Nowadays there are more choices open to you than ever before. This means there are more things you need to consider and have a plan for, like how to manage your finances to provide the income you’ll need to live on, how you’ll transition into full retirement and what lifestyle you want to enjoy in […]
Author archives: matthew
Home Finance – In the news
Green mortgages – a mystery A recent survey1 has revealed that four out of five (83%) people have no understanding of green mortgages. Each lender’s criteria will differ, but typically they may offer a discounted rate, or cashback, if a property has an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of A or B. The government has […]
Money – In the news
Child Trust Fund – on your radar? His Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has reminded teenagers and people in their twenties to claim their matured Child Trust Fund (CTF) savings. CTFs are long-term savings accounts set up for every child born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011. The government provided an initial deposit […]
Wealth – In the news
Women hold their nerve Recent research1 reveals women are more likely to hold their nerve and avoid crystallising a loss when the market dips. Almost half of men (48%) have sold investments at a loss when they’ve dropped in value, in an attempt to stem their losses, while just 38% of women have done the […]
Take control now to beat the tax chill
Following his controversial ‘stealth tax’ Statement in November, the Chancellor made a raft of key personal taxation and pension announcements. The government pledged its commitment to the pensions Triple Lock, which will increase the State Pension in line with September’s Consumer Prices Index (CPI) rate of 10.1%. This means that the value of the basic […]
Plan now to buy in 2023
Even in times of economic uncertainty, the fundamentals of house buying remain mostly the same. For those looking to make a purchase in 2023, it’s never too early to start planning. Why buy now? House prices have stayed high over the past year thanks to sustained buyer demand and restricted supply. Trying to predict future […]
Tax year end reminder
As the end of the tax year approaches, a prime consideration should be how external factors such as reduced or frozen allowances, together with high inflation, could impact your finances and what action you need to take before 5 April 2023. If you are affected by the impending changes to Dividend Tax or Capital Gains […]
Resolution – review and rebalance
Did you know that during periods of market volatility, portfolio drift can be accelerated, meaning your investments may no longer be aligned with your risk preferences and objectives? This is why it’s good practice to have regular portfolio reviews, in order to implement effective rebalancing if required. Regular reviews are also a great opportunity to […]
Dividend update
According to the latest Dividend Monitor1, driven by sterling weakness, 2022 headline payouts are expected to rise to £97.4bn, up 11.0% on an adjusted basis, with underlying dividends expected to rise 13.4% to £87.2bn. The provisional forecast for UK dividends in 2023 anticipates a slight drop in headline dividends but modest underlying growth. Looking ahead, […]
Global economic growth in 2023
The International Monetary Fund (IMF)1 has predicted a challenging 2023, reducing growth expectations and forecasting economic contraction in a third of the world, in its latest World Economic Outlook entitled ‘Countering the Cost-of-Living Crisis.’ With the cost-of-living crisis ‘tightening financial conditions in most regions’, the outlook suggests that in order to restore price stability, monetary […]