Personal finance has changed irrevocably since 2008 with the subsequent banking crisis and word wide recession. Now it is no longer sufficient when dealing with our personal finances to take the view that everything will sort itself out. In the new economic conditions we all need to pay a lot more attention to every aspect of our personal finances, from our mortgages and other loans, savings, credit cards and other financial arrangements.

And that, in a nutshell, is where our site comes in. We will be providing news, reports and features on all aspects of personal finance.

Here are just a few of the great features you can expect:

Mortgages & Loans: Our writers will scour the market to bring you news of the latest and best mortgage deals out there. Is a fixed rate best, or would you be better off with a variable interest rate?  And what about interest only mortgages – do they have a future? Whatever is happening in the world of mortgages we’ll be all over it, bringing you the best and most up to date information so you can make an informed choice on your next mortgage. We’ll also look at other types of loans to see which are worth attention. Loans from payday loan lenders have attracted a great deal of interest and controversy, so we will be paying special attention to them to assess whether they are worth considering and, if so, in what circumstances.

Savings: Interest rates have been historically low over the last few years and governments and central banks have responded to the economic crisis by lowering in rates across the board. Now that is fantastic for borrowers, especially those looking at major commitments like mortgages. But where does that leave savers, especially those savers who rely on a decent return on their nest egg to help them through their retirement years? What should they be doing with their finances? The good news here is that banks and other institutions are actively looking for your money and are constantly looking for new ways and incentives to attract your funds. We will examine all the options out there. We will look at new products and provide comparisons. Are you better investing in an instant-access account or is it better to secure a  greater return, notwithstanding that you may need to tie your money up for longer? Whatever the issues, we will look at the whole range of options out there and bring you news on the variety of products to choose from.

Alternative Investments: While savings accounts of one sort or another remain the first choice for the vast majority of savers, with reduced returns the bolder investor tends to look for other opportunities to maximise their return on investment. Can you clean up with alternative investments or are they simply a distraction, not to be treated seriously? Should you invest in technology funds or other specialist investment vehicles?  These can take many forms,  not all of which may be immediately obvious but include approaches such as investing in fine wines, artwork and, of course, that old fail-safe in troubled economic times, gold.  Now we are not suggesting in any way that these are appropriate for everyone. Alternative investments are best suited to the experienced, confident investor but we will have a look at the options available, assess the risks involved and suggest other approaches where appropriate.

Investment in Property: To many, property was regarded as the ultimate “safe” investment, one that would never depreciate and which will give a return on investment comparable with the best performing stocks and shares. That, of course is no longer the case in the re-written economic rules. So, does investing in property make economic sense anymore? For example in the United Kingdom the Halifax’s house price index has fallen by 1.6% over the last year, while over a three year period prices remain flat. That being the case then, what is the best approach? Should you consider the buy-to-let market or is commercial property a better prospect? Or would you be better spreading the risk a little by investing not in bricks and mortar per se, but in a specialist property fund? As with so many areas of personal finance, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. We will assess the various options out there helping you to make the best choice in the long term.

Stocks and Shares:  Again, like so many traditional investments, stocks and shares have taken something of a battering in recent years. But the proponents of stocks as an investment vehicle maintain that they remain the best long term investment option, whether you favour the traditional approach or would like to consider a smaller niche, onw whixh is perhaps in keeeping with youre desired way of living, such as perhaps ethical or eco friendly stocks only. We will assess the market, look at the possibilities available and brings you news and features to help you find your way through the maze of – often contradictory – information out there.

Pensions & Annuities: What is the best way to fund your retirement? We will look at the traditional pension plans out there and provide information and features on the best annuity rates currently available. We’ll also cover other options for retirees looking for an alternative to the conventional pension plan As always our aim is to provide you with as much valuable information as we can, so that you and your advisors, can make the best possible choices to funds a comfortable retirement.

So these are just a few of the topics we’ll be covering in much more details here on the site and on our blog as time goes by. We will aim not only to inform but also to entertain and of course to educate where we can. We must regrettably include just one small caveat. While we will do out level best to provide detailed, reliable advice and guidance on a whole range of personal finance issues, the information contained in this site should not be used by you as the sole basis for making  – or indeed  not making – an investment decision. Where we discuss any individual product, fund or investment vehicle we do so completely impartially – we do not accept any commission or payment of any sort in return for featuring a product or service on this site.  However, our advice is given without any legal responsibility and all users of this site acknowledge and accept this. Before making any final decision or taking any action on any aspect of your personal finances we strongly recommend you first seek independent advice. That way, you should be able to relax, secure in the knowledge that you have made the right decisions for your future and that of your family.

There is a wealth of information to be found in the traditional print media as well as online. Many sites offer excellent advice and suggestions. We recommend two: Moneysavingexpert.com and Redfoot personal finance, but there are lots more besides