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Sean LaPointe

Sean is a personal finance writer with a strong passion for helping others become more financially literate and make better financial decisions. He covers everything from credit cards to savings to investing.

Recent Articles

Streets of terraced houses from above
Personal Finance

What’s the current house price forecast for 2021?

| Sean LaPointe

Looking for a house price forecast? We can't be 100% sure what will happen to the housing market in 2021,…

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potted green plant grows up in arrow shape
Personal Finance

7 hard-to-kill houseplants to boost your mood

| Sean LaPointe

Maintain a beautiful home and improve your mood with the help of these hard-to-kill houseplants that will survive with very…

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Man in a clothing store in a medical mask because of a coronovirus.
Personal Finance

What might Shop Out To Help Out look like?

| Sean LaPointe

The government is being urged to launch a Shop Out To Help Out scheme to save struggling high streets shops.…

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A retired couple review their investing portfolio
Personal Finance

How much is the UK State Pension for a married couple?

| Sean LaPointe

If you're married and have some entitlement to the UK State Pension, you might be wondering how much you and…

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Portrait of worried woman standing beside window
Personal Finance

Why the £20k ISA allowance may be frozen for 5 years

| Sean LaPointe

Treasury sources are hinting that savers could face a potential five-year freeze on the £20,000 ISA allowance. Here's everything you…

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Business man on stock market crash financial trade indicator background.
Personal Finance

Is Deliveroo’s debut the worst in stock market history?

| Sean LaPointe

Deliveroo has made one of the worst stock market debuts in history as its shares plunged by as much as…

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African American woman working in home office
Personal Finance

What can I do if my benefits are cut?

| Sean LaPointe

Have you recently received a letter about a benefits cut? Are you not sure what to do next? This guide…

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Business man on stock market crash financial trade indicator background.
Personal Finance

How technology has aided hedge funds

| Sean LaPointe

Hedge funds are making strides in investing by using new and more powerful technology. Here's a look at how technology…

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Dots over the earth connecting the world
Personal Finance

Is Shiply good value for money?

| Sean LaPointe

Need to ship heavy and bulky items but feeling priced out by standard couriers? Shiply could help you find an…

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Thoughtful anxious asian business woman looking away thinking solving problem
Personal Finance

Can I get a mortgage if I’m self-employed?

| Sean LaPointe

Are you self-employed and wondering whether you can get a mortgage? We answer this common question and offer tips to…

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Mother with son looking at product while shopping at supermarket
Personal Finance

The Irish are the most sustainable shoppers in the world!

| Sean LaPointe

The Irish are the most sustainable shoppers in the world according to a new study. We tell you more and…

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Image of person checking their shares portfolio on mobile phone and computer
Personal Finance

ISA season: investors should ‘consider the UK & Asia’

| Sean LaPointe

As the ISA season comes to a close, investors seeking income opportunities should consider funds the UK and Asia. We…

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A retired couple review their investing portfolio
Personal Finance

State Pension forecast: will the State Pension keep rising?

| Sean LaPointe

The state pension will increase by 2.5% in 2021. But what will happen after that? Will it keep rising forever?…

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Stressed Asian Senior Couple using calculator and calculate family budget
Personal Finance

Will the UK State Pension increase in 2021?

| Sean LaPointe

Wondering whether your UK State Pension payments will increase in 2021? We take a look at whether they'll go up…

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Road sign indicating essential travel only due to the Covid-19 lockdown
Personal Finance

Coronavirus: £5k fine for going on international holiday

| Sean LaPointe

A new coronavirus law in England could mean a £5,000 fine for going on an international holiday. Here is what…

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New British One Pound Sterling Coin Chart Rate.
Personal Finance

Shares have seen a higher ROI than property since 2001: here’s why that’s significant

| Sean LaPointe

Shares have delivered a greater ROI than property over the last two decades. Here's why that is significant and how…

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Modern brick houses, built to traditional designs on a housing development in Northern England.
Personal Finance

Who is eligible for the stamp duty holiday (and who isn’t)?

| Sean LaPointe

The stamp duty holiday is designed to help buyers save on the costs of purchasing a home. But who's eligible…

Read more »

Personal expenses concept.
Personal Finance

Interest rates maintained at 0.1%: what this means for your money

| Sean LaPointe

As expected, the Bank of England has kept interest rates at 0.1%. We take a look at how this could…

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A retired couple review their investing portfolio
Personal Finance

How does the UK State Pension compare with Europe?

| Sean LaPointe

The UK State Pension is key to a comfortable retirement. Find out how it compares to pensions in other countries…

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Middle age senior woman sitting at the table at home working using computer laptop clueless and confused expression with arms and hands raised.
Personal Finance

Will the stamp duty holiday help UK house prices?

| Sean LaPointe

The stamp duty holiday has been extended for three months until the end of June. We look at what this…

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Row of terrace houses.
Personal Finance

Can the stamp duty holiday be used for buy-to-let?

| Sean LaPointe

The stamp duty holiday can save buyers thousands when purchasing a property. But can it be used for buy-to-let properties?…

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Young people friends meeting in quarantine and greeting without touching their hands
Personal Finance

What is the Turing Scheme?

| Sean LaPointe

Turing Scheme has been launched to provide funding for UK students to study or work abroad. Here's everything you need…

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Close up of credit cards over grey background
Personal Finance

3 tips to get the most from your Amex Business charge cards before May

| Sean LaPointe

Amex business cards come with a lot of perks and benefits. We take a look at three ways to get…

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Man shopping in supermarket
Personal Finance

Is the Amazon Fresh store the future of shopping?

| Sean LaPointe

Amazon has opened a till-less store in the UK called Amazon Fresh. Read on to find out more about a…

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An airplane on a runway
Personal Finance

What is British Airways’ travel pass?

| Sean LaPointe

A new Covid travel pass from British Airways could make it easier for passengers to prove that the are safe…

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Modern brick houses, built to traditional designs on a housing development in Northern England.
Personal Finance

What happens when the stamp duty holiday ends?

| Sean LaPointe

The stamp duty holiday was recently extended until the end of June to help more people get onto the property…

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Two women in the home office
Personal Finance

Do I need a party wall agreement?

| Sean LaPointe

If you're starting a project that could affect an adjoining property, you might need a party wall agreement. Here's everything…

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Row of terrace houses.
Personal Finance

Is the stamp duty holiday calculated on exchange or completion?

| Sean LaPointe

The stamp duty holiday was introduced to help buyers save on the costs of buying a house. But does the…

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Stressed Asian Senior Couple using calculator and calculate family budget
Personal Finance

Do you have to apply for the UK State Pension?

| Sean LaPointe

The State Pension acts as a crucial lifeline for many pensioners in the UK. But do you get it automatically…

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Modern brick houses, built to traditional designs on a housing development in Northern England.
Personal Finance

Can the stamp duty holiday be backdated?

| Sean LaPointe

The stamp duty holiday has been extended. But can it be backdated to help those who bought property during lockdown…

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Working from home due to social distancing
Personal Finance

What is a Spac?

| Sean LaPointe

A new investment craze known as SPACs has hit the capital markets and is increasingly being endorsed even by celebrity…

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Young woman prioritising her finances at a kitchen table
Personal Finance

How much can the stamp duty holiday save you?

| Sean LaPointe

The stamp duty holiday means you don't have to pay duty for the first £500,000 of your property purchase. But…

Read more »

Cropped shot of a senior woman looking upset after an argument with her husband
Personal Finance

What happens to your State Pension when you die?

| Sean LaPointe

The State Pension is a crucial part of many people's retirement income. But what happens to it when you die?…

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Two women friends sightseeing in summer while on vacation.
Personal Finance

Summer bookings for holiday lets soar by 60%

| Sean LaPointe

As thousands of holidaymakers in the UK rush to plan summer getaways, bookings for holiday lets have soared by 60%.…

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Concentrated young african american black guy sitting on heated floor at modern coffee table in living room, looking at laptop screen
Personal Finance

Who can open an ISA?

| Sean LaPointe

An ISA is an efficient way to save or invest without incurring tax on your gains. But who can open…

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Smiling mortgage couple
Personal Finance

How do joint mortgages work?

| Sean LaPointe

Considering buying a home with someone else? Here's what you need to know about how joint mortgages work, and their…

Read more »

Happy family mother housewife and child son in laundry with washing machine
Personal Finance

How much does it cost to adopt a child?

| Sean LaPointe

Wondering how much it could to cost to adopt a child? We take a look at some of the costs…

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Personal Finance

Can I buy shares in Deliveroo?

| Sean LaPointe

Deliveroo has announced plans to list on the London Stock Exchange. We take a look at whether you can buy…

Read more »

Bold Street is deserted during coronavirus lock down, Liverpool, UK.
Personal Finance

Business rates holiday extended to June: all you need to know

| Sean LaPointe

The government has extended the business rates holiday to the end of June. We tell you everything you need to…

Read more »

Concentrated young african american black guy sitting on heated floor at modern coffee table in living room, looking at laptop screen
Personal Finance

Budget: Universal Credit £20 uplift to continue for another 6 months

| Sean LaPointe

The weekly £20 Universal Credit uplift has been extended by the government for another six months. We explain what this…

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