Finding the Right Financial Advisor in London and the Home Counties



by Kathryn Dawson

 With all the worrying news about the economy over the last few years, it's understandable that people are concerned about the value of their investments and their ability to fund their future, especially their retirement. If this is you, perhaps you've thought about turning to financial advisors in London and the Home Counties to find answers to your questions?

There are numerous issues to be considered. How to invest my money to minimise risk and make a good return, how to make sure I'm adequately prepared for my old age, how can I make sure my children are well-provided for, am I adequately insured?

Investing your money in a way that's both safe and offers an adequate return is vital for your continuing prosperity. However with interest rates at rock bottom, finding safe places to invest is now difficult. Likewise, insurance policies that properly cover us in all eventualities can be hard to identify. And worrying about having enough to enable us to retire comfortably is a concern for everyone. And this is where financial planning professionals, who are highly trained, can offer you effective financial advice.

One area in which a financial planner can offer vital advice is that of inheritance tax planning. Inheritance tax is paid on the assets of a UK domiciled individual who has passed away. Assets include everything from property to cars and cash. These assets can be anywhere in the world and the fact that the individual is not living in the UK doesn't mean he's not liable for UK tax.

There are ways to minimise the impact of inheritance tax, including insurance, wills or trusts and making a transfer to individuals, groups or organisations. However this should only be done through careful inheritance tax planning with the assistance of someone thoroughly familiar with the tax system and in conjunction with a lawyer. Essentially, estate planning needs to be done on a case by case basis as everyone's situation is different.

The need for a tailor-made approach to your finances means you need to find a financial planner who will first analyse your situation and your future goals to produce a custom made solution to handle your financial needs. Only such as detailed analysis can produce the optimum investment advice, retirement and tax planning, and personal insurance advice that are the cornerstones of a sound financial planning system.

Ideally you want someone who will sit down with you and help clarify the big picture regarding your finances. This will include investments, pensions and life insurance with special consideration of your income and tax position. You can then discuss your objectives and attitude to risk which will allow your personal financial advisor to make recommendations about structuring your financial affairs in the most effective manner.

When it comes to looking for a financial advisor, London and the Home Counties has its fair share and the internet has made it easy to find and qualify them. Look at their web sites for qualifications and experience before making a choice. The first thing to check is that the firm is FSA authorised. Companies offering advice on financial products must be authorised by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). FSA authorisation guarantees a certain standard and adherence to certain rules regarding the type of service they offer and how they charge for it. The FSA's website contains a list of all authorised companies or you can call their consumer hotline to check out a particular entity.

Another sign that a firm is reputable is that it employs advisors with chartered financial planner status awarded by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII). Introduced in 2006, the title Chartered Financial Planner is awarded after the completion of a suite of qualifications designed to signal to the public that financial advisers and financial planners are 'fit for purpose'. To qualify, applicants must hold the advanced diploma in financial planning, have five years' relevant industry experience, adhere to the CII's code of ethics and conduct, and demonstrate three years' existing continuing professional development (CPD) and commit to maintaining this activity.



Kathryn Dawson writes articles for Tower Hill Associates, one of UK’s top financial advisor London and a team of highly regarded chartered financial planner providing an extensive range of financial services and independent advice tailored for customers. Employing a series of philosophies and listening to customers needs, the firm prides itself in giving bespoke financial services from investment planning, retirement planning to inheritance tax planning.

Article Source: http://www.articlesphere.com/Article/Finding-the-Right-Financial-Advisor-in-London-and-the-Home-Counties/223134

Comments

Luxury Travel Blog for the Resident

We try to share with you this blog, tips, information knowledge, and experiences related to global tuirism. We have also frequently linked to some unbeatable price comparison services within the tourist industry where you can easily compare and book your next trip and accommodation.

As everyone understands, it costs to maintain web pages and blogs on the internet with up-to-date information that is regularly updated. Therefore, please feel free to support our business if you can. We gladly link to interesting articles and stories if you want to contribute with this.

For national, regional and local tourist agencies, travel companies, airlines etc. This way, through a number of channels, we can offer effective marketing opportunities. For example, we have our own adserver and adnetwork for Pay-Per Click advertising

We also offer the opportunity to advertise on this first page of our blog, if you want to be visible here with your tourist information then we can recommend that you hear from us so that we can set up a featured campaign for your advertising.

Featured ad here costs $ 300:-/year and we guarantee 50,000 unique visitors to your ad.



Featured Online Travel Booking Services - All inclusive travel planning

If you are really tight on the budget, booking an all-inclusive holiday package can save you a big chunk of money. Because these all-inclusive package holiday companies have close ties with hotels & popular tourist spots in the country, they can get a better rate than you can! Hence, normally, the discounts & savings will be passed on to you - the all-inclusive holiday customers, tourists & visitors!

Ever tried to cram all your travel plans into one small budget & short schedule? If you have, you will know the true meaning of a frugal & haphazard holiday. Some people think that all-inclusive holiday packages leave very little space for them to have fun & there is no flexibility. But they're wrong.
You can save money with an all-inclusive holiday package


All-inclusive vacations are hassle-free

Planning a holiday can give you headaches! When you book an all-inclusive holiday package, you are actually giving yourself the chance to enjoy the holiday without having to worry about the nitty-gritty details. Your accommodation, food, entertainment & travelling are all taken care of. The only thing that you & your relatives members have to worry about is how much fun you are going to have during the holiday. Some tourists & vacationers like to get an all-inclusive holiday package because there is lack of time. Some people have to contend with last minute plans. The all-inclusive holiday packages can be real life savers in this instance. Even honeymooners love all-inclusive packages because they don't require to have to worry about meals, entertainment, activities, transportation & accommodation when they should be focused on each other!

Mealtime fun with all-inclusive holiday packages

One of the most worrisome things for tourists is WHERE to eat. Because they're not familiar with the country & the booklets that they can get from airports are not very accurate (most of the time), meal times are worrying. When we are visiting another country, they require to try another delicacy, something old..and cheap. Who better to tell you where to find it than an all-inclusive holiday planner? they have all the ropes, hang on to them & enjoy the meal!

You can read all you require from the web or from books on the different cultures & religions in the country that you are visiting.and yet, whenever you are on an all-inclusive holiday package, the tourist guide will STILL tell you things that surprises you! & this is an important point because you don't really require to step on someone's toes when you are in THEIR country.

All-inclusive packages - tells you the cultural differences between races & religions

Besides all of that, with all-inclusive holiday packages, you don't have to worry about where to have fun because they plan everything for you. All-inclusive holiday packages are definitely worth it!



Cheap Airline Tickets: Great Ways To Save

A round-the-world trip remains the world's greatest journey. For two out of every three people, this is the ultimate travel experience, according to recent research. Needless to say, in a world obsessed by travel, travelers and travel agents are both looking for the cheapest tickets and airfares available.

Cheap airline tickets, in most cases, can be obtained from wholesale dealers and discounters.


If your requirements are simple - you want a round-trip ticket from one place to another, you have a particular airline on your mind and you have definite dates; then you can go directly to the source - to the ticket discount agency which buys cheap tickets in bulk from wholesalers and consolidators.

In real life most trips require more planning, and most people need a help from the agent to figure out what would be the best air ticket solution for their particular case. Cheap airfares to a particular region can often be found with local airlines that specialize in that country. Sometimes an agency that operates and retails tours to a particular country will have a discount agreement with the national carrier and will sell discount tickets on that airline.

With a bit of research through travel magazines aimed at the particular country of your choice, you can often find agencies dealing with national carriers for that country. For the cheapest possible airfare to many places the most affordable prices are often found in local travel agencies that deal with a particular destination selling round-trip discount airline flights - most likely to the capital of that country and a few main cities.

Sometimes you can find a really cheap air ticket with a discount retail agency that specializes in trips to a wider range of destinations or to multiple destinations. Through the sheer number of tickets that they sell they can command a reasonable discount. However, keep in mind that most advertised prices do not include taxes, luggage fee and airport tax, so the cheap airfare may end up being not so cheap. Best to read the small print to clarify exactly what you are getting before you purchase a ticket.

Another trick of the trade is for agencies to grab attention by indicating the lowest possible prices, which only apply on specific dates in low season. You’ll find that all agencies do this, even the most expensive ones so, don’t be surprised if you get a quote at double the price from what was displayed in the ad.

Airlines usually publish their scheduled flights and prices six months in advance. If you have decided on a destination it can be a good opportunity to get an ‘early bird’ discount by booking well in advance. Keep your eye on the travel press and also airline web-sites. There are often special discounts and incentives aimed at travelers who book online, as carrying out a booking online is cheaper for the company than through an intermediary who will take a commission.

However, although you can expect to get the cheapest air ticket if you start searching many months ahead, there are some exceptions. At times like Christmas or other periods of high demand the prices are usually inflated and planes fill up many months in advance. If you can be flexible and travel on actual holiday days such as Christmas day or New Years Eve you can find some pretty attractive discounts.


Pick A Hotel With Personality!

What does individuality mean in the hotel industry? As far as boutiques are concerned, it’s not just about being a little bit quirky; hanging modern art on the walls, sticking some designer chairs in the rooms or making all the fittings stainless steel. It’s about a design theme that runs through the hotel from start to finish and affects everything from the cushions on the sofas to the dessert menu in the restaurant.

Location

Where does the inspiration for this individuality and personality come from? For some hoteliers, it comes from the location. It’s unsurprising that boutique beach hotels are clean and simple, bringing the colours and textures of the coast into the building and using architectural design to allow guests to feel at one with the sea; large windows, folding doors and seawater pools for example. In contrast, small hotels that are based in cities often reflect either the present-day energy or the historic past of their location. Through the use of rich colours or minimal materials, antique furniture, period art and a variety of textiles, designers can create a hotel that truly reflects its location.

Culture

Many hotels show influences from different cultures – and not always from the culture that’s readily associated with the hotel’s location. Therefore, New England simplicity or Asian colours and textures can show up in hotels in London or Sydney and work well, as long as the concept is properly thought through and sensitively carried out. Extending a cultural theme to rooms and cuisine often requires a lot of research, particularly when it comes to sourcing the right furniture and accessories, but if the end result is a truly individual hotel, then the preparation is worthwhile.

Community

A true boutique hotel becomes an intrinsic part of the local community, and this is part of its individuality. Chain hotels are just places to stay; boutique hotels are places to be – whether it is locals using the restaurant or trendy city workers drinking in the bar; using the produce from the farm down the road or sharing spa facilities with a local retreat, boutique hotels make a real effort to integrate into their local community rather than being set apart from it.



Sincerely

Roger K. Olsson