Are you losing money to your ‘savings’ account?
Shocking recent figures have shown that more than 250,000 adult cash savings accounts with £10,000 and above deposited in them are earning 1% or less.
This is despite a growth in savings rates and relatively high interest rates over the past two years and frankly it shouldn’t still be happening, but it is.
We typically aim...
Who needs financial advice? Can you afford not to?
There was a timely reminder of the invaluable advisory and guidance interactions we have with so many of our clients when two senior investment professionals noted they too have advisers, when many might assume they ‘can’t need them’.
Perhaps we don’t blow our own trumpet enough in reminding clients how valuable our assistance to them...
Interest rates and investment trusts
US tech, justice and taxes
Just two weeks after the Election and avoiding politics altogether this time, I shall neither labour any points or be too liberal with my commentary on markets and tax-planning. You may think that I am unable to reform my approach, though I hope that the style of writing does not treat you as green...
Regulation is well-intended but is it pushing some advisors to the brink?
People do not necessarily consider financial services from the other side of the desk – and of course, why should they? They turn up at the office of an Independent Financial Adviser (IFA) seeking advice and answers for their specific situation.
But we thought it might be helpful to share some insights into the effects...
Economic ups and downs
Just as we think things have brightened, out comes the inflation figure at 4% versus the expected 3.9%. That was blamed on tobacco and alcohol – the latter also as duty rose on wine last autumn, based on alcohol strengths.
It is as if the government doesn’t realise that increasing taxes on products increases inflation......
Are you saving your money with a bit of savvy?
Did you know that savers in the UK have missed out on a combined total of £6.9billion in returns from their savings in 2023?
Recent Bank of England data has shown that on average UK adults held some £235bn in current accounts that do not pay any interest.
Consumer finance website Money Age reported that based...
Bitcoin (just don’t!) and serious salary sizes
Regular readers will know our views on Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies – a ‘Ponzi’ scheme not backed up by anything tangible and a lesson in losing money waiting to happen for some investors.
Nonetheless, it seems the Securities and Exchange Commission, which oversees and regulates the securities markets and protects investors in the US, has seen...
Financial predictions for 2024?
Ominous Bitcoin
So the SEC has approved 11 ETFs which invest in Bitcoin. First of all, don’t worry – we shan’t be buying them. Bitcoin is not an ‘asset’ and has nebulous, proven legitimate value and use. This ‘development’ is added to the latest speculative explosion about ‘AI’ (which of course has myriad applications and...