Investment update - A Volatile Period for Markets
Posted by siteadmin on Wednesday 2nd of March 2022
High inflation, disappointing earnings results from some tech companies and Russia’s invasion in Ukraine caused turbulence for the financial markets.
The reality of armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine pushed down leading stock market indices during February. Since the start of the year, conditions have been volatile owing to concerns about persistently high inflation and central bank interest rate rises. Geopolitical tensions added further uncertainty, with rapidly changing events causing markets to slide around the world.
Oil pric...
Junior ISA
Posted by siteadmin on Friday 25th of February 2022
In the Autumn Budget in 2021, it was revealed that the Junior ISA spending limits would remain at £9,000 for the 2022/2023 tax year. The JISA limit was last changed in early 2020, when it was doubled from £4,500 to its current level.
JISA and CTFs both benefit
JISAs replaced Child Trust Funds (CTF) in 2011, but those who still hold CTF will continue to benefit from the increased allowance. Both JISA and CTF are a tax efficient way to build up savings for a child. It is not possible to have both a JISA and a CTF.
Savings for children
A junior...
Reckless Caution Is Costing Savers
Posted by siteadmin on Friday 11th of February 2022
New research from The Openwork Partnership, one of the UK’s largest and longest established financial advice and investment networks, shows more than 11.6 million are keeping all their money in cash despite ongoing low rates.
Its nationwide study found 22% of adults prefer to keep all their money in cash while the same number will not consider stock market investments despite potentially higher returns as they don’t understand it.
The Openwork Partnership is warning about the risks to savers of reckless caution – the cost of missing out on...
National Insurance Set to Rise in April 2022
Posted by siteadmin on Thursday 3rd of February 2022
National Insurance contributions are set to increase by 1.25% in April this year, as part of the government’s plans to fund the health and social care sector in the UK.
The rise comes after the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the health and social care sector which has resulted in a substantial backlog. Therefore, to tackle this, the government has introduced the increase to be able to fund a catch-up programme to get the NHS back on track.
When will the increase in contributions occur?
From 6th April 2022 to 6th April 2023, national...
2022 Investment Outlook
Posted by siteadmin on Thursday 27th of January 2022
Seven reasons to use a mortgage adviser
Posted by siteadmin on Tuesday 18th of January 2022
Looking for a mortgage? Here are 7 benefits of using a mortgage adviser:
1. With over 80 years combined experience and access to hundreds of mortgage lenders and thousands of mortgage deals, our team are much more likely to be able to find you the best available mortgage deals.
2. It’s important to understand that even though you may bank with a particular lender, it is highly unlikely you will get any preferential treatment when applying for a mortgage.
3. Working with us, you will have access to mortgage deals that mean you are able t...
Investment Update - Inflation and Omicron set the scene for investors
Posted by siteadmin on Thursday 13th of January 2022
Markets signed off the year amid high inflation rates and renewed concerns over the coronavirus.
The Omicron variant of the coronavirus unsettled markets at the beginning of December, with investors unsure about how renewed restrictions on socialising and travel will affect the global economy. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) urged national leaders to accelerate the vaccination rollout in order to slow the spread of the virus and reduce the impact of new strains.
Stock markets in the US and Europe had reco...
Investment Update - Energy shortages and supply disruptions continue
Posted by siteadmin on Wednesday 3rd of November 2021
Stock markets bounced back in October despite an unsettled month due to global supply disruptions and energy shortages.
Financial markets were unsettled in October for a number of reasons. They include soaring energy prices due to the global shortage of natural gas supplies and high demand in Asia. Markets became calmer after Russian President Vladimir Putin indicated that his country could supply additional gas to Europe. The increase in energy prices and shipping costs prompted the The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Developm...
How to make ISAs work for you
Posted by centro on Friday 15th of October 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...
Be wary of the crypto-craze
Posted by centro on Thursday 30th 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...
