A real life sad story. What if it happens to you?

I am currently helping out someone in a tragic situation. Gemma (not her real name) is having to deal with a legal and financial nightmare.

Her husband died in an accident a couple of months ago, leaving her with two young children.

Apparently, they had said in passing that they needed to get their family finances sorted, to get wills and some life insurance, but they never got around to it.

Now she has to deal with the mess left behind and needs to support herself and two children on one income.

It is going to be hard.

But it didn’t need to be this way.

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A short story about protecting your family…

Your family is important. Your children are important. When you have dependents and loved ones, you want to make sure that they will be financially okay, no matter what happens.

Have a watch of this short clip to understand why you need to have life insurance.

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A flight to bricks & mortar? Options to invest in UK & European property

In an uncertain world, it is understandable that we have seen an increase in property as an investment class. People have always liked investments that they fully understand, or can see and touch. Property markets are not equal and the legalities and potential for growth and/or income vary hugely but Europe still presents many opportunities for long-term investment and yield.

Recent surveys have shown that many expats are keen to invest in property in their home country either as they consider it a more secure place than where they are currently living or as a potential base should they need to move back.

The recent upheavals in work, schooling, lifestyle and more has made many reflect on the lives that they want to lead, and to consider future plans. Initially, I saw an uplift in enquiries for wills and life cover, and while these are still popular, I am now being contacted by people about property investment in the UK and Germany. Fortunately, I can assist with both and you can invest without leaving home.

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Is your family financially protected if you die? Six common errors.

If you die and leave your family behind, you can’t stop the heartache, but you can make sure that they don”t have financial worries, that they can stay in their home or have enough money to relocate, and that your children can continue their education. Protecting your family in this way, should the worst happen,  is one of the kindest things you can ever do for them.

There are various reasons why people don’t take out life cover so in this short article I want to address some of these.

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Life Assurance and Coronavirus – your questions answered

With the spread of COVID-19 around the world, it is no surprise that people have queries about their existing life policies and that we have seen an uplift in applications in recent weeks. People have also been asking specific questions. Is it still possible to get life cover? Will my existing policy cover COVID-19? Will my premiums increase?

In this article I want to give you answers to many of the common questions I am being asked at this time.

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Expats in The UAE & Money. 10 mistakes you want to avoid

This articles has been update so please see the below link for the article from August 2024

Living in the UAE. 10 major money mistakes you want to avoid

Living in the UAE. 10 major money mistakes you want to avoid

 

 

 

Financial resolutions – get your money in shape for 2019

At this time of year it is popular to make New Year resolutions, but how many of those are about our finances? Making sure you are financially fit is as important as vowing to visit the gym regularly but once you’ve taken the initial steps is less time-consuming and you can do most of it whilst sat comfortably on your sofa.

We all have to spend money but can you do it more smartly? Invariably we could all spend less and save more and a little focus rarely goes amiss. With that in mind here’s a list of 10 steps you can take to get yourself financially fitter in 2019.

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Need to know: Your financial priorities

Many of us muddle through our financial lives, not focusing on what matters the most, so this article is designed to help you sort out your financial priorities.

You have probably thought that there are some issues you need to address but it is common to be stuck in limbo, not quite sure what to tackle first, or a to have a vague to-do list but are unsure where to start.

I am often asked what are the most important topics to focus on so this is a guide to what you may need to look at if you haven’t reviewed your personal finances before, or haven’t done so for some time. What should you do now and what is most important?

All too frequently I see people who have been sold long-term savings plans without having been given the right advice to address more immediate issues. The most important consideration is to focus on what could go wrong tomorrow and then to take steps to protect you and your family. This doesn’t have to be expensive but this is what proper, ethical, financial planning is all about.

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