What’s so ‘Cautious’ about a Cautious Managed Fund?!
On a slightly different tack from his usual individual fund analysis, Howard Bullock, a Director of Clear Financial Advice, provides professional comment exclusively for lse.co.uk
Pension Income - The 3rd Way
Howard Bullock, a Director of Clear Financial Advice, provides information about developments in the Pension annuity market exclusively for lse.co.uk
Jupiter Financial Opportunities Fund...Opportunity or Disaster?
Howard Bullock, a Director of Clear Financial Advice, provides investment fund information and comment exclusively for lse.co.uk
Inflation ate my Savings
In April, the Governor of the Bank of England had to write a tricky letter to the Chancellor, explaining why he’d failed to keep inflation below the Bank’s two per cent target. For those who remember the 1970s, the target may seem insignificant, but even low inflation rates can impact heavily on your financial future.
Lost and found
It is always nice to find a lonely pound coin down the back of the sofa, but think what you could do
Happy Tax Returns
Nine million tax return envelopes arrived through Britain’s letterboxes this Easter, and many millions of us promptly put the envelopes to one side. But time is running out. Most people ask the Revenue to work out their tax bill – and that normally means that the tax return must be back with the inspectors by the end of September.
How much risk is too much?
Nobody likes to take chances, yet sometimes we have to juggle our investments. Answer our quiz to see how risk-inclined you are.
How green is your fund manager?
You can’t open a newspaper without mention of green initiatives from politicians and business leaders. Now, fund managers are getting in on the act, hoping that saving the planet is good for your investments.
22
DEC
In the words of the John Lennon song...
“
So this is Christmas and what have you done? Another year over, a new one just begun.” Yes, it is that time of year when some seemingly unavoidable introspection and self-assessment takes place. Whether it be in your personal life, work life, financial decisions, share trading success or failure, 2008 will have taught you something for good, bad, or indifferent.
17
DEC
The 100 most powerful people in the City, mid-Credit Crunch
If you are a business-person and your commute takes you into the City of London each day, it is likely that you have perused a copy of the
CityAM newspaper. This business-focused paper today announced the ‘Power Hundred 2009’ – listing its top 100 ‘Movers ‘n’ Shakers’ in City financial circles.
14
DEC
Are you considering transferring your pension?
The
Financial Services Authority (FSA) has published guidance for Independent Financial Advisers (IFAs) as to what could be perceived as an inappropriate pension transfer from one provider to another. The majority of such pension transfers will be from Personal Pension schemes rather than Occupational ones.
11
DEC
RIP Woolworths (and my portfolio update)
So here it is, a final indication of how bad things are in late 2008. One of the most well-known UK High Street retailers,
Woolworths, is being read its last rites.
7
DEC
With Icesave thawed, what next?
A while back, I penned an article admitting to the heinous crime of having money in
Icesave, the failed Icelandic bank. This act of folly aside, my interest was then in how long the process would take to return my money, and whether their tax-free Individual Savings Account (ISA) status could be maintained upon re-investment.
3
DEC
Financial Advice: Trust, transparency, and shopping around
I’ll try not to be smug, however, I think this story bears repeating. One year ago a Client came to my door in his search for an Independent Financial Adviser (IFA).
30
NOV
What does the Pensions Act 2008 means to me as an Employer or Employee?
The Pensions Act 2008, started by the White Paper of December 2006 entitled ‘Personal Accounts: A new way to save’, has now made its way through Parliament and into legislature. From this, the Government-backed scheme of ‘Personal Accounts’ will actually commence in 2012.
26
NOV
Life insurance and the reformed Smoker
I receive a lot of e-mail from life insurance companies. The majority is not of interest to me, but one grabbed my attention last week. It urged me as an IFA (Independent Financial Adviser) to consider those protection (Life insurance, Critical insurance, and Income Protection) policies I advised on and arranged before the smoking ban came into force on 1st July 2007.
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