The Help-to-Buy incentive, also known as the Help-to-Buy scheme, is a Government tax refund scheme designed to help first-time buyers get the deposit needed to buy a newly built home. Borrowers can claim a maximum of 10% of the value of the property or €30,000 – whichever is lower.
Continue reading “Help To Buy Scheme”
The latest Bank of Ireland Savings and Investment Index shows that slightly more people were saving regularly in the second quarter of this year amid the Covid-19 lockdown. The study revealed that Irish consumers have poured money into their savings accounts since the beginning of April. The BOI Savings and Investments index also outlines that consumers regarded the lockdown period as a very good time to save. Considering that the vast majority of shops were closed and travel expenses were reduced significantly due to the 5km travel restriction, this helped the savings index rise to its second highest level since 2017.
Continue reading “Consumers are saving more during lockdown”
The coronavirus pandemic will change the world forever, I have no doubt about that. As a young child in school I was amazed and shocked by the horror stories while learning about other pandemics throughout history such as the Spanish Flu and other tragedies that had such devastating global effects. I never truly believed that I would ever personally experience another one as I thought such viruses were issues of the past since they weren’t as educated or equipped to cope or deal with them efficiently back then. This whole situation has been a true wake up call to never take anything for granted again and to appreciate the finer things in life such as the freedom to leave your home and meet up with friends and family.
Continue reading “Financial services post Covid-19”
As a result of the economic shock of COVID-19 many of us are feeling the implications of the recession. Not only is this having an impact on our finances but also our physical well being. It’s important that we all stick together and give a helping hand to one another so that we can overcome this pandemic together. At Alpha Wealth we have decided to offer some tips on how to save money during this tough period. So hang in there. This too shall pass
Continue reading “QUICK TIPS TO SAVE MONEY DURING COVID-19”
During periods of uncertainty in the markets, Alpha Wealth recognizes that it can be challenging to determine what, if any, action to take. We are committed to helping you navigate market volatility with personalized advice for your long-term, diversified investment strategy.
Continue reading “Market volatility resulting from COVID-19”
Without wanting to appear to sound like the grinch, Christmas is a really bad time for a lot of us as our best laid plans go pear-shaped this time of year. Even if you are normally sensible about money, this is a time of year when everything pushes you to splash out.
Continue reading “How to avoid the pitfalls of over-spending in the build up to Christmas”
We believe that actions speak louder than words, so let us show you how we have been active in our role.
The term Corporate Social Responsibly has become one with a variety of different meanings since its development by Howard Bowen in 1953. Below is a few definitions:
“The term social responsibilities of business men refers to the obligations of business men (and women) to pursue those policies, to make those decisions, or to follow those lines of action which are desirable in terms of the objectives and values of our society. This definition does not imply that businessmen as members of society lack the rights to criticize the values… it is assumed, however, that as servants of society, they must not disregard socially accepted values or place their own above those of society.” (Howard R. Bowen, 1953)
Continue reading “Corporate Social Responsibility at AlphaWealth”
Alpha Wealth offers free financial clinics for individuals and groups. If there is anything we can do for you & your colleagues in the below areas don’t hesitate to reach out as we provide free, no obligation financial consultations for all associates/friends/family and businesses. We provide independent financial advice in;
Continue reading “Book a Financial Clinic with Alpha Wealth”
Setting up a Christmas savings account could be the best thing you ever do! Treat your Christmas savings the same way you would treat an electricity bill etc. Set out monthly targets where you fully commit to saving the same amount each month. In order to do this effectively you must be realistic! Keep within what is manageable for you and start off small with the aim of increasing a little bit every time. Save those small, annoying pennies! Buy a savings jar that you literally have to break to open and save, save, save! You’d be surprised at how it all adds up over time.
Ideally you should start buying presents on the 1st of November right after Halloween as this will allow you to relax and enjoy the month of December. This will reduce some of the pressure and stress Christmas can cause and will enable you to spend more time choosing and selecting the perfect presents. Buying presents every month from September to Christmas is cost effective, productive and an efficient use of time. Make sure you make a list of the names of the people you are buying gifts for and how much you plan on spending on each person. This will help keep you keep a clear and focused aim and will reduce the chances of you overspending.
Continue reading “Five Financial Tips for Christmas Savings”
On October 9, Finance Minister, Paschal Donohoe will allocate a budget package of €3.4bn.
However, as things stand with €2.6bn of that already having been committed to various expenditure measures, it leaves just €800m for allocation.
Whilst the minister has previously stressed that the upcoming budget will put a little into everyone’s pockets, with suggestions this might be to the tune of around €300 per person on average, the chances of spending increases and tax cuts in Budget 2019 will be limited because of the previously agreed budget commitments.
So what can we expect and is this what we want?
From an earnings point of view, it seems that whilst the income tax rates will be kept the same, the bands may be increased, with suggestions from some quarters that they may be raised to as much as €37,000 for a single person and €46,000 for a couple, or single earning family.
If you have €10k-€100k to Invest what should you do with it?
As a Financial Advisor, I generally sense the state of the economy in terms of confidence and prosperity by the number of clients looking to invest monies. Noticeably this has risen over the past few months and generally, the main enquiries we come across are those looking to invest up to a six-figure sum. Whilst I appreciate many of you reading this may not have these monies available, it is all relative to the fact that whether it is €1,000 or €1 Million you may have to invest. Deposit rates are negligible, if you haven’t looked at them recently, check AN Post’s 3-year deposit paying 1% in total. That is €100 on €10,000 over that period. Whilst everyone should have an emergency fund in a bank account (generally about 3 month’s pay) to fall back on, it is not really a suitable home for the vast majority of savers in Ireland for larger amounts. The exception to this is if you need the money within a very short period, that is less than two to three years or if you are elderly or cannot tolerate any risk to the capital whatsoever.
Continue reading “Article by Nick Charalambous Published by the Irish Examiner”
Bill Gates is one of the world’s richest people, earning about €328 per second.
By the time you read this article, he will have earned about €200,000.
We know how he made his money, as Microsoft is a huge corporation.
You might be thinking that Mr Gates can afford to be wasteful with his money and dry himself with €50 notes, but the opposite is true.
He actually gives away almost all of his income to charity. He has donated €30bn since 1994.
Nonetheless, he remains one of the richest people in the world because he, or more precisely his money manager Michael Larson, manages the wealth extremely well.
We ordinary mortals can follow a few of his strategies.
Continue reading “Tips for managing your money like the incredibly wealthy – A.K.A Bill Gates”
Financial planning is crucial, especially when talking about our children’s future, writes Nick Charalambous, Managing Director of Alpha Wealth.
Many parents avoid discussing money with their children as they feel they are either too young or immature to understand it.
Parents have a responsibility to educate their children on how to be financially savvy and how to save and spend wisely.
Having spent my first 23 years in London, my financial education may have differed from those in Ireland. In the UK, there are government incentives that assist children when they might require funds.
One is a tax efficient savings plan, called a Junior ISA, and another is a pension for newborns, in which a relative — typically a parent or grandparent — can pay into a pension for a child from birth.
Here in Ireland, many remember the Irish government’s SSIA scheme, a five-year savings plan with a 25% top-up contribution from the Government. This scheme operated around 2001/2 to 2006/7 and was money for jam.
It is estimated that it costs €584 a year to send a child to primary school, and €1,236 a year for secondary school. Third level education costs range between €20,000 and €40,000 per child on average.
Like the weather we have had particularly in since May I felt it appropriate to talk about things that we cannot control. As a Financial Advisor, we talk to clients about effecting plans to ensure that they can afford the things they want/need when they need them. For example: –
There are a lot of things to save for, so start saving! Easier said than done you might be thinking but imagine if you received €10,000 in 5 years what would you do with it?
This €10,000 could be used for any of the above and would only require you to save about €160 p.m.* (which is not much more than the children’s allowance for 1 child every month).
Did you know……
It is estimated that it costs €584 a year to send a child to primary school, €1,236 a year for secondary school & if you levy third level education costs ranging between €20,000-€40,000 per child on average this is a significant amount of money!
If you have a lot of children, you may have to fund some of the third level education costs by working or going into debt.
This can be avoided if you start a savings account sooner rather than later.
Irish consumers face what can be very expensive decisions on many types of Insurances on a frequent basis. Some of these insurances we are compelled to buy, such as car insurance, mortgage protection and house insurance. Whilst there are other types of insurances we choose to buy, such as health, illness cover and gadget insurance. Paying too much or getting inadequate cover can eat up a lot of the household budget and to add to this the Insurance industry in Ireland, unfortunately, is gaining a reputation for not putting consumers first. The fact that many consumers do not necessarily fully understand what certain insurances are for and may feel pressurised into buying these by advisors praying on their fear exacerbates the problem. So to start with insurances we are obliged to buy.
Continue reading “Navigating the Shark invested Insurance Industry”
Negotiate your home & car insurance bills.
Many people including myself have WAY too much insurance! I pay €15 a month for insurance on my iPhone in the event that it breaks or is lost or stolen. Recently, I was barely able to see my phone through all the cracks and instead of using my insurance and sending my phone away to be fixed for free, I decided to bring it to the nearest phone repair shop and ended up paying €50! Why did I do this? Well, because I didn’t really have the time or patience to wait around for my phone to be ready. Realistically I could save up to €180 a year if I didn’t have phone insurance, but the question is do I really want to risk it?
By shopping around, and re-evaluating the different types of insurances you have, you may be surprised at the amount of money you could potentially save. It may also be worthwhile to simply call your insurance companies and ask for a discount. However, I would personally suggest arranging to speak to a financial advisor for a free financial review in order to gain an understanding of how to manage your personal finances.
Speaking as a Millennial, I know all too well that there is no Hallmark card to convey “Best of luck when you move away, but this going away party & night out in another county is too rich for my budget”, because it feels tremendously rude to turn down such invites. The early twenties to early thirties seems like a never-ending cycle of birthday parties, going away parties, bridal showers, hen nights, stag nights, baby showers, weddings, boozy brunches, liquid lunches and so on, but all these ‘must go to’ events take a serious toll on your bank account.
So what’s the secret? Other people are more than happy to spend your hard earned money for you!
It may happen to be your brother or sister or even your best friend’s big day that will only happen once in your lifetime, but unfortunately, it’s a day that will happen over and over again. Being part of weddings and going away parties can become a serious threat to your bank account over time, which in turn will lead to borrowing more, using that godforsaken credit card or just simply ignoring the problem until it creeps up on you down the line.
The moral of the story is DON’T DO THE LATTER!
Continue reading “3 Factors the Millennial Generation Needs to Understand About Money in 2018”
Come speak to us to get mortgage ready and ensure you get a first time approval!
If you are in the mortgage market, there are four categories; first-time buyer, non-first time buyer, investor (buy-to-let), or a switcher. Different rules and criteria apply for each.
Most of the current market is made up of first-time buyers. They are in a privileged position over non-first timers as they only have to find a 10% deposit whilst for second-time buyers, it is 20% of the purchase price.
Continue reading “Cashback offers may not lead to best mortgage deal”
With so many financial products available it can be difficult to compare all the options and make the right decision for you. If you are confused by what is on offer, it’s best to get professional financial advice.
You might consider getting financial advice especially if you are making long-term financial decisions, like:
As announced in Budget 2018 – A 2017 Christmas Bonus will be paid out again this year to eligible welfare and state pension recipients. The 2017 bonus of 85% will be paid to the majority of people along with their normal weekly payments during the week beginning November 27th, 2017.
Those people doing part-time work and getting Jobseekers Allowance will usually get any Christmas Bonus in the following week (commencing 4th Dec.)
Continue reading “Christmas Bonus 2017 – Welfare and Pensions”
We recommend as financial advisers say that despite the temptation, the market and regulatory risks are too great. It’s a question that financial advisers increasingly hear these days. With bitcoin up more than fourfold this year and a series of high-profile “initial coin offerings” raising more than €1.7 billion in total. There are a number of investors interested in digital currencies has been picking up.
Continue reading “Should Individuals Invest in Bitcoin? In a Word, No.”
Is it too early to mention the C word? That’s right guys, like it or not, the time has come for you to start thinking about Christmas. It’s an expensive time of year but hopefully, we can help you get more bang for your buck after reading this blog. One iconic quote that really resonates with me about Christmas, is from George Best who said ” I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered. ”
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 long-term and lost the desire to continue.
The biggest shopping day before Christmas is fast approaching so you need to be prepared if you want to get the best bargains. Black Friday falls on November 24 this year.
Forget getting up at dawn, or even skipping work this year, the deals are just as good online. The first piece of advice I can give you is to not overstretch yourself financially, just because you think something is a good deal. Disappointment with the small size of giveaways in the Budget has left consumers feeling underwhelmed. This prompted a drop in consumer sentiment last month, new figures show. Consumers are cautious about their household finances but are ready to splurge at this time of year, so we have decided to give you some useful tips to follow on Black Friday.
Are you sick of seeing adverts from the life assurance companies about pensions and wondering is there anything else I can do? Whilst there are very few tax saving schemes available in Ireland, especially for PAYE workers, there are ways we can reduce our tax bill NOT using a pension. The main scheme which is an alternative or compliment to pensions and is not commonly known amongst the general public is called the Employment Investment Incentive Scheme (EIIS for short). It is really the only other game in town for higher Tax rate payers (those earning over the new standard rate threshold of €35k per annum, or if they are married and taking their spouses allowances €45k per year). It is an investment Irish individuals make into an Irish company.
Continue reading “Taxing times – how to reduce the tax you pay without using a pension”
The EIIS is one of the few remaining sources of total income relief, allowing you to obtain income tax relief on investments in qualifying SMEs. An individual with a taxable income liability in the year the EIIS investment is made can obtain tax relief for the following:
1. PAYE earnings
2. Rental income from property held in a personal capacity
3. ARF distribution income
Tax relief is available in two tranches: an initial 30% in year 1 with a further 10% when additional criteria are met in year 4.
Investments Administrator
Job description:
Do you want to work as part of Cork & Dublin’s leading Financial Advisory Firm? Due to expansion in our Cork office we are looking for an enthusiastic person to join the Alpha Wealth team which will play a key role in being responsible for managing Alpha Wealth’s investment business.
Your New Role:
What you will need to succeed:
Qualifications & skills required:
Benefits of working with Alpha Wealth:
Please email rocallaghan@alphawealth.ie to apply for the role.
Thanks & regards,
Alpha Wealth
Alpha Wealth was delighted to scoop the Social Media Award at the Cork Business Awards 2017 which took place on Saturday 5th November at The Convention Centre of the Clayton Hotel Silver Springs. In its eleventh year, the Business Cork awards nominated organisations across a number of sectors doing business in Cork city and county. The awards set about to recognize a business which excels in harnessing the latest business thinking to keep them at the cutting whilst sustaining a positive and future-focused business environment
The tax man, Iove him or hate him there is always a way to beat him and hold on to some of your hard-earned income. Firstly, incase you have forgotten about the tax deadline date, you could still reduce your 2016 tax bill and/or get a tax refund! I know pensions are not the sexiest topics in the world but nonetheless, there is an important tax deadline coming up on the 16th November. Pensions are a great way to beat the tax man, hold on to some of your hard-earned income and save that few quid for your dream retirement. A contribution towards a pension can still be used to reduce your 2016 tax liability and/or get you a tax refund. Critics have argued both sides of the argument and there seems to be blurring the line between tax evasion and tax avoidance. The former involves breaking tax rules and is, of course, illegal. The latter involves sticking to the rules but planning your finances carefully so you don’t pay more tax than you have to (and that’s why we’re here). If you were to ask me What’s the difference between tax avoidance and tax evasion? …. About 20 years.
Alpha Wealth is a Dynamic, Progressive Financial Services company. Our purpose is to provide individuals, and companies, with a level of service and advice which
they would not have been used to before. We give advice/provide solutions in 3 core areas: Protection & Insurance (including Health Insurance), Retirement Planning and managing your savings. But we also do a lot more. We are seeking to recruit experienced, ambitious and self-motivated financial advisors to join our successful and growing organisation. The successful candidate
will be provided with the opportunity to develop their knowledge and skills. We offer competitive salary with bonus, expenses, mobile and laptop.
Unless you have been hiding behind a rock for the past couple weeks, you would have noticed the coverage of the tracker mortgage scandal in the media. This is where banks have been accused of wrong doing to the public in relation to tracker mortgages taking out. I will run through a few questions that should help shed light on the area. The banks calculated that, even though they might lose money on these products, they could then “hook-in” the people who owned trackers and up-sell them more loans for cars, home improvements, and holidays, all of which would carry higher rates. The higher rates for other loans would off-set the losses on trackers and the banks got sneaky and reacted in the way they always do which is to screw the customer for the banker’s own mistakes and miscalculations.
I spend my days showing people the money that can be saved by simple changes (without reducing benefits). These savings amount to thousands of euros over the course of the plans but yet a lot of people make do with the status quo. I think ironically the recession has a lot to do with this. Whilst we were all affected by it a lot of us have forgotten how to deal with things we can control in our everyday lives.
Continue reading “Why are we more likely to divorce than change banks?”
The Minister made a number of changes to the Universal Social Charge as well as an increase in the standard rate income tax bands effective from January 2018. The Minister also increased all weekly social welfare payments, including an increase in the State Pension of €5 per week with effect from the last week in March 2018.
Aldi & Lidl have taken the supermarket industry by storm as they have cut a lot of “fat” over the whole way of branding and distributing their offering. Individuals like you should have a good financial plan which basically should do the same thing.
Continue reading “Treat your Finances like Aldi and Lidl treat theirs”
Currently in Ireland we have almost “The Perfect Storm” for Savers. Firstly, we have a situation of very low interest rates affecting the returns we get from our savings. Secondly, we have one of the highest Tax rates on deposits, which is currently 39% of the interest you earn. If you add to this the rising costs of buying a property or putting your child/children through school, then you get “The Perfect Storm” or treble whammy.
Continue reading “The Perfect Storm- The Current state of the Savings Market in Ireland”
Alpha Wealth has reached the 5th year anniversary milestone. And what a journey it has been, through both good times and bad. Having worked in Financial Advisory for 15 years in the Banks primarily since 2000, Nick felt that Irish consumers were not being given straightforward advice and that the Banks and Insurance companies were biased and overcharging for their services. Hence Alpha Wealth was born. It’s a business that was born in the teeth of the recession, but we’ve also seen the great growth years of recent times too.
