Category: Financial News

What are you trying to achieve with your investments? There are different types of risk involved with investing, so it’s important to find out what they are and think about how much risk you’re willing to take. It all depends on your attitude to risk (how much risk you are prepared to take) and what… Continue reading Investment goals

Selecting assets that behave in different ways When deciding whether to invest, it is important that any investment vehicle matches your feelings and preferences in relation to investment risk and return. Hence your asset allocation needs to be commensurate with your attitude to risk. Another key question to ask yourself is: “How comfortable would I… Continue reading Diversification

Are you investing for growth, income or forboth? You should consider whether you are primarily investing for growth, income or for both. If you want some income, but no risk to your capital, you could choose a money market or cash fund, which means a professional investor will be working to get the best available… Continue reading Fund focus

Combining investments with life cover Endowments are regular premium policies which combine investments with life cover and are sometimes used to repay interest-only mortgages. Endowments are offered by life assurance companies, have a fixed term and usually require you to pay a fixed premium on a regular basis. Some of your premium is used to… Continue reading Endowments

Record amounts paid into investment funds last year Many savers turned their back on high street deposit accounts last year as new figures show a record year for investments. According to figures from The Investment Management Association (IMA), a record amount was paid into investment funds last year. Consumers invested £25.8bn in unit trusts and… Continue reading Strong stock market growth pushes up values

Individual Savings Accounts A tax wrapper can be wrapped around either the underlying investment or the pooled investment, and means you pay less or no tax. An example of a tax wrapper is an Individual Savings Account (ISA). An ISA is not a product on its own, but a tax wrapper around a savings or… Continue reading Tax wrappers

Where’s your money growing? For investors concerned about global warming and other environmental issues, there are a plethora of ethical investments that cover a multitude of different strategies. The terms ‘ethical investment’ and ‘socially responsible investment (SRI)’ are often used interchangeably to mean an approach to selecting investments whereby the usual investment criteria are overlaid… Continue reading Ethical investment opportunities

Don’t be put off from taking action Wherever you are with your retirement savings, don’t be put off from taking action – it’s not too late. There are still steps you can take to boost the income you’ll receive when you retire. Pensions are a very tax-efficient way to save. If you already have a… Continue reading Talking pensions

Deciding between growth and income Several factors will determine the shape of your portfolio. The first of these is your investment objective. This takes into account whether you’re investing for income or for growth. If you want to generate income, perhaps to supplement your pension or salary, then you need to consider income-producing investments such… Continue reading Shaping your portfolio

Putting steps in place to protect your standard of living, and that of your family Whatever happens in life, we can work with you to make sure that you and your family are provided for. Premature death, injury and serious illness can affect the most health-conscious individuals and even the most diligent workers can be… Continue reading Protecting against the unexpected