The emergence of new trends and advancements such as the advent of AI, electric vehicles and other ‘big picture’ global innovations are set to shape our future, presenting opportunities to investors interested in capturing these themes in their portfolios. The United Nations Economist Network has identified five megatrends impacting social, economic and environmental outcomes, these […]
Author Archives: natalie
“British pensioners should benefit from British business success”
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced measures in his first Mansion House speech aimed at unlocking billions of pounds of extra pension cash to support the economy. According to the government, the Mansion House Reforms aim to secure the best possible outcome for pension savers, whilst strengthening the UK’s position as a leading financial centre. This is […]
Crackdown on ‘finfluencers’
Influencers who generate content on financial topics are rapidly rising in popularity on social media, having been dubbed ‘finfluencers.’ The good news is that finance is becoming more accessible and appealing to younger generations through bite-sized, more light-hearted formats. Coupled with a lack of financial education in their school years, Gen Z and millennials are […]
Residential Property Review – October 2023
Conditions remain challenging The residential sales market continues to be challenging, according to the latest UK Residential Survey by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), with demand, sales, instructions, and prices remaining in negative territory. At a national level, new buyer enquiries recorded a net balance of -39% in September, which although weak, is […]
Commercial Property Review – October 2023
Industrial and warehouse space in demand New analysis has highlighted that the most in-demand UK commercial property sector currently is industrial/warehouse space, as companies look to facilitate and improve their ability to deliver online purchases to customers as efficiently as possible. According to data from Sirius Property Finance, buyer demand for hospitality and leisure assets […]
Gender division extends to money matters
Despite women’s earning power increasing significantly over recent decades, the division of financial responsibilities does not appear to have evolved. A survey1 of 4,000 UK adults earlier this year found that women still typically have greater oversight of domestically focused financial matters, such as household costs (67% of women versus 51% of men) and utility […]
Dividend Allowance cuts: implications for investors
With the UK in the midst of a sharp tax-raising drive, understanding the full impact of fiscal changes on investments has arguably never been so critical. One area that has been subject to particularly draconian reductions is Dividend Allowance, with changes in this area likely to have a significant impact on many investors. Six-year slide […]
Achieving your long-term financial goals
After more than a decade of putting up with paltry savings rates, the sharp increase in rates over the past two years has certainly brought considerable cheer to savers. However, while the rise is certainly welcome, it is important savers do not overly rely on cash savings but carry on investing if they are to […]
Lifetime Allowance removal provides pension boost
Several months have passed since the Spring Budget, which, although not necessarily packed with good news stories, held one announcement that certainly did bring considerable cheer to higher rate taxpayers. A recent survey has revealed the dramatic impact that Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s decision to scrap the pension Lifetime Allowance (LTA) is having on people’s retirement […]
Economic Review
Rate-hike pause as inflation dips Last month, the Bank of England announced a pause in its long run of interest rate rises following an unexpected dip in the UK headline rate of inflation and ‘increasing signs’ that higher rates were starting to hurt the real economy. Following its latest meeting, which concluded on 20 September, […]
