News - Year: 2019

Keeping you posted

Gifts that keep on giving

With Christmas just around the corner, adverts for the latest toys and must-have gadgets seem to be everywhere. But have you thought of making a

Six steps to Financial Wellbeing

22m working-age adults do not feel that they understand enough about pensions to make decisions about saving for retirement. This statistic has recently been published

Employee Benefits – Seven Top Tips

People want to be recognised and rewarded for their efforts, and benefits play an important part – 69% of employees would choose one job over

Will there be a student loan and university fees shake-up?

A review of post-18 education in England has put student financing under the spotlight yet again – and could be the subject of another bout

Simplifying the inheritance tax rules

Major changes to inheritance tax (IHT) are proposed by the government’s Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) which could alter your estate planning. Inheritance tax is

Taking the long view on your investments

Trade wars between the US and China, as well as the current Brexit chaos, and tensions in various parts of the world, have all made

Homing in on capital gains

Draft legislation confirms a further tightening of the rules on capital gains tax and your home. The government has been reforming the tax system to

Workplace pensions – A good start, but is it enough?

This October marks the seventh anniversary of the start of workplace pension auto-enrolment. Now that all the process are embedded and contribution phasing is complete,

Mind the insurance gender gap

Women generally insure themselves for much smaller sums than men, although both buy life insurance and critical illness cover in roughly equal numbers. The average

The lasting power of peace of mind

Many people choose to write a Power of Attorney (PoA) alongside a will, but they are not just for later life. While a will sets

Property Investment: Meet the Experts seminar

On Thursday 26th September, Malcom Steel, Mearns & Company’s Client Services Director chaired the 2019 Property Investment: Meet the Experts seminar at the Royal Scots

Financial Planning – why do you need it?

Did you know that the famous billionaire investor, Warren Buffet, bought his first stock when he was eleven years old? And that he has said

Managing Director Update July 2019

Having started my role as Managing Director at Mearns & Company in January 2018, now seems like a good opportunity to reflect back over the

Annuities – a thing of the past or the road to a certain financial future?

Annuities. A throwback to a bygone era, right? Something that went out with VHS recorders, travellers’ cheques and shell suits? Well…, not quite. If Mark

The joy of tidying

Prioritise peace in your life: extend the Marie Kondo tidiness craze from your home to your finances. Have you ever looked at a room in

Summer 2019 Investment Masterclass

Shareholders have enjoyed bumper dividend payouts, but it’s not all plain sailing. The value of regular dividend payments has risen steadily since the financial crisis

Pensions and divorce – not just about the split

When it comes to dividing up assets on divorce, pension rights can turn out to be one of the most valuable elements – and often

Balancing the education equation

School fees are rising faster than the rate of inflation, creating financial challenges for parents who want to educate their children privately. In addition to

New headaches for landlords

Squeeze on buy-to-let profits This is the latest in a series of legislative changes to hit buy-to-let investors and private landlords. New rules on the

Moving the 65-yard line

Sixty-five years old has long been considered a pivotal age. For example, the Office of National Statistics splits the labour market into two main categories:

Summer Forum 2019 – a great success

On Thursday 20th June, we were proud to host Iain Duff, Deputy Agent for Scotland with the Bank of England, as our guest speaker at

Staying active: is it as good for your wealth as it is for your health?

Brexit or Brussels? Craft beer or Gin and Tonic? Active or passive investing? All hot topics of debate up and down the land (ok the

Leading the field in fair work

The Scottish Government recently published its Fair Work Action Plan. This sets out a range of measures to support employers to embed fairer working practices.

Spring 2019 Newsletter

Ringing in the changes in more ways than one With the countdown to Brexit now in days and still no clear idea of the terms

Spring 2019 Statement

A Spring Statement in the eye of the Brexit storm The Chancellor rose in a parliament preoccupied with the ongoing Brexit drama to deliver a

Brexit – What NOT to do

By Neil Lindsay, Head of Paraplanning With so many Brexit questions unanswered, financial advisers the length and breadth of the United Kingdom are being asked

The Herald Scottish Family Business Award – Customer Service Excellence 2018

On 5th of December 2018 Mearns & Company was named the winner of The Herald Scottish Family Business award for Customer Service Excellence 2018. The

Customer Service Excellence winners!

On 5th of December 2018 Mearns & Company was named the winner of The Herald Scottish Family Business award for Customer Service Excellence 2018. The

Keep an eye on your cash

Recent inflation figures have crept up again, but interest rates haven’t followed. Between December 2015 and January 2016, overall prices as measured by the Consumer

Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce Service Excellence 2019 Finalist

We were delighted to be shortlisted for Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce’s Service Excellence Award 2019

Investors in People Platinum Accreditation

Mearns & Company has been awarded Investors in People Platinum accreditation for our commitment to staff development, customer service and continuous improvement. We were the

Gold Standard Awards 2018

Mearns & Company has been awarded Gold Standard for Independent Financial Advice for the ninth year. The award was collected by Catherine Bell, Managing Director

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