The clocks have changed, the days are darker and the Autumn budget for 2024 has been revealed… Many were surprised at the level to which this government have raided the pockets of the middle class earners and those with moderate wealth. A labour government was something many dentists will have feared – and they will likely feel their fears have been brought to life. What was announced? Financial advisors are reeling with the impact of pensions being subject to inheritance tax

Earlier this year the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) published a press release addressing the rise and increase in influence of the financial influencer – ‘the finfluencer’. A well-timed press release, as we increasingly see the impacts of the self-labelled expert more and more when speaking with our clients. It appears almost inevitable now that if one is not able to succeed, they can re-label themselves as a coach, mentor, guru, or one of the many other self appointed ti

‘Value’ is such a subjective word, a term which means different things to different people. To some of us, value comes from quality and longevity while some want the lowest cost available. So what is your value? What is the value of your time? What are you worth per hour? Most of you will be calculating how many hours you work so that you can figure out what to divide your net profit or salary by… but it isn’t your hourly rate we want to know, it’s your hourly worth that we w

Social media is a fantastic invention, one with a mixed effect within society. There is the amazing ability to connect and stay in touch with distant and/or lost friends and family. The ability to show huge audiences your product or service. The ability to see a living diary of your past life. Even if the Facebook memories sometimes make you cringe, the nostalgia is fantastic. But there is also a much darker side to social media. It has allowed many people to create a life pa

The insanity The bank of England increased the base rate again today (3 August 2023) to 5.25% – the 14th consecutive rise and an increase in 5% since late 2021. Moneyfacts noted that the average two year fixed rate is 6.85% versus 2.34% from December 2021. You may have read my earlier article which explained the disconnect between mortgage rates, and the bank of England base rate. So why am I talking about the base rate today? Because of the knock on effect that has caused mo

Vinay Rathod explains the importance of income protection policies, and how to find the right one for you. Income protection is a policy you will all have heard of, but less than 50% of dentists have in place. Many who have their cover set up incorrectly won’t know until they try to claim. So what exactly is income protection, and how is it different from critical illness cover, or locum insurance? It is arguably the most important income protection policy that you are not le

As the cost of living and interest rates rise, how does this impact self-employed dentists and their mortgages? asks Vinay Rathod of VR Financial Solutions. Self employed dentists and those operating under a LTD Company have often faced difficulties when applying for a mortgage. Recent increases in the cost of living and the Bank of England Base Rate (BBR) have had considerable impacts to how lenders view applicants, especially those who are not employed with PAYE income. For