Author: Lloyd Kafton
The Loan That Buys You Time When a Property Chain Collapses
Picture this: you’ve found the place you want, but the buyer of your own home suddenly pulls out. If you’ve already exchanged contracts, that leaves you needing money to complete a purchase that was supposed to be funded by a sale that’s just fallen through. This is exactly the kind of moment bridging loans were […]
Posted in Mortgage
The 30% Tax Relief High Earners Often Overlook
If you’re a higher earner who’s already made full use of your ISA and explored what more you can put into your pension, there are some more specialist options you may not have explored. The Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) lets you invest directly into smaller, unquoted UK companies. In return, you can claim Income Tax […]
Posted in Investments
The FTSE 100 Just Hit a Record High. Should You Do Anything?
In late July, the FTSE 100 touched an all-time intraday high of 10,989.45, its first record since February, before easing back to close the day lower. An investing milestone like that usually lands in one of two ways. Some people feel they’ve missed out and want to put more in straight away. Others assume the […]
Posted in Investments
Making Tax Digital Is Here: What Quarterly Reporting Means for Landlords and Sole Traders
If you’re a landlord or self-employed, there’s a good chance you’ve heard people talking about Making Tax Digital (MTD). It sounds like another piece of tax jargon, but for many landlords and sole traders, it’s now a reality. From 6 April 2026, MTD for Income Tax applies to people registered for Self Assessment whose combined […]
Posted in Financial Planning
Is Your Old Pension Still Good Value? What the FCA’s 2026 Review Means for Savers
If you’ve had the same pension for 15 or 20 years, you might assume that no news is good news. After all, it’s still growing, statements arrive every year, and you haven’t had to think about it. Job done… right? Not necessarily. In July 2026 Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published a review of certain unit-linked […]
Posted in Pensions
Why New Fixed Mortgage Rates Can Rise Even When Bank Rate Doesn’t
If you already have a fixed-rate mortgage, your agreed interest rate and contractual payments will not normally change during the fixed period. What can change is the pricing of new fixed mortgage deals available to homebuyers and people preparing to remortgage. When the Bank of England announces that it’s holding Bank Rate, many borrowers assume […]
Posted in Mortgage
Why Protection Insurance Deserves a Place in Your Financial Plan
Most of us buy insurance hoping we’ll never have to use it. Whether it’s life insurance, critical illness cover or income protection, the ideal outcome is that the policy simply sits in the background, providing peace of mind while life carries on as normal. But the latest industry figures tell an important story. In 2025, […]
Posted in Insurance
Don’t Let House Envy Derail Your Home Buying Plans
Buying your first home is an exciting milestone, but it can also feel quite overwhelming. Recent research found that almost three-quarters of first-time buyers experience “house envy”, with many admitting they compare their own budget to the homes they see online. It’s easy to understand why. Every day we’re surrounded by beautifully renovated kitchens, dream […]
Posted in Mortgage
Pension Myth: You Don’t Have to Take Your Tax-Free Cash Straight Away
For many people approaching retirement, one assumption seems almost universal: once you can access your pension, you should take your tax-free cash straight away. It’s advice that’s often shared between friends, family members and colleagues, but it’s also one of the biggest misconceptions about retirement planning. While taking tax-free cash may be the right decision […]
Posted in Pensions
Why Great Innovations Don’t Always Make Great Investments
Imagine you could go back in time and invest before railways transformed Britain, before the internet reshaped the global economy or before smartphones became part of everyday life. You’d almost certainly make a fortune… wouldn’t you? History suggests the answer isn’t quite so simple. Many investors assume that identifying the next breakthrough technology is the […]
Posted in Investments