Essential Money Blog

Advanced Investment Planning

Thomas Dickson — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 13:23:25 +0100

I'm feeling very pleased with myself this morning as I've just passed an Advanced exam on Investment Planning! Why do we keep taking exams? The reason is the same as for dentists that take additional exams or consistently go on courses, I know they're doing whatever they can to be the best dentists they can be. read more »

Explanation of tax in the UK (the funny version)

Thomas Dickson — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 07:16:51 +0100

Just saw this on a weekly Friday funny and thought I'd post it here. Bear in mind the majority of hard working tax paying dentists are likely to be considered the tenth man. No idea who originally wrote it but it does make you think!

I always knew our tax system was crazy. This just proves it!!
Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten read more »

New Dickson Baby!!

Thomas Dickson — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 10:29:27 +0000

I'm delighted to announce the birth of our baby daughter who arrived on January 23rd 2010 - Phoebe Ianthe.

Mum & baby are fine and at home - the older two are loving her and seem very happy to have a new real life doll to play with!

I'm taking a few days off but will then be back to work on part time hours for the first few weeks.

Rgds
Thomas

ITV Tonight - Non Disclosure

Thomas Dickson — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 21:42:43 +0000

I just watched this program on ITV Tonight and thought I'd write a few words as non-disclosure is a key area for us as IFAs. Firstly I'm very sorry for the insured people who's claims weren't successful - it must be extremely distressing to find out when you need insurance the most that it doesn't pay out. read more »

Winning NHS Contracts - An Accountants Perspective

Thomas Dickson — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 18:34:33 +0000

Arun Mehra, a specialist dental accountant has recently written about the NHS tendering process - I thought it was a useful guide to the steps involved and with his permission have copied the article below: read more »

Essential Money spends the day painting for Edwards Trust

Thomas Dickson — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 08:14:32 +0000

Once a year, we all try to get out to spend a day in the community doing something for other people. This year the staff at Essential Money chose Edwards Trust who asked us to paint some of their offices. Fortunately their office is also on Greenfield Crescent so we didn't have far to go yesterday morning. read more »

BDTA Showcase 12-14 December

Thomas Dickson — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:16:14 +0000

Many thanks to all the dentists that took the time to talk to us over the last 3 days at the BDTA Showcase in Birmingham.

We were extremely busy so apologies to anyone who didn't get a chance to talk to us. read more »

Financial Planning for Dentists

Thomas Dickson — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 18:37:14 +0100

Just had an excellent day with the Inspired Users Group at the National Motorcycle Museum. This was a group of 120 Independent Financial Advisers all using the Truth financial planning software and sharing ideas on Financial Planning. For those clients that have not had a chance to see this in action, I look forward to showing you at your next annual planning meeting. read more »

What do dentists need to grow their practice fast?

Thomas Dickson — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 17:35:00 +0100

I've just had a phonecall with a web marketing company that can help UK dentists with getting new patients phoning up to book appointments. If you're a principal and you want more patients then you should really be considering this as part of your marketing strategy. read more »

Dental Solicitors - Where are they when you need one?

Thomas Dickson — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 21:46:24 +0100

We're involved in financing quite a few dental practice purchases throughout the country and always prefer when our clients take the trouble to find a solicitor well versed in the art of buying and selling dental practices. read more »

Congratulations to Rob on Passing an exam!

Thomas Dickson — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 16:27:03 +0100

Rob Griffin has just passed his CF3 exam - Certificate in Financial Protection so congratulations to him. We don't know his actual pass rate yet, but we do know that in 10 out of the 14 areas covered he got 100%, so Rob's pleased that all his studying was worth the effort and reflected in the results.

Essential Money Masterclass

Thomas Dickson — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 23:35:08 +0100

I've just got back home from our first evening Essential Money Masterclass and I thought I'd just write a quick note before I get absorbed into all the other things that need doing tomorrow. read more »

Poorly worded trust lead to court case

Thomas Dickson — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 23:40:23 +0100

Just read an interesting synopsis of a law case where a widow ended up not getting the marital home - brief courtesy of threesixtyservices. I find these case studies fascinating reading but I'll let you make your own judgment. read more »

Congratulations to Lisa Burke on passing another exam!

Thomas Dickson — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 22:25:45 +0100

Congratulations to Lisa Burke our Practice Manager who's recently passed a Chartered Insurance Institute, Supervisory Diploma exam. read more »

So tell me again why I should be using an IFA?

Thomas Dickson — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 23:43:01 +0100

Just sitting in the car on the way back to Birmingham - being very well driven by Jonny Amos as my normal driver has the cheek to go on holiday - and read what I think is an amazing report by Nicole Blackmore of Money Marketing (Proof is in the pudding 03 June 2009). read more »