Focus on the escalator not the yo-yo
I came across this exchange on Twitter recently: “The stock market is like someone playing with a yo-yo whilst riding the up escalator. The secret is to focus on the escalator and not the yo-yo!” “Of course, you need to know which escalator you’re on. Otherwise both are pointless.” Think…
3 top tips to survive a bear market
The current coronavirus pandemic has wiped billions off global stock markets. In the world of investing, such markets where share prices experience prolonged price declines are known as bear markets. A bear market describes a situation in which stock markets fall 20% or more from recent highs amid widespread pessimism…
Coronavirus – and the markets’ volatility
With billions being wiped off the stock market due to the coronavirus pandemic, it’s hard for investors not to panic. Markets are exceptionally volatile, despite measures taken by central banks around the world, including the Bank of England, to try and reduce the impact of the outbreak. There are, however,…
Why timing the market doesn’t work
Market timing is an investing tactic where investors transfer their money in and out of the market in an attempt to avoid losses before they occur and buy-in at the bottom after the market has fallen. It’s the well known strategy of ‘buy low and sell high’. It all sounds…
Can you still trust your fund manager?
October wasn’t a great month for fund managers (the people who make the investment decisions that dictate how well your savings and investments perform). There have been two very high profile resignations—one as a result of a Sunday Times investigation, the other from a Panorama exposé. Unsurprisingly, clients have been…
How to find the right investment for you
In the wake of the Woodford debacle, there’s a lot of talk around investments and the basis for choosing them. So we thought it would be helpful to outline what you should be thinking about when it comes to selecting an investment to enable you to get the best outcomes…
How can you make the most out of diversification?
Diversification is a word that tends to get mentioned a lot in conversations around savings and investment. We hear it often, but what does it mean? Put simply, diversification is a risk management strategy that blends a variety of investments within a portfolio. Through having different kinds of assets in…
Is the Neil Woodford debacle another nail in the coffin for active investing?
If you read the financial press, this is huge news. On 4th June 2019, ‘Star fund manager’, Neil Woodford, stopped investors withdrawing money out of his flagship Woodford Equity Income Fund. This was brought about by a run on the fund, which saw investors withdraw a whopping £560m in May…
What you need to know about ISAs in 2019/2020
The rules around Individual Savings Accounts (or ISAs) change on a regular basis and the popularity of the different types of ISA is often determined by where savers think the most competitive place to put their hard earned money is. ISAs are an excellent way to save because of their…
Is 2019 the year to review your investment fees and charges?
Managing investments takes time and money and you must expect to pay sensible fees. But high charges can seriously affect your nest egg’s growth potential. To see how much look at the example below: Initial investment = £250,000 Nest egg A Nest egg B Annual return before charges 5.0% 5.0%…