Tag Archives: financial planning

Last minute ISA Ideas for 2012/13 Tax year

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·         ISA ideas for different types of investors

·         14% of all HL ISAs opened in the last week of the tax year

·         HL Opening Times

 

Adrian Lowcock, senior investment manager at Hargreaves Lansdown offers his ISA ideas as this year’s deadline approaches:

 

“In the last two tax years 14% of all new ISAs opened on the Hargreaves Lansdown Vantage platform were opened in the last week.  Make sure you take out your ISA as once the tax year ends you have lost that allowance. To take out an ISA all you need is your national insurance number, debit card and cleared funds in the bank.”

 

Income investor

 

Invesco Perpetual Distribution – This fund aims to provide a regular stable income this fund invests in a mix of bonds and income-producing equities. Approximately two-thirds is invested in corporate bonds with the remainder invested in equities. Income is its primary aim and it makes payments to investors monthly.

 

Defensive investor

 

Newton Real Return – This fund is for investors who may need access to some of their capital in the medium term (but still in at least 5 years’ time). It therefore tries to offer some sheltering of capital and aims for more modest growth. The manager invests in a variety of assets and uses sophisticated techniques to try to profit from assets which fall in value.

 

Medium Risk investor

 

Troy Trojan – This fund is defensively managed and provides the potential to achieve a reasonable level of return over the medium term with a little less volatility than the very long-term, more aggressive portfolios.

 

Long-Term investor

 

CF JM Finn Global Opportunities – This suggestion is for investors with a long time horizon.  Therefore the focus is on more risky areas with greater potential to build wealth over the long term.

 

Junior ISA / Investing for Children

 

Lindsell Train Global Equity – The managers invest in global equities and have a long term buy and hold approach. This compliments those investing for children who often have very long-term goals in mind.

 

 

Hargreaves Lansdown end of tax year opening hours

 

Monday 25 – Thursday 28 March                               8am – 7pm

Easter Bank Holiday weekend every day               9am – 6pm

Tuesday 2 April                                                                 8am – 8pm

Wednesday 3 April                                                          8am – 8pm

Thursday 4 April                                                                8am – 8pm

Friday 5 April                                                                      8am – Midnight

 

ISA deadlines

 

Stocks & Shares ISA

 

Online                   Friday 5th April – 23:45                                    www.hl.co.uk/ISA

Telephone          Friday 5th April – 23:55                                    0117 900 9000

Postal                    Friday 5th April

 

Bed & ISA

 

Funds on Vantage                           Wednesday 3rd April – 17:00

Shares on Vantage                          Friday 5th April – 12:00

Funds/ shares certificated           Wednesday 3rd April

ISA Contribution limits

 

                                  2012/13                                2013/14

 

Stocks and Shares ISA                    £11,280                                 £11,520

Junior ISA                                            £3,600                                   £3,720

How to Get Out of Debt and Avoid Fraud

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Be careful with credit counseling agencies that don’t always deliver what they promise

More than one and a half million people file for bankruptcy every year. Many people fall behind on their bills because they’ve lost their jobs, suffered from a long-term illness, or because they were unable to manage their personal finances properly.

Fortunately, there are many resources out there that can help you put together a plan to pay off your debt, including credit counseling agencies.

Signs Your Finances Are in Trouble

You don’t have to be close to filing for bankruptcy to realize that you are in financial trouble. These are some signs that you might have too much debt:

* You are frequently late on your payments
* You are close to your credit limit on your credit cards
* You use your credit cards to make payments on other cards
* You find it difficult to save money
* You’ve been denied credit recently

How to Get out of Debt

To get out of debt and set your finances straight, carefully analyze your income and expenses. Make sure you:

* Make a budget and stay within its limits.
* Figure out your total debt and also what you owe to each creditor, your monthly payments, interest and payment due dates.
* Prioritize repayments, focusing first on things such as your mortgage, rent, and utilities.
* Make a repayment plan for each creditor and determine how long it will take you to pay off the debt. Make sure to review your credit card statements, as they will include information about how long it will take to pay off your balance, per new credit card laws that went into effect in 2010.
* Don’t incur any additional debt.

How to Choose a Credit Counseling Agency

Consider a credit counseling agency if your debt is too much to handle. These companies offer workshops on how to manage your money and advice on how to administer your debt. They can also help you create a budget and even negotiate your debt with creditors.

Many of these companies are nonprofit organizations, however be careful, as some charge excessive fees for their services and others might not even deliver what they promise. Consider these important suggestions before choosing a credit counseling agency:

* Pick a counseling agency that offers several services. This will help you avoid organizations that promote only certain services.
* Avoid credit counseling agencies that charge you for simply providing information, or agencies that demand a percentage of the amount that you are supposedly saving. Ideally, you should request the cost of their services in advance and in writing.
* Stay away from agencies that ask you to stop making payments on your debt or ask you not to contact creditors.

The Department of Justice has a list of credit counseling agencies that are approved to provide pre-bankruptcy counseling.

SOURCE GobiernoUSA.gov/USA.gov