Are you making the most of your ISA allowance?
Posted by siteadmin on Tuesday 1st of February 2022
In the Financial Lives 2020 survey from the FCA, it has been found that older adults were more likely to hold a savings account of any type, than younger adults. For example, 83% of those aged 55+ did, compared with 63% of 18–24-year-olds. So, how could an ISA help you?
ISA
An ISA is an individual savings account that allows you to save tax-free money in a cash or investment account, so you could end up getting more for your money. An ISA is a medium to long term investment, which aims to increase the value of the money you invest for grow...
Investment Update - Inflation and Omicron set the scene for investors
Posted by siteadmin on Wednesday 5th of January 2022
Markets signed off the year amid high inflation rates and renewed concerns over the coronavirus.
The Omicron variant of the coronavirus unsettled markets at the beginning of December, with investors unsure about how renewed restrictions on socialising and travel will affect the global economy. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) urged national leaders to accelerate the vaccination rollout in order to slow the spread of the virus and reduce the impact of new strains.
Stock markets in the US and Europe had reco...
The not-quite post-pandemic Budget
Posted by siteadmin on Thursday 4th of November 2021
The central theme of Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s Autumn Budget was greater investment in UK PLC as part of the government’s long term economic plans and priorities. This included £11.5 billion investment in 180,000 new affordable homes, and a Levelling Up Fund that will mean £1.7 billion invested in local areas across the UK.
While some of the announcements may have seemed rather long term, Mr Sunak did provide some more immediate relief for households and businesses still fragile from the effects of the pandemic.
The previously announced fre...
Investment Update - Energy shortages and supply disruptions continue Stock markets bounced back in October despite an unsettled month due to global supply disruptions and energy shortages.
Posted by siteadmin on Monday 1st of November 2021
Financial markets were unsettled in October for a number of reasons. They include soaring energy prices due to the global shortage of natural gas supplies and high demand in Asia. Markets became calmer after Russian President Vladimir Putin indicated that his country could supply additional gas to Europe. The increase in energy prices and shipping costs prompted the The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to raise its inflation forecast for the G20.
The natural gas shortage pushed up oil prices, with Brent crude ...
Things to avoid when investing
Posted by siteadmin on Friday 29th of October 2021
To keep your investments from losing value or slowing the growth of your as- sets, avoid these common investing mistakes.
There are more risks and opportunities than ever for investors to navigate in today’s rapidly evolving markets. Here are four approaches we believe every investor should follow.
Don’t pile into cash – stay invested
The biggest advantage of cash is that it offers relative safety. Cash can help diversify a portfolio during times of volatility and is easy to access in an emergency. With cash you’ll be paid interest on t...
Autumn Budget & Spending Review 2021 “An economy fit for a new age of optimism”
Posted by siteadmin on Thursday 28th of October 2021
Long read - This will take around 15 minutes to read
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, delivered his third Budget and the results of his Spending Review on 27 October, declaring that it begins "the work of preparing for a new economy post-COVID." The Chancellor struck an upbeat tone during the key fiscal event, as he outlined his vision of “an economy fit for a new age of optimism, where the only limit to our potential is the effort we are prepared to put in and the sacrifices we are prepared to make.”
Economic forecasts
The Chancel...
Autumn Budget 2021 Key Points
Posted by siteadmin on Wednesday 27th of October 2021
Chancellor Rishi Sunak used the Autumn Budget 2021 to invest taxpayer money in long-term plans he says will secure the economic future of the country. Everything from the NHS, schools, local transport and the culture and leisure sector appear set to benefit from the better-than-expected economic outlook from the Office for Budget Responsibility. But immediate changes to improve the finances of households and businesses increasingly worried about rising costs over the next 12 months were thin on the ground.
- Stealth tax and the He...
Autumn Budget highlights
Posted by siteadmin on Wednesday 27th of October 2021
In Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s second financial statement this year, there were few surprises as he looks to fix the economy following the pandemic.
With inflation climbing and interest rate rises on the horizon, Britain is at a critical period in terms of its economic future. Multiple lockdowns caused the UK economy to slump by 10% while the government spent more than £100 billion supporting jobs.
Now the economy is recovering the chancellor is under increasing pressure to balance the books and claw back money spent on fighting the...
Be wary of the crypto-craze
Posted by siteadmin on Tuesday 28th of September 2021
You might be thinking about whether to invest in crypto currencies. We explain why it may not be the right choice, and how to better approach your portfolio.
This year has been eventful for bitcoin, with the cryptocurrency reaching a record high and then almost halving in value all in the space of six weeks. The walk-back in May from Tesla’s Elon Musk in his support of bitcoin underlined concerns around the idea of cryptocurrencies as a stable investment. Musk – previously an outspoken supporter – announced his company would not be accept...
Get the best out of your BTL mortgage
Posted by siteadmin on Tuesday 28th of September 2021
Many fixed mortgage deals will be approaching the end of their term this October, so it’s a good idea to review your buy-to-let mortgage.
With interest rates still at low levels and demand for rental properties increasing around the country, investing in a buy-to-let (BTL) is a popular choice for many.
Buy to let basics
A BTL mortgage is a specific type of product for those who want to buy a property with the intention of renting it. Because of this, there are different terms and rules around a BTL mortgage (compared to a regular mortgage...
