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Expert Blogs

Read our experts' opinions here. The writer's views are their own.

Faith seemingly won’t bring in Church funds on its own

16th August 09 By: Resident IFA

I went to a wedding yesterday. I don’t think the Bride and Groom were particularly religious, but it was held in a Church and under Christian doctrine nonetheless. Before we go on, I had better ad...

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Life insurance: Underwriting & Premium ‘rating’ decisions

12th August 09 By: Resident IFA

I am currently dealing with a professional Partnership; the two Partners involved requiring business protection in the form of life insurance. They have worked together for many years, but only for...

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Protecting your family & lifestyle can be affordable

9th August 09 By: Resident IFA

Apart from my oft-quoted perception that most people are strangely apathetic when it comes to protecting ‘them and theirs’, I believe the costs of obtaining adequate protection are perceived to be hig...

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Is your Financial Adviser truly independent?

5th August 09 By: Resident IFA

This Blog has always championed Independent Financial Advisers (IFAs). I believe they provide the widest choice and, often, the greatest expertise. After all, I like all the sizes and all the colo...

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Mortgage & Divorce: A Catch 22 position

2nd August 09 By: Resident IFA

I’m back! Did you miss me? Ok, best to leave it there - don’t ask questions that you probably don’t want to know the answer to… I arranged a Mortgage for a Couple around five years ago. Much as ...

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Off to France!

20th July 09 By: Resident IFA

This is probably more what might be called a ‘Micro-Blog’. I will be leaving work in the next half-hour, then having a frantic time ironing, shopping for travel essentials, and packing my large rucks...

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Financial prudence - The basics

15th July 09 By: Resident IFA

Otherwise known as ‘Teaching Granny how to suck eggs’. I always think if you do the basics of any task well, it gives you a good chance to tackle the harder bits. If you don’t take care of the bas...

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Never boring…and the Income Protection quandary

12th July 09 By: Resident IFA

The band Oasis, the Tour de France, the grand opening of a funeral parlour, a trip to the Dentist, selling a car…what do they have in common? Well, they all feature in my diary over the last week a...

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Commission vs. Fee-based financial advice...more opaque than you thought?

8th July 09 By: Resident IFA

In my Blog of June 14th, I opined thus: “I’ll finish by leading into another topic I feel strongly about and will cover in more depth shortly - ’ New Model Adviser '. This is the FSA’s push (via the ...

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The worst Client call (Death, Probate, and Annuities)

4th July 09 By: Resident IFA

I arrived at my office as usual at 8 a.m. on Thursday. At almost exactly 9 a.m., the telephone rang. On the other end of the line was the female Partner (for 38 years) of a male Client of mine. U...

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Did you miss the Mortgage boat?

1st July 09 By: Resident IFA

On Tuesday June 16th I published a Blog entitled ‘Re-Mortgaging: Now may be the time to fix’. Was I right? Please read on… As happens when you are an IFA (Independent Financial Adviser), Clients ...

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Mortgage area almost here

27th June 09 By: Resident IFA

Within the next few days, lse.co.uk launches its Mortgage area, part of the Personal Finance section. It will be an information-led section as lse.co.uk is not Financial Services Authority (FSA) ...

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Are you a Director or Partner in a company? Read on...

24th June 09 By: Resident IFA

Bar legal or loan-based insurance requirements, i.e. car or buildings, there is no compulsion to insure yourself or your livelihood. I would contest that losing the business you own, and in turn yo...

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Suitability letters, an empty office and a year older

20th June 09 By: Resident IFA

No particular train of thought here today, more some ruminations over my week and my lot. My Co-Director (My friendly nickname for him: ‘His Lordship’) has been away sunning himself in Spain for th...

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Re-Mortgaging: Now may be the time to fix

16th June 09 By: Resident IFA

On April 15th, I Blogged and asked the question “Mortgage rates: When is a good time to buy your next product?” I think the answer is NOW . Trackers Lenders have understandably re-priced the...

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Wraps & Platforms: Concluding thoughts

14th June 09 By: Resident IFA

This is part 2 of my ruminations about my recent visit to a conference for Independent Financial Advisers (IFAs) and the investment industry. Definitions: Wrap – A way of seeing all of your finan...

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KeyData: A warning ‘Structured investment product’ tale

10th June 09 By: Resident IFA

I am up against it today, so sorry for the short, sharp Blog. I will carry through my promise to write again about Platforms and Wraps in the near-future. One item of news that caught my attention...

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Post-Platform Conference ruminations

6th June 09 By: Resident IFA

In my last Blog, I mentioned Wraps and Platforms. I am back from a 2-day conference in Kensington discussing those very topics. The conference was ‘IV’, suggesting it is a yearly event and there h...

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A brief introduction to Wraps and Platforms

2nd June 09 By: Resident IFA

Put simply, ‘Wraps’ is another term to describe how you can have access to all your financial products in one online place. It has most relevance for products such as Pensions and Investments. The...

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Financial Ombudsman Service Annual Review 2008/2009 – Good news for the Independent Financial Adviser

31st May 09 By: Resident IFA

On Wednesday 29th May, the Financial Ombudsman Service (www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk) published its Annual Review , covering the 2008/2009 financial year. For the uninitiated, the Financial Om...

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