How has the Brexit uncertainty affected the UK market? Although the EU referendum is dominating headlines in the UK, not all stock market movements are a result of the forthcoming vote. There are also a lot of global factors affecting ours and international markets. The year started with extreme pessimism about Chinese and global growth
Read MoreDefined Benefits (DB) or Defined Contributions (DC) Pension Schemes In the popular press, ‘final salary’, also known as ‘defined benefit’, pensions are often referred to as ‘gold-plated’, the implication being that they are superior to ‘defined contribution’ (money Purchased) arrangements such as Personal Pensions. Many therefore can dismiss the notion of doing anything with a
Read MoreYou are no doubt starting to see a lot of press regarding the proposed pension legislation and enhancements to ISA investments as we head up to the 6th April 2015. Naturally there are concerns and questions being asked, especially in the media and there are those that feel that the government are looking for short
Read MoreThe Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, has announced this week that ‘Everyone who will be able to take advantage of the new reforms will be able to access free and impartial guidance’ with respect to their retirement options. This was previously announced by the Chancellor to the House of Commons in his budget statement
Read MoreToday, the Bank of England (BoE) released its latest quarterly Inflation Report, which updates its projections for inflation and the wider UK economy. Overall, the report did not make significant changes to either the Bank’s inflation forecasts or its expectations for UK economic growth. It did, however, reflect on market expectations that the UK interest
Read MoreIt was only relatively recently, in April 2006, that HM Treasury brought in legislation to simplify the many different pension regimes that existed at the time. This was done partly to ensure that from the 6th April 2006, all pensions accrued their benefits within set limits, removing the bewildering array of different rules and caveats
Read MoreYou may be aware from media or other communications of a radical change in the way that investment fund managers’ report their charges for investing your money. We felt it was important to explain what was happening in simple English, so here goes……. What’s happened? Traditionally, when you invested into an investment fund, you will
Read MoreFollowing the recent announcements in the media, the news that employers will have to pay into a pension scheme for their employees may come as a bit of a shock. The Government has introduced auto-enrolment and the National Employment Savings Trust or NEST for short. Preparedness and planning is the key to ensuring that this
Read MoreI tuned in last night to Channel 4’s ‘Do you trust your Bank?’ In case you didn’t see it, the programme focussed on the recent activities of some of our high street banks that have recently come to light. We were acquainted with the story of a recently retired couple who had downsized their main residence
Read MoreThe Financial Services Authority (FSA) has recently publicised its proposed changes to the way that financial advisers must operate from 31st December 2012. The FSA has been working with firms, advisers, consumer groups and industry experts to improve how investment products and services are recommended to potential investors. This process was called the Retail Distribution
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