The prospect of buying a house for many buyers is looking increasingly daunting as house prices continue to soar and interest rates rise, making mortgages more expensive. Here are 10 ways to make sure you secure the loan you need for the property you want.
4 mins
When people talk about inflation, it’s usually the cost of living that concerns most. Yet our savings and investments are also under pressure from inflation, now its highest level for more than 40 years at 10.1% in the 12 months to July[1]. We look at how this will impact pension payments for the different kinds of pension.
2 mins
Since the 30th of June 2020, which is the date we use for monitoring performance since the start of our strategic review process, the ACUMEN Portfolios have delivered strong risk-adjusted returns, largely outperforming their respective IA sector. On an absolute basis the ACUMEN Portfolios have fallen in value since the start of the year.
13 mins
With the Bank of England announcing the biggest interest rate hike in 27 years and forecasting that Britain will enter a year-long recession with inflation topping 13%, you could be forgiven for feeling a little gloomy about things. Granted, the picture that was painted at the last Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting isn’t a pretty one.
2 mins
Back in November 2020 I wrote a blog, Nothing Is More Powerful Than An Idea Whose Time Has Come, in which I made the case for a Great Rotation across equity markets where the prior winners, growth stocks, would give way to value stocks which would outperform going forward. I used the following chart (updated to the present day), which was accompanied by the following commentary:
6 mins
Set kids up to win at managing money Financial education has been part of the national curriculum in secondary schools for several years now – but is not compulsory for primary schools.
3 mins
Market crashes and economic downturns are a part of life. Market calamity can occur seemingly out of nowhere and whether it be a dotcom bubble, a financial crisis, Brexit or Covid-19, we can never predict the full impact of a new market crash. We can however forecast that its effect on the markets, and the wider economy, will ultimately be temporary.
4 mins
The beginning of a new tax year presents plenty of opportunities to take control of your finances. There are many tax breaks and reliefs available. In most cases, if you don’t use them, you lose them.
4 mins
Having the freedom to spend more time doing the things you enjoy with the people you love is a common goal, which is why retiring early sounds so appealing.
3 mins
In July 2019 we initiated a position in treasury inflation protected securities (TIPS). These securities generate positive returns from two drivers.
3 mins