Time in the market, not timing the market

During this difficult time, fear and worry are understandable, particularly as the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak led to the biggest daily drop in the FTSE 100 since the financial crisis of 1987. 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 them – rarely pays off. Instead, investors who focus on long-term horizons – at least five to ten years – have historically fared much better. Continue reading “Focus on long-term horizons” →

One of the biggest threats to the health of your investment portfolio

If you’re investing – especially for major goals years away, such as retirement – you can’t afford to ignore the corrosive effect rising prices can have on the value of your assets. Continue reading “Inflation matters” →

Maximise your wealth creation – don’t miss the deadline

Whatever you’re putting money aside for, there’s likely to be a role for Individual Saving Accounts, or ‘ISAs’. An ISA is a way of holding savings or investments without paying personal tax on interest received or on the growth of your investment. Continue reading “2019/20 ISA allowance – use it or lose it” →

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket

Portfolio diversification is the foundational concept of investing. It’s a risk management strategy of combining a variety of assets to reduce the overall risk of an investment portfolio. Continue reading “Portfolio diversification” →

Legitimate ways for higher earners to reduce a tax bill

Without a carefully developed tax planning strategy, higher-rate taxpayers run the risk of missing out on key tax benefits and paying more in taxes than necessary. A higher tax liability can diminish the value of your investment earnings over the long term. Continue reading “Tax-efficient investing” →

Time to explore your ISA options?

An Individual Savings Account (ISA) enables you to save in a simple, tax-efficient way, while generally giving you instant access to your money. Continue reading “ISA returns of the year” →

Use your ISA allowance or lose it forever

Even though the Individual Savings Account (ISA) deadline may be a number of months away, and despite the tax year date remaining the same year in year out, somehow it always creeps up on us. A tax year runs from 6 April one year to 5 April the next. Continue reading “Tax-efficient shelters” →

Avoid knee-jerk reactions by focusing on long-term investment objectives

Creating and maintaining the right investment strategy plays a vital role in securing your financial future. But we live in the era of the 24-hour news cycle. Human tendency is to prioritise negative over positive news content, and no one is immune from bad news. So as an investor, when you do get it, how do you process the information, deal with it and move on unscathed? Continue reading “Cultivate the art of patience” →

Out of adversity comes opportunity

Under new Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the Government has toughened its stance on a no-deal Brexit, which it has said is ‘now a very real prospect’. 23 June marked three years since the UK voted to leave the European Union. Continue reading “Boosting investment returns” →

Reaching those milestones starts with setting clear financial goals

We all have dreams for the future, and many of those dreams require money and planning to make them become a reality. Reaching those milestones starts with setting clear financial goals. Making decisions with a clear endpoint in mind can make it easier to achieve financial security and allow you to enjoy your life to the full, so we’ve put together this brief rundown to help you get closer to your goals today. Continue reading “What’s important to you?” →