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Articles by Ray Prince
Saving Money From Income - Are You A Saver Or Spender?
It certainly looks all doom and gloom at the moment doesn't it? Open any newspaper or tune into the news on TV and if you are anything like me, you get punch drunk with all the articles on how bad the stock market or property market is etc etc. It may seem perverse then to write an article on savings!
Investing In Money Market Cash Funds - Are They A Wise Option?
When it comes to investing your money, you'll probably know by now that you have numerous options to choose from. In fact, it can feel like a bit of a minefield and sometimes you may not know if you've made the right choice. Should you choose a bond fund, equity fund, property fund or a money market cash fund? Or any other type of fund? So, what is a Money Market fund?
Dentists' Provident Society - Income Protection Claim Statistics
If you are a dentist, it's likely that you've taken out income protection insurance (also referred to as permanent health insurance). In fact, you may have even claimed on your policy. During the last few years many of the leading insurers have been releasing their claim statistics for critical illness cover and income protection.
Financial Sales Vs Financial Planning - What You Need To Know
One of the challenges we face as Fee Based Planners and Wealth Managers is how do doctors and dentists get to know about Graeme and Ray and the job we do? After all, we know (and our existing clients tell us), that we are providing our clients with exactly the kind of service they want, and they love the way we work for them and not the product provider.
To SIPP Or Not To SIPP? - More Pension Options Explained
We have been seeing a lot of enquiries from clients wanting to know if a Self Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) would be appropriate for them. Let's look at an example to illustrate this. Let's say you have several personal pensions, some separate share investments and an investment property. How can you use a SIPP to invest in the shares and the property?
Stock Market Crash? Your Options Explained
We live in interesting times... You cannot switch on the TV or read a newspaper without hearing of doom and gloom. If it's not property and stock market falls it's oil prices going through the $100 level, and the situation in Iraq seems to be deteriorating.
Avoiding Inheritance Tax - Planning For The Informed
Many clients have accumulated substantial funds within ISAs and PEPs over the past 10 years and enjoyed significant tax breaks in the process. It's not unusual to see clients with capital in PEPs and ISAs in excess of £200,000 enjoying the freedom to switch investments without incurring capital gains tax, personal liability to tax on dividend income or bond interest received within the tax sheltered 'wrapper'.
Spanish Property - Wealth Tax & Inheritance Tax
We have many clients who have either bought in Spain or the Balearics, or are thinking about doing so. In the past few years, there have been some changes in how the Spanish government tax those who are UK based and have a Spanish property, although with a change of government this could alter again. Here we will look at two aspects - Wealth Tax & Inheritance Tax.
Stock Market Timing - Should You Bother When You Invest?
At the time of writing this article the Markets are showing great signs of nervousness and probably should be on Prozac. The problem is that the Markets are uncertain as to the future and therefore have bouts of pessimism followed by optimism followed by pessimism again. Consequently, we see big swings in daily prices of securities.
Personal Pension Plans - Does The 'Best' One Exist?
Like many of our clients, we are constantly updating our Continuous Professional Development (CPD). One of the many pieces of reading material we were looking through had the title of 'Advisers Have Vital Role As Persuaders'. This was based on the results of a survey which asked both individual investors and advisers 5 questions about retirement planning success.
What's Your Investment Risk Strategy?
Sensible investment and wealth management requires a balance between your risk profile and investment portfolio volatility. Both of these factors can be combined to make up your investment policy and investment philosophy.
Smarter Ideas For Current Accounts
When we meet new clients and agree to work together, the number one aim we have for them is that they achieve their monetary and non-monetary goals in life.
Nil-Rate Band Will Planning - Your Options Explained (Post 9 October 2007)
Since Alistair Darling's Pre-Budget Speech on October 9 2007, there have been a number of reports in the press stating that will planning using the nil-rate band of the first of a married couple to die will no longer be necessary as you can now transfer the nil-rate band between spouses and civil partners. (The Nil-rate Band is currently £300,000, and upon death a tax rate of 0% applies to the estate value up to this amount).
Investment Costs - The True Picture
We are all aware of the saying that there are two things which you can't escape - death and taxes. Well, we would add a third here, and that is COSTS. When we speak to our many doctor and dentist clients, or indeed to new clients, they understand that when they make an investment, there will be associated costs.
NHS Pension Changes April 2008 - What You Need To Know
As you are probably aware, the New NHS Pension Scheme goes live from April 1st 2008. This scheme is automatic for new members from that date, and a major change here is that the normal retirement age is 65, not 60. However, the existing scheme also changes in some key areas for those of you who opt to stay as you are.
Fund Managers On The Move And Your Strategic Asset Allocation
Recent research by Citywire, a leading fund research firm, has revealed that the average fund will only retain its fund management team for two-and-a-half-years. The analysis, which concentrates on UK funds, is the most comprehensive conducted yet and includes 5 years of data. The survey examined 1,741 funds and found that over the 5 years to the end of August there were 3,440 manager moves.
With Profits Pension Funds - Beware
If you have a "with profits" pension, or are being advised to invest in one - read on urgently. A survey by Money Management, an established personal finance magazine, has once again highlighted the sinking payouts to many investors from well known investment brands.
Enduring Power Of Attorney - Last Chance Saloon
If you've not heard yet, you only have a few days left to organise your Enduring Power of Attorney. Officially, you have until September 30th to get it in place, at which time EPAs will be replaced by Lasting Powers of Attorney.
Recent falls in the value of the stockmarket has caused concern among investors. Should they run? Should they hang on? Warnings about the potential fallout from defaulting American mortgage borrowers have been around now for quite awhile, but when would these pigeons come home to roost and what size effect would they have?
Interest Only Mortgages - Are They A Good Idea?
Many people opt for an interest only mortgage for one simple reason - it's the cheapest option. You can't blame people for choosing the 'lowest' cost option, can you? So how does an interest only mortgage work (I've had many clients call it an interest free mortgage - if only!), as against the other option of a capital repayment loan?
Portfolio Turnover - The Hidden Cost Of Active Management
The activities undertaken by an active fund manager normally result in higher annual management charges. This is what you would expect as they must carry out more research and analysis than a passive "manager". However, what few clients fail to appreciate is, the buying and selling of shares within a fund also incurs costs and these subsequently impact detrimentally on performance.
National Savings - The Right Option For You?
When we deal with new clients, we encounter Premium Bonds frequently, but it's not very often that we see the many other products offered by National Savings and Investments (NS&I). Some NS&I returns are currently looking quite attractive, and so it is worth perhaps looking at two such investments, Premium Bonds and Savings Certificates.
Critical Claims Statistics For Critical Illness Cover
Are you adequately covered for personal life protection, including life assurance and critical illness cover? Do you know what the actual claims experience of the leading insurance companies is? Let's take a look at some revealing statistics...
Critical Illness Cover - Insuring The Children
When you buy a critical illness policy it's usually because you want to protect you or the family should the worst happen and you are diagnosed with a life threatening disease. But have you ever thought what the impact may be if one of your children was severely ill? Would it make a difference if you had extra funds to deal with the news? Well, if you have critical illness cover the good news is that you may be covered already.