Home aspects

Close to home - planning also includes your home and may extend to the children, trusts, separation and divorce and so on.

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Buying a house

Buying a house can be a stressful and complicated process, with a number of potential obstacles along the way. With the financial crisis resulting in the reduction in the value of property and the tightening of mortgage lending criteria, thedecision to buy a house for the first time or trade up has been made even more difficult, or maybe impossible.

Which mortgage? How much can you borrow?

Taking out a mortgage on a property is a significant financial decision. For many people it represents the largest amount of money they will borrow in their lifetime, so it is particularly important to make an informed decision about which mortgage is best for you.

Insuring your home

The key aim of insurance policies is to provide financial protection for the various eventualities which can happen in life. Knowing you are covered in the event of an accident offers peace of mind and financial security.

Tax aspects of your home

Tax aspects of your home.

Working from home

Some of us have to work at home; others see the idea as the perfect solution to a noisy office, endless interruptions, or a long and expensive commute. But if you are seriously thinking of leaving the office on a permanent basis, there are a number of questions you must first consider.

Home-working expenses

If you work at home, you will want to claim the extra costs of running a home office on your tax return, or from your employer. There are different rules for different taxpayers and what can be claimed will also depend on your employment status.

Student fees - the 2011 plans

Universities should be allowed to set their own fees for students, Lord Browne's review of higher education funding has proposed.

The review has sided with increased student fees rather than recommending a graduate tax which would have seen students charged repayments on their loans according to their tax status.

There would, however, be some form of income assessment when it comes to deciding how much students repay on their loans under Lord Browne's plans.

Strategies for you and your family

No matter what your age, personal or financial status, you will have dreams, and expectations. The impact of the recession necessitates a review in order to evaluate what realistic view you take of your planning. We can advise and help you plan how to make your goals a reality.

Separation and divorce

It is an unfortunate fact of modern life that many marriages do not survive. When separation, divorce or dissolution occurs, there will almost inevitably be some tax consequences.

Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit

These tax credits replaced Working Families' Tax Credit, Disabled Person's Tax Credit and Children's Tax Credit and the child-related elements of Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance.

Choosing travel insurance

Holidays are a time to relax and enjoy yourself. A travel insurance policy can help you to do that, by offering financial protection and peace of mind in the event of an accident, ill health, or loss of property.

Rights for working parents

Being a parent is not easy, but neither is being an employer of parents. Although the requirement to pay tax credits through the payroll to employees has now ceased, there are several forthcoming changes to employment law which are designed to help working parents, and for which employers need to start planning now.

Why you need a lasting power of attorney

The loss of the bread winner can be devastating to any family. One of the steps you can take to reduce the problems your family Will face after your death is to leave a Will, appointing the people you wish to administer your estate and setting out exactly what you wish them to do.

Family trusts

A trust (settlement) arises when a person (the settlor) transfers assets to trustees, who hold the assets for the benefit of one or more persons (the beneficiaries), who will receive income and/or capital from the trust.

Insuring your car

If you drive a car, motorbike or other motorised vehicle, there is a legal requirement under the Road Traffic Act that you take out a motor insurance policy.

Giving to charity

Gift Aid is the main vehicle for tax efficient giving to charities. It applies to any donation whether large or small, regular or one-off.

Keeping the cost of fuel down

These days, it seems, barely a month goes by without some event triggering a fuel price rise - or at least the threat of one.

Funding your children's education, a £40,000+ debt?

Every parent wants to give their children the best possible start in life - but the prospect of funding a child's education right through to university can be daunting. However, with careful planning and good advice, you can avoid those education headaches.