It is a pleasure to share some good news for a change. Yes, the markets have stabilised and indeed moved forward usefully and it seems that the opposite of ‘death by a thousand cuts’ has been happening – a virtuous circle of regular and gradual upticks in valuations but what a difference just a few weeks make.
As we gradually age, become more wiser and enjoy a well earned rest from working, our attention turns to later life and how to ensure we receive appropriate support and care should it be required. According to Alzheimer’s Research UK’s 2015 analysis report 1 in 3 people born in the UK from 2015 will develop dementia, which is a worrying statistic.
The tax year end is fast approaching and you only have until 5 April to make the most of your allowances in the current year before they are lost. If you have not yet considered investing in an ISA, maximising Pension contributions or made use of your Personal Allowance and Capital Gains Tax Allowance, now is the time to do so before it is too late.
Welcome formally to the new clients joining us from Organic. As they will know, following our appointment in the middle of December, Organic had administrators appointed at the end of December so it was very fortunate that we had taken-over the ongoing investment management in advance of everything coming to a juddering halt…..
Our Weekly Column
Figures released by the Equity Release Council (which represents 95% of the equity release market) show that older homeowners unlocked £3.94 billion of property wealth in 2018 up 29% year on year. The market saw 46,000 new customers in 2018, an increase of 25% on 2017. The number of returning pension drawdown customers was also up 27% in 2018.
Philip’s Comments
Well there is a job based at Trimstone about to become available! It is to work for me in the role as Senior Administration Assistant to the Managing Director at Philip J Milton & Company Plc. More details can be available but you will have to be efficient, dynamic and capable and able to work on your own initiative for much of the time and with a vast array of different tasks which will be added over time. The opportunity for the right person is excellent. Some knowledge of the hospitality trade is likely to be helpful too! Please send a CV and salary expectation by email!
Our Weekly Column
Sadly, we still live in a world where there are people who do take advantage of the vulnerable for their own financial gain. Our financial regulator the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) who monitor ourselves and over 58,000 financial services firms and financial markets in the UK, confirm that they have seen a five-fold rise in the number of people seeking advice about pension scams, since the launch of their recent collaboration with the Pensions Regulator. Victims of pensions scams according to the Financial Reporter have lost an average of £91,000 each to fraudsters.