Protecting you and your family

Pensions, although much maligned in recent years, are a great tool to individuals for many reasons, in particular since Pension freedom rules came into...

Birkett Long is delighted to announce that Paul Chilver, an Independent Financial Adviser at the firm is celebrating 20 years of service this year. Birkett Long IFA is part of the wider Birkett Long group, meaning that clients have the advantage of their...

The last two years have been stressful and uncertain, however, it’s important to ensure that you’re in control of your finances as we approach the end of the 2021/2022 tax year. The tax year will, as usual, finish on 5 April and people all over...

Brighter evenings and warmer weather have signalled the start of Spring. Whilst you may set some time aside to spring clean your house, it can also be a great opportunity to Spring clean your finances. Spring cleaning your finances can help you to understand...

Many people might consider their most valuable asset to be their house, car or pension savings. They often overlook the obvious – themselves and their income. It is often said that being a parent is the hardest job in the world and this may be right....

This year sees the 30th anniversary of BLIFA. In November 1989, it was an innovative move by the solicitors to launch a separate financial services department. The synergy between legal and financial advice, and providing both services under one roof, has...

We are often reminded about the importance of reviewing our pension arrangements. Pensions are also an important consideration if you are going through a divorce or dissolution of a civil partnership. They are often one of the most valuable assets in the...

We all know that one day we will need a funeral, but what we don’t know is how much it is going to cost. The average price of a funeral is now £3,785 * and rising. For many families this can become a great burden at such an emotional time. ...

At Birkett Long, financial advice goes hand in hand with legal advice to give you a joined up service. One of our team will meet with you and your family to obtain the full picture regarding your existing financial arrangements and your future, or...

Investment bonds are a form of collective investment which, unlike unit trusts and other investment types, use an insurance policy as the “wrapper” for the underlying investments.    This has a number of tax advantages, one being that...

Maintenance payments often form part of a divorce settlement and can therefore be legally binding.  Whilst this provides some security of payment for a fixed period of time, what is often overlooked is that the payments would cease on death of the...

When a couple enter into a marriage they are undertaking a duty to support one another, both emotionally and financially. What many spouses do not know is that, in the event of separation, whilst the emotional duty may come to an end, the duty to financially...

Sue and Graham Smith have divorced. They have a daughter, Millie, aged six and a son, Thomas, aged nine. The couple have agreed that Millie and Thomas will live with Sue, and Graham will pay £900 maintenance per month (£450 for each child) until...

As a parent, you want to provide the best for your children and plan for their future.  We all know that raising children is expensive.  In 2011 the average cost of raising a child was £133,848 and in 2013 this had increased by 15% to...

As a parent, you want to provide the best for your children and plan for their future.  As we all know raising a child/children is expensive, in the last two years the average cost of raising a child has increased by 15% from £133,848 in 2011 to...

Over the last few years we have seen widespread disruption and damage caused by flooding.  The Met Office predicts that climate change will lead to an increase in extreme weather events, meaning the UK will have to learn to live with severe flooding. ...

We insure our homes, our cars, our phones and our holidays but sometimes we forget to insure ourselves. In a survey carried out by Bright Grey, nearly 2,000 people were asked what they insure.  Home contents insurance (84%), car insurance (78%) and...

Mike Cracknell from Birkett Long examines how you can make the most of tax efficient financial planning opportunities before the current tax year ends on 5 April 2012 and the new year commences 6 April 2012. 1. Make the most of Individual Savings Accounts...

Employers should utilise salary sacrifice for their employees making pension contributions to an employer's pension scheme to contra rises in both the rate of Primary and Secondary Class 1 National Insurance.   Third party pension contributions -...

For individuals with a "relevant income" of £130,000 or more (i.e. effected by the "anti-forestalling rules") for the 2010/2011 tax year, to make gross pension contributions to the value of £20,000 or £30,000, as...

Graham and Susan had been married for more than 40 years but sadly irreconcilable disagreements had led them to seek a divorce. At 63 and 62, Graham and Susan were retired and living on pension. The family home was without mortgage and valued at...

Using a bank loan to fund a deposit on a property purchase is effectively taking out a 100 per cent mortgage 'through the back door' and will not be accepted by lenders, a mortgage expert has warned. Louise Cuming, Head of Mortgages at price...

Honest consumers with genuine insurance claims could be losing out as more people attempt to abuse the system amid the economic downturn, research has suggested. Gordon Hannah, Director of Claims and Operations at insurance firm esure, said fraudulent...

The current 2008/09 tax year will be remembered for an unprecedented series of financial and economic events. With Bank solvencies, cash flow and in some instances merely financial survival in the foremost thoughts of many, it is more important than ever to...