Among other reasons, a dip in interest rates is often considered an opportune moment for homeowners to entertain the option of refinancing. You can undertake the refinancing financial strategy by acquiring a new mortgage with more favourable terms to replace an existing one. Its significance is underscored by its potential to save money, improve financial stability, and contribute to wealth-building through strategic decision-making.
By understanding factors like changes in market interest rates, improvements in credit score, or a shift in personal finances that can prompt you to refinance, you can make informed decisions aligned with your financial goals. Continue reading to get valuable insights into the dynamic aspect of homeownership and learn how you can benefit from refinancing your home loan.
When to Consider Refinancing
It is crucial to keep an eye on the market's fluctuations in interest rates, as a decline could indicate a favourable time to consider refinancing. Regularly assess the prevailing interest rates and measure them against the terms of your original mortgage to identify potential savings through refinancing.
You must recognize the influence of an improved credit score on your ability to secure more favourable refinancing terms. A higher credit score often opens doors to better interest rates and loan options.
Consider refinancing If your financial situation has improved due to increased income to secure better loan terms or to pay off your mortgage efficiently. Successfully reducing existing debts positively influences your overall financial profile. This improvement can create an opportunity for favourable refinancing terms and lower interest rates on your home loan.
Potential Benefits of Refinancing
Refinancing your home loan can unlock several potential advantages. You can tailor your mortgage to better align with your financial goals. Securing a refinanced mortgage with lower interest rates can significantly reduce your monthly payments, easing your financial burden.
A transition from a 30-year to a 15-year mortgage during refinancing can lead to a shorter loan term. This can lead to accelerated equity building and overall interest savings. While monthly payments may increase, homeowners can pay off their mortgage sooner.
By opting for cash-out refinancing, you can leverage the equity you have accumulated in your house. This option enables you to receive a lump sum of cash, which you can utilize for various purposes like debt consolidation, home improvements, or other financial goals. Increased equity can also fund renovations or upgrades with the potential for securing lower interest rates than alternate financing options.
Steps in the Refinancing Process
Refinancing a home loan involves several steps for a successful transition. Homeowners should start by assessing their financial goals. Reducing monthly payments, shortening the loan term, or accessing home equity can guide refinancing.
The next step is gathering the necessary documentation, including income verification, credit reports, and a property appraisal to determine the current market value and available equity. Homeowners should explore various lenders and loan offers to find the most favourable terms. This involves comparing interest rates, closing costs, and others that align with the financial goals.
Submitting the refinancing application involves identifying a suitable lender and loan offer. The lender evaluates creditworthiness, income, and property value. Solutions to potential hurdles like a lower-than-expected property appraisal can include providing extra documentation or exploring alternative lenders.
Endnote
A thoughtful and informed approach to refinancing and a proactive attitude help homeowners make sound financial decisions that promote long-term financial stability. Regular evaluations assist them in making timely decisions that correspond to their changing objectives. A diligent navigation through the steps of the refinancing process guarantees that homeowners are well-prepared and informed throughout the refinancing process.
How has the wealth management landscape developed recently and what has influenced this?
The thing I love the most about our industry is that it is always changing. In addition to changing market conditions, there are new products developed and made available on an ongoing basis, and most significantly - clients’ expectations, needs and objectives are always changing too. For investors entering or being in retirement, there are more potential solutions available today than ever before. From low-cost and no-load insurance products to ETFs and separately managed accounts focused on paying a reliable income stream from high-quality dividend paying stocks. It takes a lot of research and dedication to sift through it all, determine the best in class solutions, tune out the noise from product salesmen and advertisements, all the while knowing that a changing market environment may require a complete rethinking of the current strategy.
What are common misconceptions you find that clients have towards wealth management?
One of the first discussions I try to have with clients is about what they want versus what they need. Wants are often heavily influenced by personal biases and predispositions towards one type of strategy or another. Needs are driven by circumstances and personal expectations. It’s rare that these two align, so one of my jobs is to make sure everyone is on the same page.
Secondly, I explain and illustrate to clients that predicting outcomes in the short-term is nearly impossible (or at the very least based on luck not strategy), and that in order to be a successful investor, one must have a consistent replicable process to guide us in the decision-making process. If you trust the process, then you won’t be distracted by short-term events that can derail a sound long-term strategy.
If you trust the process, then you won’t be distracted by short-term events that can derail a sound long-term strategy.
Can you outline how you go about auditing a client’s needs and then designing a successful wealth management plan? What would you advise the first course of action to be?
Naturally it starts with a discussion on what brings them to me. Understanding a client’s concerns, goals and objectives has to be the first step. Then, comes the review of their existing portfolio and understanding why they are invested the way they are. By gaining insights into their past decision-making process, their current objectives and needs, we are able to tailor a set of solutions that addresses these issues.
How does your parent company, Bruderman Asset Management, assist in enhancing GGFS’ services?
Bruderman Asset Management has been deeply rooted in the asset management business since 1879 and has worked with some of the wealthiest families in the world. Because of their broad expertise and our ability to tap into these resources, we are able to provide sophisticated solutions and money management services to investors who might typically not be able to access these services. Of course, sometimes the simple solution is the best solution, but if something more complex is required, we have access to the expertise and tools required.
Do you expect any changes in wealth management in the US in the upcoming years?
A lot of advisers are retiring, and that will impact both clients and the industry. One of the reasons I developed our firm’s mentorship program almost a decade ago, is because we recognise the need to develop talent and we want to ensure that in 10 or 15 years our clients will receive the same level of expert advice they are getting today.
Market conditions and product availability will change, but what shouldn’t change is a well-thought-out, consistent, replicable and reliable investment process.
What are your top tips for wealth management in 2019?
Same as always, trust the process! Market conditions and product availability will change, but what shouldn’t change is a well-thought-out, consistent, replicable and reliable investment process. Don’t allow short-term events and ‘noise’ from the media to distract you from your long-term goals.
You recently spoke about trade deficits in the US. Can you briefly summarise how they hurt the economy?
In the short and sometimes intermediate term, tariffs act like a tax on consumers, as they raise prices. The real question is what will the long-term result be? If, this time next year, the United States has been able to negotiate better trade deals with China and Europe, as we already have with Mexico and Canada, then the short-term pain may be well worth it. From an investment perspective, it simply means that your process should guide you towards investments that are less susceptible to the impact of tariffs or the trade war – that’s our approach.
Website: http://www.ggfs.com
