Stories
Overseas Property Hotspots
Are you considering buying a property overseas? If the answer is yes, you could be about to join an army of like-minded people: a staggering 35,000 Britons buy property abroad every year. Deciding to buy in another country - whether it’s a holiday home, retirement patch or savvy investment - is the easy part of your life-enhancing adventure.
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Cost of living comparison: United Kingdom and Australia
The next time you hear someone say “Australia is one of the best places to live in the world” you can rest assured they’re speaking the truth - just look at the global rankings.
The best ways to transfer large sums of money internationally
Are you looking for a quick and secure method of sending money overseas? It’s not only the security of your transfer method you should be considering, but also if they charge hidden fees or add on a mark-up for facilitating the exchange.
Foreign transaction fees vs. currency conversion fees
Are you counting down to your upcoming foreign holiday? Or perhaps you’re paying the bills for your property abroad, or running a business that makes international payments?
How to calculate an exchange rate – currency conversion formula
Exchange rates refer to how much it costs to exchange one currency into another. As they fluctuate on a daily basis, how much your currency is worth can vary at any given time.
Your guide to successfully buying land overseas
Does the perfect overseas home exist? It will if you build it yourself. Find out how to purchase a plot of land overseas safely and successfully to develop your own slice of paradise on.
How much money can I send abroad from the UK?
International transfers can be tricky: you may face delays and inconveniences. Or worse, you may find yourself dealing with legal problems or having your account withheld on suspicion of money laundering.
Transferring money from France, Spain, Italy, Portugal and Cyprus
From hidden fees to financial regulations, you'll have much to consider if you're sending a large sum of money back to the UK. Find out what surprises lie in wait and how to overcome them.
Spring Statement 2022: What it means for businesses
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced what he believes are a package of measures to help businesses weather the perfect storm of increased National Insurance payments and rising energy prices.
A guide to buying property abroad
If you have some disposable income, an appetite for adventure and love holidaying abroad, now could be the time to purchase an overseas home. Before embarking on this exciting journey, you’ll want to be as informed as possible, so keep reading to discover how to invest in overseas property and avoid any potential pitfalls.
Spring Statement 2022: What’s in store for businesses?
The Budget is an unenviable fiscal balancing act at the best of times. So, when the Covid-19 pandemic dealt an indiscriminate blow to society, chancellor Rishi Sunak’s job got even harder - forcing him to implement sweeping measures to shield the economy. So, how might the contents of his red briefcase impact businesses and industries in the UK?
SWIFT: What is it and how does it work?
Spare a thought for the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications - aka SWIFT - next time you transfer money overseas with the click of a button, safe in the knowledge it will be processed securely and seamlessly.
How to mitigate foreign exchange risk
Currency risk is a critical issue to handle as it can have a significant effect on the efficiency and profitability of any business with an international footprint. Each exchange rate movement affects how much you receive from sales and what you pay to suppliers. If it moves in your favour, you stand to gain, but it can have a crippling effect on your operations if the rate goes in the other direction.
Explainers
What does FCA regulated mean?
What’s the mid-market rate?
What’s the difference between IBAN, SWIFT, BIC and routing numbers?
What is a forward contract?
What’s a SEPA transfer?
What’s a NCC?
What’s the difference between fixed and floating exchange rates?
What’s a routing number?
What are SWIFT and BIC codes?
What’s a BSC?
What is a spot transfer?
What’s an IBAN?