Richard Utting, Managing Director of Profile Financial Management Ltd has graduated from the LEAD programme managed by the Business School at the University of Cumbria to become one of Cumbria’s elite business leaders.

Over the last 10 months Richard has been part of a LEAD programme which is specifically designed to help businesses develop and grow.  It provides an opportunity to strengthen leadership skills and open up many opportunities for companies to learn and develop.

The LEAD programme was developed by the Institute of Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development (IEED) within Lancaster University Management School and is based on extensive research into SME leadership learning conducted at the University.

The programme combines formal input and experiential learning with a peer group of other business leaders. This integrated learning approach draws upon a combination of formal and situational learning to develop both a manager and the business through a variety of management and leadership development activities.

Richard comments:
“It has been a tremendous experience and even though I thought at the beginning of the course that you couldn’t teach an old dog new tricks, it has certainly helped me develop my management skills and become a better leader.”

The course entailed a combination of modules including Action Learning, Coaching, Reflection days, Business Shadowing and Master Classes (including a presentation from Chris Bonnington) and has given Richard a new insight into a multitude of management skills which he never thought possible.

“I have spent the last 10 months with other business owners from within the county and, as a result, have built up a strong network which will continue well into the future so we can continue to work with each other for the benefit of our respective businesses.”
Profile Financial Management is also pleased to report that Trevor Iredale their Corporate and Personal Financial Planner has completed his Chartered Insurance Institute Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning. The qualification is the latest benchmark for Financial Advisers set by the Financial Services Authority.

Trevor has also received his Statement of Professional standing issued by the Chartered Insurance Institute confirming he meets all the required standards to provide advice post 1st January 2013 when the latest Financial Services Authority Retail Distribution Review Regulations come into force.

Trevor has been in the Financial Services Industry since 1978 initially in banking for many years gaining the Chartered Institute of Bankers qualification, before becoming a financial planner in the early 1990’s. His broad depth of knowledge, experience and other qualifications built up over the period has proved invaluable, enabling him to provide a truly holistic approach and advise to both Profile’s corporate and personal clients.

Profile Financial Management are committed to staff training and encourage all members of staff to undertake further training and career development.  This helps the individual grow, but also ensures the business develops and that they can provide the best quality service ensuring standards are met and strict financial legislation is adhered to.

Following a further period of business growth we are looking to appoint a ‘high quality’, well organised, highly motivated Financial Adviser to join our team.  The successful candidate must be Diploma qualified, have a good depth of experience and be considering moving to chartered status.  A small client back is desirable but not essential

For further details please apply in writing, in the first instance, with appropriate CV to:

Mr R C Utting (Managing Director)
Honeysuckle Cottage
Skirsgill Business Park
Skirsgill
Penrith
Cumbria
CA11 0FA

Have you overlooked claiming for higher rate tax relief on your pension contributions in respect of previous tax years??

Do you realise that you can claim extra tax relief on your personal pension contributions as you only receive basis rate relief automatically??

As the end of the current tax year looms make sure you apply for the tax relief via your tax return. And if you don’t complete a tax return, make sure you do.

HMRC has allowed, in the past, for people to claim up to 6 years of missed relief. However, that has changed and the number of years claimable currently depends on whether or not a tax return has been completed. By 2015 the period allowed to claim will be reduced to 4 years.

Some good news!!

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rate of inflation has fallen to 3.6% with the largest downward pressure coming from fuel.

It seems that inflation is set to continue to fall!

When TV finance guru Justin Urquhart Stewart visited Profile Financial Management in November we were interviewed by Eden FM; Penrith’s new local community radio station.

To hear what Justin had to say about the state of the world economy click here

Pension experts are warning that the latest life expectancy calculations could lead the way for the state pension to hit 68 as early as 2027. The newly revised numbers, from the Office for National Statistics, show that life expectancy is rising for the general population by one year every four.

Experts are worried that this new information could cause the government to scrap their already accelerated plan to raise the state pension age to 68 by 2046. The concerns are heightened as David Cameron and other prominent policymakers have recently made statements about austerity leading the way to prosperity.

Experts warn that as state benefits come under pressure, it is important for the public to be prepared for the worst by saving privately.

On Tuesday 22ndNovember we have invited Justin Urquhart Stewart to come to Penrith during which time he will be talking at a lunchtime event at Honeysuckle Cottage involving a group of professional advisers including accountants and solicitors as well as attend a Penrith Chamber of Trade and Commerce event in the evening which is also sponsored by Profile.

Some of you may have heard of Justin before; he regularly writes for national magazines and newspapers, and is a frequent commentator on television and radio, both in the UK and abroad. He is an extremely entertaining and enthusiastic speaker and has a wonderful grip of the financial world in which we live.

With twenty years experience following the ups and downs of the markets, the evening event will see Justin provide his assessments, predictions and witty observations on the world economy.

Whether you are a client of Profile or a professional interested in attending the lunch time event, we would be pleased to hear from you.  However numbers are limited so an early reply would be advisable. RSVP to info@profilefm.co.uk

The Government’s new savings initiative, the Junior ISA, launches today, 1^st November, and will immediately provide Parents, Guardians and Grandparents the opportunity to begin investing early for the estimated six million eligible youngsters

For more information on this refer to our previous blog or contact us at Honeysuckle Cottage on 01768 840000

Should you know of anyone who doesn’t have a will you may wish to email the following link to them:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-15368029.

Don’t let the Treasury take a share of your hard earned estate.

The total amount of compensation paid out during the first half of the year to customers who were missold payment protection insurance has reached £215m, figures from the FSA reveal.  The regulator has published data which shows that 16 firms have paid a total of £215m in PPI redress between January and June this year. The redress has mainly been paid by banks representing 92% of PPI complaints received in the first half of the year.