Welcome

Gas prices fall!!!

2012-02-11T06:20:00.000-08:00

Great news, and in line with the Utility Warehouse unique 'Triple Value' guarantee, they are reducing their Gas prices for residential customers by around 4.5%, with effect from 1 March 2012. Their electricity prices are not changing for now.

These price reductions mean that new Qualifying Customers will continue to benefit from the UK's cheapest standard Gas and Electricity when they switch to the UtilityWarehouse.

They will be giving existing customers this good news on their February bills.

These lower prices reflect their ongoing commitment to provide customers with the best possible value on their energy, at all times.

There has never been a better time to switch to The Utility Warehouse - or to build a business with them! How many people can you speak to today about saving money with the UK's greatest Discount Club?

Click here if you want to reduce your energy bills, or click here if you want to know more about this very succesful business opportunity!

Frankly I don't know why anyone is with any other company!

The Utility Warehouse Discount Club

2012-01-27T04:45:00.000-08:00

Introduction to the Utility Warehouse

· The Utility Warehouse DiscountClub is operated by Telecom Plus PLC, a major British company whose shares are listed on the London Stock Exchange. The Utility Warehouse provides its members with great value, great savings and the best possible customer service. Perhaps it’s not surprising that in a recent survey, 96% of Utility Warehouse customers said they would recommend them to a friend.

· The Utility Warehouse provides over 350,000 customers throughout the UK with substantial savings on a wide range of utility services including home phone, mobiles, broadband, gas, electricity and non-geographic numbers.

The Utility Warehouse Discount Club is operated by Telecom Plus PLC, a major British company, listed on the London Stock Exchange. Telecom Plus was named ‘Company of the Year’ at the PLC Awards in 2009. The company has received glowing endorsements in the national press and consistent praise from the UK’s leading independent consumer magazine.

· You may not have heard of the Utility Warehouse DiscountClub before, as they don’t advertise. Instead, they rely on satisfied customers letting their friends and family know about the great value services they deliver.

They share the money they save with their members, which means you benefit from the best value in the UK!

· You may not have heard of the Utility Warehouse before – that’s the secret to saving lots of money! The company does not advertise in the national press or on TV. Instead, it relies on personal recommendation; satisfied customers letting their friends, family and colleagues know about the savings they have made. The company passes the savings it makes on to its members – by charging less.

· The Utility Warehouse is very different to other suppliers. They don’t have any high street shops and because (unlike their competitors) they don’t spend customers’ money on expensive advertising campaigns on TV or in the national press, they can afford to charge their customers less for the same services.

· As a member of the Utility Warehouse Discount Club, you SAVE...

· Single bill for all your utilities

· Award-winning customer service

· Value that's unbeatable

· Easy to switch

So click here to join today!

All banking is not the same!

2012-01-25T02:00:00.000-08:00

The thinkbanking account is an account like no other. They won't charge you for bounced payments or going overdrawn - and just as important, they'll help you make sure you don't even need an overdraft.
Their Personal Money Managers are there to make sure your money goes where it's needed most. They'll set aside enough funds for all your essential bills, leaving you free to spend the rest however you like, without worrying you're spending money you need for the important things in life.

And it's easy to access and manage your money, with internet banking, SMS banking, phone banking, your own thinkbanking MasterCard® and access to experts who can help you with financial issues you come across.

So you get the peace of mind of always knowing exactly where you stand with your money, from which bills have been paid to how much you're paying for banking - rather than worrying about unexpected charges and hidden costs, you'll pay a single management fee per month.

With no credit check, their account is open to any UK resident over 18 who can prove their identity, even undischarged bankrupts. Personal accounts only. Account opening fee payable.

An interest only mortgage for the over 55s

2012-01-12T08:57:00.000-08:00

An interest only mortgage for the over 55s

Specialist equity release provider Stonehaven have recently re-launched Interest Select, a product which allows customers to choose the amount of interest they pay per month on their LifetimeMortgage.

Lifetime Mortgages are becoming an increasingly popular way for homeowners over the age of 55 to release equity from their property. Highly regulated by the FSA, they offer a number of safeguards which are not available with traditional mortgages. But some advisers are not aware of the products on offer, or the benefits they can bring.

Stonehaven’s Interest Select Options have been designed to overcome customer concerns about the impact of interest roll up. By offering the customer the option to pay interest each month, the size of the rolled up loan can be reduced significantly. By allowing the customer to choose how much to pay and for how long, they can actively shape the amount of interest rolled-up on the loan.

Some customers think that if they take out a LifetimeMortgage they will not be able to leave an inheritance. This is not the case if the right product is recommended. By using one of the Stonehaven Interest Select Options, the customer can ensure interest does not get added to the total loan amount. By doing this they know where they stand. With all Stonehaven Lifetime Mortgages your client can also choose to protect a percentage of the eventual sale of their home, allowing them to proceed with peace of mind.

The lump sum provided by a Lifetime Mortgage can be used for anything. Despite ways of protecting an inheritance, gifting an early inheritance is becoming an increasingly popular option. In the current financial climate, it is difficult for first time buyers, prompting parents release equity from their own property to help out. By using Stonehaven’s Interest Select Option, some parents and grandparents have gifted a lump sum amount to their children, letting their children then service the loan.

The lump sum is also frequently used to pay off outstanding mortgage balances and debts, such as credit card debt, which are carrying increasingly high interest charges. Essentially lump sum products can give homeowners access to funds to clear the debt, get out of the negative cycle and move into retirement with certainty and less stress. A large number of customers are also using it to assist with a new house purchase.

As mentioned previously, Lifetime Mortgages are highly regulated by the FSA. In addition, Lifetime Mortgages approved by SHIP (Safe Home Income Plans), the industry body championing high standards of delivery from UK equity release providers, come with a number of important safeguards for homeowners which are not available on traditional mortgages. For example, a “No Negative Equity Guarantee”, so there is never a risk of the homeowner owing more than the value of their property.

Stonehaven Interest Select Lifetime Mortgages also feature a specific safety net whereby, if the homeowner misses an interest payment, or opts not to make payments, the product converts to a conventional Lifetime Mortgage whereby the interest is added to the loan and rolls up, and the capital plus the rolled up interest is repaid when the homeowner either dies or moves into long term care. Thus, the provider will never repossess the property because the client cannot keep up repayments.

With more advisers recognising that Interest Select Options offer a bridge between mainstream mortgages and traditional equity release, many customers are able to continue to have some control over their borrowings in retirement.

Most advisers will find that Stonehaven’s Interest Select Options suits one or more of their clients’ needs. If you yourself are not qualified to give advice on equity release, there are a number of specialists you can refer your client to, receiving a referral fee for your trouble.

If you would like more information about Stonehaven, please complete our enquiry form and we will arrange for a specialist adviser to contact you.

Personal Loans

2012-01-12T04:25:00.000-08:00

Self Serve Loans is for UK homeowners from £3,000 to £50,000, to suit all circumstances. They are commited to providing you with a tailored solution we commit to. Central Trust is the largest independently owned specialist secured loan lender in the UK and has been providing secured loans to clients since 1988

Motorcycle Insurance Comparison

2011-12-22T07:25:00.000-08:00

MCNcompare makes motorcycle insurance comparison a quick and simple task. Search for bike insurance quotes from over 30 of the leading motorcycle insurance brands to get the cheapest quote for you. MCNcompare benefits from the EasyFill® system which actively helps you fill in a form that all insurers then provide quotes on. It can store your details and quotes – to save you time when you return to the site. It’s the only website you’ll need to visit if you want to find cheap motorcycle insurance, or simply compare motorcycle insurance policies from a number of big names in bike insurance. Plus everyone who gets a quote gets a free magazine.

The money saving service has been running successfully and its combination of simplicity, speed and quality of quotes has endeared it to users. In fact – 88% of MCNcompare customers would recommend it to a friend.

MCNcompare.com user testimonials:

“It’s the second year I’ve used MCNcompare and it has saved me £80-£100 both times on my Triumph speed
triple. Its one of the easier sites to use and the offer of a free magazine was a nice bit of icing on the cake.” Peter Ireland, 46, Birmingham

“I reduced the premium for my ‘07’ Honda VFR V-TEC with ABS by 39% for very little effort by using MCNcompare.com.” Geoff Bushall, 42, Newcastle

See what you can save by getting your quote today!

Young drivers insurance

2011-12-22T06:34:00.000-08:00

Are you a young driver looking to save money on your car insurance? Join over 350,000 people who have chosen 1st Central car insurance since its launch in 2008.

1st Central offer a feature packed car insurance product at a very competitive price.

•    Protect your no claims bonus for added peace of mind
•    Benefit from a courtesy car as standard (conditions apply).
•    Customise your policy with a range of affordable enhancements, including Breakdown Assistance, Legal Cover, Hire Car and Personal Accident Cover.

Get an online quote today and choose a payment plan to suit your needs including the option of an affordable monthly payment plan.

Admiral Multicar

2011-12-16T07:17:00.000-08:00

We recently added Admiral MultiCar to quotes4all.biz. You still get all the great benefits of an Admiral standard policy; with their comprehensive insurance policy, but you also get a courtesy car while yours is being repaired at an Admiral approved garage, windscreen cover (excesses apply), £100,000 worth of legal expenses cover and up to £5,000 personal injury cover. Admiral's MultiCar Insurance policy actually combines all your cars on one policy, with all the cars eligible for a discount. More cars mean bigger discounts.

Admiral introduced its MultiCar policy which has been specially designed for homes with 2 or more cars, unlike other multi car providers who may just offer a second car discount, Admiral’s MultiCar combines all the cars under a single policy to better reflect your circumstances. The more cars on the policy the bigger the discount! You can start a MultiCar policy with one car. Other cars can join the policy at a later date that suits you. Just click here to get a quote.

Unique learners insurance

2011-12-03T02:55:00.000-08:00

Provisional Marmalade is an award winning insurance that enables a learner driver to practise in a family or friend’s car. Should the Learner driver be responsible for an accident in the car, any claim is made against Provisional Marmalade and does not affect the insurance of the car owner, which keeps the car owner’s No Claims Bonus intact.

The maximum premium is £93.15 per month, with regional reductions and further discounts if cover is taken for 2 or 3 months and the policy may be renewed as often as required. Provisional Marmalade will remain valid until the learner driver passes the practical driving test.

Provisional Marmalade provides comprehensive insurance cover for any car up to insurance group 32 (out of 50), with a maximum market value of £20,000 and this caters for the vast majority of family cars which are ideal for learners.

Premiums are very low compared to adding the learner to the car owner’s policy. In urban areas premiums could rise by £4,000 to add a 17 year old learner to a parent’s insurance premium for just a modest family car. However, many insurance companies do not allow drivers under the age of 21, or in some cases 25, to be added to the parent’s policy.

Parents have peace of mind for a relatively low cost - they can help their children have as much practice as possible in real driving conditions, without worrying about their own No Claims Bonus. The Driving Standards Agency recommends at least 22 hours of private practice - Provisional Marmalade is a simple, cheap and popular insurance which enables learner drivers to achieve this.

Apply now

Junior ISA

2011-11-30T05:00:00.000-08:00

Junior Individual Savings Account (Junior ISA) – from Family Investments, award-winning provider of children’s savings and investment products.

It’s never too early to think about investing in your child’s future. Opening a Junior ISA could help set them up for whatever they want to see, do and be in the future. It could go towards anything from a first car to university fees.

Created for children who didn’t qualify for a Child Trust Fund, a Junior ISA is an affordable way for you to save and invest on behalf of your child.

You’re allowed to invest up to £3,600 in the current tax year in:

a cash Junior ISA; or
a stocks and shares Junior ISA; or
a combination of both.

Only the child will be able to access the money and only from their 18th birthday.

Family Investments offer a stocks and shares Junior ISA, which you can open with a Direct Debit from as little as £10 a month.

About the Family Investments Junior ISA

Invests in stocks and shares
Available for children under the age of 16 who did not qualify for a Child Trust Fund
Invest up to £3,600 during the 2011/2012 tax year (this limit will be reduced if payments are being made into a cash Junior ISA elsewhere)
Allows parents and guardians to save and invest for their child
Child can access the money from their 18th birthday, and manage the account from age 16
Family and friends can pay into the account once its set up
Minimum monthly Direct Debit of £10
Manage your child’s account online
Offers an ethical fund option

Remember, because the account is invested in stocks and shares, its value can go down as well us up, and it’s possible your child could get back less than has been paid in.

About Family

Winners of the MoneyFacts Award for Best Child Trust Fund Provider in both 2011 and 2010, Family have over 35 years’ experience and currently look after £3 billion worth of Family Money for over 1.7 million families.

Visit the Family Investments website to find out more about their Junior ISA

Search Engine Optinisation

2011-10-29T03:17:00.000-07:00

Over the years I have spent hundreds if not thousands of pounds on so called "experts" in the Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) market. Many guarantees , promises and downright awsome promises have resulted in very little additional business. I believe I have a good web-site with plenty of interactivity, listings on the major directories, and good keywords, but whatever they seem to do, or advise, never produces any additional business.

So, I offer a challenge. Is there an SEO "expert" out there who is prepared to put his expertise to the test? I am willing to give you free reign with my main site www.quotes4all.biz. If you are succesful in improving the direct sales, I am willing to offer 25% of the income produced.

We shall see!!

Medi cash

2011-10-22T03:25:00.000-07:00

I have just added a new product to our isurance offering.

Medicash.

With Medicash Active, from as little as £1.50 a week, you’ll get cash back on:
• Dental bills including NHS and private check ups, fillings and other treatments
PLUS money back on dental care contracts such as Denplan
• Optical care including eye tests, prescription glasses and contact lenses
• Alternative and complementary therapies including physiotherapy,
osteopathy, chiropractic treatment, reiki, Chinese medicine, reflexology
and acupuncture
• Plus cover for hospital stays, personal accidents and much more.

2011-09-09T08:04:00.000-07:00

I am pleased to advise you of Fair Investment latest product The UK Growth Early Kick Out Plan 10 is a 6 year investment plan that offers the opportunity to mature early at the end of years 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, with a fixed return equal to 8.25% per year (not compounded).

The Plan will mature returning your initial investment and 8.25% per year, if on any anniversary the FTSE 100 is higher than its starting level. If the Plan runs for the full 6 years it will return your initial investment in full provided the FTSE 100 Index remains above 50% of its starting level throughout the 6 year term.

The Plan is available for direct investment, stocks & shares ISA, ISA transfer, as well as SIPP and SSAS pension investments. It is also available to businesses, charities and trusts.

•    Potential returns - 8.25% per year (not compounded)
•    Capital at risk product*
•    Investment term - Up to 6 Years
•    Minimum single investment - £5,000
•    Maximum Stocks & Shares ISA investment - £10,680
•    No maximum total investment
•    Also available to businesses, charities and trusts
•    ISA Transfer Deadline - 23rd September 2011
•    ISA investment Deadline - 7th October 2011
•    Direct Investment Deadline - 7th October 2011

* The return of your capital depends on the performance of the FTSE 100 Index and the ability of the counterparty (Royal Bank of Scotland Plc) to repay the monies.

This is a structured investment plan that is not capital protected and is not covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) for default alone. You may not get back the full amount of your initial investment if the plan is not held for the full term. The past performance of the FTSE 100 Index is not a guide to its future performance.

If you are at all unsure of the suitability of these types of investment, both in respect of their objectives and their risk profile, you should seek independent financial advice.

For further details, please click here.

RBS UK Fixed Income Plan

2011-09-09T08:00:00.000-07:00

I am pleased to provide from Fair Investment, details of The RBS UK Fixed Income Plan 4 is a 6 year investment plan, which will return a fixed income of 6.00% annually or 0.48% monthly.

The plan will return your initial investment in full at maturity, provided the FTSE 100 Index remains above 50% of its starting level throughout the 6 year term. Income payments are fixed regardless of the performance of the FTSE 100 Index.

The Plan is available for direct investment, stocks & shares ISA, ISA transfer, as well as SIPP and SSAS pension investments. It is also available to businesses, charities and trusts.

•    Annual income - 6.00% or
•    Monthly income - 0.48%
•    Capital at risk investment*
•    Investment term - 6 Years
•    Minimum single investment - £5,000
•    Maximum Stocks & Shares ISA investment - £10,680
•    No maximum total investment
•    Also available to businesses, charities and trusts
•    ISA Transfer Deadline - 23rd September 2011
•    ISA investment Deadline - 7th October 2011
•    Direct Investment Deadline - 7th October 2011

* The return of your capital and any stated returns depends on the performance of the FTSE 100 Index and the ability of the counterparty Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) to repay your money.

This is a structured investment plan that is not capital protected and is not covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) for default alone. You may not get back the full amount of your initial investment if the plan is not held for the full term. The past performance of the FTSE 100 Index is not a guide to its future performance.

If you are at all unsure of the suitability of these types of investment, both in respect of their objectives and their risk profile, you should seek independent financial advice.

For further details please click here.

So why do people release equity from their homes?

2011-09-08T04:50:00.000-07:00

So why do people release equity from their homes?

Home and garden improvements

Many people use an equity release scheme to generate tax free cash to spend on their home and make a few improvements. Popular choices included adding a conservatory, fitting a new kitchen, redecorating, or landscaping their garden. Each of these measures can add considerable value to their homes, whilst also making it easier to manage.

Go on holiday

Many people choose to release the equity tied up in their property to go on holiday. Retirement is the perfect time to explore more of the world, or sometimes just more of the UK. People think about all those places they have always longed to visit… their bricks and mortar could pay for those all important tickets! Maybe they have family or friends abroad – could it be time for a visit?

Pay unsecured debts (i.e. loans, credit cards)

The majority of customers choose equity release schemes in order to lighten a financial burden. Monthly repayments on loans and credit cards can be a huge strain on finances, and we find that many people release the cash from their home to clear these debts. Just imagine how much more cash you could have in your pocket without these monthly bills… You have to think carefully before securing other debts against your home. Equity Release can be arranged from as little as £10,000.

Clear outstanding mortgage

A further reason to release equity may be the opportunity to relieve the pressure of monthly mortgage repayments. On a limited income, particularly if you only receive a state pension, regular mortgage payments can be a huge drain each month, forcing many people to cut back on other items of expenditure. As an alternative, the cash in your home could clear your mortgage, taking the strain off your finances and enabling you to have the lifestyle you want. Endowment shortfalls are not uncommon in the post retirement market. Equity Release can offer you a solution.

Treat or help family

Another popular reason for releasing equity is to help or indulge family. Is there a special celebration coming up in the near future where additional funds could come in handy? Perhaps a special anniversary, family wedding or the arrival of grandchildren? Many of our customers like the chance to see their loved ones enjoy their inheritance now, at a time when they may need it most. Or maybe in today’s unstable economic climate it’s the perfect time to help friends or family to repay their debts? Just think of all the first time buyers out there struggling to raise cash for the deposit for their first home. Parents and Grandparents are now providing the deposit by releasing cash from their homes! They also help pay University fees.

Update the car

A very popular reason to release equity is to update your car or caravan. Many people in retirement do not like the thought of regular outgoings to pay for car loans. They find their existing vehicle is suddenly becoming expensive to repair and maintain. The cash from their home can take the strain away from this and provides the opportunity to update their car/ motor home or caravan.

Move Home

Yes you can use equity release to move home and even move into a more expensive property. Some people in retirement can find a house expensive to maintain and the stairs can be difficult. Moving to a bungalow can be the answer but as they are more in demand can be more expensive than a house! You can up-size using equity release and still have no monthly repayments.
These are just a few of the ways clients use the funds locked in their home to improve their lifestyle. How could the extra cash help your clients?

Equity Release is right for a lot of clients, to find out which option is suitable for your clients try running a case past usby completing our on-line DIP.

Home Reversion plan V Lifetime Mortgage.

2011-09-08T04:48:00.001-07:00

Home Reversion plan V Lifetime Mortgage.

There are several reasons why a Home Reversion Plan may be better than a Lifetime Mortgage.

It could be where clients need to raise a higher amount of monies from their property than the lifetime mortgage would permit, one of the most recent examples of this is debt consolidation where clients are unable to keep up the mortgage repayments. The property is in arrears with the mortgage company looking to recover their monies, this could be a way on ensuring clients repay the outstanding amount of monies and then they can stay in their property for the rest of their lives.

As people get older and they have already released equity from their property using a lifetime mortgage, they now wish to raise additional monies from their property and they have no beneficiaries to leave anything to. A Home reversion plan is also considered acceptable as they can take out any remaining funds from the property and use them as they wish so they can enjoy their remaining retirement years.

A home Reversion plan is where you sell all or part of your property to the loan provider.

A lifetime mortgage will allow you to release some or part of the equity from your property the difference is that you will still own 100% the property.

Both Lifetime Mortgage and Home Reversion Plans the properties are independently valued and the loan is based on this valuation and the age of the youngest person who must have attained the minimum age of 65 for a home reversion plan, where as the younger age 55 is the minimum age for a lifetime mortgage.

A home reversion plan will generally allow you to raise a higher amount of monies than those that are available under a lifetime mortgage. Under the home reversion plan should you choose to sell 100% of your property to the loan provider then there will be no value from your property to go to your estate. Where a part of the property has been sold, the unsold part of the property is guaranteed to be payable to your estate. You can choose to sell a further share in your property up to the maximum amount available at any time in the future taking advantage of possible house prices increases.

A lifetime mortgage will allow you to release equity from your property but is set at a lower level, you can release further equity as you get older and you will still own the property.

A Home reversion plan and a Lifetime mortgage will allow you to remain in the property for the rest of your lives, the property is sold when the sole surviving owner living in the property dies or needs Long Term Care and moves into a nursing home. Home Reversion companies normally give the owners (tenant) estate 8 weeks to vacate the property.

Lifetime mortgage providers generally give 12 months to repay the loan or they can sell the property.

Home reversion is right for a lot of people especially if they are not concerned about leaving an inheritance. Lifetime mortgages are seen as a cheaper option, generally allowing for an inheritance to be left. To find out whether either option is suitable for your clients try running a case past us, by completing our on-line DIP.

Drawdown Plan v Lump Sum

2011-09-08T04:47:00.000-07:00

Drawdown Plan v Lump Sum

Deciding to take up an Equity Release plan is a big decision and making the right choice is vital.

Over recent years the popularity of Lifetime mortgages (Equity Release) has increased, this has given rise to many changes from earlier “Equity Release plans”.

One of the main areas of change is the ability to release monies on a drawdown basis, instead of a one off lump sum payment, which was common practice before the drawdown facility became available.

Let’s assume that a lender will agree to release £50000 based on the value of your home, interest is charged on the loan but the customer does not pay this –it is added to the value of the original loan.

Interest is therefore compounded over the years i.e. interest is charged on interest etc.

The interest accumulates on the amounts you have withdrawn over your lifetime and the total loan plus accrued interest is repaid from the proceeds of the sale of your property when you die or if you decide to move permanently into care.

The main advantage on a drawdown plan is that a smaller sum can be taken at outset and if needed extra monies can be taken when required, this offsets part of the compound interest over the term of the plan.

As an example.

A Drawdown mortgage for £50,000 is agreed against the value of your property, £10,000 is taken immediately, another £10,000 is taken 12 months later, and further drawdown’s of £10,000 are taken after 2 year intervals until the initial £50,000 has been released.

All payments this way are free from income tax in the hands of the plan holder. As the monies are released, the interests on the extra drawdowns are only incurred when the monies are received.

The savings over a £50000 initial release are as follows; if the £50,000 is taken as an immediate lump sum, the interest and loan accrued over a 10 year period at 6.5% on a fixed rate would be £93,856.

However using a drawdown of an initial £10,000, then another £10,000 after 12 months and subsequent drawdown’s of £10,000 every 2 years till the full £50,000 has been released, the interest fixed at 6.5% and loan accrued over a 10 year period would be £77,714, a saving of over £16,000.

The amount of the initial release and consequent drawdown’s can differ with various providers and it is important that you speak to a qualified IFA who can advise you which provider can mirror your particular needs

So the main difference between the main two types of Lifetime Mortgages is therefore:

Rollup Mortgage- A cash sum is taken for the whole amount when the deal is first offered

Drawdown Mortgage- A much smaller cash sum is taken when the deal is first offered and then further amounts can be withdrawn when necessary.

Equity Release may be right for your clients, however a greater understanding is required for them to make an informed decision as to whether it is right for them, we offer a free review of their current and future situations and will make free recommendations of how they need to proceed. If you have an enquiry, please complete our on-line DIP.

More 2 Life

2011-09-08T04:46:00.000-07:00






	More 2 Life are a specialist equity release lender, offering an innovative and unique range of lifetime mortgages. They are the only lender that takes your client's health and lifestyle into consideration. This means that they are able to offer the highest LTVs in the market place subject to medical and lifestyle qualification. More 2 Life plans are designed to be simple and straightforward, and part of this approach allows an adviser to immediately establish which enhanced plan(s) their client qualifies for, simply by answering a number of straightforward questions on their website. Another popular feature that their plans offer is a Protected Equity Guarantee, which allows your client to guarantee that a specific percentage of their future property value can be safeguarded for loved ones and beneficiaries. This feature is also combined with a Drawdown Cash Facility. All More 2 Life products come with full SHIP guarantees. Eligibility criteria Plans available from age 55 Minimum property value £70,000 Minimum loan £15,000

More2life offer 3 lifetime mortgages, two of which offer enhanced LTV’S by taking into account the health and lifestyle of clients.

Enhanced Plus plan is normally available for clients with more serious impairments and offers the highest LTV’s in the market for all ages, starting at 55 plus. This plan will typically offer an LTV that is as much as 30% higher than industry standard. It is interesting to note that a single life with no health problems, but who has smoked 10 or more cigarettes per day for the last 10 years would qualify for this plan. Equally a client that suffers from a number of relatively minor conditions may also qualify. This plan is lump sum only.

Enhanced Protected plan is also available from age 55 and is for clients with lighter impairments such as high blood pressure. This plan also offers higher than normal LTV’s although not as high as the Enhanced Plus. This plan has two additional features being Protected Equity Guarantee and Drawdown. Protected Equity Guarantee enables a client to safeguard a percentage of the property as a known inheritance for their loved ones/beneficiaries. This works in the following way, if a client was able to release a maximum of £60,000 but only takes £30,000, half of the future value of their property is protected; this is because they only took half of what was available to them. With this example, the client also has a £30,000 Drawdown facility available to them. If they elected to take a further £15,000 for example, we would adjust the percentage of the property that is protected, in this case approximately 25% would now be protected.

In the case of a client qualifying through health and lifestyle for the Enhanced Plus but doesn’t need the maximum, they could then elect to take the Enhanced Protected instead.

Protected plan works in exactly the same way as the Enhanced Protected, but is only available for clients aged 70 and over with no health or lifestyle problems.

Establishing which plan a client qualifies for is very quick and simple. An adviser via the website can complete the health and lifestyle questionnaire, which will immediately, informs which plan (s) the client can have. This takes approximately one minute to complete.

Understanding the effects on State Benefits when using a Lifetime Mortgage (equity release).

2011-09-08T04:44:00.000-07:00

Understanding the effects on State Benefits when using a Lifetime Mortgage (equity release).

Many people are put off from releasing equity from their property as they think that they will lose their benefits, this is not the case.

When a client makes an enquiry about equity release, the adviser at his meeting with his client(s) should check to see if they are in receipt of any Means tested Benefits (MTB’s), or are entitled to future MTB’s. A check using the Fintal or Free Ben systems will confirm if clients are eligible for any benefits or indeed any further benefit.

If your clients have a private income of over £90.00pw then they will not be eligible for any Pension Credit. If clients are in receipt of a Guaranteed Pension Credit then in most cases they will not be paying any Council Tax. Clients in receipt of a Savings Pension Credit then the will be paying a Council Tax. It is worth noting that if clients are not eligible for a Guaranteed Pension Credit but are eligible for a Council Tax Discount they must contact the local authority concerned. The one person occupancy discount is not affected by equity release.

Clients are allowed household savings of up to £10,000 before any means tested benefit could be reduced or taken away completely. The benefit is reduced by £1.00 for every £500 or part capital over the allowable limit. Savings of over £16,000 mean that there are no benefits available.

If the clients are in receipt of benefits, a review will have been carried out and this will last for 5 years, this is called an assessed income period, confirmation of this will be identified by looking at Clients State Pension Letter. The assessed periods to age 75 and age 80 with existing assessed periods are now indefinite. They will not need to report any changes to their retirement position.

If the client takes out an equity release plan and releases funds to put in to their bank account for which they have no specific purpose, this could have an effect on their benefits. It is the client’s responsibility to notify the relevant departments if they receive a lump sum or their financial circumstances change.

Means tested benefits are, Pension Credit (guaranteed & savings), Council Tax Benefit, Income support and War Disablement Pensions in excess of £10pw.

If client(s) are in receipt of Attendance, Carers, Disability Allowances these are non means tested benefits and will not impact on any equity release funds taken from the property.

If the client(s) are eligible for a lifetime mortgage, then a drawdown product should be considered, as client(s) should borrow what they have immediate plans for, a drawdown facility can be created for the balance and clients can draw on the funds as and when required to keep their savings below the mean tested benefit limits. This will enable them to borrow the fund they require without effecting their benefit position. Funds being held in a drawdown facility are not subject to means testing, the reason for this is they are not in your bank account although they are available to you when required. Under a drawdown plan the client can borrow up to the benefit limit, spend some, then borrow more, spend some, borrow more and so on.

Equity Release is right for a lot of people, but they are put off by the thought of losing their benefits. To find out how your clients can have funds and keep their benefits contact us.

Stonehaven “INTEREST SELECT” Lifetime Mortgage Plan

2011-09-08T04:43:00.000-07:00

Stonehaven “INTEREST SELECT” Lifetime Mortgage Plan.

Unlike other Lifetime Mortgages, where no monthly payments are made, Interest Select has been developed for clients who wish to release equity but who are able to service either some or all of the debt (it may be that they are still working, or have a pension which more than meets their living costs).
With this product your client chooses how much interest they want to pay, from 1% to 100% on the loan (minimum £25 per month), and how long they want to pay the interest charged each month (for example, 1 year, 5 years or even up to the lifetime of the loan).
If your client has selected to pay part of the interest, then a two part loan will be set up for them. If they are paying all of the interest, then only the first part will be relevant.

1. The interest payment part.

Interest will be charged on this part of the loan at an agreed fixed rate for the interest payment period and the payments will be made to Stonehaven via direct debit from your client’s account. Interest payments are taken on the 1st working day of the month.
At the end of their chosen interest payment period, your client stops paying the interest each month and from that date the interest is added to the loan and is rolled up as with the lump sum option. The interest rate at this stage is the same fixed rate disclosed at the outset of the loan.
Please note: Your client cannot extend the interest payment period and they cannot change the amount of interest that they are paying.

2. The interest roll-up part.

This part will be set up only if your client is not paying all of the interest. Interest on this part is charged at the fixed rate which is agreed at the start and added to the loan each month for the life of the loan. Your client makes no repayments on this loan during the life of the plan.

Stopping interest payments early

If your client stops paying the interest earlier than originally planned.
The interest roll-up part of the loan

This part of the loan remains unaffected and interest will continue to roll-up at the original agreed rate

The interest payment part of the loan

We will immediately stop your client’s monthly direct debit. The interest payment part of the loan will switch to an interest roll-up loan and the interest rate charged on it will switch to a new rate
The new interest rate will be the original rate plus 0.2%
This new interest rate will be fixed for the life of the loan and interest will be added monthly to the outstanding balance until your Lifetime Mortgage is repaid
Your client will also be charged an administration fee at our then standard rate as set out in our tariff of charges for the change

In order to make this early switch your client must contact us directly and we will provide confirmation of the terms of the new interest rate. If the interest payments are still being made upon the death of the client (or the last surviving borrower) the loan will revert to the roll-up rate until repayment. Your client’s home will never be repossessed if they cannot keep up the interest payments.

THE STANDARD QUALIFYING CRITERIA FOR A LIFETIME MORTGAGE

2011-09-08T04:39:00.000-07:00

THE STANDARD QUALIFYING CRITERIA FOR A LIFETIME MORTGAGE

The popularity of Lifetime Mortgages has increased year on year since its introduction over 20 years ago. One of the most common questions is, Am I eligible for an equity release?

There are now many providers within the UK, each has its own rules and criteria for the qualifying for an Equity Release scheme, broadly speaking the client/s need to be 55 or above and be a home owner. All of the providers work out the amount of monies a client can release using the youngest age. The maximum age is 95. The amount a client can release is regulated by the property value and the age of the youngest inhabitant of the property.

The property has to be owned and in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, and valued £70000 or over. It should be your main residence and you should have lived there for 6 months or over.

Some types of property are not eligible, and this can differ with each provider, so it is important that you contact an specialist advisor who will be able to advise which provider would be appropriate for your particular property type. The applicant must have an up to date building insurance policy linked to their home, a majority of providers are quite happy that you can choose your own insurance provider.

A major misconception is that the property to be used for the Equity Release must be mortgage free, this is incorrect, in fact the use of the funds released in many cases is used for paying off an existing mortgages or a loan against the property, this is a common occurrence due to clients retiring earlier or struggling to repay the monthly costs of their existing mortgage.

You can also use an equity release on a new home to help fund the cost of purchasing the property, i.e. if a client wishes to “upsize” to a more expensive property, to be nearer to their children or moving to the coast or near places of scenic beauty in their retirement.

Usually this is the case if the client sells their home for say £170000 and the new home is £200000 the shortfall can be found by releasing the extra capital from their new home, which would be used to pay the shortfall.

As any popular product the qualifying criteria on Equity Release is constantly changing, the introduction of new providers and new products make it extremely difficult for the average client to understand, so it makes it highly important that the householder contacts a specialist Advisor to discuss their particular needs.

If you have an enquiry please complete our On-Line DIP.

Meteor FTSE Income Deposit Plan

2011-09-06T08:05:00.000-07:00

The Meteor FTSE Income Deposit Plan 2 is a 6 year capital protected deposit plan with the potential to provide a fixed annual income of 7.50%, or a quarterly income of 1.5% (not compounded).

The plan will return your initial deposit in full at maturity, regardless of the performance of the FTSE 100 Index. You will also receive the fixed annual or quarterly income if, on the close of every business day, the FTSE 100 Index does not fall lower than 4,500 or rise more than 7,500. If this does happen then income will not be paid for that quarter or year.

The plan is available for direct investment, cash ISA, cash ISA transfer, as well as SIPP and SSAS pension investments. It is also available to businesses, charities and trusts.

• Potential annual income – 7.50% (not compounded) or • Potential quarterly income - 1.5% (not compounded) • Capital protected plan* • RBS is the deposit taker for this plan
• Eligible for the Financial Services Compensation Scheme up to £85,000 for an individual or up to £170,000 for a joint deposit account **
• Investment term: 6 years
• Minimum direct deposit: £10,000
• Minimum Cash ISA deposit: £5,340
• No maximum deposit
• Also available to businesses, charities and trusts • This Plan is not the same as a bank or building society deposit account and you may not receive your initial deposit in full if your capital is withdrawn early
• ISA transfer deadline: 2nd September 2011 • Direct investment and ISA deadline for cheques: 9th September 2011
• Direct investment and ISA deadline for bank transfers: 14th September 2011

*The return of your capital and any growth depends on the ability of the deposit taker (The Royal Bank of Scotland plc) to repay your money.

**Subject to the Scheme's eligibility criteria - see brochure for details.

This is a structured deposit plan and is capital protected. There is a risk that the company backing the plan or any company associated with the plan may be unable to repay your initial investment and any returns stated. In this event you may be entitled to compensation from the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), depending on your individual circumstances. In addition, you may not get back the full amount of your initial investment if the plan is not held for the full term. The past performance of the FTSE 100 Index is not a guide to its future performance.

If you are at all unsure of the suitability of this type of investment, both in respect of its objectives and its risk profile, you should seek independent financial advice.

Fair Investment Company Limited is Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

Lending in Retirement in Scotland

2011-09-01T07:46:00.000-07:00

Lending in Retirement in Scotland

Do you have clients over the age of 55 that need your help now?.

We have qualified Independent specialist Advisers working in Scotland who will be able to help you and your clients understand which are the best arrangements option available to them. As we are whole of the market for EquityRelease, we can advise on all lenders and all types of Equity Release solutions.

Consider the following scenarios and at some point in time you will come across clients in these circumstances and you thought you were unable to help them.

We think we can!!!!

Scenario 1 : The fear of rising interest rates

In the current economic climate our aging population face hard times due to lower annuity rates and poor investment returns . In many instances they still have mortgages, loans and credit cards.

If interest rates rise as expected, their retirement income may not be sufficient to cover the increasing debt repayments and the ever increasing cost of living.

How can we help?.

Equity Release is an effective way of removing the monthly repayments and freeing up retirement income, to enable them to enjoy retirement. It can be used to repay their existing mortgage debt, credit cards and personal loans. As there are no monthly repayments during the lifetime of the mortgage it offers the clients financial security in the future and allows them to stay in the family home, guaranteed for life, whilst still leaving a large inheritance.

Scenario 2 : Clients who have existing Equity Release plans.

The truth is Equity Release plans are very similar to standard mortgages; in they can be remortgaged to better arrangements. The advice given at point of sale was correct; however these arrangements need to be reviewed as client circumstances change. Some clients are paying too much interest and are looking for a lower rate, some want more money, but this is not available through their current lender. Any existing clients you have or if you meet any clients who have an existing equity release plan, ask The Right Equity Release to review these for you.

Scenario 3 : Getting at the cash in your Buy To Let using Equity Release

Hundreds of thousands of people are relying on the equity in their buy to lets and holiday homes for retirement, a new scheme allows them to unlock this cash without selling up – and defer the tax in the process.

Called a lifetime mortgage, it allows the over 55’s to turn equity in their second properties into accessible cash without having to sell up or pay anything back during their lifetime.

SCENARIO 4 : An alternative to the Equity release roll up scheme

Finding a lender who will lend to your clients in retirement is a challenge, with many lenders not lending past the age of 75.

Roll up Equity Release is an option to be considered, however for some clients who do not want to see the loan increasing and can afford to make monthly repayments it may not be the right option.

This is where the Halifax Retirement Home Plan may be the perfect solution. The plan is another form of a Lifetime Mortgage.

This product is not available via the Halifax Branch Network, The Halifax Retirement Homeplan can only be taken out through selective qualified financial advisers such as The Right Equity Release Limited.

This product offers an alternative to the equity release roll up scheme, whereas an equity release balance will increase over time, the Halifax Retirement Home Plan will always maintain the original balance. This is due to the fact that only monthly interest contributions need to be paid in the same way as an interest only mortgage.

Features, Benefits..... Criteria

· Min starting age is usually 65 but discretion is available if all parties are retired ( there is flexibility )

· Max loan is up to 75% of the property value for new customers

· Min loan is £15,000

· Normal Halifax rates with a wide choice of fixed and tracker rates

· Anyone holding an existing Halifax mortgage can transfer to the Halifax Retirement Home Plan

· Remortgage from another lender and benefit from a remortgage package, including free valuation and free standard legal fees.

· The Halifax Retirement Home Plan is a very popular method of raising finance for clients

· Right To Buy Council Houses can be purchased using the Halifax Retirement Home Plan

Help your clients today!!!!

Equity Release is right for a lot of people, but they are put off by the thought of losing their benefits. To find out how your clients can have funds and keep their benefits contact us.

Student insurance

2011-08-30T08:39:00.001-07:00

Student contents insurance from Endsleigh can be tailored to cover all the items that you take to university.

Build a policy that insures just one item, or a policy that covers your bike, laptop, iPod, camera, DVDs and much more.

• Get laptop cover and insure the rest of your room from just £8
• Cover your mobile for just £3.33 per month
• Cover your bike at university from just £30 a year
• Endsleigh is approved by NUS
• They insure loads of students - that means big discounts
• They have been insuring students for 40 years so they know what you need

First Time Buyer – No Deposit – No Worries

2011-08-25T08:40:00.000-07:00

First Time Buyer – No Deposit – No Worries

Here is quite an innovative way that you can use Equity Release to enable first time buyers, or other buyers for that matter, to complete on their purchase if they do not have a deposit available.

There is now a way in which some parents can release equity, or cash, from their property to help their children to get onto the home ownership ladder, without the worry of a Lifetime Mortgage product eroding the potential inheritance by way of the roll up interest products that are widely available.

You will probably all be familiar with the concept of the roll up interest on Lifetime Mortgages, but for those that may not be sure this is where the interest accumulates over the years and is payable when the mortgage is settled, usually on the death of the parents or if they enter long term care.

There is now a company, Stonehaven, which is offering a new and unique product. The client will have the option to pay all or part of the interest on a monthly basis, thus no, or very little, interest will accumulate, keeping all or part of the potential inheritance intact.

This allays a lot of fears from parents and their children, or other beneficiaries, that the money being left after death will be seriously depleted.

Other main points to be considered when offering this product as a solution, is that the parents with a poor credit record have an excellent chance of qualifying, and affordability is not taken into consideration. Children can also pay in full, or contribute toward, the repayments. And so if you are able to secure an 80% interest only mortgage for the children, and then cover the 20% deposit with an interest only Lifetime Mortgage, you are then looking at being able to offer, in essence, a 100% interest only mortgage for a first time, or second time, buyer. As you are aware 100% mortgages have not been available for some time.

One of the other advantages to the person who has the Lifetime Mortgage is that they can stop paying the interest at any time, (if it becomes unaffordable for instance), and the Lifetime Mortgage will revert to a roll up interest mortgage without penalty.

We understand that the idea of a Lifetime Mortgage does not fit with all, or probably many, of your clients; but it is another item that you can keep in your portfolio which you can use in certain circumstances to help people out of at what at first seems like impossible situation. For those of you that use Estate Agents as lead generators, this is something that you may wish to make them aware of so that they can spot a potential sale that would have otherwise been lost, as often the parents will accompany children to the Agents looking for property.

Adverse Credit and Equity Release.

2011-08-18T06:34:00.000-07:00

Adverse Credit and Equity Release.

Finding a lender who will lend to your clients with adverse credit these days can be a challenge, especially if they are near or in retirement. Equity Release (lifetime mortgages) may be an option to be considered. The majority of providers will lend to clients with adverse credit as long as it is disclosed on the application. They are happy providing full disclosure happens and don’t like it and can refuse to lend if clients are not honest at the application stage.

With the most popular equity release schemes being lifetime mortgages, you can offer your client the opportunity to raise the capital they require for their circumstances. With most lifetime mortgages the clients make no monthly repayments so there is no chance of them missing any monthly direct debits. There are now schemes available where the clients can make payments if they wish to do so and the providers are very flexible with regards to their credit history.

Unlike most Lifetime Mortgages, where no monthly payments are made, Interest Select has been developed for clients who wish to release equity but who are able to service either some or all of the debt (it may be that they are still working, or have a pension which more than meets their living costs).

With this product your client chooses how much interest they want to pay, from 1% to 100% on the loan (minimum £25 per month), and how long they want to pay the interest charged each month (for example, 1 year, 5 years or even up to the lifetime of the loan).

If your client has selected to pay part of the interest, then a two part loan will be set up for them. If they are paying all of the interest, then only the first part will be relevant.

The other type of equity release scheme is a Home Reversion Plan. These schemes involve selling part or all of your property in exchange for a lump sum. As it is not a loan, again you make no monthly repayments. Although credit history has to be disclosed, providers are flexible and it could provide your clients with the capital they require for their circumstances.

Equity release can be used for a variety of requirements and to alleviate debt which is troubling your clients, this is a perfect example of how this can be an effective option. Whether repaying a mortgage, hire purchase, car finance or loans and credit cards there are no restrictions.

So don’t think you have hit a brick wall and cannot help your clients, consider equity release.

When referral makes sense

2011-08-17T08:56:00.000-07:00

When Referral Makes Sense

Most Mortgage Clubs and Networks have been working with their members over the last few years to help them diversify their businesses. One of the main areas has been the increase in opportunities to refer your clients to external suppliers. Has this been successful? Yes and no would be the honest answer. Some have worked because as an adviser you may not have the permissions to transact that type of business or because the proposition was so compelling it could not be ignored. Others have failed because maybe the proposition was not strong enough or you did not feel comfortable referring that type of business to your clients.

Whatever the reason is, it should not be because you feel that you are giving away your control of a client. If your client asked if you knew a good accountant or solicitor then I am sure you would be happy to recommend someone. You do not have the qualifications so would not attempt to help them yourself. This example should be used for all type of referrals when you are talking with your client bank.

Here at Cyber Junction, our partner company The Right Equity Release Company specialise in Equity Release and nothing else. If you do not have the relevant FSA permissions but feel that Equity Release may be best for one of your clients then please do not feel inhibited in giving us a call. By referring your client you are proactively telling them that whilst you do not sell Equity Release you can still help them. This should be seen as a positive and not a negative.

We have qualified specialist independent advisers working throughout the UK who will be able to help you and your client understand the best deal for them. We see it as more of working in partnership with you rather than as a referral process. Consider us an extra virtual adviser in your company that can be called upon when we are required. As whole of market we can advise on all lenders and all types of Equity Release solutions.

Welcome

2011-06-25T06:27:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my new blog.

This is my first venture into the world of blogging, and I thought I would start by telling you a little about how my business works.

In my industry "Financial Services" it has become the norm to share our experiences and help our colleagues with ideas for our mutual benefit. I believe it is important to GIVE, then you receive without having to ask.

Within Cyber Junction we continue with this philosophy, and a lot of the advice, products or services we provide will help other Financial Intermediaries to enhance their business as well as ours. We provide regular newsletters containing free tips and experiences, as-well as some of the dangers, and scams we come across, which will hopefully prevent others from falling into the same trap.

At Cyber Junction we have developed a range of web-sites to provide comparison and information within the financial world.

Our main site www.quotes4all.biz provides comparison of mortgage and insurance products. Within our products and services page we have a wide variety of additional services including commercial insurance, conveyancing and miss-sold finance

Visit www.shopping4all.biz to compare and purchase all your shopping.

Visit www.utilities4all.biz to compare electric, gas, broadband, telephone and mobile services.

If you are looking for information on Wills, Trusts or Inheritance tax just visit www.wills-and-trusts.info

And our latest website provides information on Investment and Pensions, at www.investment-and-pensions.info

One of our more exciting services is that of our Internet solutions. You would not believe the amount of money we have spent with so called "experts" who promise the earth, but never deliver. We have also noted that a huge amount of financial web-sites are merely a brochure of their business, when really they could be earning a very good income 24/7. We have developed a range of products which can help enhance anyone's site, providing good copy, interactivity and a constant flow of enquiries.

Specialties

Internet Mortgage & Insurance Intermediary service provider to the Financial Services Industry