The Importance of Disclosing Medical Information

A claim rejected due to non-disclosure causes a great deal of stress for everyone involved

According to a recent survey nearly 5% of all life and serious illness claims are declined due to the fact that customers did not disclose all relevant medical facts at the application stage.

Read and weep people, but do not forget to disclose all relevant information. The consequences of non-disclosure can potentially have profound impacts.

It’s so much better to be safe than sorry. Find out what motivates people to not disclose information… you never know, you might unwittingly do it yourself.

Continue reading “The Importance of Disclosing Medical Information”

What are you saving for?

Failing to achieve savings targets. But, what are you saving for?

How many times have you agree to yourself that you will start saving, but failed epically after 2 months. It is a well known challenge which we all face. Some day you will have to face reality and start that savings account.

Wait a sec… there’s still that one thing annoying you… why am I saving? Or rather ask what am I saving for? Continue reading “What are you saving for?”

Brexit and Irish Pension Schemes

Market volatility and the impact on Pension Schemes and strategies due to the Leave vote.

The UK’s decision to leave the European Union has already created implications for pensions, and the impact will continue to make inroads into the sector.

Financial markets have lost significant value, and the key question for fund managers of pension schemes is how their schemes’ governance structures are going to perform. We are highly recommending individuals to review their pension schemes and speak to a financial advisor. If you are unsure about the current status of your pension or would like a second opinion contact us now here.

Continue reading “Brexit and Irish Pension Schemes”

BlackBee Investment Opportunities

There are fantastic new products available from BlackBee Investments. Whilst the recent event of the Brexit referendum has created uncertainly in the markets, we believe that due to the significant decrease in stocks overall, it is now an optimum occasion to invest. So, if you feel the same way, be sure to have a look what’s on offer and we’ll walk you through a brief explanation of the products. Continue reading “BlackBee Investment Opportunities”

Saving for your children’s future

We all know that the sooner we start saving for our childrens’ third level education, the more we’ll be able to help them on their way when the big day comes to start college.

Setting up a college fund savings account at this time of year can get pushed aside until it’s all but forgotten.

We all want to give our children the best possible start in life and a good education is a top priority. However, this can be a lot more costly than you might realise.

The cost of putting just one child through school and college can easily run into tens of thousands of euro. If you have two or more children, well.. enough said.

Continue reading “Saving for your children’s future”

A Practical Guide to Mortgage Protection

Buying your home is one of the biggest financial commitments you will ever make, so putting the right cover in place to protect it should be a top priority. It is the most practical way to ensure that if the worst were to happen, your family would have sufficient money to survive and maintain their lifestyle.

Mortgage protection insurance is typically required when taking out a mortgage and essential for anyone buying their home. The good news is that it is the cheapest form of life insurance and it decreases over time in line with your outstanding mortgage.

recent survey of Irish consumers found that almost two thirds of respondents regularly think about the future financial situation of their loved ones if they were to die.

The biggest household savings can be made by searching for a better-value life insurance/mortgage protection policy, at over €50 a month.

The following blog outlines a few things you need to know about mortgage protection and what cover you can expect to get. As an independent broker Alpha Wealth research the market and offer the most suitable cover for the cheapest price. Contact us for a free quote HERE.

Continue reading “A Practical Guide to Mortgage Protection”

What does Brexit mean for Ireland?

So the known unknown has actually happened. Britain, Ireland and the European Union now face a series of consequences and difficult choices in the short, medium and long-term. In a few hours everything has changed.

We noted in our last blog that people are envisioning a Brexit scenario to be much like the post-apocalyptic future of the Terminator movies after judgement day. Well.. it has happened, but it’s not all horror and despair. The crucial steps are the next 2 years. Let’s take a look at how Ireland might fair. Continue reading “What does Brexit mean for Ireland?”

Brexit and the Impact for Ireland

It appears that people are envisioning a Brexit scenario to be much like the post-apocalyptic future of the Terminator movies after judgement day.

In three days time we could wake up to a radically changed world, a different Europe, a different Britain and Ireland caught in between both. One thing we’re all wondering is if in the event that Britain does choose to leave, will it be as apocalyptic as the remain side make it out to be?

In recent weeks the Brexit debate has cranked up and much can be said about Ireland’s significant relationship with Britain. Our economies, history and commerce are closely intertwined. Fears over the ramifications of Britain leaving the EU are causing market turmoil, but what does Brexit mean for you?

However, the main question is not how to deal with it in the next few days, but how to deal with a profoundly different investment and business environment in the wake of a redefined Europe.

Continue reading “Brexit and the Impact for Ireland”

How to spend less, save more and reap the benefits – Part 2

Learn how to save more and spend money in the more important areas of life. It is time you start to plan more effectively and learn how to motivate yourself to save. You’ll also be surprised by the amount of money you spend on things you don’t necessarily need. Keep your lifestyle inflation in check and swap those restaurant meals for ‘potluck’ dinners with family and friends. Read part 2 of ‘How to spend less, save more and reap the benefits’.

Continue reading “How to spend less, save more and reap the benefits – Part 2”

Grow your income by investing in the Pharmaceutical Industry

After many slow years in the 2000s, the pharma and biotech sectors are now in the midst of a remarkable period, where the number of new drug approvals has risen sharply, and many genuinely innovative drugs are reaching the market. Ireland is one of the leading locations for the pharmaceutical industry in Europe. For a country of just 4.6 million people, Ireland punches well above its weight and is undoubtedly a world player in pharmaceutical production.

Continue reading “Grow your income by investing in the Pharmaceutical Industry”

Pick Your Personal Finance Day

Many of us experience anxiety and stress over our finances on a regular basis. Whilst many of us have money things arise as the week progresses, you can usual move monthly due date for bills. From this day onwards, go ahead and pick one day a month to be the day that you catch up on all your financial needs.

As financial advisors, we know that having a single day a month where you deal with all your finances makes you stress less, helps you get everything done at once and ensures you plan better. Imagine that? 29 days stress free. Pick one day a month, always the first or last day and review everything. Use your laptop/computer or write down by hand every Euro that was spent. Choose the categories based on your core spending areas. Total everything up and you’ll find out where the money is going and if it needs to be spent in that area.

Once you’ve gotten into a regular routine of paying all your bills, double-checking your budget, and making any changes you need on the same day, it will be hard to forget. This is a fantastic day to look through your bills and see if you can reduce them. Ring companies and try to get better deals and learn how to budget small spending. It will eventually become second nature. Most importantly, we are inclined to forget things if we don’t have a set date to review our finances. Get a notepad write down what you need to check and do it on that day. A personal finance day on the calendar will put your mind at ease and you know exactly when you need to deal with all of it.

Can you afford to leave an inheritance?

The recent programme for government published this week included a commitment to increase the tax-free threshold for children inheriting from their parents to €500,000. It is currently set at €280,000, after which a tax rate of 33 per cent applies. This combined with a recent article by Louise McBride got us thinking about your inheritance.

Many parents will now face the reality that they will have little, if anything, left to pass onto their children. The cost of living has been rapidly increasing in recent years, this coupled with the enormous healthcare costs and longer life expectancy has made enjoying your retirement a tad bit more expensive. Your increasing longevity will no doubt swallow any inheritance cash you had been planning to leave to your children. So, how do we navigate these uncertain times? It’s quite simple actually.

Continue reading “Can you afford to leave an inheritance?”

How to spend less, save more and reap the benefits – Part 1

Learn how to save more and spend money in the more important areas of life. It is time you start to plan more effectively and learn how to motivate yourself to save. You’ll also be surprised by the amount of money we spend on things we don’t necessarily need. Read part one of ‘How to spend less, save more and reap the benefits’.

Continue reading “How to spend less, save more and reap the benefits – Part 1”

The Value of a Financial Advisor

The value of a Financial Advisor can be the value of an investment or something that you cannot quantify, such as happiness. Financial Advisors help you manage your wealth and allow you to forge a clear pathway to financial independence. While the do-it-yourself approach can be fun and give you a sense of control, it may translate into lost savings and a reduction in potential profits.

I often question where that 10 euro went and the sad thing is: those 10 euros add up over time. Here is a list of three reasons highlighting the value of getting financial guidance. (Free with Alpha Wealth)

Continue reading “The Value of a Financial Advisor”

Why Use a Financial Advisor?

For many investors (yes that is you), the financial services industry is a strange and mysterious place filled with a language all in its own. What is wealth? Well to me wealth is whatever is most important to you. Wealth encompasses many things; your home; your family; your car. These are things you cannot put a price on because they are the things which make us feel secure and happy. They also give us a place in this world and define who we are or who we can be. Despite all that, money is just as important.

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Alpha Wealth – New Marketing Manager

Yesterday I embarked on the beginnings of a journey as the Marketing Manager of Alpha Wealth, a role which is both unfamiliar and exciting. Admittedly I began the day feeling a little nervous, but since I walked in the door I have only been met with hospitality and encouragement. I would now like to take the opportunity to personally thank the Alpha Wealth Ltd Team of five dynamic individuals who are bringing financial services into the 21st century. I look forward to working with all of you and to bring a new perspective to this company.

As for you who are reading this, please stay in tuned on our social media accounts. I’ll be sure to keep you informed of the latest news on financial planning and entertain you on your daily journey.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Alphawealthcork
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlphaWealthLtd/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/alpha-wealth

-Daniel Varian – Marketing Manager

Financial Planning for the Festive Season

Christmas can be an EXPENSIVE time

  • Make a list and after setting a spending limit, work out the cost of:
  1. Presents (covering everyone)
  2. Additional Christmas costs (cards, decorations, tree/s, holly and wreaths )
  3. Food and drink for the festive period (you usually overstock so check the food and drinks shopping tips below)
  4. Entertainment (Funderland, cinema, pantomime, zoo etc You know you are not going to sit in front of the television for the entire 12 day season and any excursions outside the home usually means spending money…so budget for this)

Total all these costs – you are going to have to pay for them through either your own savings, an overdraft, loan or a credit card. The ideal of course is to fund from your savings and in particular where you have actually earmarked the current year’s savings for this precise purpose – the Christmas spend. If you have to borrow, try and ensure these borrowings whether a loan or credit card debt are repaid before next Christmas.

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Small Business of the Year: Little Island Business Association Awards

Alpha Wealth, a Financial Services Company based in Little Island has picked up its third Award in less than 9 months and won an Award at the 3rd Time of asking.  In March, they were shortlisted for the “Munster broker of the year 2015” in the Irish Brokers Association Awards in Mansion House, Dublin. Last Month, one of the Directors, Rebecca O’Callaghan was shortlisted as “National Customer Service Provider Award 2015”.  On the 20th November, just passed, in their own backyard in the Radisson Blu, Little Island, Alpha Wealth won the prestigious award of “Best Small Company of the Year” in the Little Island Business Association Awards.   The Company is growing rapidly and is looking to add to its team in areas such as Financial Advisory and Marketing.  To avail of a FREE Independent Financial review in the areas of Protection, Insurance, Pensions or savings contact info@alphawealth.ie or ring 021-2061780.  Address is 9 Eastgate Avenue and website www.alphawealth.ie will give more insight into what Alpha Wealth can do for you.

Continue reading “Small Business of the Year: Little Island Business Association Awards”

Alpha Wealth Job Announcements

We are proud to announce that we have made two key job appointments.

Tracie Mooney has been appointed as financial services manager and Rebecca O’Callaghan has been promoted to director of financial services. Tracie joined Alpha Wealth in 2015, having completed a degree in business studies and marketing. With more than ten years of finance experience, six of which in finance and administration with Permanent TSB. Tracie will manage all functions of business in Alpha Wealth, overseeing all life, pension and investment business through various platforms of personal, company and pension investors.

Rebecca O’Callaghan joined Alpha Wealth in 32013. She is a graduate of the University of Limerick with a degree in accounting and finance. She has worked for large multinationals both in Ireland and the Isle of Man. Her prior roles were in broader insurance. She has been promoted twice since joining the company and won a personal achievement award from the Irish Brokers Association in 2013.

Website Launch & Leeside Soccer Club Fundraiser

We recently had a fantastic afternoon in Zest, Little Island. Many thanks to them for hosting us. It was a magnificent day to celebrate all the hard work and dedication of our local community. Continue reading “Website Launch & Leeside Soccer Club Fundraiser”

IBA Awards

We are delighted to announce that we were nominated for the Munster Broker of the Year Award 2015 of the Irish Brokers Association Life Pensions and Investments Awards for Brokers – an event designed to ensure that those at the forefront of the profession are identified and commended for their efforts. It was an especially important occasion as Rebecca O’Callaghan  (Financial Services Director) was shortlisted for the “Best Customer Service Broker of 2015”. Continue reading “IBA Awards”

Ireland: Budget 2016

How much better off are you? Use this calculator to find out – http://indo.ie/Tmu2g

Significant cuts to the USC, including a 1.5 point cut in the main rate to 5.5 per cent, are the key change delivering increases in take-home pay.

Budget 2016 tax changes will mean gains for taxpayers ranging typically from €500 a year to €1,000, with some running close to €1,500 a year. This means that, overall, the Budget calculations are reasonably straightforward for most taxpayers.

Continue reading “Ireland: Budget 2016”

The Ups and Downs of my Career

Having graduated with a degree in Economics from the London School of Economics, I began my career in 1995 as an Investment Banker. Twenty two and full of confidence, I found that Investment Banking was a great platform to make a lot of money! I was moving hundreds of millions of Pounds/Deutschmarks & Lira between banks which thinking back was a huge responsibility for a 22 year old!! Having worked in some of the biggest Global Banks I found after 5 years it was not something I could envisage myself staying in long-term and lost the desire to continue. Continue reading “The Ups and Downs of my Career”

The Advantages of Being Small

As Alpha Wealth enter into our Third Year and a sign that we are succeeding is one of clients referring people to us when we don’t ask them to, I ponder about whether it is better to be a small fish or a big one?

We are a Financial Services firm with five staff, even though people keep saying, which is a quote I really like, that “I went out on my own (with another fella)”. My team (as far as I’m concerned) are the most driven, focused, hard-working bunch on the planet. They work lots of hours, for reasonable pay but none of the flashy on-site gyms, foosball tables, sleep pods or gaming rooms that some companies offer. They do however, get direct and industry training and experience they would wait for years in other firms. Also they are as close to the real customer environment and definitely don’t get bored with their work. Working for a (relative) start-up isn’t easy but it’s not supposed to be. Continue reading “The Advantages of Being Small”

So tonight I’m gonna party like it’s nineteen ninety-nine?

All-time highs recently seen across the Atlantic for the Nasdaq, Dow Jones and S&P 500 indices suggest that it could once again be party time for US equities. However, Davy’s are warning of markets becoming complacent and that a correction or set back of the order of magnitude of 10% or so is due in the coming months.

Closer to home the Irish government’s Spring statement today is likely to outline a series of spending increases and tax cuts over the next five years. This is the fruit of a number of years of fiscal discipline. This is in stark contrast to the on-going woes of the Greek government as it struggles to find enough cash to meet short-term pay and pension bills. Continue reading “So tonight I’m gonna party like it’s nineteen ninety-nine?”

Reasons to be positive: Savings & Health

There has been a lot of talk about Ireland’s recovery and the fact it is set to be one of the fastest growing economy’s in the European Union.

Here is Ireland in Numbers:

  • Employment increased for the 9th consecutive quarter in Q4 2014. Unemployment is predicted to hit 9% during 2015. It had reached 15% during 2011!
  • Ireland has one of the youngest populations in Europe. Median age of 35.5 compared to 42.8 in Euro Area – among the lowest old age dependency ratios in Europe at just 18.6%, compared to 27.5% in EU.
  • Value remains in Property – For example the Irish office market, with prices below peak levels, and competitive internationally. Dublin prime rents are competitive internationally at €484m2 pa. Moving outside of Dublin offers improved value: Cork €242 m2 pa, Limerick €177 m2 pa, Galway €177 m2 pa and Waterford €107-130 m2 pa.
  • Right now almost 25 per cent of Irish wealth is held in cash deposits. That is three times more than in frugal Canada and twice as much as our neighbours in the UK.

There are still 3 Headwinds I want to reference in this Blog. Continue reading “Reasons to be positive: Savings & Health”

Does a Financial Broker offer a different service than your bank?

Financial advice and the products sold by Financial Brokers, banks and life assurance company salespeople attract on-going and rigorous scrutiny by the media and other commentators. And rightly so! Consumers are placing their trust, their hard-earned financial assets and indeed their future lifestyles in the hands of these professionals, and so the industry deserves scrutiny.

The world in which financial advisers live is a highly regulated world. This is important as it helps build trust. But regulation on its own won’t achieve this; best practice has to also be employed by all of the professionals in the industry to help build this trust. Financial Brokers can at least be optimistic that they are continuing to build a greater sense of trust in what they do. In the internationally renowned Edelman Barometer 2015, trust levels in Ireland in financial services businesses continues to exceed that achieved by banks, and indeed financial services businesses showed the fastest growth rates in trust (albeit from a relatively low base).

So why are Financial Brokers more trusted than banks?

Continue reading “Does a Financial Broker offer a different service than your bank?”