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4 ways to save at Christmas without being a Scrooge
With your Christmas preparations, starting soon is the key to saving money. If you leave your shopping to the last minute, not only do you have to face the 23rd December high street chaos, you’ll miss out on the excellent deals that many retailers offer early in the festive shopping season. It’s incredibly easy to […]
December Market Commentary
Introduction It is always difficult writing a report like this, as you are always trying to ‘hit a moving target.’ While you can record the stock market levels at the close of business on, say, 30th November, there is always the risk that the commentary is overtaken by events. That has never been more true […]
What to consider before buying health insurance
Taking out health insurance is a big financial commitment. However, private healthcare is an attractive option to some because it allows you increased choice, private hospitals, reduced waiting times and more personalised care compared to free NHS treatment. Private treatments can be costly if you don’t have insurance. As with all types of insurance, the […]
3 pension changes you may have missed in the Budget
There was scarcely a mention of the ‘P’ word in October’s Budget speech (believe us, we were listening closely for it!). Instead, Hammond used the Budget speech as an opportunity to unveil his ‘rabbit in the hat’ changes to income tax thresholds, an increase in NHS mental health funding and a ban on future PFI […]
November Market Commentary
Introduction October was, to put it mildly, an eventful month. It was a month which saw the majority of markets on which we report down steeply, as fears of higher interest rates in the US combined with worries about the US/China trade war. There was, however, one market that went up sharply: Brazil elected a […]
October Market Commentary
Introduction On Tuesday, 3rd November 2020 the United States will go to the polls to elect its next President. All the indications are that Donald Trump will stand for a second term and if the words of Bill Clinton – “It’s the economy, stupid” – are to be believed, he will win. While not wanting […]
4 top tips to protect yourself against pension scammers
You may well have seen the headlines that victims lost an average of £91k each in pension scams last year. Worryingly, in a recent survey, 32% of pension holders aged 45-65 said they were unsure how to verify if they were speaking to a genuine pensions adviser. Scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated. They can be […]
Explaining fund charges and investment fees
If you hold any investments, or already work with a financial adviser, then it’s likely that you’re familiar with the fees you pay to invest or receive advice.
September Market Commentary
Introduction August used to be known as the ‘silly season’. Everyone who made the news was away on holiday, nothing happened and newspapers were desperate to fill their pages. So rather more obscure stories made it into print… That, of course, was before Donald Trump. And Brexit. And Venezuela, Argentina and Greece. And… In short, […]