Free Mortgage Factsheets

Mortgage Factsheets from the FSA. Click on the link to open a PDF document.

Mortgages Colour / Ink friendly

Paying your mortgage – You can afford your mortgage now, but what if...?
Colour / Ink friendly

Dealing with your mortgage shortfall Colour / Ink friendly

What to do when you can't pay your mortgage Colour / Ink friendly

Stay in control of your mortgage (checklist) Colour / Ink friendly

Posted by Sean Wilson, Independent Financial Adviser, Swindon, Wiltshire.

Free Pension Facsheets

Factsheets published by the FSA on pensions & retirement.

Pensions Colour / Ink friendly

Retiring soon Colour / Ink friendly

Retirement options Colour / Ink friendly

Managing in retirement Colour / Ink friendly

Your pension – it's time to choose Colour / Ink friendly

Your retirement options – income withdrawal Colour / Ink friendly

Equity release schemes – raising money from your home Colour / Ink friendly

Stakeholder pensions and decision trees Colour / Ink friendly

The State Second Pension (formerly SERPS) – should you be contracted out?
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Pension transfers – the risks of salary-related occupational pension transfers
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Important information about your yearly pension statement Colour / Ink friendly

Posted by Sean Wilson, Independent Financial Adviser, Swindon, Wiltshire.

Is DIY investing dangerous?

It can be..a little knowledge can be dangerous.

Investors using a well known funds supermarket lost 50-60% on popular funds such as Allianz BRIC Stars and Neptune Russia!!

The organisation in question heavily promoted the funds but did not recommend them directly, which is their get out clause....

Before making any major investment decision it is wise to seek professional help.

House price falls to continue?

Probably yes.

House prices are still very high for first time buyers. A good way of measuring this is to look at the ratio of average house price to income of first time buyers as measured by Nationwide

This is presently 4.7, in 1995 it was 2.1. This alone suggests that house prices could halve!

Add in unemployment and low inflation, house prices are not likely to rise for some time.

Interest Rates cut by 0.5%

The Bank of England cut interest rates by 0.5% today. The new base rate is 1.5%, the lowest in the Bank's 315 year history

Normally this would see a reduction in rates for home owners & businesses. The question continued to be asked is "Will the banks pass it on to consumers?"

The Bank of England is also talking about printing money to lend to banks, something usually associated with countries with dire economic conditions or at war.

Financial & Economic prospects for 2009?

What does 2009 offer for the economy, your finances & your job?

America should pick up after Obama takes power, not so much that he will do dramatic things but confidence should start coming back.

Britain? Hmmm, Gordon Brown needs a few early nights....People working in "cyclical" industries, those which expand which expand & contact quickly eg housing & shops, will continue to face tough times.

The low value of the pound is also worrying, it makes imports more expensive. (Does Britain make much to export these days?)

The key thing is whether political leaders and their economic advisers show some courage & leadership which George W Bush unfortunately lacked.