Economic Review December 2018
What next in the Brexit saga? With less than three months to the country’s scheduled EU departure, it remains unclear whether the UK will leave with an amicable deal, crash out with no deal or whether the Brexit process will even be completed at all. Following 20 months of arduous negotiations, Theresa May reached agreement […]
Reached your half-century? How to plan for retirement
Once you reach 50, it’s time to get serious about planning your retirement. True, it could still seem ages away, and you may not be thinking of giving up work anytime soon. However, putting a retirement plan together will help you understand what your finances will look like when you decide to take life easy. […]
Half of pensioners plan to work on into retirement
Retirement is a much more fluid concept than it once was. According to a recent survey1, 54% of respondents who were considering working into retirement, or who were already doing so, said they valued the opportunity to keep active in mind and body. Around 8% of those scheduled to retire in 2018 have postponed their […]
What are the main asset classes?
With investing, the old saying ‘don’t put all your eggs in one basket’ rings true. To improve the potential for long-term gains and spread risk, the best advice is to diversify your investment across a range of companies, asset classes and geographical regions. This helps to minimise the impact a poor performing economic region or […]
A majority of Britons are ‘Trend Spenders’
A recent survey2 shows that many of us spend with our hearts rather than our heads. ‘Trend spenders’ don’t feel overly worried about splashing out and are keen to maintain their lifestyle, and are the largest group among the financial personality types. By contrast, less of us are defined as ‘Skilled savers’ and ‘Budget gurus’. […]
Is your family financially-savvy?
Do you discuss financial matters with your children? In the UK, we can be very reticent when it comes to having family conversations about money. But as our children grow, they need to know the financial basics in order that one day they can successfully manage their own money. So, knowing how to draw up […]
Economic Review October 2018
Does the budget signal and end to austerity? Philip Hammond used his Autumn Budget Statement to declare: “the era of austerity is finally coming to an end“. However, while the Chancellor did certainly loosen the purse strings, his bold pronouncement may be a little premature. Mr Hammond’s Budget Speech delivered on 29 October was […]
What’s in store for the global economy?
The last few months have seen the release of positive economic reports and grounds for optimism remain with regards to future growth rates, certainly in terms of the US economy. However, while no one is currently predicting the onset of a sharp slowdown or recession, there are signs that the global economy may be starting […]
Budget Update Autumn 2018
AUTUMN BUDGET OCTOBER 2018 Philip Hammond, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, delivered a Budget which he declared “shows the British people that their hard work is paying off”. Mr Hammond wasunder intense pressure to loosen the purse strings. He did announce several new cash injections, while suggesting that “the era of austerity is finally coming […]
Economic Review September 2018
GROWTH PICKS UP BUT BREXIT FEARS LOOM LARGE Although the UK economy recently recorded its fastest rate of growth in almost a year, Brexit-related uncertainties continue to cast a shadow over future growth prospects. Data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that gross domestic product rose by 0.6% during the May–July period […]