Financial top tips for service personnel
Service personnel and their families can find it difficult to access commercial products and services because of the time spent outside of the UK. The... Learn More
MARKET UPDATE: EU EXTENDS ARTICLE 50 BY SIX MONTHS
LAST WEEK – KEY TAKEAWAYS BREXIT: ARTICLE 50 EXTENDED UNTIL 31ST OCTOBER • Sterling was relatively muted against the US dollar after the EU granted... Learn More
MARKET UPDATE: MAY REACHES OUT TO CORBYN AND REQUESTS ARTICLE 50 DELAY
LAST WEEK – KEY TAKEAWAYS BREXIT: CROSS-PARTY TALKS START AS UK REQUESTS FURTHER EXTENSION TO ARTICLE 50 • Another round of indicative votes held on... Learn More
The value of protection advice
Protection should be considered as the foundation of all financial planning. After all, if things go awry and you suddenly find yourself in dire financial... Learn More
MARKET UPDATE: BREXIT UNCERTAINTY INTENSIFIES
LAST WEEK – KEY TAKEAWAYS BREXIT: UNCERTAINTY WEIGHS ON STERLING • Sterling weakened against the US dollar on Wednesday after a series of ‘indicative votes’... Learn More
MARKET UPDATE: ARTICLE 50 EXTENDED
LAST WEEK – KEY TAKEAWAYS BREXIT: EU AGREES TO EXTEND ARTICLE 50 • The Prime Minister wrote to Donald Tusk, President of the European Council,... Learn More
How to prepare financially for long-term illness
While British life expectancy continues to rise, the same might not be said for the quality of health we could expect to enjoy as we... Learn More
MARKET UPDATE: MPS VOTE TO EXTEND ARTICLE 50
LAST WEEK – KEY TAKEAWAYS BREXIT: UK TO REQUEST ARTICLE 50 EXTENSION • Parliament rejected the Prime Minister’s revised Brexit withdrawal deal on Tuesday, as... Learn More
MARKET UPDATE: TRADE TENSIONS WEIGH ON CHINESE ECONOMY
LAST WEEK – KEY TAKEAWAYS CHINA: EXPORTS SLOW IN FEBRUARY A slowdown in exports in February weighed on Chinese equities at the end of the... Learn More
First-time buyers: Boost your mortgage chances
You’ve decided to take the plunge and get onto the property ladder, having swapped fun and frivolity for fastidious frugalness to save the deposit. But... Learn More
MARKET UPDATE: MARKETS RESPOND TO SIGNS OF A SOFTER BREXIT
LAST WEEK – KEY TAKEAWAYS BREXIT: MAY OPEN TO ARTICLE 50 EXTENSION • Domestic UK equities rose, gilt prices fell and sterling rallied as the... Learn More
MARKET UPDATE: TRADE TALKS PROGRESS BETWEEN US AND CHINA
LAST WEEK – KEY TAKEAWAYS TRADE: TRUMP EXTENDS TARIFF DEADLINE • US president Donald Trump has delayed the 1st March deadline to increase trade tariffs... Learn More
MARKET UPDATE: TRUMP CONSIDERS EXTENDING TRADE DEADLINE
LAST WEEK – KEY TAKEAWAYS US: TRUMP MAY EXTEND TRADE DEADLINE • US equities rallied as President Trump hinted that he might be prepared to... Learn More
Confused about pension planning?
With more UK employees saving for their retirement than ever you could argue that Automatic Enrolment has been a success since its launch six years... Learn More
MARKET UPDATE: BANK OF ENGLAND ADOPTS PATIENT TONE
LAST WEEK – KEY TAKEAWAYS UK: BANK OF ENGLAND SOFTENS TONE AND DOWNGRADES UK OUTLOOK • Sterling weakened against the US dollar after the Bank... Learn More
Standard Variable Rate
The average homeowner moving from a specific mortgage deal onto their mortgage provider’s Standard Variable Rate (SVR) could save more than £2,500 a year in... Learn More
MARKET UPDATE: BANK OF ENGLAND ADOPTS PATIENT TONE
LAST WEEK – KEY TAKEAWAYS UK: BANK OF ENGLAND SOFTENS TONE AND DOWNGRADES UK OUTLOOK • Sterling weakened against the US dollar after the Bank... Learn More
MARKET UPDATE: STERLING RALLIES AS BREXIT TALKS INTENSIFY
LAST WEEK – KEY TAKEAWAYS BREXIT: LABOUR MAY BACK EXTENSION TO ARTICLE 50 • Sterling rallied against the US dollar after the Labour party hinted... Learn More
The difference between value and growth investing
Warren Buffet, sometimes known as the sage of Omaha, once claimed he preferred to “to buy a wonderful company at a fair price”. What he... Learn More
MARKET UPDATE: MORE BREXIT UNCERTAINTY AS PARLIAMENT REJECTS WITHDRAWAL DEAL
LAST WEEK – KEY TAKEAWAYS BREXIT: PARLIAMENT REJECTS WITHDRAWAL DEAL • The House of Commons inflicted a heavy defeat on Theresa May’s government on Tuesday... Learn More
MARKET UPDATE: EASING TRADE TENSIONS BOOST GLOBAL EQUITIES
LAST WEEK – KEY TAKEAWAYS MARKETS: TRADE TALKS BOOST US AND ASIAN EQUITIES • US and Asian equities climbed higher as mid-level US and Chinese... Learn More
How a trust can help your financial planning
Writing a policy in Trust could be perceived as something that only the wealthy require, but the reality is Trusts can play an important part... Learn More
MARKET UPDATE: US EQUITIES RALLY AS SENTIMENT IMPROVES
LAST WEEK – KEY TAKEAWAYS MARKETS: VOLATILE START TO THE YEAR FOR US ASSETS • US equities were dragged down by the tech sector as... Learn More
What’s stopping you from saving
Generally speaking, and subject to investment charges and performance, the more you save and the earlier you start saving the better shape your finances are... Learn More
MARKET UPDATE: GLOBAL EQUITIES UNDER PRESSURE AS FED RAISES INTEREST RATES
LAST WEEK – KEY TAKEAWAYS US: FED INTEREST RATE DECISION THWARTS SEASONAL RALLY Global equities fell following the Federal Reserve’s decision to raise US interest... Learn More
MARKET UPDATE: BREXIT UNCERTAINTY PICKS UP AGAIN
LAST WEEK – KEY TAKEAWAYS UK: TOUGH WEEK FOR MRS MAY DRIVES STERLING VOLATILITY • Sterling fell to a 20-month low against the US dollar... Learn More
Developed vs emerging markets
The most popular markets among investors typically fall into one of two categories – developed or emerging. There’s no universal definition for either category, but... Learn More
MARKET UPDATE: CHALLENGING WEEK FOR EQUITIES AS TRADE TENSIONS SIMMER
LAST WEEK – KEY TAKEAWAYS MARKETS: TRADE TENSIONS AND ECONOMIC OUTLOOK WEIGH ON EQUITIES • Global equities retreated as Canada arrested a senior executive at... Learn More
MARKET UPDATE: TRADE WAR PAUSES, FEDERAL RESERVE HINTS AT SLOWER MONETARY TIGHTENING
LAST WEEK – KEY TAKEAWAYS MONETARY POLICY: FED CHANGES TONE • US equities rallied as Federal Reserve chairman Jay Powell said interest rates are approaching... Learn More
The cost of retirement
How much money do you think you’ll need to receive each year of your retirement? According to the investment manager Schroders, working people in the... Learn More
MARKET UPDATE: EU APPROVES BREXIT WITHDRAWAL DEAL
LAST WEEK – KEY TAKEAWAYS BREXIT: EU APPROVES WITHDRAWAL DEAL • On Sunday, the EU approved the UK’s withdrawal agreement which covers the exit bill,... Learn More
MARKET UPDATE: UK AND EU AGREE DRAFT WITHDRAWAL DEAL
LAST WEEK – KEY TAKEAWAYS BREXIT: DRAFT WITHDRAWAL DEAL TRIGGERS VOLATILITY IN UK ASSETS The UK and EU agreed a draft withdrawal deal on Tuesday,... Learn More
The search for a reliable retirement income
It’s been over three years since the April 2015 pensions changes which scrapped compulsory annuities and gave pensioners greater choice over how to take their... Learn More
MARKET UPDATE: US ASSETS RALLY AS MIDTERM ELECTIONS SPRING NO SURPRISES
MARKET UPDATE: US ASSETS RALLY AS MIDTERM ELECTIONS SPRING NO SURPRISES LAST WEEK – KEY TAKEAWAYS US: EQUITIES RALLY IN AFTERMATH OF MIDTERMS • US... Learn More
MARKET UPDATE: STERLING VOLATILE AMID MIXED BREXIT RHETORIC
LAST WEEK – KEY TAKEAWAYS UK: STERLING REMAINS SENSITIVE TO BREXIT RHETORIC • Sterling was up over the course of the week as the chances... Learn More
2018 Q2 Report
We’ve scoured the global news headlines to recap the most significant geopolitical and economic events which took place in the second quarter of 2018, as... Learn More
MARKET UPDATE: RATES, TARIFFS AND EARNINGS WEIGH ON EQUITY MARKETS
LAST WEEK – KEY TAKEAWAYS MARKETS: MONETARY POLICY AND TRADE TENSIONS WEIGH ON EQUITIES • Robust growth in gross domestic product in the third quarter... Learn More
MARKET UPDATE: BREXIT UNCERTAINTY RETURNS AS US EQUITIES STEM LOSSES
LAST WEEK – KEY TAKEAWAYS UK: MIXED WEEK FOR STERLING AS BREXIT UNCERTAINTY RESURFACES • Sterling weakened at the start of the week following Brexit... Learn More
Auto enrolment contributions
The introduction of automatic enrolment in 2012 has led to a record high in pension participation, with more than 9.5 million people enrolled through the... Learn More
MARKET UPDATE: EQUITY MARKETS SELL OFF AS INVESTORS WORRY ABOUT INTEREST RATES
LAST WEEK – KEY TAKEAWAYS MARKETS: EQUITIES RATTLED BY TIGHTENING MONETARY CONDITIONS • US equities fell to their lowest level in eight months on Wednesday,... Learn More
MARKET UPDATE: US ECONOMY LEADS THE WAY AS CANADA SIGNS UP TO REVISED NAFTA
LAST WEEK – KEY TAKEAWAYS UNITED STATES: SERVICES SECTOR AND LABOUR MARKET BOOST US ECONOMY Growth in activity in the US services sector, which accounts... Learn More
Auto enrolment contributions
The introduction of automatic enrolment in 2012 has led to a record high in pension participation, with more than 9.5 million people enrolled through the... Learn More
Are you thinking of downsizing?
According to a survey by Lloyds Bank, 45 per cent of empty nesters have no plans to downsize, despite the potential windfall moving to a... Learn More
Advice matters – whatever stage in life you’re at
The financial products and services we need to navigate through life will change with our circumstances. In the early years, our financial needs are likely... Learn More
The value of investment advice
Let’s be honest. Seeking advice on how to look after your money may not be as fun as the immediate thrill of spending it, but... Learn More
Don’t fall for a pension scam
Frank Field, Labour MP and chair of an influential parliamentary committee, has called for legislative action to help keep pension savings safe. This comes after... Learn More
Securing your company’s future
Business Protection is a crucial element in a company’s financial future, but how many have cover in place? According to a study from Legal &... Learn More
Freehold or leasehold: the ins and outs
When buying a property, you can do so either on a leasehold or freehold basis and there are important differences to be aware of before... Learn More
Going, going, gone to the auction!
If you think property auctions are only for professional property developers or investors think again. They can be a great place to pick up a... Learn More
Financial wellbeing in retirement
Financial wellbeing is an important factor when it comes to being able to enjoy life. While we’re earning, it’s possible to secure the living standards... Learn More
With protection comes choice
How many times have you heard the phrase “It won’t happen to me” when it comes to the chances of suffering a serious illness? Unfortunately,... Learn More
What’s your General Insurance start date?
When you’re in the process of buying a house, you might think the best time for your Home Insurance cover to kick in is on... Learn More
The path ahead for the global economy
Much has happened to keep us busy in 2018 so far, but there’s plenty to come in the second half of the year in terms... Learn More
The importance of diversification
With ISA season comes the usual fanfare in the money pages about which investments will deliver the best returns – peppered with the usual important... Learn More
It happened to him
Don’t let the ‘it won’t happen to me’ approach affect your decision on whether or not to take out critical illness cover. David thought he... Learn More
Auto-enrolment update
It’s reasonable to suggest that auto enrolment has been a major success story. In fact, more than 1 million employers and 9 million employees have... Learn More
Is now the right time to fix?
November 2017 saw the Bank of England raise interest rates for the first time in a decade, from 0.25 per cent to 0.5 per cent,... Learn More
Spring Statement
March has traditionally been the month for Budgets, but no longer. In Autumn 2016 the then new Chancellor, Philip Hammond made clear he thought the... Learn More
Taking a global view
Keeping your investments close to home may have its advantages, but only by looking globally can you be sure you’re making the most of diversification.... Learn More
Valuations vs Surveys
Buying a house… is a valuation sufficient, or should you opt for a full structural survey? Buying a house is probably the biggest financial purchase... Learn More
The value of protection
Buying a new home is possibly one of life’s biggest and most exciting events. It’s also a major financial commitment – one that could be... Learn More
Critical Illness cover can make a difference
If you’ve ever turned down a recommendation of critical illness because you can’t see the value of it, this real-life case study might make you... Learn More
Let Property Campaign
If you let out a residential property but haven’t declared the rental income, you might be interested in a new campaign from HM Revenue &... Learn More
Interest Rate Rise
In 2007 Bulgaria and Romania joined the European Union, Lewis Hamilton got his first drive in Formula 1 partnering with Fernando Alonso at McLaren, the... Learn More
High inflation hits workers and savers
Employment is at a record high, but UK workers are starting to feel the squeeze as wages fall below inflation for the first time since... Learn More
Plugging the protection gap
If you’re one of the increasing number of people who’ve become self-employed in recent years, you may have found the switch has left you without... Learn More
Investment advice – what a relief!
Every client we meet has a unique and varied range of financial planning needs, so it’s important to establish priorities as the first step towards... Learn More
Protecting your mortgage repayments
We think protection advice is imperative when you have a home or family you want to protect. So, talk to us about a mortgage and... Learn More
Are you retiring soon?
If you are planning on retiring soon there are a few things you may like to consider before you make any important decisions. Gather all... Learn More
Pension Advice Allowance
Financial decisions affecting your retirement income will be among the most important you’ll make during your lifetime and investing in timely financial advice could provide... Learn More
Buying for the first time?
For first time buyers, getting onto the property ladder may seem like a daunting process, but there is help available. With demand outstripping supply in... Learn More