What will the Autumn Statement mean for you and the UK?
The much-anticipated Chancellor’s Autumn Statement on Wednesday contained some good news for workers and measures that will help ISA savers and investors, but the overall effects on the UK economy remain to be seen.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced he was cutting the rate of National Insurance from 12% to 10%. This will be effective from...
Charitable efforts at home – and abroad
From helping to bring a local play area back to life to supporting people in the most poverty stricken areas of Africa, the Philip J Milton & Company Plc Charitable Foundation works on behalf of multiple good causes.
During the course of a year the Foundation – which evolved from our Firm as part of...
Are the ‘magnificent seven’ seriously over-extended?
An ‘emperor’s new clothes’ scenario could be applied to US tech stocks, which have been highlighted before in this column and we still feel could be living in an unreality bubble.
There was a very interesting article by Peter Atwater, an adjunct lecturer in economics at the College of William and Mary, Virginia, in the...
A good financial adviser will help you stay on course
The importance of a good financial adviser that understand economics and the mechanics of investing was highlighted recently by a frank interview with multi billion investment house Baillie Gifford.
This column has highlighted more than once the need for advisers to help clients understand long term investment strategies and not to rush into knee-jerk reactions...
State Pension set to see 8% rise if ‘triple lock’ promise holds
Millions receiving the State Pension could receive a ‘bumper’ rise yet again next year due to rising wages.
Due to the ‘triple lock’, experts are predicting the annual State Pension could increase by up to £879 in April, 2024.
This means pensioners would receive around £11,500 a year and the maximum flat rate State Pension would...
More people are being stung by Capital Gains Tax as it hits record high
House prices drop as interest rates increase
House prices have dropped by the biggest yearly decline for 14 years, according to Nationwide.
The data for July was shortly before the Bank of England increased interest rates yet again, taking it from 5% to 5.25%, spelling more uncertainty for mortgage holders.
The BBC has reported the latest from Nationwide, which said affordability was becoming...
How much do you need for a ‘comfortable’ retirement?
UK residents need at least an extra £26,000 in addition to their State Pension to live a ‘comfortable’ lifestyle during their retirement, according to recent data.
The research was carried out by Standard Life, which used the MoneyHelper annuity tool from www.moneyhelper.org.uk to work out how much people would need in their pension pot to...
Replacing your State Pension could cost a fortune
Recent news the State Pension booster scheme has been extended until 2025 is very welcome, but did you know it could cost you a small fortune to replace the full State Pension if you’re not eligible for it?
Data from sharingpensions.co.uk published in June has shown it would cost just over £205,430 of pensions savings...