What is the Bank of England base rate?

The Bank of England base rate is the most important interest rate in the UK, it can also be called the Bank Rate or even simply ‘the interest rate’.

Increases in the rate are often passed on by the Banks in the form of increases to Mortgage Rates (and loans, savings etc).

Lifetime Planning are delighted to be supporting again The Salvation Army Christmas Toy Appeal 2021. Over the last few years, our team have donated over 100 toys and gifts for children of all ages. Along with the Salvation Army, we believe every child deserves a new gift at Christmas. That’s why we have chosen to take part again this year, donating a further 20+ gifts - ranging from Lego, Barbies and Scooters to name but a few. 

Over the years, millions of children and young people have benefited from gifts donated to The Salvation Army. It means children who were in need were able to receive Christmas gifts, where as without the Salvation Army’s help they may have received nothing.

Affordable mortgage cover that can protect your monthly mortgage payment should you be unable to work due to illness or injury.

Protection provider LV have launched a brand-new product specifically to help protect your mortgage or rent payment every month. If you were unable to work due to illness or injury, this cover would protect up to 100% of your monthly mortgage payment.

There is no financial underwriting for applying for this cover. You have to be working (although there is no minimum working hours or earnings required), and you just need to show us evidence of what your monthly mortgage payments are.

Anyone can have a sudden injury – whether a slip on the stairs, car crash, or fall outdoors. This could require time off work, extra childcare, expensive travel costs, and even equipment to support your mobility. Not everyone would receive sick pay from an employer. And even if you did – the extra expenses may not be affordable without the cash sum that protection can provide. Fracture cover is here to help.

How does Fracture Cover work?

• Fracture Cover can be added to life insurance, critical illness, income protection and rental protection policies, for an additional monthly premium of £5.90.
• It covers 20 types of fractures, 9 types of joint dislocation, Achilles tendon ruptures and knee ligament tears
• Multiple claims are permitted per year – including accidents where multiple injuries are sustained at one time or in a 12-month period.
• Depending on the injury severity, claim pay outs are £2,000, £4,000, £6,000 or maximum of £7,500

What’s covered?

See below to see how Legal & General’s Fracture Cover could help ease the pain

It’s now been well over a year since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the UK and our entire office became virtual. Our office still remains closed, however we’ve continued to stay open throughout this period with the full team 100% working from home.

We have continued to pay our donations every Friday for virtual dress-down Fridays. Although, the dress-down clothes may have become more relaxed while working from home – with PJs, gym gear and vests all making an appearance.

Group Income Protection gives access to a range of professionally delivered workplace wellbeing solutions, added value services, provides rehabilitation and financial support. It adds value to your business as an important addition to a modern benefits package.

• Help with managing the cost of long-term sickness absence
• Long-term employee absences can have a huge impact on businesses.
• Group Income Protection rehabilitation services aim to reduce lengthy absences by providing early intervention and pro-actively managing employee health issues.

A policy like this can therefore:

Life insurance pays out a lump sum if you die, helping your dependents cope financially. Death in service is similar.

Yet some people may be unsure if they have death in service, while others may not know if it would be enough for their family to live on. Meanwhile, those who have death in service may not realise they could benefit from taking out life insurance too.

While no amount of money can ever replace a life, insurers have and continue to do everything they possibly can to help families cope financially through these distressing and worrying times.

There are many false rumours and claims circulating regarding life insurance claims and COVID-19. In our article we hope to dispel these myths. If you have any further questions regarding this, tweet us @lifetimep.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a reduction in the availability of high loan-to-value (LTV) mortgage products, particularly for prospective homebuyers with only a 5% deposit. This has left many hard-working households unable to get onto the housing ladder. In today’s Budget the government has therefore announced a mortgage guarantee scheme to support a new generation in realising the dream of home ownership.

It will give buyers – both first-time and existing – the option to put down a 5 per cent deposit on a home with a value of up to £600,000.

The First Home Fund is a £200 million shared equity pilot scheme to provide first-time buyers with up to £25,000 to help them buy a home.

It is open to all first-time buyers in Scotland and can be used to help buy both new build and existing properties.

Season's Greetings from everyone at Lifetime Planning. We will be open during the festive period, please see our opening hours below.

Is Now the Time to Switch Mortgage?

If your mortgage is currently on your lenders’ standard variable rate, you could be potentially paying over the odds on your mortgage. A report from HSBC stated if those on the standard variable rate switched their mortgage, they could be saving up to £4,000 each per year [1].

With the Bank of England base rate currently at 0.1% [2], now could be a good time to lock in a new mortgage rate.

This month men all over the country will be growing out their facial hair for Movember as a fun way to raise awareness of men’s cancer and mental health risks.

Prostate Cancer was the most common cancer found in males, in 2017. It was the second most common cancer of cancer death in the UK in 2017. [1]

It’s now been over six months since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the UK and our entire office became virtual. Our office still remains closed, however we’ve continued to stay open throughout this period with the full team 100% working from home.

We have continued to pay our donations every Friday for virtual dress-down Fridays. Although, the dress-down clothes may have become more relaxed while working from home – with PJs, gym gear and vests all making an appearance.

The Bank of England has recently written to all banks and building societies to check whether they could pass on negative interest rates if the bank cut the current base rate of 0.1%.

According to the chairman of Natwest Howard Davies, Britain’s banks are not ready for negative interest rates, with technical and contractual issues aplenty.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has stated that COVID mortgage payment holidays in the UK will not extend past the 31 October 2020 and any financial support past that point will be marked on credit files.

The FCA has emphasised that both a payment holiday and partial payment holiday are temporary, and the outstanding amount will need to be paid back at a later date. Interest will also continue to build during this time and repayments may be higher after the payment holiday according to the FCA.

As the nights get longer and weather gets that bit colder, we start thinking about Halloween, Bonfire Night and Christmas; they aren’t that far away now! October offers two options with Stoptober and Go Sober for October. So if you want to quit smoking or drink less, this month has got you covered!

Sober October encourages people to go booze-free in October to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support, who need your support now more than ever.  In the UK lung cancer accounted for 21% of all cancer cases in 2017 and is the most common cause of cancer death [2].

For Scotland, a cut to the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax will be introduced from Wednesday 15th July, remaining in place until 31st March 2021.

The changes will mean that the starting point for paying the LBTT on house purchases will rise from £145,000 to £250,000.

It’s now been over three months since we entered into lockdown, and our office closed. We’ve continued to stay open throughout this period with our staff 100% working from home.

When we were in the office, every Friday we would dress down and pay a donation to charity. We’re delighted to say we have virtually continued to do so the past three months. Although, the dress-down clothes may have become more relaxed while working from home - with PJs, gym gear and vests all making an appearance.

More than ever we need to be looking after our mental health. With 1 in 4 adults experiencing a mental health problem each year according to Mind. The coronavirus lockdown will only impact this further.

Balancing working from home, home-schooling and staying indoors for long periods of time can be tough. Mental health is as important as physical health. So, if you're feeling low, stressed or anxious it is always good to talk.