Ben Salisbury

Life begins at 40 – but not if you want a mortgage

The good news is life begins at forty. The bad news is once you reach that milestone, you could struggle to get a mortgage. That’s what many prospective home-buyers have reported, believing age was a factor in their failed mortgage applications. Here’s why it has become an issue in recent years and what you can

How to minimise the impact of inheritance tax

It’s known colloquially as the death tax, and for good reason. Inheritance tax – the bane of modern life – dates back to 1894 when the Government introduced estate duty (a tax on the capital value of land) in a bid to raise money to pay off a multi-million pound deficit. Its 21st century incarnation includes a

Are retirement villages the future? Spectator Money takes a closer look

Imagine in later years being able to move to your ideal village, a bespoke village, which has everything you want for a great quality of life. So, just a stone’s throw from your front door, there’s a swimming pool, gym, top-class restaurants, hairdresser, golf course, cinema, green spaces and a 24-hour concierge service. Your typical UK retirement village