Getting a mortgage in your 50s and beyond used to be a challenge, but things have changed! Nowadays, mortgage lenders are more willing to help older applicants buy homes or refinance. So, if you're thinking about getting a mortgage later in life, here's what you need to know.

Age limits and what lenders look for: Let's start with age limits. Lenders usually have their own rules about how old you can be when your mortgage needs to be repaid. It varies, but usually, you'll see age limits ranging from 70 to 85 years old, sometimes even up to 9...

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves outlined the Government’s financial plans for the next five years. The measures, which will raise up to £40 billion for public finances, aim to “restore economic stability” and put “more pounds in people’s pockets”.

On 30 October 2024, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves announced the UK Government’s Autumn Budget alongside the Office of Budget Responsibility’s economic and fiscal forecast. The measures aim to raise more than £40 billion in taxes, plugging an alleged £22 billion black hole ...

In Labour’s first Budget since taking office, the Chancellor announced her plans to fix the so-called ‘black hole’ in the UK’s public finances and increase investment in public services, setting out £40 billion worth of tax rises.

While changes to stamp duty did form part of her plans, an extension or permanent change to stamp duty relief for movers and first-time buyers was sadly not included. So, what does this mean for those looking to move or buy?

What is stamp duty?

Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) is the tax you pay when you buy a prope...

Getting a mortgage in your 50s and beyond used to be a challenge, but things have changed! Nowadays, mortgage lenders are more willing to help older applicants buy homes or refinance. So, if you're thinking about getting a mortgage later in life, here's what you need to know.

Age limits and what lenders look for: Let's start with age limits. Lenders usually have their own rules about how old you can be when your mortgage needs to be repaid. It varies, but usually, you'll see age limits ranging from 70 to 85 years old, sometimes even up to 9...

Life is busy, we get it. But is anything more important than being in control of your future? Recent research* suggests that only 44% of UK adults have made a will, which means that you’re far from alone if you haven’t yet got around to completing what, for some, appears to be a daunting task.

It’s always worth bearing in mind that if you die without a will, the law decides who inherits everything you own (your assets) according to certain criteria called ‘intestacy rules’. So your assets may not be divided up as you would like, meaning you...

As we approach the end of the tax year, there’s still time for you to support your family finances, and ensure you use your allowances in an efficient manner.

Kick start your child’s financial future

Saving for your children’s future is a huge responsibility, although a rewarding one. To give your child a head start in life, you can open a child’s pension or a Junior ISA.

Both can be opened and managed on behalf of the child by a parent or guardian until the child’s 18^th birthday. The pension limit is currently set at 100% of the child’s ...

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 out a cred...

Cancer impacts so many of us 

Cancer is a disease that leaves very few of us untouched. Statistics from Cancer Research UK suggest that as many as one in two people born after 1960 will be diagnosed with some form of the disease over the course of their lifetime.  

That’s the kind of statistic that makes you think. Little wonder that one of the most common questions clients ask is whether private medical insurance covers the disease. With soaring waiting times and the NHS stretched like never before, it’s one that has assumed ever greater ...

Life can be full of surprises. You can’t be prepared for everything. You may have some insurance to support you financially if the unexpected happens, but have you considered how private medical insurance might offer you and your family the peace of mind you need if your health takes a turn for the worst?

A growing trend
According to data published by The Telegraph, close to half a million people have taken out private medical insurance over the past year, as NHS waiting lists hit record levels this autumn. According to governmen...