know about credit checks before borrowing money

Posted by siteadmin on Wednesday 10th of July 2024

2 SMC_Blog-credit-check.jpg

The information a lender finds during a credit check is important – it could affect whether you’re able to borrow money, including through a mortgage, and the interest rate you’re offered. Yet, they can also seem perplexing.

Indeed, a Royal London survey found that a third of Brits had never looked at their credit report.

The good news is that we can help you cut through the jargon, so you feel more confident next time you apply for a loan.

Lenders usually carry out a credit check to assess how much risk you pose

Lenders carry ...


2024/25 tax year planning - Retirement planning

Posted by siteadmin on Wednesday 3rd of July 2024

2 STY-web-banner-1024x256px_aw-1.jpg

Don’t put it off

Retirement can often seem a long way off – but the choices you make before you stop working can have an enormous impact on the kind of life you enjoy when you finally call time on the nine to five. Our trusted and highly-skilled team of advisers are on hand to give you the best possible advice, making a potentially stressful process far easier.


There are several considerations you need to take into account as part of that planning process. So, we’ve put together a quick checklist to make sure that the decisions you make ...


The effect of psychology on investors

Posted by siteadmin on Wednesday 26th of June 2024

You should base financial decisions on logic and facts. But psychology can have a much larger effect than you think, and it can lead to you making decisions that aren’t right for you. Read on to find out more about what behavioural finance is and how it could affect you.

“Behavioural finance” was first coined in the 1970s by economist Robert Shiller and psychologists Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky. They used the term to refer
to how unconscious biases and previous experiences affect the way people make financial decisions.

It can be used ...


Are you self-employed? We can help you navigate the mortgage market

Posted by siteadmin on Wednesday 12th of June 2024

Blog image self-employed 2.jpg

Do you feel like you have to jump through more hoops when applying for a mortgage just because you’re self-employed? And not sure which way to turn?

We’re here to help. We are mortgage advisers and we can help you navigate the self-employed mortgage market and any of the challenges you may face.

What is a self-employed mortgage?

There isn't a specific product called a self-employed mortgage, you will be applying for the same mortgages as those who are employed. The key difference is that lenders look at self-employed earnings differentl...


Don’t Fit the Mortgage Mould? We can help you.

Posted by siteadmin on Wednesday 5th of June 2024

3 Blog image - don't fit the mortgage mould 2.jpg

If you've ever felt like you don't quite fit the conventional mould when it comes to securing a mortgage, you're not alone. In fact, more and more people are in the same boat, challenging the standard lending rules.

If you’re self-employed, had a credit blip or over 50 you may have encountered challenges when applying for a mortgage because traditional mortgages don't always cater to everyone's needs. Luckily, there are specialist mortgage products designed just for people like you and we can help.

Self-Employed?

Do you feel like you h...


Archive