WITH PROFITS & INVESTMENT BONDS

WITH PROFITS & INVESTMENT BONDS

Literally billions of pounds remain invested in With Profits Funds, as they were the investment of choice for many Independent Financial Advisers & Bank based Advisers over several decades.

Investments issued by Life Assurance Companies (as opposed to their Unit Trust Divisions) such as With Profit Bonds are generally highly inefficient from a tax point of view. They are ideally suited to individuals paying Income Tax at 40% and habitually utilising their annual Capital Gains Tax (CGT) Allowances.

However, the vast majority of With Profit Bond Investors are not in that category. All income and gains within the Bond are taxable on the Provider and you are unable to use your annual CGT Allowance, which currently allows you to draw profits of up to £8,800 per annum tax-free, to offset this tax.

A recent report, commissioned by the Government and drawn-up by Industry Expert, Ron Sandler, concluded that there were a series of concerns about with-profits products from the perspective of competition and efficiency. In particular, the review highlighted the opacity of with-profits in terms of being able to ascertain the true returns on the funds invested. The review also focused on value-for-money, in so far as charges are not routinely reported to investors in the way they are for other investment products. The ability for the Provider to make unilateral decisions on bonus payouts was also criticised.

From double digit bonuses in the late 1980s and early 1990s returns have in some cases collapsed. Some Bonds issued by previously leading With Profits Providers are paying nothing in the way of Annual Bonuses and many others are paying less than 1% per annum. Even the current market leaders are paying no more than 3.25% per annum.With some Bonds, following the recent strong performance of share markets, there is no longer a Market Value Reduction (MVR) (some provider prefer to call this a Market Value Adjustment (MVA)) being applied.

With other Bonds the MVR has been reduced, but not removed altogether. Unfortunately, however, a number of Providers are continuing to maintain high MVRs. Many in this latter category have not participated in the recovery in share markets because the Actuary has forced the Investment Managers to substantially reduce the exposure to this asset class. In this case there is a "double whammy" - the likelihood that the MVR may never be removed and continuing poor long-term returns, meaning little or no profits to distribute by way of bonuses.

With the relatively high Stockmarket content to the underlying portfolio, which is what gives rise to the MVRs, With Profits Funds are generally outside of the risk profile of many Investors.

If you believe that you have been mis-sold your investment bond – please contact me to start your financial claim on a no-win no fee basis. We charge a flat fee of 10% (inclusive) on any compensation awarded. No other hidden costs.

Email: info@easy4life.com

Finance for Leasehold Retail Businesses - Leasehold Business Loans

A leasehold retail business is one that is operated by the leaseholder, who rents his premises from the landlord (freeholder). A newsagent, pub, fish and chip shop or other leasehold business can provide the purchaser with source of income and usually a family home. It offers a relatively cheap way to solve two of life's basic challenges: finding shelter and a livelihood - which is precisely why the UK is so densely populated with these businesses.

Most retail business premises are held on a 21-year lease (or less) at a commercial rent, and the leaseholder is usually protected by the Landlord&Tenant Act 1954, which safeguards renewal. In essence, however, a leaseholder is a "tenant" renting the premises to carry on retail business.

The real value of a leasehold business is determined primarily by the volume of turnover. Other factors such as level of rent, location and competition do have a significant bearing on value, but income is ultimately the most important factor. It must also be remembered that even the best-equipped business, set in a prime location, will be worth only fraction of the going-concern value, if it is closed.

At least 25% of them change ownership each year, so it is probable that every week around 20,000 buyers are looking for a commercial loan in a financial marketplace where there are precious few sources of finance.

Similarly, it would be reasonable to assume that many existing owners of retail businesses will require a commercial loan during the course of a trading year in order to either buy out a partner, discharge an outstanding VAT bill or refurbish their premises and will usually encounter rasing funds from the usual High Street sources.

easy4life Loans and mortgages can provide you with access to leasehold business loans for variety of leasehold businesses ranging from Retail Outlets such as general stores, newsagents, off-licenses, post office stores, DIY shops, Dry Cleaners, Drug Stores to Catering Businesses such as Pizza/pasta/kebab/fish & chip shops, takeaways, cafes, snack bars and all other types of fast food outlets. Finance is also available for Pubs, Wine Bars, Bistros and types of restaurants.


The lending terms are:

Max loan considered is £250,000 or 60% of purchase price or valuation whichever is lower. The facility will be payable over half the unexpired term of the lease or a maximum of 120 months.
If additional security is available then 100% of purchase price is available with a lower start monthly payment plan.
For refinance of existing business the maximum that will be considered is £100,000 or 50% of the valuation whichever is the lower.

Please contact me with all enquiries on easy4life@gmail.com / mobile: 07974 650 751.

DEBT REDUCTION ADVICE IS FREE

Towards Financial Intelligence- Debt Reduction Advice and Counselling by easy4life

Having worked in finance for most of my career -I decided it was best to share some experience about money management with this group. It is frightening to see how many people do not know how to manage their own money effectively. There are many companies out there that instead of encouraging better money management are encouraging people into more debt by encouraging people to let them handle their debt...For a Fee!

Please if you know anyone who is in personal debt, discourage them from going down this route! The only person who should be really handling their debt is themselves or if there is help, then it should be free..not putting the person in more DEBT!. Contact me, or point a friend to contact me for my personal debt guide management guide first before they commit to doing such a thing.

Safaraz Ali
info@easy4life.com

easy4life debt management programme

INTEREST STOPPED OR FROZEN
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95% OF YOUR DEBTS COULD BE WRITTEN OFF
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A PAYMENT YOU CAN AFFORD
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FREE ADVICE
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DEBT STRESS GONE IN 24 HOURS
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IVA
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DEBT MANAGEMENT
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CONSOLIDATE YOUR DEBTS
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Get your life back on track TODAY
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Tenants welcome

Please contact me on easy4life@gmail.com or 07974650751

Your Credit Report & Information held on you.

There are three main credit reference agencies that all lenders consult before they make any lending decision, Experian and Equifax and also Call Credit. They record a number of details about you based on your current and previous addresses. This includes the following:

1. Electoral (Voters) Roll - whether you are on the Voter's roll. Some lenders have this as a basic requirement before they can lend.

2. County Court Judgments (CCJs) - These arise when you have been taken to court by a debtor to enforce payment of a debt and the debtor received a judgement in his favour against you. The court hold this information for six years from the date of the judgment. They also record if you subsequently paid the judgement.

3. Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVAs) & Bankruptcy- This is where you are unable to pay your debts. Once you have been made bankrupt and the debts have been settled then you become a discharged bankrupt.

4. Credit Accounts - these are all your loan accounts that have been active in the last six years and whether you have ever defaulted on them. Typical accounts are your mortgage account, credit and store card accounts and personal loans.

5. Repossessions - details of any house repossessions that have ever occurred.

6. Previous searches - these are previous credit searches by other lenders that you have made a credit application with.

7. Gone Away Information Network (GAIN) - this is where you have moved home and not forwarded on the new address and not satisfied the debt.

8. Credit Industry Fraud Avoidance System (CIFAS) - this is where the lender suspects fraud and just flags it up.

Your credit file dictates the mortgage you can get. The key factors are CCJs or defaults. If you have any CCJs or defaults you will be restricted to adverse credit lenders who charge higher interest rates. If you have an IVA, repossession or GAIN on your file you still will be able to get a mortgage depending on when you had debt problems but your choice would be limited.

There is one key thing you should remember when filling out any application form or passing on any information to your Broker - do not lie! The credit reference agencies are becoming more and more sophisticated. They log every bit of information you put on every credit application and if you submit an application that was slightly different from a previous application they will flag it up.

SELL YOUR ENDOWMENT POLICY

Don't Surrender - Get More!

If you are interested in surrendering your endowment policy - DON'T. Try selling it because you could get up to 45% more than the surrender value offered by the life office.

As a Broker and Finance Specialist I aim to get you the best price for your endowment policy by offering it to over 12 potential buyers ensuring that one stop gets your endowment policy the maximum exposure, which saves you the time in ringing numerous companies and should ensure that you get the best price for your endowment policy.

If your policy is saleable, this almost always ensures a higher price than the surrender value offered by the life office because the surrender value almost always incurs penalties which do not occur by selling your endowment policy.

Unlike some Traded Endowment Companies who are owned by market makers and are not totally independent - my aim is to get you the highest price for your endowment policy.
I will assess any traditional with profits endowment or whole of life policy offered to me but I am especially interested in policies from:

Britannic, CIS, Clerical Medical, Commercial Union, Friends Provident, General Accident, Irish Life, Legal and General, Liverpool Victoria, Norwich Union, Pearl, Prudential, Royal London, Scottish Amicable, Scottish Mutual, Scottish Widows, Standard Life.

If your policy is tradeable, you will have the opportunity to forward your full details to me and I will aim to get you the best market price within 72 hours.


Please email me for list of information that is required.

DEALING WITH PERSONAL DEBT - A Guide Published by Safaraz Ali, easy4life loans and mortgages

Dealing With Personal Debt by Safaraz Ali

I have produced a guide to dealing with personal debt. DO NOT CONTACT ANY DEBT COUNSELLOR / ADVISER UNTIL YOU HAVE READ MY GUIDE. PLEASE EMAIL ME AND I WILL FORWARD THIS GUIDE TO YOU. IT CAN SAVE YOU THOUSANDS!!!

The contents and brief guide includes a step by step guide including template letters as listed below:

STEP 1 - Contact all Creditors
STEP 2 - Decide priorities
STEP 3 - Prepare financial statement
STEP 4 - Maximise income
STEP 5 - Review expenditure
STEP 6 - Negotiate with priority creditors
STEP 7 - Negotiate with secondary creditors
Court proceeding
Conclusions- the future
Some DOs and DON'Ts