House prices have rebounded, but is it a “false dawn”?
At first glance, recent figures from the housing markets appear wholly positive. During July, Nationwide reported a 1.7% leap in prices. However, the country’s largest building society warned of a “false dawn” when they announced these figures. They highlighted that much of the rise can be attributed to pent-up demand…
Where does the value lie in the client/adviser relationship?
There are many ways that value is expressed in the relationship between a financial planner and a client; the most obvious being the way that an adviser can guide a client towards their financial goals, enabling a client to live the life they want in the future. Offering clear, unbiased…
Could over-40s pay more tax to solve the social care crisis?
The question of who should pay for social care is an urgent one; successive governments have wrestled with the issue and none have found a robust solution. At present, some people who don’t qualify for local council funded care have to sell their homes to cover the costs, which can…
Will triple lock state pensions survive the current economic crisis?
The Covid-19 pandemic has dealt a huge blow to the British economy. The most recent forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) say that the country is on track to see the largest economic decline for 300 years, with output falling by at least 10% over 2020. While the…
What happens to your mortgage if there are negative interest rates?
With the Bank of England’s base rate being at an historic low of 0.1%, there is talk that we will soon see negative interest rates. In the past, Andrew Bailey, Governor of the Bank of England, had not been in favour of such a step but has admitted that he…
The world is in recession. Why is the stock market reaching ever higher?
Current World Bank forecasts indicate that the Covid-19 recession will be the deepest since World War II and the Treasury’s forecaster has suggested that it could take until the end of 2022 for the British economy to return to its pre-coronavirus peak. However, global stock markets seem to tell a…
Plan an autumn getaway
With overseas travel not looking to return to its pre-pandemic levels until next year at the earliest, most of us will be taking our holidays within the British Isles for the time being, letting us see some of the incredible beauty we have on our doorstep. Autumn is a great…
What’s your money personality?
We all have a different relationship with money. Recognising your money personality can help you better understand yours. While no member of each group has precisely the same attitude towards their finances, researchers have identified four common attitudes towards money: Money Worship, Money Avoidance, Money Vigilance and Money Status. Psychologists…
What is the value of advice?
You’re not going to be surprised that, as advisers, our firm belief is that an advised client will get a better financial outcome than a non-advised client. How to prove, though, that we’re not just biased? What is the actual value of that advice? How can it be quantified? Most…
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…