Read more from Mike Holden, Founder & Group CEO...

Rob Smith shares his views on the importance of good communication and using less jargon.

Contractor mortgages really don’t need to be overcomplicated, it’s simply a matter of knowing which lender is most likely to be able to interpret a client’s situation and understand their income patterns. As I always say in my blogs this is where a good broker can make the whole process a lot simpler for you. 

We're always looking for new people to join our growing team here at LIFT. Our values, combined with a talented team and exciting career prospects makes being a Paraplanner with us a great opportunity.

Here are some of the headline figures from yesterday's budget and a link to download our Budget Summary Report.

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. 

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. 

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.