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If you have decided to put your child into private education, it is essential to think about the financial implications in terms of costs in detail.
There are many ways of funding private education. These are:
- Paying schooling costs and fees from taxable income.
- Invest a single lump sum to allow for education in the future.
- Utilising some existing investments.
- Use some form of policy to save regularly.
-You can use a combination of these methods to fund the costs of private education.

Pay school costs out of taxable Earnings.

Paying fees out of taxable your salary can cause problems if not managed correctly. Good school fees planning will help you increase your cash flow and make the costs easier to afford.

How can a financial adviser help?

A practiced financial adviser will take into account the school’s charges, your attitude towards investing, tax rates for you and family members, whether you have useable assets or capital and your thoughts towards funding. These are only a couple of components independent financial adviser might take into account when producing any plans for paying fees.

Find out more information about our advisory service.

Whether you are expecting to set up a regular savings policy, provide out of earnings or invest a lump sum to cover future fees we can help you.
Our experienced financial planner will provide advice and direction. He will discuss with you, the best choices for you and your family.
To talk to us in more depth about our service please contact us.
Consilium Asset Management are based in Bristol and provide independent financial advice on school fees planning.
This article should not be considered advice

Equity markets are unstable, the United Kingdom has spent too much money & many individuals are unsure of the future as far as jobs, money and finances are involved. It might all seem really bleak and indeed the UK has a lot of anguish to take before we start to get the finances straight. Although the new coalition government will hopefully begin to tackle the problems facing the country we can all take some time to re-examine our own personal finances.

I truly believe that where change takes place, chances are present. The emergency budget might close many loopholes as far as financial planning is concerned, but others may become available to encourage entrepreneurship & long term saving. Personally if you can get the most acceptable investment return for the level of risk you are prepared to accept , blended with applying tax breaks and low cost investment vehicles, then over the long-term you should see the benefits.

The old phrase “don’t let the tax tail wag the dog” has never been closer to the truth. Seemingly a large number of people with buy to lets have put them on the market, hopefully to sell before the emergency budget in 3 weeks time. The reason is the possible modification to capital gains tax. Great, but what if the government decide to backdate CGT to the Sixth of April. In reality these investors should have taken the possibility of CGT into account when designing their investment portfolios. Property is an ill-liquid asset is not be easily disposed of. Due to the gain in property values over the last 10 yrs many investors will face possible CGT demands when they least expect it.

A competent financial adviser should be able to point out the advantages & disadvantages concerning different types of investments. This should include the investment risks and possible tax implications.

If you’re looking for advice on investment management, Bristol based Consilium Asset Management can help you.

Global Equity markets are erratic, the uk plc has spent too much money and many individuals are not sure of the future as far as jobs, money and finances are concerned. It might all seem really uncertain and indeed the UK.PLC has a lot of pain to stand before we start to get the finances straight. Although the new coalition government might begin to address the issues facing the economy we can all take time to review our own personal finances.

I truly believe that where change comes about, chances are present. The emergency budget will close many loopholes as far as tax planning is concerned, but others may open up to encourage entrepreneurship & long term saving. Personally if you can obtain the most acceptable investment return for the amount of risk you are prepared to accept , combined with applying tax breaks and low-cost investment products, then over the long-term you should see the benefits.

The old phrase “don’t let the tax tail wag the dog” has never been truer. Evidently a large number of people with buy to lets have put them on the market, hopefully to sell before the emergency budget in 3 wks time. The reason is the possible modification to capital gains tax. Great, but what if the government decide to backdate CGT to the 6th of April. In reality these investors should have taken the possible action of CGT into account when designing their investment portfolios. Property is an ill-liquid asset cannot be easily disposed of. Due to the growth in property values over the last ten years some investors will face potential CGT demands when they least expect it.

A good financial adviser should be able to point out the Disadvantages and Advantages concerning different types of investments. This should include the investment risks and practicable tax implications.

Consilium Asset Management Ltd provide financial advice in Bristol.

The recent budget declared emerging modifications to the Individual Savings Account allowances.
In future, allowances are to be enhanced each yr by cost of living. This is a important benefit, as each yr the sum of money you will be capable to add in tax effective savings will go up.
For a couple that are married this means that they would be able to invest up to £20,400 into Individual Savings Accounts.
If however you are intending to use your cash Individual Savings Account allowance then the upper limit amount you can contribute is ten thousand two hundred pounds.
Where you contribute is just as critical as the gains of contributing into a tax preferred investment fund.
Every saver in partnership with their independent advisor should check their attitude to investing. It is critical to ensure that your existing investment funds meet their targets. You should also check on a regular basis to ensure that the level of risk has not modified since the investments were bought.
1 way of exercising this is to use a model portfolio of investments. This will let investors to purchase in a risk controlled manner and rebalance the portfolio on a yearly basis.
If you would like to find out more about model portfolios, Individual Savings Accounts and how to purchase investments in a prudent manner why not get hold of us?
Consilium supply independent financial advice in South Gloucestershire.

Wherever you are with your retirement objectives, do not be swayed from taking action, it s not too late. There are still steps you can put into place to increase the pension amount you’ll get when you retire.
Pensions are a very tax-efficient way to invest. If you already have a pension, now would be a very good time to talk to us about making a lump sum contribution to improve it, particularly as the close of tax yr is quickly nearing, or starting a self invested personal pension to widen your options. You will not have to draw all your pensions at the same time.
If you’re self employed, you can contribute up to 100 per cent of the value of your relevant UK salary (salary and other earnings), up to a maximum of 245,000 for the 2009/10 tax year rising to 255,000 for the tax yr 2010/11. Contributions above this annual limit are granted but will be taxed. You can invest into any number of pension schemes (personal and/or company) each year.
You ll receive tax relief on your Investments, so if you are a forty % tax payer a 20,000 investment would cost just 12,000. Basic rate tax relief is supplied by the government to all contributions at a rate of twenty percent.
Higher rate tax payers can claim up to a further twenty percent tax relief via self assessment. If you earn more than 150,000 you will see the tax relief on your pensions cut from April 2011, tapering from 40 to 20 percent for those making more than 180,000. Earners beneath 130,000 will not be affected.

There s a lifetime limit on the size of your pension savings, which is currently £1.75m in the tax yr 2009/10 but rises to £1.8m for the 2010/11 tax yr. If your pot exceeds this, you ll incur tax charges of 55 percent if the excess benefits are taken as a lump sum and 25 % if taken as income. The income will then be subject to income tax at your highest rate.
From 6th April 2010, the age at which you can start taking your pension increases to 55. If you need to, pension benefits can be postponed until you are up to 75 years old. You may still be able to take your pension before age fifty five in some circumstances, e.g if you retire through ill-health.

Consilium Asset Management Ltd supply advice on self invested personal pensions /sipps in South Gloucestershire.

The value of investments and the income from them can go down as well as up and you may not get back your original investment. Past performance is not an indication of future performance. Tax benefits may vary as a result of statutory change and their value will depend on individual circumstances. Thresholds, percentage rates and tax legislation may change in subsequent finance acts.

Don t leave your loved ones with additional expenses and complications.
People who die without a valid will, or intestate, leave costs and worry to their loved ones and often gift lots of money to the Country in what may be avoidable Inheritance Tax (IHT).

The Law Society says that anyone with possessions and family or friends should make a will, no matter of their years. It is especially important if you are not married to your partner, because the law does not give partners the same rights automatically of inheritance as spouses.
Property that is owned jointly by unmarried partners on a joint tenancy basis would still pass automatically to the surviving partner under the rules of survivorship. Under the current intestacy rules, an unmarried partner has no rights to property that were not jointly owned (although the Law Commission has recently suggested to change this).

Forming a will is also essential if you have kids, as you can nominate guardians to look after them.

It is important to create a list of investments, property and debts and their approximate worth. Include your properties, investments, savings, insurance policies and pensions.
In addition, consider details of single bequests. Merely telling a beneficiary that an item will be his or hers one day could cause difficulty later.

You should take professional advice on estate planning as part of writing your will. Simple measures could save the beneficiaries of more prosperous homeowners thousands of £’s in tax.

An essential component of establishing a will is the appointment of executors to make sure that your will wishes are carried out.

You should also update your will every few years or so and whenever your circumstances are changed by a significant life event, such as wedding, split up or a birth or death in the close family. Another instance would be after a house purchase or move.

Whoever constructs up your will, make sure one copy is kept safe or deposit one with a probate registry.

Consilium Asset Management LTD offer inheritance tax planning advice in South Gloucestershire

There is one day in your child’s lifetime that you dread more than any other and they are most excited about; the day they get their license to drive. Almost everyone knows a teenager who has been involved in a motorcar accident. What can parents do to guard their offspring from these terrifying events?. It is vital to discuss motorcar safety. Also, parents can enroll their prospective teen driver in a drivers education course. This will result in lower automobile premiums and a better prepared driver.

Which road conditionsresult in to crashes?

Many teenagers drive older pre-owned vehicles; unfortunately, these cars are not always equipped with the latest safety equipment. Traveling on Friday or Saturday night with several passengers increases a young persons chance of being involved in a car crash. In addition, young person drivers are not experienced in driving on wet roads from fog, rain or sleet.

There is in fact a form of cheap car insurance for young drivers that discourages drivers from driving at more dangerous times of the day. Known as pay per drive insurance the driver charged for the miles they drive. For example the highest mileage rates will be charged for the most dangerous times such as the middle of the nght.

Which drivers are most likely to crash?

According to the latest research, individuals under the age of 25 are most likely to be involved in an motorcar accident. The research also reports that most accidents occur shortly after a driver becomes licensed. Gender plays a role too; as male drivers are twice as likely as female drivers to be involved in a car accident.

Why undertake driver education classes?

Getting a drivers license is a rite of passage and parents have to watch as their children grow up. Regrettably, many young people are critically injured and nearly 300 are killed while driving in the UK. But it doesnt have to end this way, young people who participate in supplemental drivers education experience significantly lower crash rates. Remember, youngsters who take these courses not only are safer but receive lower insurance ratings. So parents, before you push your little birds from the nest, enroll them in a driver education course for your peace of mind and peace of wallet.

In which places can you be taught accident avoidance techniques?

Drivers education can help a newly licensed driver gain the actual road experience he or she is lacking. Pass Plus is a new driver education course offered by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA). The Driving Academy at Mercedes-Benz World offers a driving experience class for soon-to-be new drivers. Safety driven driver training courses are available from the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM).

How to Optimize Accessibility and Mobility in Your Home

1. When assistive devices are being used in the home there is sometimes a problem with doorways being too narrow. Some hardware stores have hinges that allow the door to open and drop back in line with the frame and provide an extra few inches for access.

2. Remove the trim around the inside edge of the door from the floor to the midway point of the frame. This will add an extra half inch to the door way and may be enough to allow a wheelchair or walker to pass through.

3. Remove the standard door and install a bypass door on overhead track.

4. Mount an adjustable mirror above the stove if you are in a wheelchair so you can see into the pots on the stove from your chair.

5. Take the hand rims off a wheelchair to make it just a bit narrower.,

6. Buy a reacher to use for turning burners off and on if they are located across the back of the stove. This is helpful for persons in a wheelchair as well as someone with restricted movement in their shoulders and arms.

7. Buy a roll of that “waffle” or non skid shelf liner at the hardware or kitchen store and cut into circles that fit over jar lids. It makes opening jars and bottles easier.

8. Speciality stores sell cutlery with large handles for people with arthritis or impaired use due to stroke. They are expensive. Try wrapping your own kitchen utensils with foam pipe wrap from the hardware store.

9. Another option is to buy a long handled parfait spoon and bend the handle into a loop. This allows the user to wrap their fingers around the loop and does not require them to grip as tightly.

10. Buttons on heavy winter coats can be a problem for arthritic or cold hands. Try using elastic thread on the buttons. That bit of extra give makes them easier to do up.

11. As we age our eyes take longer to adjust to the darkness. Use night lights to make nocturnal visits to the fridge or bathroom safer. Use a plastic drink glass for next to the bed or in the bathroom to eliminate the chance of cuts.

12. Make sure phones have oversize lit key pads so they can be easily seen and used in an emergency . DO NOT program 911 into the auto dial on the phone. If it is touched in error a call will go out and waste valuable emergency services time and resources.

13. Phones that must be turned on or off by pushing a button are a good choice. Do not place the bedroom phone on the floor next to the bed or on a soft piece of furniture such as a chair or footstool. This may sound logical but many a relative has been frantic when they could not reach Granny for hours, only to drive 50 miles and find the phone off the hook.

14. Mount battery operated lights in closets or cupboards that do not have lights in them. Put scarves, hats and gloves in baskets that can be easily reached to avoid stretching to reach the top shelf.

15. There are all sorts of gadgets out there to automate lights indoors and out. Don’t forget the exterior of your home. Be safe. Have lights on near the entrance and from the driveway to the door. Decrease the chance of tripping. If you arrive home with a car full of parcels wait until daylight to unload them.

16. If turning lights off or on is a problem because of stiff fingers or reaching across a table or chair is required to locate the switch, try one of the many items now available. There are peddles that can be stepped on to activate lamps and lamp bases that only need to be touched to turn on the light.

17. A tennis ball cut and slipped over a door knob also makes it easier to grip and turn.

18. Keys with large round tops are also easier to manage. If possible get new keys made with these tops. Some have rubberized, colour rims on them for easier grip and identification on a full key chain.

20. If zippers are hard to manage add a tassel, large loop or cord so stiff fingers don’t have to work so hard.

21. Mattresses and upholstered furniture should be vacuumed regularly. Dust mites live in ALL carpets and furniture, even in a clean home. They can aggravate breathing problems and allergies if not kept under control. Everyone’s tolerance is different.

22. Put a chair or bench close to the entrance so there is a place to sit and remove or put on shoes. Bending over or standing up too quickly can cause dizziness.

23. Rearrange furniture such as foot stools and side tables to allow for wider walkways and easier access with canes or walkers.

Written by Deborah Baker at http://www.silvercross-stair-lifts.com

If you need to buy your eyeglasses in the near future, you may be shocked at how much they cost. With improvements in technology, there are more alternatives to choose from and obviously, these come at an increased price. Specs are the only feasible way to bring sight to many visually impaired. Spectacles are corrective lenses mounted in frames that help those with vision problems see clearly.

However, you can save a lot of money by simply taking the same amount of time to select your spectacles as before, but instead of parting with a lot of money at the opticians, you can then take your prescription - that you paid for - and then go home to your computer and buy your second glasses online: There aren’t any genuine problems with performing purchases this way. You should take time when choosing your online optician, you will get the same quality product that you most likely would have received from your street based optician, but at a far lower price! Eyeglasses are a necessary supplement that millions of people need to wear everyday. There are a good deal of online spectacle shops to choose from and you need to find one that you can trust. This may be trickier than when you actually meet a person face to face, but it isn’t impossible. Look at their website and find out who is behind the venture and decide whether or not they are the kind of people you want to work with. Once you have found a trustworthy person to sell your spectacles, use them to buy your spectacles. If you are keen on your spectacles, then tell your friends about them too.

Moving to Portugal

much has been written about this subject already. So why do I spend my time and write another one? Well, one of the reasons I have in doing so, is that I do know Portugal well and feel that I can write with some authority on this very subject.

One other reason I have, is that by reading what has been said and written about moving to Portugal does not reflect the whole spectrum.

There are two different and principle issues concerning this topic. A. moving to Portugal for retirement, and B. moving to Portugal whilst still in need of employment and the need to make a living.

Too much emphasis in the articles I have read is put on the sun, the beaches and the wonderful life in a country where the pace of life is slower, the environment healthier and life in general is wonderful and easy. Well you may not like what I have to say, but I believe that such views are slightly removed from reality.

Let me tell you, that I am an extremely optimistic person and to look at life in a pessimistic way is not part of my make up but I very much dislike that people who are seriously thinking about moving to Portugal are getting sold only half the story.

I have a sneaky suspicion, that some of the authors have had a very personal and vested interest in painting a very colourful and glowing picture.

Let my get more specific about it all and cover the retirement angle first.

To retire in a country with better climate and hopefully with a lower cost of living is a positive step which more and more people take. After a lifetime of work and with a pension to secure this new chapter in their life’s there are very little risks in moving away from your home country. After all Portugal is less than 3 hours away. Faro International airport has excellent connections to the UK in particular, with many operators offering low cost fairs.

The vast majority of retired couples will keep their home in their respective country and spend a few months at a time in the sun, returning to their home country whenever they feel like. Others do live abroad all year round. Both these groups have one thing in common. A regular income.

With a secure and steady form of income from whatever source, you truly can enjoy the country, its people, the sun, and the beaches, the food, in short a great way of life. That’s wonderful. You deserve it.

Now let me turn to the second group of people who are looking to move to Portugal but are in need of a job and income.

I have met and spoken over the past 20 years with many clients and given my views and advice on moving to a different country. I have also met and spoken to many people after they have moved and heard their stories and learned of their problems.

In almost every case where problems developed, it was due to the fact that they relied on information they were given and not taken the precaution to double check, if what they have been told was indeed correct.

Coming to Portugal today, believing that it will not be a problem finding well paid employment can not be further from the truth. It will be tough and that is the reality. I have seen many foreigners come and go, not being able to make ends meet. Not speaking the language does not help and will always be a major obstacle which is not easy to overcome.

If one would like to have a serious desire to succeed in working in Portugal, or even starting a business here the language is priority.

Not speaking the language will narrow your opportunities, and you will be restricted to working within your own ex pat community. Another reason I have identified over the years being responsible for failure and early return to the country they left with so much hope and expectations was the inability to adapt to a very different way of life. If children are involved in a move abroad, and depending on their ages, the education issues can add additional pressure. Not everyone has the money to pay for the education in private schools of their own nationality. Many parents have to send their kids to Portuguese schools which can prove difficult for the children. But that really depends on their ages. The younger they are the better it is, and the less problems parents will encounter.

So when we are talking about younger people coming to live in Portugal, the key issue is without any doubt whatsoever financial stability and the capacity to earn money in a new country. An amazing amount of people underestimating the differences in the way things work in Portugal. Even people with good skills in their respective professions need to learn how to apply their skills within a new, and at the beginning strange environment.

Starting a business in the sun is the dream of many, but unfortunately quite often not enough time is spend on research, evaluating potential markets and opportunities. I don’t like to say it, but the dream of buying a bar or restaurant is mostly short lived. Very few foreigners, having bought a bar or restaurant earn enough money to keep a family. I deliberately said foreigners. The Portuguese bars and restaurants are different and a foreigner will in most cases not be able to compete. When I decided to write this article, I promised myself to be honest and to portray things as they really are.

Please don’t misunderstand I am not saying that you can’t earn money in Portugal. What I say is this: Don’t repeat the mistakes countless others have made before you. Take advice from qualified sources and act upon that advice. Portugal in my belief has a lot of opportunities to offer if you can see them and know how to exploit them and make them work for you.

If you come with the attitude to do your “thing” in the same way you have always done it you have a great chance of “not making it”. Don’t let that happen.

Our site will give you an overview what” sell and buy direct” is all about. Don’t let our name fool you. We are much more than a property advertising and marketing company. visit our site: www.sellandbuydirect.com