During this difficult time, fear and worry is understandable, particularly as the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak led to the biggest daily drop in the FTSE 100 since the financial crisis. Trying to second-guess the impact of events such as the coronavirus or the recent stock market volatility – or even attempting to make a bet on…
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Before you start, defining any goals you may have will help you plan, budget and choose the right investments. Your goals might be around enhancing your current lifestyle, planning for your family or your own retirement. The sooner you start investing, the better off you will be. Match your long-term investment goals with your short-term…
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In the current climate, we understand that you may be feeling worried about your work, your finances and what the future holds. Research carried out by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) found that, since the outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19), over 25 million people have experienced ‘high’ levels of anxiety[1]. Professional financial advice…
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One thing retirement is not, is an age. Not anymore anyway. Gone are the days of being told to stop working one day and pick up your state pension the next. Today you have new pension freedoms to decide when and how you retire. Pension freedoms in 2015 fundamentally changed the rules for cashing…
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The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) warns that there are now “27.7 million adults in the UK with characteristics of vulnerability.” Examples of vulnerability include poor health, such as cognitive impairment, life events, such as bereavement or new caring responsibilities, low resilience to cope with financial or emotional upsets and low capability, such as poor literacy…
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On some counts this Budget was Rishi Sunak’s 15th major announcement since his first Budget, just under a year ago. During this period, the pandemic has dominated the Chancellor’s actions and this was true of his latest Budget. To no small degree the framework for Mr Sunak’s latest appearance at the despatch box had been…
Continue ReadingIn line with current UK Government restrictions regarding the Covid-19 Pandemic, our offices remain closed. Our colleagues are working from home and continue to provide services and maintain regular communications with all our clients. Should you wish to speak with us, please continue to use the main telephone number of 01382 797600 and your call…
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If you hold a Cash Individual Savings Account (ISA) you may be dissatisfied with the low rates of interest you receive, which could make it difficult to grow your money even at a rate that keeps pace with inflation. A Stocks & Shares ISAs offers the possibility of higher returns than Cash ISAs, but only…
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As the year draws to a close, I thought I would put my thoughts to paper once again. The strange parallel is that the last time I wrote a blog it was a beautiful spring day at the start of the pandemic, and now here we are several months later. Almost unbelievably, the restrictions are…
Continue ReadingLate November should have seen the Chancellor announce his Autumn Budget and a comprehensive spending review covering the next three financial years. Like many other plans, the uncertainty created by the pandemic has put both on hold. In their place was a Financial Statement, primarily addressing a one-year spending review, with a nod to the…
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