Financial good health is not necessarily about being wealthy, but about having the reassurance that you’ve planned for the future and being confident that you’ve taken the right steps to make the most of your assets. 

When we launched LIFT-Financial we were very clear on the type of firm we wanted to build, and that was primarily focused on being a Chartered firm and having the people on board that would have the same ethics and reach those same standards.

As an early adapter of the Education Champion scheme and having recently connected with a local school to take part in the initiative, I believe that this type of programme can have far-reaching positive effects not just on those individuals who take part, but on the society they enter armed with the proper tools to elevate their standing in the wider financial world. 

Ever wondered how 'fiscal drag' is affecting your tax bill? Or why assessing your attitude to risk is one of the first steps an adviser has to take when you're considering investment opportunities?  Our latest newsletter has concise articles on both these areas plus some others that I think are a worthwhile read.

With the ISA allowance now at £20,000, when an investment matures or you receive an inheritance, a lump sum from a pension, or a generous redundancy payment over and this allowance, you may need to consider investing into funds or other investments on a direct basis.

Bonus payments can play a big factor in whether a client can borrow the amount they need for that new dream home or not. Here are a few of David Baker's reminders on all things bonus and mortgage related. 

The Pensions Dashboard - A central register would show every old pension and perhaps also a link into the State Pension, thereby giving people some inkling of what they might have in their pot now and therefore at least a clue toward how much they might have by the time they look to retire. 

There isn’t too much you can do to influence how fast your loan moves along the mortgage approval assembly line, but what you can do is eliminate unnecessary extra steps and delays that tend to prolong that process. Craig Ryan explains.

Your attitude to risk and resulting investment choices will change over time. That’s why it’s important to regularly revisit your risk profile and make sure investments are selected to suit your capacity for loss.

Most high street lenders no longer offer this type of mortgage but there are a few who will, along with several offshore lenders. Simon Morgan explains the issues to be prepared for when considering a foreign currency mortgage.