Financial goals fall by the wayside A poll has found that 57% of adults had money-related goals for 2024, such as reducing debt and wanting more disposable income1. However, two-thirds (67%) had given up on achieving their financial aims by the end of Q1; 16% said this was due to having unrealistic expectations, and 10% […]
Category archives: General Financial News
ISAs: 25 years and counting
Since being launched on 6 April 1999 as successor to PEPs and TESSAs, the Individual Savings Account (ISA) has become an integral part of the UK savings and investment landscape. Worth celebrating By any measure, the humble ISA has been a huge success. The latest HMRC figures show that more than 22 million UK adults […]
Why home bias’ could mean missing out on investment returns
Does your investment portfolio suffer from too much ‘home bias’? It’s natural for investors to stay close to home when thinking about investing, contemplating well-known UK companies or UK-focused funds rather than looking further afield. But if your portfolio becomes too heavily concentrated in the UK, you risk missing out on valuable diversification benefits and […]
In the news
Are you a magpie investor? Almost one in ten (9%) adults are. These so-called magpie investors buy luxury items hoping for an increase in value and an attractive return, according to new research1. The assets invested in include jewellery, watches, collectibles, classic cars, art, wine, whisky, and accessories such as clothes and handbags. Magpie investors […]
Don’t score an own goal: check your pension is protected
Football presenter Jeff Stelling has warned people to be on the ball and check their pension protection in a new campaign by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). Every year, the FSCS receives thousands of claims from people who have lost money from their pensions when their financial providers have gone out of business. The […]
Brighter outlook for global economy as inflation eases
At times in the past two years, it seemed to some that inflation would never come down. Double-digit inflation became routine. Now, with price rises back near normal levels, optimism is returning to financial markets. Disinflation diaries Inflation has fallen well below the multi-decade highs witnessed in many countries since 2022. In response, central banks […]
Positive news for UK dividends, but will it continue?
Dividend investors have been rewarded so far in 2024, with payouts from UK shares rising by 4.9% in the first three months of the year compared with the same period in 20231. The data tracks dividend payouts from 900 UK companies and comes as good news for income seekers. Computershare upgraded their headline forecast from […]
Brighter days ahead
This year, summer brings hope of a better financial future as inflationary pressures recede and the economy continues to grow. It could therefore be an ideal opportunity to prioritise a range of pension-related issues in order to ensure brighter days do lie ahead. Pension withdrawals up Many people have faced significant financial challenges over the […]
Adopting an Olympic mindset when investing
The countdown is well and truly underway to this summer’s Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris when we are all sure to be watching in awe as the world’s leading elite athletes showcase their talents. And investors could boost their chances of success by emulating an Olympian’s mindset and thereby improving their financial wellbeing. Attributes […]
AI & scams – don’t get caught out
Although there is much excitement surrounding the advent and development of artificial intelligence (AI), there are some serious risks involved – namely, the prevalence of scams that are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Types of scams There are a few main scams to be aware of: Who is at threat? Everyone risks falling victim to […]
