Investment advice Archives - Philip J Milton & Company Plc

Are Cash ISAs under threat from the Chancellor?

Regular readers of this column will know we are not entirely (or certainly not universally) in favour of Cash ISAs simply because the balance of interest rates versus inflation means you can effectively be ‘losing’ money by having many thousands sat in an ISA ‘doing nothing’ as well as letting inflation eat it away. Saving...

Inflation drops and Budget looms

So UK inflation surprised to the downside – good news. This should lead the Bank of England to keep its promise to cut interest rates. The only fly in the ointment is what government bonds tell us? They’re worried globally but specifically in the UK about the Budget and probable extra borrowing (via these...

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...

Can you manage your own investments?

It may sound a good idea to save some money and manage your own investments – why pay ‘all those fees’ for experts when you can do it yourself? Those sentiments can often come back to haunt DIY plumbers or ‘home car mechanics’, who may end up with a worse mess than the initial problem! So,...

Markets rebound despite Middle East troubles

The markets are hoping that Middle-Eastern concerns have not escalated and after initial worries, markets have rebounded and the oil price slipped-back again. Let us be hopeful that is a permanent state of affairs though the Israel Hostage and Palestine situation does not go away. The UK and the US have approved further sums for...

The new tax year – what are the market movers and shakers?

I hope that you have had a good Easter. Welcome to the new tax year, a time for opportunity to maximise your ISA and Pension allowances for example – better earlier than later! Watch-out too as the Taxman cometh if you have too much in dividends, interest or investment gains as the tax-free allowances...

Inflation, deflation and market views

US inflation figures are higher than hoped (3.1% v 2.9% expected), jolting the market again and pushing Euro:Sterling to the highest since August 2022 and strengthening the Dollar. Our inflation at 4% was slightly less than expected but we have now entered ‘Recession’ with ‘two quarters of negative growth’ – good in attacking inflation but...

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...

Are Cash ISAs under threat from the Chancellor?

Inflation drops and Budget looms

Who needs financial advice? Can you afford not to?

Can you manage your own investments?

Markets rebound despite Middle East troubles

The new tax year – what are the market movers and shakers?

Inflation, deflation and market views

Economic ups and downs

Are you saving your money with a bit of savvy?

Bitcoin (just don’t!) and serious salary sizes

Risk Warning

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Philip J Milton & Company Plc

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