The University of John Hopkins recently conducted research into the returns on offer to investors. Between 1900 and 2017, the average annual return on stocks was around 11% and, even after adjusting for inflation, that average annual return only fell to 8%. It shows that, for longer-term investors, staying the course is the best port…
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Letting your family know what you want to happen when you pass away is the final gift you can give them. If you are not clear about how you want your money to be split, especially if you have more complex wishes such as uneven distributions, or have stepchildren, then how do you expect your…
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The Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association (PLSA) has warned that the cost of retirement has risen substantially – seeing an increase in the cost of 4.9% since 2019. The latest PLSA report predicts an extra £40,000 is needed to fund a comfortable 20-year retirement. They break down their calculations into three tiers – minimum, moderate,…
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We are sure that you would like to join us in congratulating Ben Dyson, our Senior Wealth Strategist, on the recent marriage to his very beautiful bride, Sian. Ben and Sian met at their gym 6 years ago, with Sian saying ‘yes’ to Ben’s marriage proposal at the scenic Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany. The castle…
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It has only been six months since the Chancellor last stepped up to the dispatch box to deliver a Budget. Much has changed in that time. Energy price rises, global supply chain issues, and rising demand, prompted by the easing of coronavirus restrictions have caused inflation to hit levels not seen in a decade. With…
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Cryptocurrency is the big talking point in finance. Is it the future of finance or a re-incarnation of the Tulip Bubble, the South Sea Bubble, and even the Dotcom bubble rolled into one? Sometimes it feels like complex terms are being used just to confuse people. The world of cryptocurrency revolves around new jargon and…
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The Stamp Duty holiday finally ended on 30 September 2021, after being phased out over the summer. The tax break was originally introduced in England in July 2020, as the first national lockdown came to an end, to shore up the housing market. It was split into two phases. Between July 2020 and June 2021 there was no tax to pay…
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Did you know that Starbucks, the humble coffee shop, could well be one of the biggest banks in America? Here is the reason: Next to every till conveniently placed next to the place where you pick up your favourite beverage, is the Starbucks gift card. This card can be topped up with cash to spend…
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Divorce is never easy, but it can be far more complicated when you are a business owner. The divorce process is not designed to damage a business. Indeed, the income produced by the business is usually the main source of income and is needed to fund child maintenance and spousal maintenance payments, so damaging the…
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The Prime Minister has announced a 1.25% increase to dividend tax rates from April 2022 as part of a package of measures to fund the costs of social care and the NHS over the next 3 years. It is estimated that the tax hike will raise about £600 million of additional revenue for the Government.…
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