
Blog
Insights from the Charles James team
Which Children's Savings Account Should I Choose?
Encourage your children to save their Christmas money now, and they’ll thank you in the future.
Pensions Becoming a Worry for Financial Experts
The way that pension freedoms are being used is becoming something of a worry for some financial experts.
Are We Really In A Housing Crisis?
With the housing market becoming more and more competitive, are we in really in a crisis?
Cumbria Flooding & The Importance of Home Insurance
Recent flooding in parts of the country has highlighted the need for home owners to take out home insurance.
Writing A Will and Dying Intestate
With reports showing that almost £1 billion has been left ownerless this year due to a lack of wills, it goes to show just how important estate planning is.
Investment Trusts - Gifts That Aren't Just For Christmas
With Christmas fast approaching, it's time to think about giving your children a gift that will last long into their future, and investment trusts may be the perfect present.
Understanding Mortgages
Choosing the right mortgage can be a testing experience, however this “jargon buster” should make things a little easier…
Autumn Statement & Spending Review 2015
George Osborne gave his Autumn Statement and Spending Review. We have highlighted some of the key points from the Chancellor’s speech.
The Gender Pay Gap
The gender pay gap has changed very little in the last decade, but what is being done to balance this inequality?
Approvals for Mortgages Decrease
Mortgage approvals fell in September last month to the lowest amount in four months.
Auto-Enrolment and Pension Flexibility
Charles James MD, Dean Thorpe, recently spoke about pensions at the Taylor Bracewell seminar in Sheffield. On the agenda were auto-enrolment pensions and recent changes to pension flexibility.
Pension Misconceptions
It’s quite easy to let the details of pensions pass you by, so we take a look at some of the myths about retirement planning.
How To Top-Up Your Pension
From the 12th October, you could be entitled to receive an extra £25 a week in state pension.
The Number of Contested Wills is Increasing
The number of wills that are being contested is increasing after family members dispute the wishes of deceased relatives.
Are Young Workers Saving Enough for Retirement?
Pensions encourage people to think about their finances ahead of retirement, however the current pension system may actually discourage saving.
How to Take Out a Long Term Mortgage
With increasing house prices and a need to cut down on monthly outgoings, more and more home buyers are looking to longer term mortgages as a solution. But just how easy is it to take out a 40 year mortgage?
Paying Tax and Receiving Welfare
Approximately 90% of us pay more in taxes than we receive in welfare payments throughout our lifetime.
Employers and The Living Wage
A large supermarket chain has become the first of its kind to announce it will pay its employees the living wage in the UK, however some businesses may struggle to keep up with new living wage rules.