Introduction Not the election of Donald Trump, not the US/China trade dispute. Not even Brexit. We cannot recall a single issue having so completely dominated a month’s news – or threatened to have such serious consequences – as the outbreak of Coronavirus in China. In February, the virus’ impact on the world stock markets was […]

The daffodils and crocuses are beginning to appear, the trees are blossoming and the days are getting lighter. Spring is definitely on its way. Traditionally, this was the time to do the big annual household clean. Now that fewer homes are heated by coal fires, with all their soot and grime, this is no longer […]

You may have seen lots of literature already about the end of the tax year. But if you’ve not yet taken any action, now is the time to do so to protect your savings from tax. Here is a handy checklist of what to do and what not to do before 5th April. 1. Make […]

Although the financial markets have seen their fair share of volatility over the last decade, there has been a growth in opportunities for investors wanting to invest in environmentally conscious businesses. If you’re looking to make a more positive impact on the world while also seeking returns on your investment, it’s important to be aware […]

China grabbed the headlines again in January, but this time not for trade. On 31st December, the Chinese authorities had notified the World Health Organisation of an outbreak of pneumonia in Wuhan City, Hubei Province. Today the country is in lockdown, the death toll is rising fast, the number of infected is rising faster. The […]

Financial planning… Isn’t that based on cold, hard facts and scientific reasoning? Surely feelings  and emotions don’t have much to do with investing? We think they do. And here’s why. A little thing called human behaviour gets involved, you see. Only it’s not so little. Human beings are highly complex systems, motivated by many different […]

The old cliché goes that ‘money can’t buy you happiness,’ but how true is that statement? According to a recent survey by Ameriprise Financial, only 13 per cent of American millionaires classified themselves as wealthy. Even those who had over $5 million (£3.8 million) spread across their accounts, investments and funds said that they didn’t […]

The tax year will end on April 5th. Are you confident that you have made appropriate preparations and maximised your tax allowances? Here are some of the allowances that you should consider: The Marriage Allowance You can transfer £1,250 of your Personal Allowance to your spouse or civil partner if they earn more than you […]

The tax year will be coming to an end on 5th April. With that deadline in mind, we wanted to remind our clients of all the allowances available to you during the tax year. It’s important to make sure you’re maximising your allowance in all areas so that you mitigate the impact of tax. Listed […]

Do you know where your will is? Even more importantly, do the people who will act as your executors, in the event of your death, know where your will is stored? The recent discovery at Lloyds Banking Group that 9,000 wills had been left in storage and not passed on to customers serves as a […]