You may decide to use a trust to pass assets to beneficiaries, particularly those who aren’t immediately able to look after their own affairs. If you do use a trust to give something away, this removes it from your estate provided you don’t use it or get any benefit from it. But bear in mind… Continue reading UK Trusts, passing assets to beneficiaries
Category: News
Developing an investment strategy
Allow your lifestyle to dictate your investment approach To make the most of your investment opportunities, allow your lifestyle and not stock market fluctuations to dictate your investment approach. Your goals are what count, so keep them firmly in mind when you make financial decisions. Long-term strategy Many investors use a consistent, long-term strategy to… Continue reading Developing an investment strategy
Venture Capital Trusts
Wealthier investors taking a long-term view A Venture Capital Trust (VCT) is a company whose shares trade on the London stock market. A VCT aims to make money by investing in other companies. These are typically very small companies that are looking for further investment to help develop their business. The VCT often invests at… Continue reading Venture Capital Trusts
Enterprise Investment Schemes
Attractive tax breaks as part of a diversified investment portfolio Enterprise Investment Schemes (EISs) are tax-efficient vehicles set up to encourage investment into small, unquoted trading companies. Following the changes announced in various Budgets, the EIS is the only tax-efficient investment offering a capital gains tax deferral. Capital gains tax on the disposal of other… Continue reading Enterprise Investment Schemes
Asset allocation
If you put all of your eggs in one basket, you are more vulnerable to risk 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… Continue reading Asset allocation
Term assurance
You can’t rely on always being there for those who depend on you It’s essential to have the right sort of life assurance in place. You can’t rely on always being there for those who depend on you. There are various ways of providing for your family in the event of your premature death, but… Continue reading Term assurance
Whole-of-life assurance
Providing financial protection with cover that lasts for the rest of your life Whole-of-life assurance policies provide financial security for people who depend on you financially. As the name suggests, whole-of-life assurance helps you protect your loved ones financially with cover that lasts for the rest of your life. This means the insurance company will… Continue reading Whole-of-life assurance
Glossary
A guide to the jargon of protection Assured A person or persons who are insured under the terms of a protection policy. Convertible Term Assurance A term assurance plan that gives the owner the option to convert the policy to a whole-of-life contract or endowment, without the need for medical checks. Critical Illness Cover Critical Illness Cover is an insurance plan… Continue reading Glossary
Life assurance
When you should review your life assurance requirements Life assurance helps your dependants to cope financially in the event of your premature death. When you take out life assurance you set the amount you want the policy to pay out should you die, this is called the ‘sum assured.’ Even if you consider that currently… Continue reading Life assurance
Spreading risk in your portfolio
One of the principal tenets of spreading risk in your portfolio is to diversify your investments whatever the time of year. Diversification is the process of investing in areas that have little or no relation to each other. This is called a ‘low correlation’. Diversification helps lessen what’s known as ‘unsystematic risk’, such as reductions… Continue reading Spreading risk in your portfolio
