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Brits Keeping Hold of £72 billion Of “Dead Money”

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15 March 2017

Brits Keeping Hold of £72 billion Of “Dead Money”

Brits are keeping hold of a whopping £72 billion Of “dead money” that is lying in bank accounts, ISAs and untouched pensions.

The average person aged 18 and over has saved £14,049.30 – but has no plans on what to do with it.

In addition, a third have up to £250 in cash hidden at home, while one in 10 has over £1,000 tucked away.

And one in five has a personal pension containing more than £20,000 – which they no longer pay into.

Lisa Caplan, head of financial advice for Nutmeg, which conducted the study, said: “As this survey shows, people are literally sitting on their money, with no real plans on how to spend it, save it, or invest it.

“While saving money is obviously a sensible thing to do, there are ways of being even cleverer with cash.

“A large amount of people tend to assume that just popping money into the bank makes the most financial sense, but with few accounts offering ways of increasing that sum of money, that might not be the case.

“Sometimes making a few wise decisions with money – such as investing – can really pay off.”

Over 70 per cent of 2,000 people polled said their savings are for a rainy day, and more than half admit they “don’t really know” why they have the money put aside.

One in ten has an old Post Office or current account which was opened for them as a child, containing an average of £293.35.

In addition, seven in 10 people own up to three store cards worth just under ninety pounds.

And 39 per cent of adults have an old pension pot from a previous job worth more than £16,000 – but the majority have no idea how to access the money.

A third of Brits don’t really know what they have money set aside for, while 92 per cent just like to have money to fall back on should they need it.

Of those people who do have plans for their money, 35 per cent regard it as a retirement safety net and the same percentage have money set aside for unexpected bills.

Three in 10 are saving for a holiday, while 18 per cent have a buffer just in case they lose their job.

House renovations, a new car and a deposit for a property are other reasons people actively save.

And for those people hiding money at home, bills, treats and holiday money are the key reasons why the cash doesn’t make it to the bank – while seven per cent keep money at home to hide it from people and the same percentage don’t trust the banks.

Researchers also found a large number of people have a ‘lost pension pot’ either from a previous employer, or because they’ve stopped actively putting money aside themselves.

Indeed, four in 10 know they used to pay into a pension with work, but of these 17 per cent have lost all relevant paperwork, 21 per cent don’t know how to access the pension and 24 per cent have no idea how much money they are entitled to.

Despite the large amounts of cash sitting in accounts up and down the country, only 41 per cent have very firm plans on what to do with the money and only 38 per cent of Brits have considered investing their savings.

When asked why they hadn’t thought about investing, 37 per cent say it’s because they have no knowledge of the stock exchange, while 28 per cent say they wouldn’t know where to start.

Lisa Caplan added: “You don’t need to be an expert to start investing. And don’t think you need to have a fortune, either. Just start with something, and then keep topping it up over time – even if it’s only a little bit. Something is better than nothing. Your future self will thank you for it.”

Promoters Selling Worthless Investment Land Scams are Banned

News

Sam Allcock

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15 March 2017

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Promoters Selling Worthless Investment Land Scams are Banned

Two directors of companies have been handed a disqualification totaling 26 years after they were found to be selling land as an investment, yet had no value.

Mehmet Hunsu and Ali Seytanpir’s scamming business activity were discovered after an investigation by the Insolvency Service and HM Revenue and Customs took place. Both companies, known as OFG Investments Ltd (OFG) and GIG Properties Ltd (GIG), had been found to market and sell investment land that belonged to another company. The land was on a former WWII airfield in the Devon area on an investment commission.

However, the investors that fell into the scam were told that the land had opportunity for development and appropriate planning permission but in reality, it didn’t. The local authority would not allow the permission for housing and/or commercial development that gave a good return for investors, despite the scam company’s literature telling otherwise. Brochures, salespeople acting on behalf of the company and the website suggested that the land would give a good return on their investment due to this.

The investigation revealed that the companies made sales to investors that totalled £2,209,296. Neither companies owned the land, and by agreement with the owner, they made commission in excess of 85%.

Anthony Hannon, the Official Receiver in the Public Unit Interest, commented:

“While land can be a viable investment, it should have been clear to the directors from the local authority’s published plan that there was no likelihood of planning permission being granted at the location, and so there was no viable exit strategy for the so called investments.”

Mr Husnu has been handed a disqualification of 14 years commencing in January, whilst Mr Seytanpir was handed a 12 year ban that commenced on 12 January.

Due to the disqualification, neither scammer is able to act as director of a company, be the receiver of a company’s property or take part in the formation, management or formation of a company or limited liability partnership.

How to sell a probate property

Property

ABC Staff

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14 March 2017

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Probate property can often to be a sensitive issue for a whole manner of reasons. If you have been left a property in someone’s will, this is likely to be a hard time for you and most people wish to sell the house as quickly as possible to prevent emotional distress and high maintenance costs.

Unfortunately, selling probate property is more complicated than a regular sale. The sale will ultimately depend on the property itself but now, it is reported that one in ten houses on the market are probate sales with many buyers interested in them due to their lower prices and the opportunity to renovate.

What to do

You must firstly remember that you cannot sell before probate is granted, you must wait for the grant to be completed, unless your name is on the deed.

A simple check on the title deeds will usually identify what documents or additional measures are needed for your solicitor to work out the value of the property so you can go ahead and apply for Grant of Probate.

Such documents tend to include the original will, death certificate, the national insurance number of the deceased, some type of identification, utility bills, details of any outstanding debts, bank statements, Building Society statements, mortgage information, details of any shares and pensions and funereal expenses.

Be sure to remember that you do not have to use the same solicitor for the sale of the property as you did for the Grant of Probate.

The Grant of Probate takes around an average of eight weeks, non-taxable estates take a little less at around six whilst taxable estates can take as long as 12 weeks and if it’s an urgent situation, it takes as little as a fortnight.

Many estate agents will put your house on the market whilst probate is being granted but if you do receive an offer before you have probate, then you must wait.

In terms of cost, the legal costs of selling a Probate property are usually the same as it would be for the sale of a standard property.

Admittedly, estate agents’ fees tend to vary considerable between 1-2.5% (internet agents offer lower rates) on average. This usually depends on the type of agency agreement as well as the area in which you are selling and if you sell privately, then this fee will not be incurred.

You must also be wary of other costs, if you aren’t up to clearing the house yourself before you sell it, then you must cover the cost.

In addition to this, if the house is left unoccupied for more than 30-days, you will need to pay something which is known as “vacant property insurance”, as well as accounting for maintenance costs as the house will need to be heated regularly to avoid issues such as damp.

You also may wish to consider renovation costs as probate properties often belong to someone who had lived there for a considerable amount of time without making any changes so the house may be need of restore.

You can choose to do this yourself, or sometimes, buyers will prefer this so they can make the home their own.

When you’ve sold the property, if it goes for a considerable amount more than the probate valuation in your tax return then you may have to produce evidence as to why, though if you had three or more independent valuations or made improvements to the property, it is unlikely you will have to pay any extra tax.

If the property sold within four years of the date of death for a great deal less than its valuation, you are able apply for a tax rebate.

Common payroll problems and solutions

Business

Sam Allcock

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14 March 2017

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Payroll errors can be very expensive for the company, not just in terms of money but also reputation. Some payroll problems are very common and it is good to have a prior knowledge so they can be avoided. So we are here to help you out in understanding some of the most common issues your in-house payroll department will face when processing payrolls.

Late and Incorrect processing

Payroll processing should be done accurately and on time to avoid dissatisfaction amongst the employees since it may lead to poor productivity. One of the most common mistakes with payroll is incorrect processing where the final salary that the person receives can either be higher or lower than what it is supposed to be. Such errors create a lot of hassles since it requires rework and is very time consuming. Also, it is necessary to be on time with payroll processing. You shouldn’t have to come up with excuses for the delay in salary, no employee will like it.

Inexperienced Staff

In case you have an in-house payroll processing department, it is essential that you provide the right training so your staff has the necessary expertise to handle the complexities of the payroll processing. It is in your best interest to provide them the required training so any possible mistakes and chances of delay are reduced.

Not keeping up with regulations

There are certain payroll regulations that may keep on changing with time. It is important to stay updated about the same and do the payroll processing accordingly. Failure to do so may cause errors which causes unnecessary inconvenience for both the in-house payroll and the employees.

Inefficient backup systems

If backup systems are not adequate, loss of data may occur. Such losses may be very expensive for the company and may even cause problems for the payroll department. It is also essential to keep in mind that there should always be more than one person involved in payroll processing. If the entire task resides with one person, there is a greater chance of delay and inaccuracies.

Avoiding the common errors

Building the right payroll processing team

The size of the payroll team should be sufficient to meet the processing of the payroll of your workforce. Also, it is important to give necessary training to the in-house payroll staff to avoid problems in future. Know the fundamentals of payroll so you can establish a good payroll processing system.

Outsourcing

In case you do not want to deal with the hassle of training your staff for payroll processing and staying up to date with the regulations, it is best to look out for payroll outsourcing companies who have an experienced team dedicated solely to handling the payroll processing just like a China payroll outsourcing company.

Conclusion

We have listed the common issues that occur in the payroll processing and we hope that you will keep them in mind. For smaller companies, it may be expensive to have an experienced team doing the in-house payroll job. Hence we would recommend them to consider the option of outsourcing it. Even for big companies that continuously face problems in managing the payroll within the company, outsourcing may be a very good option.

Small Italian firm takes on Facebook – Lives to tell the tale

Business

Elliot

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13 March 2017

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Small Italian firm takes on Facebook – Lives to tell the tale

Business Competence S.r.l, a small Milan-based software firm has successfully forced Facebook to drop its ‘nearby’ geo-location feature citing copyright violation and competition laws.

The newly introduced feature allowed Facebook users to quickly and easily find friends in their surrounding area.

The courts of Milan found that Facebook’s “Nearby Places” feature had been launched shortly after the Faround location-sharing app(developed by Business Competence) had been added to the app store. The sudden introduction of the feature resulted in a major drop in download numbers, and subsequent loss of earnings, for Business Competence.

Facebook has been told to suspend the feature immediately or face a daily fine of 15,000 euros.

The ruling was issued in August 2016, but was only made public by Business Competence on Monday, ahead of a second hearing planned for April.

The courts also ordered Facebook to publish the sentence on its own website and two major Italian national newspapers.

The ruling is thought to be the first of its kind in Italy and possibly the world.

Timber Decay in Buildings: Causes and Remedies

Property

Sam Allcock

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13 March 2017

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Timber Decay in Buildings: Causes and Remedies

If you’ve noticed some damp patches on the walls or ceilings of your home, you need to check the timber beams in the loft space. If sections of timber are damp or wet, try to find out the cause before the wood becomes infected with dry rot, wet rot or one of the other fungi that love to wreak havoc.

What are the causes of timber decay?

Timber decay, or wood rot, is caused by a biological attack of the wood by particular types of fungus. These fungi can lie dormant in wood for years and will only present themselves when the right conditions occur. What’s needed to trigger the fungi is moisture, oxygen and nutrients – with moisture being the most important element. If the moisture content in a wooden beam is at least 20% and the wood has been wet for some considerable time, the fungi will bloom and start to cause decay.

What are the different types of fungi?

The most common fungi found in damp wood are Dry Rot (Serpula lacrymans), Wet Rot or cellar fungus (Coniophora puteana), and Black Mould or pore or mine fungus (Poria vaillantii). Numerous other fungi also occur, some of which are linked to the decay in window and door frames.

Serpula lacrymans, or Dry Rot, is the most serious fungal decay and can spread onto and ravage the surrounding timbers. Less serious is Wet Rot, which occurs more often. Here, the decay is normally confined to just the wet area of the timber.

How the fungi attack

The timbers in buildings decay and rot because of adverse environmental conditions such as water leaks and prolonged damp or wetness. Many organisms use timber as food – the most common and destructive of these being Dry Rot, Wet Rot, Deathwatch Beetle and the Common Furniture Beetle.

The fruiting bodies of the different maturing fungi produce millions of microscopic spores which are dispersed in the air. If these spores fall onto wet, untreated wood they germinate and form clumps of threads known as mycelium. Mycelium develops inside the wood and breaks it down for food. The timber normally darkens in colour and takes on a cracked appearance – the growing fungi will cause timbers to lose their strength and become unsafe.

Building inspection

If you discover any dampness or fungal decay in your home, contact an established building pathologists inspect the building without delay to find out how and where the water is coming from.

Roof – External Inspection

Check for blocked or broken gutters, especially in hard-to-reach areas of your roof
Check that there are no broken, displaced, missing or loose roof tiles
Check that all the flat roof surfaces are in good order
Make sure there are no problems with the chimneys and/or flashings

Roof – Internal Inspection

Check all the timbers in the roof space to make sure they’re dry
Check for the cause of any dampness on the walls

Exterior Walls and Fittings

Make sure there’s no deterioration or damage to the mortar in the joints of the brickwork
Make sure there are no blocked air bricks
Check that the damp-proof course is in good order
Check that there are no leaks or overflows from water tanks and cisterns
Check that there are no broken or damaged water and/or waste pipes
Check the flashings around all the window frames

Environmentally-safe inspection and treatment

It’s possible to conduct a safe, non-destructive property inspection by using air-scenting search dogs. These animals have been specially trained to sniff out active timber decay. Inspections using fibre optics and other electronic precision-measurement devices can also be used. In so doing, you avoid the use of chemical treatments and save money.

Be careful if you use insecticidal fungicidal chemicals because these will result in the loss of some sections of timber and are expensive and hazardous to the environment and to humans.

Post-treatment

Once any timber decay repair work has been completed, it is recommended that you install an electronic system to monitor the moisture content in and around the problem areas of your home. Any building defects that may lead to leaks or prolonged dampness can then be detected early and summarily dealt with. These highly-efficient monitoring systems help to reduce your home’s insurance risk and also keep down building maintenance costs.

What is Equity Release and is it Right for You?

Sam Allcock

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13 March 2017

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What is Equity Release and is it Right for You?

You had hoped when you reached retirement age that your pension and savings would be sufficient to cover all your bills and some. But with interest rates being so low for so long, you may not have nearly as much as you’d imagined. However, there is a way to get your hands on some extra money through a range of products called Equity Release. Dakota Murphey is an independent writer focused in the property and finance sector, keeping up to date with the latest updates from various news and opinions sites, including: BBC.co.uk, The Guardian and occasionally John Whyte Equity Release Sussex.

The Equity Release Council (ERC) develops government approval for equity release products to become mainstream products, and provides safeguards and guarantees for customer protection. There’s a choice of Equity Release options available: a lifetime mortgage or a home reversion. Let’s look at how both of these work:

Lifetime Mortgage

You can take out a lifetime mortgage on your property and choose whether to make repayments or just let the interest accumulate. Some lifetime mortgages let you pay the interest portion only, while others allow you to pay off the interest plus the capital. (As interest charges accumulate very quickly, it’s advisable to select the option to pay off the interest or a portion.) You can also choose not to make repayments and the outstanding amount of the loan plus the interest is then repaid when you pass away.

Additional information

You need to be 55 or older to qualify for a lifetime mortgage.
Interest rates can be fixed or variable, but if variable, there’s an upper limit which is fixed for the duration of the loan.
You can borrow up to a maximum of 60% of the value of your property. The amount you qualify for is dependent on your age and the property valuation.
You have the right to remain in the property for life.
You can move to another property, as long as your product provider is happy that the new property provides enough security for your equity release loan.
You can either withdraw the equity you release in small amounts or take it as a lump sum. (If you choose to withdraw smaller amounts, you only pay interest on the amount you’ve withdrawn.)

Home Reversion

You can sell all or part of your home to a home reversion provider and, depending on the market value of the property, you’ll receive between 20% and 60% of the amount you sell.

You can then choose to receive either a lump sum or regular payments. You can continue to reside in the property, rent free, until you die, but need to maintain and insure the property. At the end of the agreement, the property is sold and the proceeds split, according to the proportions of ownership.

Additional information

You need to be 60, or in some cases 65, to qualify for a home reversion plan.
The percentage you receive increases the older you are, but varies from provider to provider.
Equity can be released in small amounts, or you can take it as a lump sum.
You can remain in your property for life, provided it is your main residence.
You can move to another property, as long as your product provider is happy that the new property provides enough security for your loan.

Equity release may appear to be a perfect solution but there a few things you should consider before entering into an agreement:

An equity release mortgage is very often more expensive than an ordinary mortgage. A higher rate of interest applies and your debt can grow quickly if you don’t have the option to pay back the interest.

A lifetime mortgage has no term or fixed date when the loan must be repaid.

With a home reversion plan, you don’t receive a true market value of your property as you would if you sold your property on the open market.

Any money you receive from equity release may well affect your entitlement to state benefits.

Depending on the type of plan you sign up to, you’ll have to pay arrangement fees of anywhere between £1,500 and £3,000.

Remember, if you don’t pay back any interest, there’ll be less for you to pass onto your family.

Seek out professional advice if you’re thinking of applying for an equity release product.

Advisers have to have specialist qualifications, which means they’ll be able to recommend the best plan for your specific needs. Make sure your adviser gives you a choice of most of the providers’ plans and check that the provider you choose is registered with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). A company on the register is strictly regulated, so you’ll the peace of mind that they’ll be around for a long time to come.

Retiring in the Sun: 5 Top Financial Tips

Holidays

ABC Staff

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11 March 2017

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Retiring in the Sun: 5 Top Financial Tips

The low cost of living in many gorgeous sun-kissed countries like Portugal and Thailand makes them ideal for enjoying retirement abroad. With some smart investment – and the right financial planning at the start – it can be easy to make the most of your savings and enjoy a genuinely relaxing retirement somewhere beautiful abroad. Here are five key details to think about:

Find the Right Advice

There’s no need to plan your finances alone. Certain financial advisory services like Forth Capital actually specialise in the complexities of expat finances. Once you’ve found the right qualified financial advisors, ask them about the points raised in this list and they can help lead you through every step of the process.

Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Scheme

QROPS (Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Scheme) are pension schemes established outside the UK designed for expatriate retirees. Being outside the UK means QROPS can potentially avoid many UK taxes and savings caps, meaning you could benefit from substantial tax savings.

However, it’s important to check the scheme is officially recognised. The HMRC has strict rules and every month updates its lists of what international pension schemes qualify as QROPS.

Offshore Savings Accounts Don’t Make Great Savings

Many banks offer savings accounts based in tax havens like the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands. While these countries have lax tax laws, UK law actually requires you to declare and pay back any savings to the HMRC.

However, an offshore bank account may be useful when it comes to transferring currency. Saving money in the currency that you expect to be withdrawing it, for example Euros if you’re living in Europe, saves the risk of losing money on exchange rates.

Offshore Bonds Do Make Great Savings

Offshore Bonds are convenient forms of life insurance policies that consolidate a number of investment funds that aren’t subject to capital gains and income taxes. This means offshore bonds can provide retirees abroad with substantial savings.

Alternative Investments

Wine, art, stamps: there are plenty of high value items that are expected to increase in value over time. The right alternative investment can potentially make high value returns when sold. If you choose something that interests you, like classic car collecting for example, you can combine your life saving investments with your hobby.

The Dos and Don’ts of Fine Wine Investment – UK Agora

Investment

ABC Staff

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10 March 2017

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The Dos and Don’ts of Fine Wine Investment – UK Agora

Investing in fine wine is popular among grape aficionados, fund managers and laymen alike, and there’s reason for that. It can be an enjoyable and profitable journey if done correctly and approached with the right attitude.

Here’s some of our top tips that’ll help get you started along the right track:

DO

Read what critics are saying

Trust critics; they know what they are talking about. It can often be best to stick with just one or two trusted critics, as (as with anything involving matters of taste) disagreement is often rife, and this can get a little confusing, particularly if you’re just starting out. However, you’ll find that certain types of wines (whether that’s certain grapes, vintages or certain vineyards) will consistently be well received.

Keep your wines in a private account in a professional facility

Wines not kept in bond are effectively worthless. In order to protect your wine, and its value, you should make sure that you keep it under your own name in a reputable facility, and you should insure it to its full value.

Be patient & think long term.

It can be easy to get caught up in hype within the market, but you should always aim to keep a cool head and think long term. Wine is considered a reliable investment, with the market often seeing several consistent months of growth. But don’t get overexcited.

As Nick Gibbs over at UK Agora tells his clients: “Don’t buy fine wines simply because the market is on the up. Have a long term view”.

DON’T

Buy more than you can afford to lose

It’s important to remember that, as with any form of investment, by buying wines to sell on and profit from you are, effectively, gambling, and you should act as such. Don’t get wedded to potential gains, or devastated by losses, and only spend what you can afford to throw away.
Get over excited about en primeur wines

You’ll often get the chance to invest in wines en primeur – meaning that they are still in the barrel, yet to be bottled. Wines are tested generally after around 6 months of maturing in barrels, at which point an en primeur price is set. Bordeaux has a particularly prominent en primeur market, though other regions are slowly catching up.

En primeur prices will typically be cheaper than when the wine is actually bottled, but there is much more risk associated with investing in these wines than in already bottled, established wines.

Expect instant, large returns

We cannot stress this enough; don’t think of investment fine wine as a one-stop shop for swift financial gains. While it is considered a very reliable investment asset, weathering even the most severe economic storms, it is still, as all investment is, to be approached with caution, patience, and understanding.

These steps do not constitute a comprehensive wine investment guide by any means, but rather should act as a primer. Read these tips, go on and read more information online and speak to brokers and merchants to get a feel for the market (though be wary of the fact that most merchants will have their profit, not yours at the forefront of their mind) and hopefully you’ll be ready to embark on a fruitful voyage across the high seas of investment wine.

CVS Business Rates voice heard loud and clear as the Chancellor announces £435M cut in business rates for those set to be worst hit

Elliot

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9 March 2017

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CVS Business Rates voice heard loud and clear as the Chancellor announces £435M cut in business rates for those set to be worst hit

Chancellor Philip Hammond unveiled his first and last Spring Budget yesterday, and, we are pleased to say, announced three key measures of support to alleviate the pain of the imminent Revaluation.

As the leading voice in the business rates debate, CVS business Rates was keen to learn whether the recommendations put forward in our recent meeting with the Rt. Hon Sajid Javid, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, would be implemented.

We’re delighted to say they certainly have.

During the meeting CVS presented three main recommendations to the Secretary of State:

Help those 25,000 small firms exiting small business rate relief after 7 years, and provide protection – protection which the current transitional relief scheme fails to offer
Provide a business rates discount for pubs – over 11,000 public houses have sadly closed their doors during the current rating period
Offer a discount to small high street shops unfairly treated when it comes to business rates, especially when compared to many out of town retail giants

Pleasingly the Chancellor has adopted the following points:

A cap resulting in business rates rising by no more than £50 a month for small businesses who are losing their small business rate relief as a result of their RV increasing above the threshold
Public Houses to receive a £1,000 discount on business rates if the RV is less than £100,000– equating to 90% of pubs
A £300m fund for discretionary relief for local authorities to support the most affected businesses

The above amounts to a £435m package of relief for businesses.

We would like to thank the Chancellor and Secretary of State, who have clearly demonstrated that they have listened to the concerns of business and, more importantly, have acted upon those concerns with meaningful financial support.

Longer Term Reform

Notwithstanding the positive changes above, CVS is not entirely satisfied as the package does not offer much support for those businesses with higher rateable values. Given the issues we have highlighted with the tax reductions for large distribution centres, and the dismay and deep concern that this has caused, meaningful discussions must now be had around the tax system as a whole to ensure that it is fit for purpose for the 21st century economy.

It remains our opinion that a long term reform of business rates is required to make the system more responsive and fair. It is essential that business rates are not perceived as ‘anti-business’ but rather as a key funding element for local services.

Brits Keeping Hold of £72 billion Of “Dead Money”

Promoters Selling Worthless Investment Land Scams are Banned

How to sell a probate property

Common payroll problems and solutions

Small Italian firm takes on Facebook – Lives to tell the tale

Timber Decay in Buildings: Causes and Remedies

What is Equity Release and is it Right for You?

Retiring in the Sun: 5 Top Financial Tips

The Dos and Don’ts of Fine Wine Investment – UK Agora

CVS Business Rates voice heard loud and clear as the Chancellor announces £435M cut in business rates for those set to be worst hit

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