Personal Finance

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Ask the expert at Smith & Pinching about how ISAs and pensions can help you manage your savings

Ask the expert at Smith & Pinching about how ISAs and pensions can help you manage your savings

How can I manage my finances better?

Financial expert Peter Sharkey says equity release is a great way to afford bucket list items during retirement

Financial expert Peter Sharkey says equity release is a great way to afford bucket list items during retirement

OPINION: Using equity release to achieve life goals

Ask the expert at Smith & Pinching about investing an inheritance in a pension

Ask the expert at Smith & Pinching about investing an inheritance in a pension

Can I use an inheritance for my pension fund?

Ask the expert at Smith & Pinching about annuities

Ask the expert at Smith & Pinching about annuities

Can annuities buy guaranteed income for life?

Equity Release offers a potential route back to normality, argues Peter Sharkey

Equity Release offers a potential route back to normality, argues Peter Sharkey

OPINION: Decimated pension? There’s a possible solution

Ask the expert at Smith & Pinching about investment risk and strategy

Ask the expert at Smith & Pinching about investment risk and strategy

How should I manage investment risk?

Renegogiating monthly subscriptions and switching off energy-consuming devices could help you save money, says financial expert Peter Sharkey

Renegogiating monthly subscriptions and switching off energy-consuming devices could help you save money, says financial expert Peter Sharkey

OPINION: Switching on to switching off

Ask the expert at Smith & Pinching about the First Homes Scheme

Ask the expert at Smith & Pinching about the First Homes Scheme

How do we find a mortgage as first-time buyers?

Second-hand car prices have risen dramatically since the pandemic due to microchip shortages

Second-hand car prices have risen dramatically since the pandemic due to microchip shortages

OPINION: How to save money as used car values surge

Ask the expert at Smith & Pinching about investing commercial property with your pension savings

Ask the expert at Smith & Pinching about investing commercial property with your pension savings

Can company directors put offices into pension schemes?

Financial expert Peter Sharkey looks at rising energy bills including how much it will now cost to run a fridge-freezer

Financial expert Peter Sharkey looks at rising energy bills including how much it will now cost to run a fridge-freezer

OPINION: Look after the pennies...

Ask the expert at Smith & Pinching about changing your level of investment risk

Ask the expert at Smith & Pinching about changing your level of investment risk

Should I take more risk to increase investment returns?

Financial expert Peter Sharkey explains how you can pay off credit card in debt with equity release from smartER

Financial expert Peter Sharkey explains how you can pay off credit card in debt with equity release from smartER

OPINION: Consolidating debt? Consider the 'smartER' option

Ask the expert at Smith & Pinching about transferring investments after a loved one has died

Ask the expert at Smith & Pinching about transferring investments after a loved one has died

How do I transfer my husband's investments after his death?

Financial expert Peter Sharkey explains how you could save on your car insurance

Financial expert Peter Sharkey explains how you could save on your car insurance

OPINION: How motorists can save £300+ on car insurance

Ask the expert at Smith & Pinching about updating your mortgage to a fixed rate deal

Ask the expert at Smith & Pinching about updating your mortgage to a fixed rate deal

Can we update our mortgage to a fixed rate deal?

Equity release has become a popular method for property owners aged 55+ to release tax-free funds from their property and effectively reduce future Inheritance Tax liability for their children

Equity release has become a popular method for property owners aged 55+ to release tax-free funds from their property and effectively reduce future Inheritance Tax liability for their children

How to avoid a 40pc tax on your home

Ask the expert at Smith & Pinching about achieving better returns on your ISAs with lifetime financial planning

Ask the expert at Smith & Pinching about achieving better returns on your ISAs with lifetime financial planning

How can I get better returns on my ISAs?

Ask the expert at Smith & Pinching about how much you will need in your pension income

Ask the expert at Smith & Pinching about how much you will need in your pension income

How much will I need in my pension fund?

Financial expert Peter Sharkey examines if it is worth investing in dividends from a number of high-performing companies

Financial expert Peter Sharkey examines if it is worth investing in dividends from a number of high-performing companies

OPINION: Are average dividend returns of 7pc worth pursuing?

Financial expert Peter Sharkey argues nuclear reactors could ensure the UK becomes self-sufficient in energy production by 2035

Financial expert Peter Sharkey argues nuclear reactors could ensure the UK becomes self-sufficient in energy production by 2035

OPINION: Dramatic action needed on UK fuel security

Ask the expert at Smith & Pinching about managing investments

Ask the expert at Smith & Pinching about managing investments

Should I move my investments into savings?

Ask the expert at Smith & Pinching about Lifetime Lending

Ask the expert at Smith & Pinching about Lifetime Lending

Can we access Lifetime Lending for a mortgage?

Not searching for alternative car and home insurance options is costing people hundreds of pounds a year

Not searching for alternative car and home insurance options is costing people hundreds of pounds a year

OPINION: Car insurance savings could reach £319

Financial expert Peter Sharkey argues that getting active about your finances can save you thousands

Financial expert Peter Sharkey argues that getting active about your finances can save you thousands

OPINION: Jettison inertia and save money

Ask the expert about how to use your pension to fund a conservatory extension on your home

Ask the expert about how to use your pension to fund a conservatory extension on your home

Can I withdraw cash from my pension for a home extension?

Ask the expert at Smith & Pinching about how to reduce your future Inheritance Tax (IHT) bill

Ask the expert at Smith & Pinching about how to reduce your future Inheritance Tax (IHT) bill

How can my parents reduce future IHT liability?

Financial expert Peter Sharkey says there are options for those wishing to get the most out of their home without draining their savings

Financial expert Peter Sharkey says there are options for those wishing to get the most out of their home without draining their savings

OPINION: Using equity release for home improvements

Ask the expert at Smith & Pinching about lasting power of attorney

Ask the expert at Smith & Pinching about lasting power of attorney

What should I do with my father's finances?

Financial expert Peter Sharkey discusses why a broker's advice can be invaluable for saving on mortgages and car insurance

Financial expert Peter Sharkey discusses why a broker's advice can be invaluable for saving on mortgages and car insurance

OPINION: Broker’s advice remains invaluable

Ask the expert at Smith & Pinching about the Nil Rate Band (NRB)

Ask the expert at Smith & Pinching about the Nil Rate Band (NRB)

Can I use my late husband's unused Inheritance Tax allowance?

Ask the expert at Smith & Pinching about Buy to Let mortgages

Ask the expert at Smith & Pinching about Buy to Let mortgages

Can I get a Buy to Let mortgage for a rental property?

St Bene't's Church is the oldest building in Cambridge

St Bene't's Church is the oldest building in Cambridge

OPINION: Cost of insuring Victorian homes surges by almost 12pc

Ask the expert at Smith & Pinching about key person protection

Ask the expert at Smith & Pinching about key person protection

Should I get key person protection insurance?

Financial expert Peter Sharkey argues that newly-constructed properties offer opportunities for an immediate uplift in value.

Financial expert Peter Sharkey argues that newly-constructed properties offer opportunities for an immediate uplift in value.

OPINION: Property investment has never been an easy option

Ask the expert at Smith & Pinching about the cap on care fees due to be introduced in 2023

Ask the expert at Smith & Pinching about the cap on care fees due to be introduced in 2023

How will the new cap on care fees affect me?

Ask the expert at Smith & Pinching about life insurance cover

Ask the expert at Smith & Pinching about life insurance cover

What types of life insurance are available?

The Institute for Economic Affairs called the demographic changes highlighted in the census “an economic time bomb

The Institute for Economic Affairs called the demographic changes highlighted in the census “an economic time bomb

OPINION: Defusing the economic time bomb

Financial expert Peter Sharkey says you should make sure your home insurance policy covers accidental damage

Financial expert Peter Sharkey says you should make sure your home insurance policy covers accidental damage

OPINION: New wave of DIY expected as property values stall

Ask the expert at Smith & Pinching about tracking down old pension funds

Ask the expert at Smith & Pinching about tracking down old pension funds

How can I track down old pensions?

Ask the expert at Smith & Pinching about deliberate deprivation of assets and home ownership

Ask the expert at Smith & Pinching about deliberate deprivation of assets and home ownership

Should we transfer home ownership to avoid care fees?

Ask the expert at Smith & Pinching about Lifetime Lending and Equity Release

Ask the expert at Smith & Pinching about Lifetime Lending and Equity Release

Is Lifetime Lending a good idea?

Financial expert Peter Sharkey explains why your home might be at risk of under-insurance

Financial expert Peter Sharkey explains why your home might be at risk of under-insurance

OPINION: Homeowners risk being under-insured

Financial expert Peter Sharkey explores how motorists can save cash with Moneymapp.com

Financial expert Peter Sharkey explores how motorists can save cash with Moneymapp.com

OPINION: How 'under the cosh' motorists can save cash

Ask the expert at Smith & Pinching about acting as a financial Power of Attorney

Ask the expert at Smith & Pinching about acting as a financial Power of Attorney

Should I be my uncle's financial Power of Attorney?

Ask the expert at Smith & Pinching about investing in Venture Capital Trusts (VCTs)

Ask the expert at Smith & Pinching about investing in Venture Capital Trusts (VCTs)

Should I invest in a Venture Capital Trust (VCT)?

Ask the expert at Smith & Pinching about saving with an ISA

Ask the expert at Smith & Pinching about saving with an ISA

ISAs explained: Should I open a savings account?

Financial expert Peter Sharkey offers an easy way to save on your car insurance

Financial expert Peter Sharkey offers an easy way to save on your car insurance

OPINION: How to save £290 on your car insurance

Ask the expert at Smith & Pinching about setting up a trust for your heirs

Ask the expert at Smith & Pinching about setting up a trust for your heirs

How can I ensure my estate will be used wisely by my beneficiaries?

Ask the expert at Smith & Pinching about model investment portfolios

Ask the expert at Smith & Pinching about model investment portfolios

Should I use a model portfolio for my investments?

Ask the expert at Smith & Pinching about managing mortgage repayments

Ask the expert at Smith & Pinching about managing mortgage repayments

How can we keep up on our mortgage payments?

Ask the expert at Smith & Pinching about the Residence Nil Rate Band (RNRB)

Ask the expert at Smith & Pinching about the Residence Nil Rate Band (RNRB)

What is the Residence Nil Rate Band (RNRB)?

The knowledge that your family will be looked after should something untoward happen is undoubtedly comforting, says financial expert Peter Sharkey

The knowledge that your family will be looked after should something untoward happen is undoubtedly comforting, says financial expert Peter Sharkey

OPINION: The price of happiness and contentment