Greg MacFarlane - Abacus Associates Financial Services

15/03/2021

Warning. I have just had a phone call from 0113 205 7799. A guy called Chris claiming to be a local energy supplier. He called my home phone number which is ex-directory. When I asked how he got my number he hung up. I called the number back and got a BT message saying 'You have dialled an incorrect number'. I googled the number, and can confirm it has been reported many times as a scam. Please do not take a call from this number. Please also ensure you only buy products and services from people you know and trust, and who have been recommended by others.

08/04/2020

Warning about using Zoom. I have just received this email from the office and thought it wise to share.

'Due to new security information that has come to light regarding the Video Conferencing Service, Zoom, we are retracting the previous communication sent on the 20th March 2020 (see very bottom of this email).

Following a review of the service this with our IT partners, Commercial, we ask that you do not use this service with immediate effect. We have found the following issues with Zoom:

• There is a security flaw in the conference calls, as anyone can join a call via Zoom by guessing the ID of the call and enter it without having to input any information to gain access. This means if you are having a sensitive data conference call, in theory a random user could join the call.

• Other security vulnerabilities making it easy for hackers to gain access to passwords.

• Some of Zoom’s traffic was being routed through China, which means any encryption it had on it would had to have been turned off to enter China’s firewall. Any call data passed through could be listened to by the State.

• Zoom was sending data to Facebook and not stating this, this has now apparently been fixed by Zoom but is still a breach of privacy laws.'

31/01/2020

No-one likes to think about dying but being organised helps to ensure your funeral is the best party in town!
Is sorting out your estate one of your New Years Resolutions? Have you ever thought about a Funeral Plan?

A funeral plan enables you to set out your funeral wishes and saves your family the cost of paying for your funeral during the grieving process?

However, we have been given advance warning of potentially significant price increases across the Funeral Planning Industry: expected early this year. All Funeral Planning firms are experiencing additional costs for work they are having to undertake relating to increases in regulation.

So, if you’d like to ensure your funeral is the planned and paid for then get in touch today by sending us a message now, or call Greg on 07967 217327.


*Funeral plans are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

24/01/2020

We know it’s only January, but we can already hear the ticking clock of April and the end of the tax year looming… but it isn’t all bad news! There’s GOOD NEWS! Have you used your tax allowance yet? We posted in December about using your £20,000 ISA tax free allowance, for one! Let us help you get and adhere to your !

If you’d like to know more about tax allowances before the tax year deadline, get in touch today by sending us a message now, or call Greg on 07967 217327.

16/01/2020

Why YOU need a Financial Adviser; even if you’re not rich…to help you become Financially Fit for 2020!

This is an absolute must-read article: we love that it highlights financial well-being as the key to your overall emotional well-being. Make sorting your financial plans YOUR priority this year, FORGET the diet and DITCH the gym, the key to your happiness is feeling secure about your own finances and future financial plans!

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/20/smarter-living/why-you-should-hire-a-financial-planner.html

If you would like to find out how we can help you with your financial planning and new years resolution this year, get in touch today by sending us a message now, or call Greg on 07967 217327.

Now that tax time has passed, give yourself a financial fresh start and get some help to make the right money moves for next year.

06/01/2020

2020 – a brand new start. January is an exciting month, it’s the month that is full of promise! It offers us the opportunity to review what we can do better this year and more efficiently than 2019.

We are excited about our future goals for this year and we know you will be excited about your own too. Those goals, however, are not going to become reality without your finances being in alignment.

January is the best time to review your finances and help you prepare to achieve those goals for 2020. We would love the opportunity to help you with your Financial New Years Resolutions! Get in touch today by sending us a message now, or call Greg on 07967 217327.

01/01/2020

Make 2020 the year that you can see your finances “clearly”. Make your New Year’s Resolution to write your will. Get in touch today by sending us a message now, or call Greg on 07967 217327.

*Wills are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

31/12/2019

We all look to News Year’s for making resolutions to improve our health and our fitness but as money in the number 1 source of stress, I urge you to make a promise to yourself to include looking at your finances as part of your mental and emotional well being in 2020.

It can be tricky knowing where to start, but just starting a conversation with someone you trust can be the opening door to help alleviate the stress finance can bring about. Helping Clients to understand and create effective and efficient financial plans to ease the burden of worry is at the core of my personal ambition and I can’t wait to help you, Greg.

25/12/2019

Wishing all my clients, family and friends a very Merry Christmas. I hope you all have the most magical day!

With best wishes, Greg

21/12/2019

We had a fabulous evening at the Abacus Christmas Do together last night 🎄. Although, we don’t feel quite so merry about our 6.10am alarm clock...