Audley Wealth

VouchedFor Top Rated! ⭐ Our Independent Financial Advisor, Alun Webster, has been listed in the 2025 VouchedFor Top Rated Advisor List. With over 20 years of experience working closely with people who want to make the best decisions about their finances, we truly understand the reasons why making the right financial choices now is key for the future. Want to know what our clients say? Read our reviews: 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eDQHGJRK #FinancialAdvisor #UKFinance #VouchedFor #PensionPlanning #IFA

Surge in smaller homes 🏠 The pandemic prompted many homeowners to move out of cities in favour of bigger homes, but this trend, coined the ‘race for space,’ is now possibly being reversed as data shows demand for smaller homes is increasing. Last year, 53% of homes sold with a mortgage were smaller properties – the highest proportion in nearly 30 years (Halifax, 2024). This highlights that, amidst the cost-of-living crisis and ongoing mortgage affordability challenges, buyers are managing their expectations and settling for less space. It may not be surprising that many of these small homeowners are first-time buyers, 57% of whom purchased flats or terraced houses in 2023. *Content is for informational purposes only. #Homeowners #Mortgage #HousingMarket

#UKMarkets #FinancialPlanning #AutumnBudget

Uptick in IHT receipts – what lies ahead? Data (HMRC, 2024) has shown that Inheritance Tax (IHT) receipts have continued their ascent, with £2.8bn received in the April to July period this year. This figure is a substantial £0.2bn increase on the same period in the previous tax year (2023/24). Frozen thresholds continue to take their toll as IHT, once a tax reserved purely for the super-wealthy, impacts more of us. Property values have generally risen over the last decade or so, driving record IHT levels. Whether the government chooses to focus on IHT in the upcoming Autumn Budget remains to be seen. Calls for simplification of the tax have been rife for years. With such high receipts, the Chancellor may choose to make the tax work even harder for the Treasury. Whatever the future holds for IHT we will keep you informed of developments and work with you and your family to pass wealth down the generations as efficiently as possible, developing a strategy to help secure your beneficiaries’ financial future. Get in touch today - https://lnkd.in/dpVRtxC *Content is for informational purposes only #IHT #FinancialFuture #AutumnBudget

Wedding guests have a price to pay About 9.5 million Brits have plans to attend a wedding this year, (Censuswide,2024) but the celebrations come at a cost, as research suggests that an average guest spends £398 on a UK wedding. Getting married abroad is becoming increasingly popular, with guests typically expecting to pay about £1,000 each if they attend a destination wedding (Aviva, 2024). *Content is for informational purposes only. #CostOfLiving #PersonalFinance #FamilyFinance

#AutumnBudget #UKMarkets #CGT

The most affordable cities for FTBs 🏙️ Jobs permitting, those looking to get on the property ladder may start flocking to Aberdeen, as a report has found it is the most affordable city to be a first-time buyer (FTB) (Rightmove, 2024). Under the assumption that a FTB home has two bedrooms or fewer, the average asking price for a property in Aberdeen is £102,601. Bradford and Sunderland are the next cheapest cities to purchase a first home, with average asking prices of £107,929 and £111,263 respectively. The national average price of a FTB home currently stands at £227,110. Latest data (UK Finance, 2024) shows that the average FTB in Scotland and Wales has a 20% deposit, while in England it is 25% and that more FTBs are taking on longer mortgage terms which they may well be paying off into retirement. It’s important to remember that while longer mortgage terms might make repayments more affordable in the here and now, you will end up paying off more overall in interest. Here to help Whether you’re a first-time buyer or moving home, we’re always here to help you with your mortgage – just get in touch for advice. *Content is for informational purposes only. As a mortgage is secured against your home or property, it could be repossessed if you do not keep up mortgage repayments #FirstTimeBuyers #HousingMarket #FinancialPlanning

Retirement clients fear exhausting their savings A survey of financial advisers has revealed what clients are most worried about when it comes to retirement. Some 71% of respondents reported that the most common client fear is running out of money (Aegon, 2024). Meanwhile, 64% of advisers cited the cost-of-living crisis as a cause for concern, and 49% mentioned the costs of long-term care. *Content is for informational purposes only. #Retirement #Savings #Pensions

#Housing #UKMarkets #FirstTimeBuyers

Guidance for first-time buyers 🏠 Getting a foot onto the property ladder has always presented challenges. Research suggests FTBs could currently be experiencing the most expensive conditions in 70 years (BSA, 2024) Here is some guidance for first-time buyers - read our latest article: 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eQRiERuM *As a mortgage is secured against your home or property, it could be repossessed if you do not keep up mortgage repayments #FirstTimeBuyer #Mortgage #UKHousingMarket