Blog
By Samuel Mather-Holgate Few things feel worse than being told “your mortgage application has been declined.” You’ve found the house.You’ve run the numbers.You thought you were fine. Then the lender says no. If this has happened to you in Swindon, Cirencester or Bristol, you are not alone — and it doesn’t mean you can’t get…
By Samuel Mather-Holgate For many aspiring homeowners in Swindon, Bristol and Cirencester, the challenge hasn’t just been saving for a deposit — it’s understanding whether today’s mortgage market actually works for you. Recent shifts in lending patterns mean the market isn’t just about interest rates anymore. While mortgage rates have eased and competition is rising,…
By Samuel Mather-Holgate Over the past year, few groups have faced as much uncertainty around inheritance tax (IHT) as farmers and landowners. Since Labour announced restrictions and reforms affecting Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR) in the Budget — followed by consultation, clarification, and back-and-forth — many farming families are left asking…
By Samuel Mather-Holgate If you’re an SME director, part of an HR team, or responsible for payroll, chances are your company pension scheme hasn’t had much attention since auto-enrolment first arrived. For many businesses, the decision was simple at the time: “We’ll just use NEST — it ticks the box.” Fast forward a few years,…
By Samuel Mather-Holgate If you live in or around Swindon or Cirencester, chances are you’ve felt it already — the financial landscape is shifting again. Mortgage rates are no longer rising, lenders are quietly becoming more flexible, tax rules are tightening in the background, and households are asking the same question: “Should we be doing…
By Samuel Mather-Holgate What today’s announcements mean for your taxes, pensions, savings, and household finances. After months of noisy rumours, political kite-flying and leaks that sent markets on edge, Rachel Reeves has delivered her second Budget — and in many ways, it was underwhelming.But that’s precisely what the country needed today. With inflation proving sticky,…
By Samuel Mather-Holgate They say children don’t come with a manual — but maybe they should come with a financial statement.From the moment you buy that first babygrow to the day you wave them off to university, raising children in the UK can be one of life’s most rewarding (and most expensive) experiences. So, just…
By Samuel Mather-Holgate Money can be a powerful tool — but it can also be one of the biggest sources of stress in a relationship.According to the Money & Pensions Service, nearly one in three UK couples argue about money at least once a month, and almost half admit they don’t have a clear plan…
By Samuel Mather-Holgate For most people in Swindon, Cirencester and Bristol, their mortgage is the single biggest financial commitment they’ll ever make. At the same time, many families rely on financial advice for pensions, savings, and investments. But too often these two areas are treated separately, when in reality your mortgage strategy and financial plan…
By Samuel Mather-Holgate For many people, buying a home feels just out of reach. Rising house prices, especially in Swindon, Cirencester and Bristol, mean larger deposits and bigger loans are needed. The good news? Lenders are beginning to re-open their doors to high loan-to-value (LTV) and high loan-to-income (LTI) mortgages. If you’re wondering whether these…
