scc
Member of DD Central
Posts: 214
Likes: 163
|
Post by scc on Jun 16, 2017 14:09:11 GMT
They are ending the 2% interest on ISA balances on 30th June (rather than end of July as previously indicated) - and reference imminent launch of tidal power debenture as one of the reasons.
Probably a good idea, I can't be the only one who figured they might as well to get the extra interest before dipping their toe in! Ah, the power of perverse incentives.
|
|
scc
Member of DD Central
Posts: 214
Likes: 163
|
Post by scc on Jun 15, 2017 16:26:46 GMT
New tidal power related debenture coming "very soon" apparently. Details on coming soon page.
|
|
scc
Member of DD Central
Posts: 214
Likes: 163
|
Post by scc on Jun 9, 2017 13:49:51 GMT
One of the most entertaining election nights in many a year. A couple of fine "Portillo moments", Labour bizarrely able to treat a defeat as a win, and the incumbents (Tory & SNP) get a blooming good kicking.
With a bit of luck the political classes will spend so much time jockeying for position and arguing they'll leave the rest of us alone for a few months.
|
|
scc
Member of DD Central
Posts: 214
Likes: 163
|
Post by scc on May 13, 2017 18:00:10 GMT
They've fixed the repayment calculator now. The loan is already 15% full. I'm considering buying some more to sell on the SM as the premiums seem good on Abundance. Does anyone here have experience of selling on the SM, and is it as complicated as they make it sound? Selling is easy, but I would be wary of buying just to sell on the secondary market. I have bought some debentures on the secondary market for under their original price in the past. When there's been stock market turmoil for example, I've seen people dumping debentures or withdrawing offers. If this disappears fast, then yes it might indicate extra demand that could be fulfilled at a premium or it could indicate a bit of a bubble. In my view, however, people seem to use the secondary market to diversify, but I don't know how they justify some of those high values.
|
|
scc
Member of DD Central
Posts: 214
Likes: 163
|
Post by scc on May 13, 2017 3:48:35 GMT
Unsure about this one myself. One of the things I've liked about most of Abundance's debentures is the repayment of capital alongside interest allowing you to reinvest both earlier. In this case, you don't get all of your interest and none of your capital until the end. I don't like the holding back of tax either - because of the additional admin involved.
I do think the company wanting the loan has correctly identified some of the problems as I remember looking at it myself and thinking it was too complex to understand for the average person, too few installers and too difficult to apply for. I'm not sure I'm quite so bullish as they are about being able to build on the existing brand equity, but would be happy to be proved wrong as I can definitely see room for this kind of service.
|
|
scc
Member of DD Central
Posts: 214
Likes: 163
|
Post by scc on May 12, 2017 13:47:01 GMT
I think when deciding whether to stay or go that it's better to have positive reasons to 'start' retirement (or another way of working) rather than having negative reasons making you want to stop because if you find yourself with little to do you may find yourself missing the activity. That's a very good point, Paul. I have plenty of hobbies etc, but possibly not quite enough to fully occupy my time. I'd probably much rather a gradual transition than an abrupt one.
|
|
scc
Member of DD Central
Posts: 214
Likes: 163
|
Post by scc on May 12, 2017 13:41:42 GMT
Everything's at 3+% at the moment. But yes, I did have a few days waiting earlier in the month.
|
|
scc
Member of DD Central
Posts: 214
Likes: 163
|
Post by scc on May 12, 2017 5:25:52 GMT
I only do the rolling now - but set a rate of 3+%. I tend to use ratesetter to hold cash that might otherwise sit in my current account waiting for me to work out what to do with it. It's a temporary holding pool.
|
|
scc
Member of DD Central
Posts: 214
Likes: 163
|
Post by scc on May 11, 2017 7:08:00 GMT
In answer to the OP's original question.
Currently mid 40s and could now retire. Very conflicted about doing so as I've more than a decade at current place and it's generally a good place to work (even has something of do good in the world mission). But the last year has been pretty awful - various backstabbing, lots of leavers etc - and it looks this coming year will be another one of transition before the good stuff happens. Struggling to decide whether to ride it out, go part-time or get out.
|
|
scc
Member of DD Central
Posts: 214
Likes: 163
|
Post by scc on May 4, 2017 12:17:32 GMT
Are you in Abundance to diversify or some other reason? As it is unusual for them to offer debentures with returns above 6-7% IRR.
|
|
scc
Member of DD Central
Posts: 214
Likes: 163
|
Post by scc on Feb 21, 2017 14:46:54 GMT
They are offering 2% on any cash in their IFSA until 31st May. I think we can take it that any new projects might miss this year's ISA deadline.
|
|
scc
Member of DD Central
Posts: 214
Likes: 163
|
Post by scc on Feb 17, 2017 18:46:17 GMT
I've been with them for a few years. Support is excellent, friendly and personal. They are low volume though and usually very popular. Some quite large loans have sold out very quickly recently. They reckon they'll have more loans before the ISA deadline, but they don't have that long now.
|
|
scc
Member of DD Central
Posts: 214
Likes: 163
|
Post by scc on Jan 23, 2017 15:53:16 GMT
Abundance projects are a bit like buses - it can be quiet for a while, and then you get a rush of them - and not always much warning. That said, I think there were less than 10 of them in 2016. I reckon we might see a couple before the end of this tax year, but I'd be surprised if there was more than that.
|
|
scc
Member of DD Central
Posts: 214
Likes: 163
|
Post by scc on Dec 20, 2016 8:10:26 GMT
Smile (cooperative) have been pretty good in the past with large transfers. I've done £95K and £40K ones with no-hassle beyond a five-minute phone call with their fraud team. Extremely quick off the mark as well. I got a phone call within about 10 seconds of attempting the £40K one.
Interest rates are absolutely rubbish though.
|
|
scc
Member of DD Central
Posts: 214
Likes: 163
|
Post by scc on Dec 17, 2016 11:48:42 GMT
First variable rate in a long time so classed as dividends for tax purposes.
|
|