< Previous10 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAYLove is all February fourteenth brings with it feelings of sweetness and light for those blissfully in love, but for singletons, the day can be a reminder of their own unluckiness in love, or as cause for empowerment, as being single is nothing to be sniffed at. It does a person good to be on their own from time to time. But mystery still clings to the origins of Valentine’s Day, with the passage of time eroding its true roots and passing them into the annals of myth. What we do know is that February has long been associated with romance, and Valentine’s Day as we know it is an amalgam of Christian and Roman tradition. While it’s fun to imagine a dashing seducer by the name of Valentine courting fair maidens, there’s no single definitive historical figure after which the holiday is named. Instead there are a several. The Catholic Church, for example, recognises at least three different saints by the name of Valentine (or Valentinus), all of whom were martyred. Looking into legend, there are accounts of a priest named Valentine active during the third century in Rome. So it goes that Emperor Claudius II decreed that single men were better warriors without the distraction of a wife or family and so marriage was outlawed for young men. However, the priest Valentine knew injustice when he saw it and fought against authority, marrying young lovers in private. After Claudius got wind of what was going on, he put the poor priest to death. Death is surprisingly present in whichever story of Valentine’s Day you prescribe to, with another account suggesting that he might have been killed for attempting to help Christians flee Roman prisons. Another, more romantic legend, had it that an imprisoned Valentine created the first greeting after he fell in love with a girl and, before his death, sent her a note with the affectation “From your Valentine”. Despite its bloody, convoluted and conflicting history, the origin of Valentine’s Day doesn’t matter so much as what it’s come to mean. By the Middle Ages, the reputation of Valentine’s had grown beyond the man (whoever he was), making him one of the most popular saints in England and France. And here we are, one martyred saint and a whole lotta love later. Whether you partake in the season or not, there’s no denying that it’s become a hyper-commercialised malaise of trashy gifts and garish greetings cards. For some, a box of chocolates and a bottle of bubbly once a year is enough, but to truly show your special someone that you love them, don’t save it all up for one day to let them know it. Then there’s that conflation that gifts = love. Though one might be a bit miffed having not received a box of choccies or some racy underwear this year, surely a poem or hand-made present would better symbolise your love than something plucked off the supermarket shelf or, heaven forbid, the petrol station. At least here in Lincolnshire we have access to an abundance of artisan crafters, shops and market sellers with wares you won’t find anywhere else. As the decades trundled on, Valentine’s Day has had to evolve. It used to be that the holiday was thought of and perceived as a time for when two straight people make goo-goo eyes at one another in the local Italian. But the mainstream is starting to catch on to the fact that not everyone fits this profile, with supermarkets finally selling LGBTQ+ friendly cards and with a general feeling of inclusivity all around. Love is that most beautiful of feelings, one that breaks down boundaries and brings us closer together. That’s something we should all be happy to celebrate, but maybe with less of the kitsch this year.Love it or loathe it, Valentine’s Day is with us once again. Lincolnshire Today takes a peek at the strange history of the holiday where things are a lot darker than expected. 10-11.qxp_Layout 1 23/01/2019 09:18 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 11VALENTINE’S DAY© Shutterstock / Valentina_G around 10-11.qxp_Layout 1 23/01/2019 09:18 Page 212 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAYBREWIN DOLPHIN Q&AWhat is wealth management and who can benefit from the services you offer? Wealth management is a broad service with a simple aim: to preserve, protect and grow your wealth. This can be done in countless ways, from the provision of straightforward investing services into stocks and shares, to highly sophisticated investment and financial planning strategies. Wealth management was once the preserve of wealthy individuals, but millions of people could benefit from wealth management services – even those that may not think they need it. The sad fact is that most people are not doing enough to ensure their financial security and millions face a far less prosperous retirement than they imagine. It is a wealth manager’s job to point out where the gaps are and advise how to fill them. The end result should be less stress and a resilient financial plan for the future. Some clients come to us right at the start of their careers when they are starting to save or to provide financial protection for loved ones. Other clients need our investment management services, having perhaps received an inheritance or sold a business and are looking for the funds to be invested and managed for them in the stock market. We also have clients seeking pension advice, as they approach retirement and wish to know the available options. We also have the capacity to advise clients with significant wealth who are looking at ways to mitigate their estate’s liability to inheritance tax. Why would our readers want to invest in the stock market, especially given the current political uncertainty? The stock market can have periods of volatility, but over the long-term returns from equities outstrip almost every other asset class. If you had invested £100 in the stock market 50 years ago it would have grown to £31,539 by the end of 2017*. By contrast, £100 invested in cash would have grown to £3,041*. That is a tremendous return in a period that included events such as the Cold War, the UK leaving the ERM, ‘Black Monday’ (stock market falls 25%), 9/11 and the financial crisis of 2008. Lincolnshire Today recently had the pleasure of chatting with investment management company Brewin Dolphin to discuss the particulars of their business and why readers should consider investing in the stock market. Q&A Brewin Dolphin 12-13.qxp_Layout 1 23/01/2019 09:21 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 13BREWIN DOLPHIN Q&APension can seem complex and unappealing, is ‘buy to let property’ a better investment for retirement? The Stamp Duty that you now pay on a ‘buy to let’ investment property has increased to 5% on a property worth over £125,000 and 8% on a property worth over £250,000. If you were to purchase a ‘buy to let’ property for £300,000 you would have to pay £24,000 in Stamp Duty. The opposite is true of a pension, the government offers tax incentives to save money in your pension. You can save up to £40,000 per annum into your pension and if you are a higher rate taxpayer you could get 40% tax relief, meaning £40,000 invested in the market within your pension could cost you as little as £24,000. How important is it for companies to be conscious of the ongoing advances in technology? It has been well documented that retail companies who have not made the switch to online have really suffered in recent years, with HMV and Toys ‘R’ Us being notable causalities in 2018. Retailers who have a robust online offering have done much better. Technology is also changing the world of advertising with 25% of all global spend going to Facebook and Google, which accounts for 61% of all online advertising revenues. This has meant that traditional television companies like ITV have had to shift their business model more towards content, with recent successful examples being Love Island and Downton Abbey and to rely less on advertising revenues. Content is also becoming increasingly important, as the way people watch TV is also changing, with the rise of Netflix and Amazon, who offer a subscription model to watch original content. When looking at investment opportunities one of the first things we look for is the company’s ability to adapt to a changing environment. What should somebody do if they have any wealth management queries? If you feel you would benefit from advice or would just like to know more about our services, please feel free to call the Lincoln office of Brewin Dolphin on 01522 503000 to speak to one of our advisers, or alternatively please email lincoln@brewin.co.uk and one of our team will get in touch.For more information, visit www.brewin.co.uk Notes: returns are nominal total returns, sterling (unhedged). *Source: E Dimson, PR Marsh and M Staunton, Global Investment Returns Database 2018 (distributed by Morningstar Inc). Indices are described in E Dimson, PR Marsh, and M Staunton, Credit Suisse Global Investment Returns Yearbook 2018 (available from London Business School). Past performance is not a guide for future performance. The value of investments can fall and you may get back less than you invested. No investment is suitable in all cases and if you have any doubts as to an investment’s suitability then you should contact us. Please note that this document was prepared as a general guide only and does not constitute tax or legal advice. While we believe it to be correct at the time of writing, Brewin Dolphin is not a tax adviser and tax law is subject to frequent change. Tax treatment depends on your individual circumstances; therefore you should not rely on this information without seeking professional advice from a qualified tax adviser. The information contained in this document is believed to be reliable and accurate, but without further investigation cannot be warranted as to accuracy or completeness. The opinions expressed in this document are not necessarily the views held throughout Brewin Dolphin Ltd.12-13.qxp_Layout 1 23/01/2019 09:21 Page 2Help to Buy14.qxp_Layout 1 23/01/2019 09:22 Page 1Come and find your new home.New homesfrom £182,500TRADITIONAL HOMES IN LINCOLNSHIREwww.allison-homes.co.ukDevelopments at | boston | corby | horncastle | nettleham | pinchbeck |Building on our reputationAllison HomesFalcon Way, Bourne, Lincolnshire Pe10 0FFTelephone: 01778 391550 email: enquiries@allison-homes.co.uk3388 0119Visit one of our showhomes today!Ask us about our New Year Schemesand Incentives tohelp you moveBostonNettleham - showhomePinchbeck - showhome15.qxp_Layout 1 23/01/2019 09:22 Page 116 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAYASHWOOD HOMES Q&AWill new homes be tailored to customer’s specifications, taking taste and preference into account? One of the major benefits of buying a new build is the chance to personalise your new home. Ashwood Homes offers a wide selection of kitchens, tiling and flooring to really make your home your own. We are proud of our high-quality homes and the high specification we offer alongside this. All homes come with a flooring package, integrated kitchen appliances and a tiling package as standard. Many of our showhomes have inspired customers to recreate similar looks within their new home; we encourage anyone interested to visit one of our show homes. You have houses to suit every budget from first-time buyers to families. Can you tell us a bit more about this approach? We aim to create developments and small communities in which there are homes to suit every budget, personal taste and wish-list of our customers. The architectural and sales team work closely to design house-types that people truly desire and can see themselves calling home. We regularly research the local areas in which we build to see how we can make construct designs that suit the local area and customer requirements. Do you offer any schemes to help customers buy their new homes? Yes, we offer the Government backed Help To Buy Scheme on all of our properties which gives the purchaser a chance to buy their new home with just a 5% deposit. This has proven very popular with many of our customers and we are pleased to be able to offer this in order for our customers to be able to get on the housing ladder. With a “one stop shop” approach in the purchase of a new home, Ashwood Homes helps take the stress out of house buying. What other ways do you ease the Q&A Ashwood Homes Based in Spalding, Ashwood Homes provide stunning residential developments to suit every budget and taste. Lincolnshire Today recently chatted with the team to find out more about personalisation, help to buy schemes and what the future holds. 16-17.qxp_Layout 1 23/01/2019 09:24 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 17ASHWOOD HOMES Q&Acustomer through this process? Our knowledgeable and experienced sales team are there to guide you through the homebuying process from reservation to completion. They are on-hand to advise on solicitors and financial advisors right through to making your colour choices and advising on home maintenance on completion day. After completion we have a dedicated customer care team to guide the customer through any issues they may have and swiftly resolve so they are able to enjoy their new home. What new developments have you got planned for 2019? 2019 is going to be a busy year for Ashwood Homes; we plan on building 200 new homes across our developments. We have recently gained planning permission for 47 homes in Crowland, 32 in Holbeach, 105 in Kirton and will be beginning construction on our prestigious ‘Holbeach Meadows’ development in March which will see a long term project of up to 900 homes being constructed and significant investment in services and improvements to the infrastructure of Holbeach. This is in addition to the sites we are currently selling in Swineshead, Cowbit and Donington. We are very excited about the year ahead. For find out more about the company and their developments, visit www.ashwoodhomes.co, or call 01406 490 590. 16-17.qxp_Layout 1 23/01/2019 09:24 Page 2ORDER FORM Yes, I would like to subscribe to Lincolnshire Today magazine for the next 12 months, with the first 3 issues only being £1. 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A gift Subscription is the perfect present that lasts all year round!18.qxp_Layout 1 23/01/2019 09:28 Page 1The art of joyful décor LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 19HOMESThe secret to joy and fulfilment isn’t the acquisition of more material goods that clutter up the heart, home and soul. But rather surrounding oneself with things that bring one joy. It’s an idea deeply rooted in eastern philosophy and thinking and made popular thanks to Marie Kondo, can absolutely be applied to the home and interior design. Take a slow walk round your home, taking in each and every furniture choice, ornament and display piece. If it doesn’t bring you joy, evoke some sense of happiness, fulfilment or stoke some warm memories of the past, then it’s probably worth getting rid of. Decluttering won’t just have a positive effect on your home, but also on wellbeing. It’s no secret that the most fulfilled and enlightened individuals are those with less clutter in their lives. This might be the opportunity to completely overhaul your home, replacing pieces you’re ambivalent about with simple elegance that fills you with joy and fondness when you look upon them here. To help, Lincolnshire Today has pooled some beautiful pieces that have resonated with the team. © Shutterstock / united photo tudioFOR THAT OLD FASHIONED PERSONAL SERVICE10% OFF VOUCHER* *OFFER TO BE USED ONLY ONCE PER CUSTOMER SUBJECT TO TERMS AND CONDITIONSCome visit our showroom at Princes Street, Brigg, DN20 8HG Email: briggbeds@hotmail.co.uk www.briggbeds.co.ukTEL: (01652) 651 828BRIGG BEDS19-21.qxp_Layout 1 23/01/2019 09:30 Page 1Next >