Your Money Q&A

In association with
Brewin Dolphin

Q&A: Your money queries Jun 04 2011

AA stockbroker buys and sells shares and other securities through what are known as market makers on behalf of investors. They will take your money and purchase the asset that you say you want to buy. They will charge a commission or fee for doing so. Fundamentally you need a stockbroker to purchase shares for you, because you cannot walk into a stock exchange and expect to transact business; you are not allowed to. They do this for you.Read

Q&A: Your money queries May 28 2011

Q: I run a small business and know that the Government is planning some pension changes from next year. How will they affect me?Read

Q&A: Your money queries May 21 2011

Q: My colleague and I run a small business which is doing quite well. The bank has suggested that as we are a limited company we need a shareholders agreement and need to be insured. They have also mentioned something called a 'cross option' and we are not sure what this all means.Read

Q&A: Your money queries May 14 2011

Q: IN last week's article, you said that if pension income was more than £20,000 you could take all of your pension fund as an income after drawing the tax-free cash lump sum. Is this household income or an individual’s income? My husband and I have in excess of £20,000 income per annum and he has a pension fund on top that we would like to draw out.Read

Q&A: Your money queries May 06 2011

Q: I understand if I have an income of £20,000 per annum I can elect for flexible drawdown on my pension fund. Is this correct?Read

Q&A: Your money queries Apr 30 2011

Q: I saw a headline stating that Standard Life it soft closing a fund. I do not understand what this means and why it would want to do this. Can you explain?Read

Q&A: Your money queries Apr 23 2011

Q: I have recently taken voluntary redundancy and will receive my severance payment in approximately four weeks. It amounts to a little over £40,000. I understand that the first £30,000 will be tax-free, but what is the tax treatment of the remainder?Read

Q&A: Your money queries Apr 16 2011

Q: I HAVE been thinking about doing some investment and have been looking at the performance of different funds. I am amazed the difference there can be within the same apparent type of funds. What makes such a difference?Read

Q&A: Your money queries Apr 09 2011

Q: My mother died just over a year ago and her estate is about to be finalised. However, she spent several years in care and this has decimated the money that I and my sisters will inherit. We feel rather upset that this has happened as she was very poorly for some time and would have thought that the State would have had some responsibility for her care costs. Is there anything we can do?Read

Q&A: Your money queries Apr 02 2011

Q: I am going to take my pension from my pension plan and was going to try and get the maximum pension and not take any tax-free cash from the scheme. However, my adviser has suggested I do take the tax-free cash and purchase another annuity with the money. Is this a good idea?Read

Q&A: Your money queries Mar 26 2011

Q: I have a unit trust invested in Japan and am very concerned about its value now that the earthquake and tsunami have happened. Should I sell it or should I hang on?Read

Q&A: Your money queries Mar 19 2011

Q: I have a unit trust invested in Japan and am very concerned about its value now that the earthquake and tsunami have happened. Should I sell it or should I hang on?Read

Q&A: Your money queries Mar 11 2011

Q: My wife and I are intending retiring to France next year, but have heard a rumour that they will tax the lump sum from my pension. Is this correct and, if so, how much tax will I pay?Read

Q&A: Your money queries Mar 05 2011

Q: I used to like to invest money in National Savings & Investments Index Linked Certificates, but they are no longer issuing them. Are there any alternatives?Read

Q&A: Your money queries Feb 19 2011

Q: MY wife and I are somewhat confused as to the changes in the pension rules. Could you tell us when we will receive ours? My date of birth is January 7, 1955 and my wife’s is March 31, 1954. Thank you for your help.Read

Q&A: Your money queries Feb 12 2011

Q: I have been approached by an adviser from St James Place who tells me they are independent advisers. Is this correct as I was under the impression that he was only representing his company?Read

Q&A: Your money queries Feb 05 2011

Q: I am looking to buy a house at a cost of £200,000. What is the stamp duty that I will pay?Read

Q&A: Your money queries Jan 29 2011

Q: I have two ISA investments with different companies and I have recently received statements from them both. I do not understand why one appears to have significantly better performance than the other. They are both ISAs so why would there be such a difference?Read

Q&A: Your money queries Jan 22 2011

Q: My husband and I have rented the house that we have lived in but at the beginning of the Millennium we purchased an investment property so that we always had an interest in the property market.Read

Q&A: Your money queries Jan 08 2011

Q: I am coming up to the age of 65 and am considering my pension options. I do not know whether to buy an annuity or to draw from my pension pot on an ongoing basis. Annuities seem to be poor value. What do you think?Read