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Archive for September, 2009

FTSE Heads for Record Quarterly Gain

Wednesday, September 30th, 2009

London equities rose towards their best quarterly performance on record, with strong gains for insurers on growing hopes of further bid activity in the sector.

Overall, the FTSE 100 rose 25 points to 5,184.82, on course for the best quarterly performance in its history. By the end of the previous session, the index stood 21 per cent higher since the start of July.

 

Buildings Insurance, Contents Insurance, Home Insurance.

Tuesday, September 29th, 2009

When did you last review your home insurance, or landlords insurance package?

Like I used to, you probably get your household insurance renewal papers think the premium looks OK and renew with your current provider. Simple!

If you have done this for the last few years it may be worth looking at an alternative quote. We can now send you a quotations summary report within 24 hours all from you completing a simple 2 page data capture form. So taking 10 minutes to fill in 2 pages of simple data you can have the peace of mind that either your buildings and contents insurance renewal premium is the best you can get, or you have saved some money and can feel good about making the effort to complete the form! Either way it has to be a winner!

You can download the form from www.buildingsinsurancequotations.co.uk use the household insurance for personal cover and landlords data capture for buy to let buildings and contents insurance.

The whole application can be completed online by Lyndhurst.  I used this service myself recently and was surprised when I realised I could save money, thought I was on the best deal and I wasn’t. I would recommend checking!

Regards,

Adam Cook

Head of Operations

Does your company offer group life insurance or group death in service?

Tuesday, September 29th, 2009

As Independent Financial Advisers one of our core business activities is assist employers with their employee benefits.

Group Life Insurance is often a part of a comprehensive employee benefits package and costs for this and should be reviewed annually.

 

These schemes often remain with the same provider each year. Our experience has shown there can be substantial savings in premiums for companies offering these schemes.

 

“I recently rebroked a group life insurance scheme to a new provider at renewal with a saving of over £7,000 on annual premium for the same benefits” Nick Mann – IFA.

 

If you have a scheme that has not been reviewed for some time, would be pleased to review this for you at NO COST to yourself, please contact us. admin@lyndhurstfm.co.uk or 0800 435 648.

 

“I once heard a story that an employee didn’t want to go in the ambulance having fallen ill because they thought the group death in service would not pay out if they were not at work! Obviously not true but serves as a good reminder to make sure your employees are aware of the cover they have through the company” Adam Cook – Head of Operations

 

Group Life Insurance – Group Protection – Group Death In Service  – Employee Benefits – Corporate Protection

www.lyndhurstfm.co.uk/Employee_Benefits

 

 

 

 

Widows Pension Protection Plan – Family Income Benefit

Friday, September 25th, 2009

Under most final salary scheme i.e. teachers, civil service, firemen, local authority workers in the event of death before or after retirement there is a 50% reduction in the pension in payment payable to the spouse for their lifetime.

 

Even on a generous pension of some £30,000 you can see there is an immediate reduction to £15,000 i.e. a loss of £15,000 per annum for the surviving spouse.

 

This means that the plans for retirement can go completely wrong as moving from £30,000 to £15,000 a year is substantial even through there is only one surviving person but their lifestyle would probably go with it.

 

These particular individuals have good income streams and are crying out for their income and lifestyle to be protected.

 

We have a solution to protect your pension to age 75 upon death for your surviving spouse?

 

Using the above example we would nominate a family income benefit of £15,000 per annum (£1250 a month) which would be paid tax free to the surviving spouse on a monthly basis. There will be no need for probate, solicitors or fees involved.

 

This is a very attractive feature as it requires no administration at the time of death. All that is required is a death certificate for prompt payment of benefits.

 

Obviously the earlier one secures life assurance the cheaper the monthly premium is and hence all should be approached but most popular time would be to pick up somebody in their early 50’s to pick up a lower rate for their age and health.  

 

 

Alan Brown – IFA – Pensions Specialist

New Mortgage Deals for First Time Buyers! 85% LTV

Thursday, September 24th, 2009

Abbey have given us details of a fantastic new purchase package exclusively available to mortgage brokers. Abbey’s new Homebuyer Plus Mortgage offers you a free valuation for mortgage purposes and standard legal fees paid for the purchase of your new home. To benefit from this product, you must be buying in England and Wales and use one of Abbey’s panel conveyancers.

There will be a number of products available with this package including an 85% LTV, 5.99% 3 Year Fixed Rate with a £995 fee.

For more information about this product launch contact me on 01582 715777, nickmann@lyndhurstfm.co.uk.

Nick Mann – Independent Mortgage Adviser and Financial Adviser.

I am happy to visit you in Harpenden, St Albans, Luton, Milton Keynes, Welwyn Garden City, Hertford and surrounding areas.

First Time Buyer Guide

Wednesday, September 16th, 2009

You’re looking to get on the housing ladder but are unsure of the process or costs involved? Some questions you might be asking yourself if you do not have the guidance of someone with experience are below.

·         How much can I borrow?

·         How much deposit do I need?

·         What is stamp duty?

·         What does a solicitor charge?

·         When do I make an offer?

·         Should I have insurance and what type?

·         What does “exchange” mean?

·         What is “completion”?

·         When do I move in?

Lyndhurst Financial Management Ltd currently have 3 qualified independent mortgage advisers spread over 2 offices in Harpenden and Barnet. Our advisers can help you with all these questions and guide you through the purchase of your first home. In that case the first question should be;

When do I contact a mortgage adviser?

If you are unsure of the amount of deposit you require or the amount you are able to borrow then you should find this out before setting your heart on a property which may be out of reach. The best way to find out would be to let a mortgage adviser search the range of deals currently available and give you a good indication of the price range of property’s you can afford. This way when you see the property you desire you can make an appropriate and confident offer.

If you have any questions about buying a property speak to one of our mortgage advisers now. Our first consultation is always free and we would be happy to point you in the right direction.

www.lyndhurstfm.co.uk/contact.html

Coventry Launch First Time Buyers Mortgage to Loyal Members, 90% LTV.

Monday, September 14th, 2009

New Product – First Time Buyer Members’ Mortgage

On Tuesday 15 September, Coventry are launching a new low deposit mortgage product, designed to help their loyal members and their children buy their first home.

 

Coventry
Building Society

Current rate

Max
LTV

Fees and incentives

ERC

FTM01 – First Time Buyer
5.99% Fixed to 30.09.14

5.99%

90%

Booking Fee: £199
Arrangement Fee: NONE
FREE Valuation
£500 IKEA Gift Card issued on completion

Yes

 

The product is available to first time buyers:

  • who have held a Coventry savings or current account for the last 3 consecutive years, or,
  • whose parent/guardian has held a Coventry mortgage, savings or current account for the last 3 consecutive years.

Booking and Valuation fees (where applicable) are payable on application and are non-refundable. Until these fees are received, your application will not be processed, the rate is not reserved and a valuation will not be instructed. Fees are payable by Debit/Credit card or cheque.

“This is the first decent 90% LTV deal to come out, hopefully others will follow without the loyalty restriction. Watch this space or contact us to join our mortgage register”

 

Nick Mann - Independent Financial Adviser and Mortgage Broker - Harpenden

Are you Derren Brown? Can you predict the future?

Thursday, September 10th, 2009

You may have seen the Channel 4 show, “The Event Live” in which Derren Brown revealed a pre-selected set of lottery balls shortly after the real ones were drawn.

Can he predict the outcome of the lottery results, or the next day’s stock market movers?

It would be nice to think so, but the truth is he can’t and neither can we. That is why we don’t chase stocks or asset classes investing for short term gains. We allocate our clients investments in a diverse mix of asset classes appropriate to their investment risk which over the longer term should perform in all market conditions.

Do you know your investment risk? Do you know your attitude to risk? Do these 2 numbers match up?

To find out the answers contact us and we will reveal all!

Derren Brown will also be revealing all tonight on his follow up show.

Insurance Claims and Critical Illness Insurance Cover

Wednesday, September 9th, 2009

Critical Illness Insurance Claims

“Scottish Provident paid out on 93% of all critical illness claims assessments concluded between January and June 2009, according to statistics released by the provider this week” (source hi-mag.com).

 

Should any of our clients be in the unfortunate position to need to claim on their Critical Illness  Insurance , their Lyndhurst Adviser  will always make him or herself available to assist with the process at what could be a difficult time.

 

Lyndhurst can source this information for most major providers and give you a list of critical illness conditions covered. Not all critical illness insurance is the same so it is important to research all your options fully.

 

If in doubt call us for help!

 

This newsbyte prompted me to dig out an article a friend sent to me a few years ago. I am unaware of the reports’ origins but was told it was a genuine accident report (David White)

 

The Accident Report

This one needs an introduction, so you won’t be lost at the beginning. This man was in an accident at work, so he filled out an insurance claim. The insurance company contacted him and asked for more information.  This was his response:-

“I am writing in response to your request for additional information, for block number 3 of the accident reporting form. I put ‘poor planning’ as the cause of my accident. You said in your letter that I should explain more fully and I trust the following detail will be sufficient. I am an amateur radio operator and on the day of the accident, I was working alone on the top section of my new 80-foot tower. When I had completed my work, I discovered that I had, over the course of several trips up the tower, brought up about 300 pounds of tools and spare hardware. Rather than carry the now unneeded tools and material down by hand, I decided to lower the items down in a small barrel by using the pulley attached to the gin pole at the top of the tower. Securing the rope at ground level, I went to the top of the tower and loaded the tools and material into the barrel. Then I went back to the ground and untied the rope, holding it tightly to ensure a slow decent of the 300 pounds of tools.”

“You will note in block number 11 of the accident reporting form that I weigh only 155 pounds. Due to my surprise of being jerked off the ground so suddenly, I lost my presence of mind and forgot to let go of the rope. Needless to say, I proceeded at a rather rapid rate of speed up the side of the tower. In the vicinity of the 40-foot level, I met the barrel coming down. This explains my fractured skull and broken collarbone. Slowed only slightly, I continued my rapid ascent, not stopping until the fingers of my right hand were two knuckles deep into the pulley. Fortunately, by this time, I had regained my presence of mind and was able to hold onto the rope in spite of my pain. At approximately the same time, however, the barrel of tools hit the ground and the bottom fell out of the barrel.”

“Devoid of the weight of the tools, the barrel now weighed approximately 20 pounds. I refer you again to my weight in block number 11. As you might imagine, I began a rapid descent down the side of the tower. In the vicinity of the 40-foot level, I met the barrel coming up. This accounts for the two fractured ankles, and the lacerations of my legs and lower body. The encounter with the barrel slowed me enough to lessen my injuries when I fell onto the pile of tools and, fortunately, only three vertebrae were cracked. I am sorry to report, however, that as I lay there on the tools, in pain, unable to stand and watching the empty barrel 80 feet above me, I again lost my presence of mind. I let go of the rope…”

David White 

Payment Protection Insurance – Mis-Selling and Claiming

Monday, September 7th, 2009

“I was speaking with an ex mortgage broker who had decided to get into the Payment Protection Insurance market. I couldn’t believe how much he was reclaiming on behalf of his clients! Listening to Martin Lewis on Radio 2 I suddenly realised there are many areas where we as consumers were being ripped off, would definitely recommend visiting www.moneysavingexpert.com. Would love to hear from anyone who has been successful in reclaiming”

 

 

Geoff Newman

Director
Lyndhurst Financial Management Ltd