The not-quite post-pandemic Budget
Posted by siteadmin on Monday 1st of November 2021
The central theme of Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s Autumn Budget was greater investment in UK PLC as part of the government’s long term economic plans and priorities. This included £11.5 billion investment in 180,000 new affordable homes, and a Levelling Up Fund that will mean £1.7 billion invested in local areas across the UK.
While some of the announcements may have seemed rather long term, Mr Sunak did provide some more immediate relief for households and businesses still fragile from the effects of the pandemic.
The previously announced fre...
Autumn 2021 Budget: what’s coming up?
Posted by siteadmin on Tuesday 26th of October 2021
The communication teams at the Treasury have been busy in the run up to the Autumn Budget on Wednesday. After a weekend that, according to The Times, contained no less than 11 announcements covering £26 billion of expenditure, you might think that there is not much left for Mr Sunak to talk about when he addresses Parliament on 27 October.
We now know to expect extra spending on Manchester trams, the NHS, post-16 education, incentives for UK investment by overseas companies and even new cutters for Border Force…can there be anything left fo...
How to make ISA's work for you.
Posted by siteadmin on Wednesday 29th of September 2021
Make the most of your tax allowances by using the different types of ISAs that are available.
Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) were first introduced in 1999 and are a tax-free way to save into a cash savings or investment account. There lots of different types of ISA available, but the right one for you will depend on your financial goals. We explain how they work so you can choose the one that is best for you.
Cash ISA
A cash ISA works in the same way as traditional savings account but you won’t have to pay tax on any of the interest y...
Can your pension sustain your retirement?
Posted by siteadmin on Wednesday 29th of September 2021
Working out how long your pension pot will need to last – as life expectancy rises – is worth thinking about sooner than later.
The lockdown caused many people to reassess their lifestyles, which for some meant choosing early retirement. But what retirees have found is that pension pots are not matching the period of time needed to enjoy a comfortable life.
Life expectancy is going up. The Office for National Statistics offers an online calculator which gives an estimate of life expectancy – and with it an idea of how many years people w...
Get the best out of your BTL mortgage
Posted by siteadmin on Wednesday 29th of September 2021
Many fixed mortgage deals will be approaching the end of their term this October, so it’s a good idea to review your buy-to-let mortgage.
With interest rates still at low levels and demand for rental properties increasing around the country, investing in a buy-to-let (BTL) is a popular choice for many.
Buy to let basics
A BTL mortgage is a specific type of product for those who want to buy a property with the intention of renting it. Because of this, there are different terms and rules around a BTL mortgage (compared to a regular mortgage...
Be wary of the cypto-craze
Posted by siteadmin on Wednesday 29th of September 2021
You might be thinking about whether to invest in crypto currencies. We explain why it may not be the right choice, and how to better approach your portfolio.
This year has been eventful for bitcoin, with the cryptocurrency reaching a record high and then almost halving in value all in the space of six weeks. The walk-back in May from Tesla’s Elon Musk in his support of bitcoin underlined concerns around the idea of cryptocurrencies as a stable investment. Musk – previously an outspoken supporter – announced his company would not be accept...
Investment Update - Markets reflect uncertainty over Delta variant
Posted by siteadmin on Wednesday 1st of September 2021
The pandemic continued to unsettle global financial markets during August.
August turned into a month of highs and lows for markets, especially in Europe. There was positive news that the euro area’s economy grew by 2% in the second quarter, which was then countered by a heavy fall in share prices, with the FTSE 100 in London, Frankfurt’s Dax and the Europe Stoxx 600 all dropping more than 2%.1 Causes for concern in Europe centred on fears of a new wave of Covid-19 as well as a reduction in economic stimulus measures.
US Federal ...
Investment Update - Dicing with the delta variant
Posted by siteadmin on Monday 9th of August 2021
With the UK leading the way in lifting its pandemic restrictions, the coronavirus Delta variant has put many countries on edge.
Nations experiencing a surge in the Delta variant of the coronavirus are in a race between vaccinating a majority of the public and getting ahead of the new strain in order to lift restrictions with confidence. The US, UK and EU are experiencing spikes in the rates of infections and there is some worry from economists about Europe’s previous positive outlook experiencing a setback due to the rapid spread of the v...
How to plan for Inheritance Tax
Posted by siteadmin on Wednesday 14th of July 2021
Following the news that thousands more people are expected to pay the standard 40% inheritance tax this year because of the effects of the pandemic, we explore some of the ways to navigate the complexities of inheritance tax.
The complex laws around inheritance tax (IHT) caught many people off guard during the Covid-19 pandemic. Along with the often-sudden loss of a loved one came the issues arising from IHT on gifts passed down to children and grandchildren.
This tax year marks the latest in a series where the number of people being cha...
Should we be concerned about rising inflation?
Posted by siteadmin on Wednesday 14th of July 2021
As lockdown measures begin to lift, financial markets are making their adjustments in anticipation of a rise in inflation, with bond yields picking up (meaning prices have fallen) and stock markets rotating from defensive sectors into cyclicals.
What is inflation?
Put simply, inflation measures the change in the prices of goods and services. If it rises then it takes more of our cash to buy things. We all experience inflation in our daily lives, from filling up our cars with fuel, buying groceries or using public transport.
In the ...
