These Uckfield advisers help make the most of your money

Understanding your customers is what every business seeks to achieve and in financial world that is an absolute must.

Business Scene this month starts by talking to two firms who can help ensure you make the most of your money, writes Paul Watson.

Private Wealth Management seeks to bring clarity to people’s finances by first ensuring they clearly understand what people’s goals are.

That sounds simple. However, many people have never sat down and considered what their goals are.

Have you been asked what your dreams and aspirations are?

Do you think they are unattainable or plain silly?

And when it comes to investing for retirement, many people will have any number of plans, bought successively over the years without knowing what everything has been done for. Valuation statements will come in but people cannot see the big picture.

Mark Robinson, of Private Wealth Management, said they seek to bring clarity to the situation and offer solutions to help people achieve their desired lifestyle in retirement.

He stressed the need for Tax Efficient Asset Management; using a person’s allowances (such as ISAs, capital gains) and ensuring the money “worked harder”.

One of their clients had been able to retire three years earlier because of the work done by PWM.

The company believes in keeping things simple. “It is crucial we do not over-complicate things because that is when things start to go wrong”, Mr Robinson said.

"We make sure that the policies people have are properly relevant and efficient, that they are using all their allowances and that their risk profile is monitored," he said.

Some baby boomers will qualify for 'enhanced' pensions

A baby boom followed the end of World War Two and it is now that those “baby boomers” are retiring.

And these are some of the people who Gavin Absolom helps as they prepare to take (or have just taken) their pensions.

He is working with customers who have personal pensions – usually money-purchase schemes with insurance companies.

One question he seeks to find the answer to is whether people will be entitled to an enhanced pension for “lifestyle” reasons, such as being a smoker.

He said about 45 per cent of 65-year-olds will qualify for an enhanced pension.

This can make people better off by ten per cent and in some cases there will be a 25 or even 30 per cent uplift.

The payments are enhanced because people have a shorter life expectancy.

Signs of improving business confidence

Lawson Commercial is reporting increased signs of an improvement in business confidence.

Partner Chris Lawson said: ‘We have successfully completed a number of transactions recently where we are seeing businesses either taking premises for the first time, moving from rural areas into urban areas or finding that they need to expand.

"This has been highlighted by the letting of two virtually brand new industrial units on the Bellbrook Business Park at Uckfield in a development known as Holbein Place where Units 1 & 2 have been acquired by specialist flooring contractors Fluffy Side Up - their first commercial units.

“They have taken a lease on these two units, each of which is around 1,130 sq ft, at a rent of £8,000 pa per unit.”

Other developments:

3D Architecture, a small architectural practice, has relocated from rural premises near Nutley to Quarry House in Mill Lane, Uckfield;
Affinity Select Insurance Services has significantly expanded by taking space at 1/6 Horsted Square, an office suite of just under 4,000 sq ft, which is more than double the space they used to occupy at 4 Horsted Square;
Former warehouse and office premises at 25 Bell Lane, Uckfield, next to Green DIY, have been let to Manor Sellers LLP who have relocated from Horam.

Mr Lawson added: “This is all very good news and gives the lie to all the doom and gloom which the media is constantly pouring out currently regarding the economy generally.”

Farewell to long-serving Swindells partners

Partners, staff and clients of Swindells have said goodbye to long-serving partners Roy Thompson and Jim Sweeney at the firm’s Uckfield office. Mr Thompson joined in 1965 as a trainee and became senior partner. Mr Sweeney joined in 1977.

Events will highlight opportunities to provide care for elderly

Small businesses and organisations in East Sussex can learn more about the opportunities to provide social care and support to older people and the disabled at a series of events in May.

‘Micro-Providers’, as they are called, will be individuals, businesses or voluntary organisations, that are based in the communities they serve.

They usually have fewer than five paid employees and can offer flexible care and support services tailored to the individual.

As the scheme has grown the search is on for micro-providers as they can often offer personalized and flexible support due to their small size.

Examples of micro services include:

Care and support at home;
Meals
Opportunities for exercise
Support during the day and breaks for carers;
Employment support;
Support to access community facilities;
Supported employment or volunteering opportunities;
Lunch clubs.

Anyone who has an idea for a small business or service that could meet a social care need, or already provides a service or activity that makes a real difference to people’s lives, can find out how the scheme works, the opportunities available and the help to the micro-providers the Council offers at a special event at Uckfield Civic Centre on Friday, May 13, 10am to 2pm.

News in Brief

Interest grows in Uckfield engineer’s electric motorbike technology

Adam joins Birchwood Ford at Halland

Puppies meet Uckfield website designer

Uckfield Chamber of Commerce event attracts high profile speakers

Railway lines guide to help boost tourism

Polo venture planned off A272 near Maresfield

Fresh plans for redundant funeral parlour

Don't forget

Don’t forget Let's do Business, Brighton, on Thursday, May 12, at the racecourse.

The one-day exhibitions – with free visitor entry – offer anyone in business the chance to meet face-to-face with business owners and key decision makers, in a friendly, vibrant environment.