Western Morning News, The

Cash Unlocked From Homes Takes a Fall

THE amount of money pensioners unlocked from their homes dived by more than 40 per cent during the second quarter as property values fell, research has revealed. Retired people took out equity release plans worth Pounds 189 million during the three months to the end of June, well down on the Pounds 319 million they unlocked during the same period of 2008, according to equity release group Key Retirement Solutions.

Finance Matters ; John Rowe, Partner at Francis Clark, Reveals How You Can Make the Best of Growing Your New Business From a Base at Your Home

USING your home as an office can be the ideal way to start up a business if you need little more than a laptop computer and a telephone line. The home is now the most popular location for business start-ups, with more than 2,000 created each week. How to run a business from home without outgrowing it is a dilemma facing many entrepreneurs. They are reluctant to move into an office and give up the benefits of working from home - while at the same time they are equally reluctant to restrict the...

Your Money ; Tim Cosby, a Chartered Financial Planner with Langtons, Advises On Ifas

FOR many years Langtons have provided comment on a whole range of financial matters from ISAs to inflation. As someone pointed out to me recently, there continues to be a significant amount of confusion over the way in which financial advisers provide a service to the general public. Under the current Financial Services Authority (FSA) regime financial advice may be provided in one of three ways by an adviser.

Top Accolade for Matrimonial and Family Lawyer

A NEW international guide to the most highly regarded advisers in private wealth management names Stephens Scown partner Liz Allen as among the best family and matrimonial lawyers in the country. The fourth annual 2009 Citywealth Leaders List, just published, identifies Liz as one of only two "prominent" family and matrimonial lawyers in the whole of the South West and the only one south of Bristol. Catherine Hallam, a partner with Burges Salmon, is the other one recognised.

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Tender Win for Place On Intervention Agents Panel

SOUTH West law firm Foot Anstey has won a competitive tender to gain a place on the Solicitors Regulation Authority panel of firms who intervene in other solicitors' practices where there is a serious risk to clients. Foot Anstey is one of only 24 firms across the UK to make it on to the SRA Intervention Agents approved panel. The contract award sees Foot Anstey reappointed by the SRA after winning the previous tender and undertaking some significant work in recent years.

Expansion Move to Pounds 1m Office Pavilion

A GROWING Cornwall accountancy firm has moved into purpose-built offices in Penzance after securing a Pounds 1 million loan from Lloyds TSB Commercial. Established in 1925, Walker Moyle Chartered Accountants serves the Cornwall business community from its offices in Penzance, Redruth and St Ives, providing tax, auditing and advisory services. The firm switched to Lloyds TSB Commercial last year to secure funding for the new building in the gardens of Alverton Manor The 6,000 sq ft two-storey ...

Pro Bono Work Can Add a String to Your Bow

ALMOST 60 per cent of junior lawyers believe pro bono work is suffering in the recession despite a greater need for free legal services, according to a poll by the Law Society's Junior Lawyers Division (JLD). Of the 213 respondents who took part in the online poll 58 per cent believed pro bono work carried out by solicitors would suffer during the recession.

Will Registry Offers Real Peace of Mind

THE UK's first online registry for wills has been launched with strong support from South West law firms following almost 20 years of lobbying. Certainty.co.uk enables rapid registration of a will and the ability to search for lost or missing wills. It has been launched nationally, and already has dozens of firms from across the Westcountry signed up to deliver the service to the public.

Fry Group Acquires Exeter Company

RETIREMENT planning, tax and wealth management adviser The Fry Group has announced the acquisition of Taxfile Exeter, an established practice offering taxation services for individuals, small businesses and limited companies. Taxfile specialises in providing tax accounts for the self- employed, payroll services and personal tax support, tax returns and advice.

Offices Could Be Combined to Create One Suite ; Exeter

TWO modern office units, capable of occupation as one, are available close to Exeter Airport through agent Stratton Creber Commercial. Bishops Court Gardens comprises a small estate of office and light industrial units in a rural setting just to the east of Exeter.

Pounds 4m to Help Tyre Recyler Move Into Top Gear

WESTCOUNTRY tyre recycling firm Crumb Rubber has secured the Pounds 4 million investment it needs to fund future growth and develop additional processing capacity in the region. London-based investment house Foresight Ventures has taken a stake in the ambitious five-year-old business that converts used truck and car tyres into fine rubber powders for use in a host of other products, such as sports pitches, roof slates, carpets, asphalt and tyre retreading.