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If you are looking for a financial adviser in Norwich, you will probably come across the word “independent” fairly quickly. But what does it actually mean? And, more importantly, why should it matter when you are choosing someone to help with your finances? Independent financial advice is not simply a marketing term. In financial services, it describes the scope of advice an adviser is able to provide. Understanding the difference can help you make a more informed decision ab

A lot of people assume they only need a financial adviser when they are approaching retirement, have received an inheritance or have built up a significant amount of wealth. In reality, there are many points in life when financial advice can be useful. Sometimes it is because something has changed. Sometimes it is because you have a big decision to make. And sometimes it is simply because you want to know whether you are making the most of what you already have. So, when is t

You may have heard that a financial planner can help you manage your money, plan for retirement or make decisions about your investments. But what does a financial advisor actually do? The simple answer is that a financial adviser helps you understand your current financial position, decide what you want your money to achieve and create a practical plan to help you get there. That might involve pensions and investments, protection or tax planning but good financial advice is

When it comes to buying a home-or remortgaging-there’s no shortage of decisions to make. Fixed rate or tracker? Two years or five? Go direct to a lender or speak to a mortgage broker or adviser? One question we hear a lot at Brancaster House Financial Planning is: “Is it worth using a mortgage adviser—and how much do they charge?” It’s a fair question. Mortgages are one of the biggest financial commitments most of us ever make, and in today’s climate of rising rates and ch

If you’ve got a mortgage, chances are you’ve seen your monthly payments rise sharply in the last couple of years. Whether you’re on a fixed rate that’s about to end, or you’ve already slipped onto your lender’s standard variable rate, the big question we often get asked is: “When should I start looking for my remortgage deal?” And the short answer? Sooner than you think. At Brancaster House Financial Planning, we support people across Norwich and Norfolk in making sense

Whether you're buying your first home or expanding your property portfolio as a landlord, one of the first questions you'll ask is: how much can I borrow? In the UK, lenders use affordability criteria to calculate mortgage borrowing limits. These criteria differ depending on whether you're applying for a residential mortgage (to live in the property) or a buy-to-let mortgage (to rent it out). This guide explains how UK mortgage lenders assess affordability for both resident