The only written responses I’ve had from Friends Provident have been computer-generated letters refusing my request. Once my policy has less than 10 years to run, I understand the terms of it may prohibit me from increasing monthly contributions. Why won’t Friends Provident allow policy-holders to take a more cautious – and possibly realistic – view of the future? NW, LondonA It is important to resolve this before you enter the last 10 years of the endowment policies, after which changes could make payouts subject to tax. Friends Provident’s standard procedure is to base shortfall top-ups on a projected 6 per cent return, but it will consider requests using a 4 per cent return. Write to Tony Monnery at Friends Provident in Castle Street, Salisbury SP1 3SH for a quote using the 4 per cent return assumptionBut you should consider whether increasing the payments into your endowment is the right course of action.

Colin Jackson, of Baronworth IFA, recommends you take out a 10- year ISA to pay off the extra debt. While this would involve you effectively taking an extra punt on stock market performance, Mr Jackson is comfortable that over this period the market will deliver.Ray Boulger, of Charcol, suggests two risk-averse options. One is to convert part of your interest-only mortgage to a repayment mortgage. Abbey National will not charge for this if your endowment was sold by Abbey National. Alternatively, it also you to overpay its mortgages by 10 per cent without charge.If you have any questions about personal finance topics or problems, please write to Questions of Cash, ‘The Independent’, 191 Marsh Wall, London E14 9RS, or e-mail cash independent.co.uk We regret that we can reply only to letters published here.

You never have to look far for signs that the stock market is still profoundly out of love with technology companies. But one of the most dispiriting scraps of evidence has been the post-flotation performance of Detica, the first tech stock to brave the main market in more than 18 months. Moneynet Detica
You never have to look far for signs that the stock market is still profoundly out of love with technology companies. The group also has a useful “national security” division, which is boosting spending after 11 September The shares are cheap.. What did you do in the Great Market Meltdown of 2002, Daddy? Nothing vainglorious, my son. I built a bomb shelter, decorated it with my Marconi share certificates, and sat on my cash in the hope it would hatch. Oh, and I got a few William Hill shares in the one initial public offering open to, er, the public.

Moneynet What did you do in the Great Market Meltdown of 2002, Daddy? Nothing vainglorious, my son. There were full allotments for up to £50,000 of shares, which meant you could sell a few shares in early trading on the “when issued” market to help fund the rest of the holding.Why, oh why, aren’t more flotations handled this way? Brokers complain that the private investor market has gone to sleep. But I am sure the opportunity to have a worthwhile punt on the same terms as the big boys woke up a lot of Rip van Winkles. More initial public offerings like this could only be good for the whole market.The other moral of the tale: William Hill came on a yield of 4 per cent net.