How do I put my money where my mouth is?
January 2, 2012 10:22 AM Subscribe
This year I need to get my finances in order but what sort of professional would be able to help?
I need some basic help with managing current savings, reconciling pension accounts and understanding national insurance contributions but I'd also like to understand the broader impact of possibly changing jobs and/or location, or even buying a house, in the current climate.
I'd like to understand the pros and cons of available options in order to help me make decisions. It's looking like some professional advice would be the thing, but I'd really like help on general planning for my circumstances (mid-thirties, no debt, childfree) rather than the specifics of where to park investments.
I've been reading up on basic financial planning but I still have a lot of questions. I think I'm really looking for some sort of counselling/education service that focusses on intermediate money management. Hivemind, does such a service exist - and if so how would I go about finding it in East/Central London?
I need some basic help with managing current savings, reconciling pension accounts and understanding national insurance contributions but I'd also like to understand the broader impact of possibly changing jobs and/or location, or even buying a house, in the current climate.
I'd like to understand the pros and cons of available options in order to help me make decisions. It's looking like some professional advice would be the thing, but I'd really like help on general planning for my circumstances (mid-thirties, no debt, childfree) rather than the specifics of where to park investments.
I've been reading up on basic financial planning but I still have a lot of questions. I think I'm really looking for some sort of counselling/education service that focusses on intermediate money management. Hivemind, does such a service exist - and if so how would I go about finding it in East/Central London?
Start listening to Moneybox on Radio 4? For more local advice on what exists, maybe ask your local Citizen's Advice Bureau, although they're probably more focussed towards people dealing with debt issues.
I'm going to be watching this thread in case there are any answers more helpful, because if some sort of counselling/education service that focusses on intermediate money management does exist, I think I would also be interested in its services....
posted by Lebannen at 4:38 PM on January 2, 2012
I'm going to be watching this thread in case there are any answers more helpful, because if some sort of counselling/education service that focusses on intermediate money management does exist, I think I would also be interested in its services....
posted by Lebannen at 4:38 PM on January 2, 2012
at the moment in the UK I understand there are long waiting lists for CAB offices advice and even then they are swamped with people who are in serious debt.
Having recently fallen seriously foul of the HMRC due to complete ignorance and a little known glitch in the online tax returns site I too would be very interested in following this as my attempt to talk it over with an accountant was not successful.
It's the low level stuff that you just can't find everywhere, for example, when trying to submit online tax returns for a period of 3 years, the system would not accept a different tax code for each year. It took hours of talking to very polite people at HMRC, (oh and a letter just before Xmas that I owed £50,530) before I could finally set up a face-to-face appointment which found that my bill was closer to £3,000 but see, "this is what we use to show that if you don't submit before 31st January we charge you an estimation of ...." 2 days before Christmas.
all the accountant was able to say was pay it.
I will listen to Moneybox on Radio 4 religiously from now on.
posted by Wilder at 5:52 AM on January 3, 2012
Having recently fallen seriously foul of the HMRC due to complete ignorance and a little known glitch in the online tax returns site I too would be very interested in following this as my attempt to talk it over with an accountant was not successful.
It's the low level stuff that you just can't find everywhere, for example, when trying to submit online tax returns for a period of 3 years, the system would not accept a different tax code for each year. It took hours of talking to very polite people at HMRC, (oh and a letter just before Xmas that I owed £50,530) before I could finally set up a face-to-face appointment which found that my bill was closer to £3,000 but see, "this is what we use to show that if you don't submit before 31st January we charge you an estimation of ...." 2 days before Christmas.
all the accountant was able to say was pay it.
I will listen to Moneybox on Radio 4 religiously from now on.
posted by Wilder at 5:52 AM on January 3, 2012
Response by poster: Thanks for the tips, I'll check out Dave Ramsey.
at the moment in the UK I understand there are long waiting lists for CAB offices advice and even then they are swamped with people who are in serious debt
I wouldn't have thought CAB did non-emergency stuff? I don't have an immediate problem to solve, more a lack of general financial awareness beyond stay out of debt where possible and keep topping up the ISA. (Wilder - fingers crossd for HMRC meet, that sounds painful!).
From the favourites to answers ratio here I'm thinking it's not a commonly provided service and I should just go see a standard financial advisor. I'm happy to pay, I just can't work out how to angle the search for the kind of counsel I'm looking for. It seems a common issue though - I'll update the thread if I unearth any gems.
posted by freya_lamb at 6:46 AM on January 3, 2012
at the moment in the UK I understand there are long waiting lists for CAB offices advice and even then they are swamped with people who are in serious debt
I wouldn't have thought CAB did non-emergency stuff? I don't have an immediate problem to solve, more a lack of general financial awareness beyond stay out of debt where possible and keep topping up the ISA. (Wilder - fingers crossd for HMRC meet, that sounds painful!).
From the favourites to answers ratio here I'm thinking it's not a commonly provided service and I should just go see a standard financial advisor. I'm happy to pay, I just can't work out how to angle the search for the kind of counsel I'm looking for. It seems a common issue though - I'll update the thread if I unearth any gems.
posted by freya_lamb at 6:46 AM on January 3, 2012
I would suggest an independent financial advisor, who can then let you know if you need an accountant. You can interview a couple; the one we have is big on long term ducks in a row and less big on where to park investments. We pay for this service.
posted by DarlingBri at 7:00 AM on January 3, 2012
posted by DarlingBri at 7:00 AM on January 3, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by jander03 at 2:26 PM on January 2, 2012 [1 favorite]