Pension planning for the self-employed

Posted by JSCFinancial on Wednesday 1st of June 2022

There are 4.8 million self-employed people in the UK and only a third have any kind of pension arrangement. A shocking statistic when you consider that State support is shrinking and we’re all living longer.

Of course, saving for a pension when you’re self-employed is not as straightforward as it is for an employed person, who might automatically benefit from a workplace scheme and employer contributions. We’ve outlined some key points below for you to consider:

Don’t rely on the State Pension

Whether you’re employed or self-employed you’...


Why homebuyers need to check their credit score

Posted by JSCFinancial on Wednesday 1st of June 2022

Carly and Steve made serious sacrifices to save a deposit for their first home. To cut costs, they moved from their two-bedroomed flat in the centre of Manchester to a studio flat in one of the less well-regarded suburbs. When the damp and the noisy neighbours got too much, they moved in with Steve’s mum and when her questions about when they were going to start a family got too much, they moved in with Carly’s big sister.

As well as moving home three times in the space of a year, Carly and Steve gave up takeaways, holidays and their gym ...


The value of mortgage advice

Posted by JSCFinancial on Friday 20th of May 2022

Mortgages - Sorting the fact from the fiction

Lindsay and Sam have just found out they’re expecting their first baby. Although they’re excited at the prospect of starting a family, it’s come as a bit of a surprise and their current living situation is far from ideal. They’ve been staying with Lindsay’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. Adding a baby into the mix seems like a terrible idea.

O...


First steps to investing

Posted by JSCFinancial on Friday 13th of May 2022

First steps to investing

There is no right time to begin investing but there are some decisions to make that could affect your returns. If you are 7 years old and saving your pocket money for a PS5, 17 saving the money from your first job for a car, 27 saving for your first house or 57 and finalising your retirement plans which include a dream holiday, we can provide personalised advice for you.

Angela was looking at ways she could reduce her inheritance tax. After spending some time researching, she realised she could make small g...


The Value of Financial Advice

Posted by JSCFinancial on Tuesday 10th of May 2022

The Value of Financial Advice

Financial advice isn’t just for the super-rich with complex tax situations and offshore bank accounts. It can be invaluable for anyone with financial goals.

Whether you're saving for your future, buying your first home, remortgaging or want to protect your home and income – speaking to an expert can make all the difference.

Saving for your future

Robyn and Tim met in their late 20s and soon got married. They were keen to get on the property ladder so spoke to a financial adviser who helped them form ...


Review your pension contributions

Posted by JSCFinancial on Tuesday 10th of May 2022

Planning for a comfortable retirement

Tina is a fit and vibrant 59-year-old who expected retirement to offer a whole new lease of life. She was looking forward to using her increased leisure time to explore Europe while indulging her passion for climbing. However, after going through her finances, she’s now concerned she won’t be able to afford her monthly bills let alone pay for trips abroad.

Tina has always managed her day-to-day finances really well, but she never sat down and worked out how much she’d need for a comfortable retir...


Could remortgaging help you beat the cost-of-living crisis?

Posted by JSCFinancial on Wednesday 4th of May 2022

Practically every penny of Mike’s monthly salary is accounted for so, as the cost-of-living crisis starts to bite, he’s worried about making ends meet. He’s started shopping around for cheaper deals on his broadband, mobile-phone contract, and car insurance, and he’s also cancelled his gym membership and a couple of his TV subscriptions. But he’s overlooked the bill offering the largest potential saving – his mortgage.

What is remortgaging?

Remortgaging involves taking out a new mortgage on a property you’ve already bought. You might do ...


What is an SVR mortgage and why might you end up with one?

Posted by JSCFinancial on Wednesday 4th of May 2022

Sarah has never overstretched herself when it comes to money. After paying her monthly bills, she’s always had a bit left over. So, when her mortgage lender wrote to her to remind her that her five-year fixed-rate deal was coming to an end and that she needed to find a new deal or she’d be switched to their standard variable rate (SVR), she simply let them make the switch. She wasn’t worried about money and thought looking for a new deal would be too much hassle.

The interest rate on an SVR mortgage is set by the bank or building society ...


Get Savvy Against Scammers

Posted by JSCFinancial on Friday 22nd of April 2022

Get Savvy Against Scammers

Retired teachers Paul and Mary are devoted parents and grandparents to their three children and eight grandchildren. As their family started to grow, they decided they wanted to begin saving for their grandchildren’s future. Disappointed with the returns from their savings accounts, they decided to look into other investment opportunities. After comparing a number companies online, they settled on one and made a £30,000 bank transfer. Within just a few months, their initial investment had grown sizably.

S...


Why cohabiting couples should make a will

Posted by JSCFinancial on Friday 22nd of April 2022

Why cohabiting couples should make a will

When Tom and Pete bought their first property together, life couldn’t have been better. They both had good jobs pulling in decent salaries and were excited about spending the rest of their lives together.

They chatted about making a will a few times, but somehow life always got in the way. Until one day, 10 years after moving in together, Pete got a call that would change his life forever – Tom had been killed in a car accident.

The intestacy trap

On top of grieving for his partner, Pete fo...


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