MERRIGAN BROCHURE

MERRIGAN REIS LLP Est. 1992

Trustworthy and professional independant advice in Bristol

The Merrigan-Reis Partnership LLP Limited The Grange Coach House, Chew Hill, Chew Magna, BS40 8RY. Registered in England and Wales with company number OC383768.

Email: enquiries@meriganreis.co.uk Telephone: 01275 333475 Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Number: 743137

www.merriganreis.co.uk • Call : 01275 333475

Meet Our Team

Phil Reis Managing Director

Sarah Fox Associate Director

Greig Portingale Associate Director

Jo Crozier Wills and Estate Planning Partner

Andy Taylor Mortgage and Protection Advisor

Michael Finch Investment and Pension Partner

Martin Powell Development Finance Partner

Dominic Toller Estate Agent Partner

Miles Finch Investment Partner

Neil Reynolds Equity Release Specialist

www.merriganreis.co.uk • Call : 01275 333475

What we do

Mortgages

Protection

Equity Release

The mortgage market is a complex, ever changing and highly competitive world. We offer a whole of market suite of mortgages which cover a wide range of needs.

We offer a range of specialist protection products that are designed to meet your needs such as life cover, critical illness, income protection and business protection.

Expert equity release advice in Bristol is at your fingertips. We can offer specialist advice for a wide range of uses such as helping the family financially or even going on that holiday of a lifetime.

Insurance

Wills and Estate Planning

Estate Agency Services

Insurance is a key part to any financial product, we can help insure your home through our competitive whole of market products.

Every person should have a Will and plan their estate. No matter what age you are this should be the one of the first things that should be reviewed. Speak to us for trusted Will and estate planning advice.

If you are looking to sale a home we can help you achieve your goals through our sister estate agency services. Speak to us today about your requirements.

Investment and Pensions

Specialist Tax Planning Solutions

Claims Management

Specialist investment advice is vitally important, ensuring the right investment returns are made. Our qualified investment partners can give advice on investment and pensions. (all investment and pension products will be referred to our partners and no advice will be given by The Merrigan-Reis Partnership)

Tax planning is highly complicated, we have specialist contacts who can help meet your tax goals. Our advisers can help provide specialist tax advice in the following areas; Income tax, capital gains tax, inheritance tax and much more. (any tax planning products will be referred to our partners and no advice will be given by The Merrigan-Reis Partnership)

We work with major providers to help you achieve compensation that is rightly due to you through liquidation of a company.

Contact us now to see what options are available to you.

www.merriganreis.co.uk • Call : 01275 333475

Mortgages

Your home maybe repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage

We are an independent Mortgage Advisor, offering whole of market advice. We pride ourselves in finding the right mortgage product for you, whatever your stage in life. Your needs and dreams are unique and so we strive to make sure the service we offer you is unique, too.

You're more than just a client or customer to us, and so we take special care to ensure you get the right mortgage for you.

First Time Buyer Mortgage Buying your first home should be one of the most exciting things you do in your life. We've arranged hundreds of first-time mortgages over the years, but we've never forgotten what it feels like to walk over the threshold of your own home for the very first time.

House Move Mortgage Whether you're moving up the ladder, downsizing or you've found your forever home, we'll use our years of experience and knowledge of the market to find a range of products that are suitable for your needs. We can access products that aren't available on the High Street to give you the a comprehensive range of mortgages to choose from - and our advice will help you to pick the one that's right for you

Remortgage Whether you're hoping to create extra space in your existing property and need to free up some capital to do the work, or you just want to take advantage of an attractive long-term fixed-rate deal with another lender, remortgaging is an attractive option for people who are happy in their current property and may just want to get a better mortgage rate. With years of experience, a fantastic knowledge of the mortgage market and access to the most cost effective mortgage products, we're the perfect mortgage broker to help you secure your new mortgage rate.

Buy To Let Experienced landlord, First time landlord or whether you're an 'accidental' landlord who, for whatever reason, finds yourself in a position where you inherited a house but want to make it pay its way, we can help you secure the right buy to let mortgage for your needs.

Development Finance What is Development Finance?

Property development finance is a short-term loan for residential property developments, such as refurbishment projects or construction, that is usually based on gross development value - ie what will the site be worth when the refurbishment or construction project is finished. The exit route can be the sale of the project once completed or a refinance package. We are able to arrange a suitable finance package for your exit route via either commercial loans or buy to let mortgages.

www.merriganreis.co.uk • Call : 01275 333475

Lifestyle Protection

Knowing you and your family are protected when times get tough is great for protecting your success in life - but deciding the best way of doing that requires expert knowledge and advice.

Merrigan-Reis will help to give you peace of mind over your future financial security.

With so many different types of policy available in the market place it can be hard to know which one is right for your circumstances, your family and which offers the best value for money.

However, putting off the decision to take out cover could jeopardise your family’s financial future should the worst happen.

When people think about protection insurance, they typically think about a life cover but nowadays there are many other types of policy that can also have a major part to play. These policies can ensure a financial provision is in place to maintain your lifestyle should an unforeseen event occur.

Life Cover What it does – Provides a one off lump sum in the event of death or terminal illness.

Mortgage Payment Protection What it does – Mortgage payment protection policies are designed to cover the cost of your mortgage payments if you’re sick, have an accident or become unemployed and can’t work.

Income Protection What it does – This type of policy pays a monthly income taxfree if you are unable to work due to an illness or injury (a valuable policy for the self-employed and those only receiving statutory sick pay).

Critical Illness What it does – Critical illness cover pays out a tax-free lump sum if you are diagnosed with a major illness, including cancer and heart disease. Actual illnesses covered in a policy may vary between providers.

Family Income Benefit What it does – Family income benefit policies work in a similar way to ordinary life cover, but instead of a lump sum, the policy pays out a regular income if you die.

Accident, Sickness and Unemployment What it does – This policy provides cover so that if you are unable to work because you’re injured or sick, or through no fault of your own, you have lost your job.

Private Medical Insurance What it does – Private medical insurance means that you can get access to diagnosis and treatment faster and therefore are more likely to recover quicker. Policies cover the costs of private medical care including seeing consultants and specialists, treatment, surgery, private hospital accommodation and nursing costs.

Buildings and Contents (Home Insurance) There are three main home insurance policies: buildings insurance, contents insurance and combined building and contents cover.

Home Insurance typically tends to increase year on year, many people tend to just renew, however major savings can be made by speaking to a broker like Merrigan-Reis. Our biggest piece of advice is to never auto-renew - speak to a broker first!

Business Protection and Commercial Insurance There are various types of business protection, and getting the right business protection can benefit your company in a number of ways. Merrigan-Reis have expert advisers who specialise in business protection and we can get the right cover for you and your business.

Commercial Insurance We offer a range of products to help achieve your goals and protect what's important to your business. So whether you run a salon or a restaurant, or you are a builder then Merrigan-Reis is the right broker to speak to for your commercial insurance.

www.merriganreis.co.uk • Call : 01275 333475

Estate agency

This is the new way to sell a property. As an Online agent we still list all properties on the UK’s most dominant and visited property websites, namely Rightmove and Zoopla. These are the sites used by the vast majority of all buyers and sellers but you are not allowed to advertise your own property on them directly, you need to go via an estate agent. Traditional ‘high street’ agents advertise on exactly the same websites but they will tend to charge the seller a much higher price, partly to cover their own higher costs. Most online agents will handle all the enquiries that come in from Rightmove and Zoopla and organise for potential buyers to view your property at a time to suit you. All you would need to do, as the seller, is show people round your property at the time you agreed. After the viewing the online agent should then contact the potential buyers to see if they are interested in making an offer

The agent’s job is to obtain the best price they can for you.

Once a sale has been agreed the online agent should then instruct solicitors for both parties (buyer and seller) and keep in contact with everyone up until completion. As part of the process we will ensure the buyer is in a position to proceed – for example we would require evidence of their deposit and ability to obtain a mortgage (if required).

How do our prices compare?

Not only are we cheaper than most traditional agents, we also offer better value than most online/hybrid agents. We are very hard to beat! To give you an example, a typical ‘high street’ agent will charge around 1.5% + VAT of the selling price:

Selling Price

Traditional Agent Fee at 1.5% (+VAT)

Our Fee

Saving

£100 000 £200 000 £500 000 £800 000

£1800 £3600 £9000 £14400

£250 + £1250 £250 + £1250 £250 + £1250 £250 + £1250

£300 £2100 £7500 £12900

www.merriganreis.co.uk • Call : 01275 333475

Equity Release

What is equity release?

Types of equity release

Equity release allows you to access the value held up in your home and turn it into money you can spend as you wish. How much equity you can release depends on your age, how much your property is worth and how much you choose to borrow.

People over 55 often have little or no outstanding mortgage and lots of value tied up in their home. Many others have an interest only mortgage and no way of repaying it.

Equity release could help in either of these situations.

There are two main types of equity release: a lifetime mortgage, which allows you to borrow money against your house; and home reversion, whereby you sell a share in your house to a home reversion provider.

• Release cash from your home without moving out;

With a lifetime mortgage: • You borrow a proportion of your home’s value; • Interest is charged on the amount throughout your lifetime; • You continue to own and live in your home; • You do not have to repay the loan until you die or go into long term care.

• Receive your cash as a lump sum, as an income or both; • Use the money to spend as you wish; • No need to make monthly repayments (but some providers give you the option); • Plans are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA); • We only advise on plans from providers who are members of the Equity Release Council.

We will advise you on lifetime mortgages, which is the most popular and flexible equity release product.

Lifetime Mortgages

Drawdown Lifetime Mortgages With a drawdown lifetime mortgage: • You take smaller sums over a period of time; • You only incur interest on the money you release.

Lasting power of attorney If you take out a drawdown lifetime mortgage, it is important to consider a lasting power of attorney which we can help you with.

www.merriganreis.co.uk • Call : 01275 333475

Investments

When it comes to your investments we want to help you get more for your money and reach your financial goals. On a one to one basis, our advisers undertake a review of your personal circumstances and help you make investment decisions crucial to your financial needs. Investment plans can vary greatly and as such, our advisers are best placed to match the right plan to your own objectives.

Pensions To build up a good pension and secure your future plans, you’ll want to make sure you’re receiving the best advice to maximise your returns.

Pension funds offer a much wider range of investment opportunities than ever before, with Self Invested Personal Pension Plans giving you greater influence over decisions relating to your funds. You can even set up a pension for your grandchildren and start saving for their future too.

Whatever your needs and wishes, one of our advisers will be able to help you review your individual circumstances and advise you on the most suitable options available regardless of your age and term to retirement.

Do you have a Corporate Final Salary Pension Scheme?

Otherwise known as a Defined Benefits Pension Scheme.

Companies like Barclays, British Airways, Kingfisher, Aviva among hundreds of others, offered their employees pension schemes that were linked to their final salary. The clear majority of these schemes are under-funded and have significant problems.

We firmly believe that now is the time to consider transferring out of these schemes into a Defined Contribution Pension Scheme.

This transfer can significantly increase the assets you can pass to your children and ensure that you get the pension you deserve and give you control of your retirement.

www.merriganreis.co.uk • Call : 01275 333475

Estate Planning

What is Estate Planning?

Do I need to consider it?

LPAs (Lasting Powers of Attorney) – Property & Finance / Health & Welfare

Many people, consider this to be something just for the ‘Wealthy’, but this is a misconception. If you have any assets whatsoever ie. Family home / Car / Investments / Life Insurance, you have an ‘estate’.

What are LPA’s - Legal documents which allow you to appoint a person of your own choice, to look after your affairs should you, at a later stage no longer wish to make these decisions, or lack the capacity to manage your own affairs.

If wishes aren’t documented, it can be decided in court via a lengthy probate process. Likewise, you may worry who would raise your children in the event of death. You don’t want just anyone given that responsibility. By designating guardians in your Estate Planning you again have peace of mind and negate the need for a stressful probate process.

No doubt you have taken care to ensure that your assets go to the right people when you die by making a Will.

If you care enough about what happens to your assets after you die, then you ought to care even more about managing your own affairs during your lifetime.

Wills We all have a natural reluctance to think about or contemplate our own deaths, but it's so important to consider the affects of leaving your family and loved ones without a Will in place.

Would you want to sort the legal mess in the wake of a family member or friend passing away without a Will? I imagine the answer to be No. Without a Will:• You cannot be sure, those you would wish to benefit, will actually do so.

• Your spouse / civil partner may not automatically inherit ALL of your estate – dependent on its size • “Common Law” partners may not receive anything.

• ‘Minors’ (dependent children) could be taken into care whilst Guardians are appointed - there could be lengthy delay.

Having a Will in place can provide:1. Peace of mind - by having your wishes documented 2. Financial security for loved ones - especially for ‘minors’ 3. Guardians for ‘minors’ - you are rest assured they are cared for by those you trust - financial provision should also be considered.

4. Detail for funeral wishes - including burial or cremation 5. Avoidance with inheritance disputes - Recording your wishes can offer explanation for why your estate / belongings are being divided in such a way.

Having to face the prospect of being unable to deal with your own affairs can be daunting for us all. So many people avoid this, but failing to act and plan for this eventuality can only add to the burden facing your loved ones.

Trusts Will and LPAs should always be given consideration, but depending on client personal circumstance, it may also be wise to consider placing your property in Trust as well.

As assets held within a trust are not normally subject to the time-consuming probate process and, as a result, there could be significant savings to be made against the potential new probate fees that are coming into force.

Knowing you, your assets and your family are as secure as possible is something we all need to face, but deciding the best way of doing that requires expert knowledge and advise.

Merrigan-Reis will help to give you peace of mind when the time comes.

www.merriganreis.co.uk • Call : 01275 333475

What our customers say “A professional and prompt service throughout the whole

“Great service. Covers all areas of financial planning,

process with friendly staff who are contactable whenever

professional, would thoroughly recommend.”

needed.”

Mr DG

Mr RC “Quality, professional advice on my mortgage, pension fund “Phil and his team have been fantastic in helping me with

and other finances.”

financial and mortgage advice. He has sorted out a dozen

Mr SB

mortgages for my portfolio of BTL properties and every time he has saved me money. Nothing is ever too much trouble for him

“We were extremely please with our service from

and he always gets me the best deals available. For years I have

Merrigan- Reis. Will definitely use them again.”

been recommending him to friends and family as I am

Mr JC

confident he gives the best advice available.”

Mr PC

“Excellent, professional service. I would definitely recommend them.”

“Had a great experience sorting out our new mortgage earlier

Mr SC

this year. Really quick to respond and liaised well with my solicitors to get the mortgage paperwork sorted. Would

“Best service offered. Prompt responses; honest advices given.

definitely recommend.”

Highly recommend.”

Mrs VC

Miss JJ

The Merrigan-Reis Partnership LLP are an appointed representative of The Right Mortgage Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

The Merrigan-Reis Partnership LLP is registered in England and Wales no: OC383768.

The Grange Coach House, Chew Magna, Bristol, BS40 8RY Your home maybe repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage Most forms of Buy to Let Mortgages are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) A broker fee of up to 1% maybe payable, this will be fully discussed with you on the outset and is generally payable on completion.

www.merriganreis.co.uk • Call : 01275 333475