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Feel overwhelmed by investment options?

Do you understand the investment options that are on offer?  Do you feel overwhelmed and uncertain of their meaning? Let’s make it simple: Strategic Asset Allocation – diversifying your investments across different asset classes such as stocks, bonds, property, and even cash to spread your risk – accounts for about 80% of investment performance – meaning…

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Yorkshire 3 peak Challenge Completed

On Saturday, October 5th, the following members of the Foresight team –  Daniel Willoughby, Damienne Mitchell, Ben Dyson, Thomas  Filby, Alex Youngs. Greg Blease and Callum Kingsley-Rivans, completed the  Yorkshire 3-Peak challenge.  Living in another County meant an early start of 4:45 am.  Arriving at 6:20 am, at Horton-in-Ribbleside designated car park to the sight…

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Investing with Purpose

The choices we make today define the world we live in tomorrow.  The concept of sustainable and ethical investing has emerged not just as an option but as a critical consideration for forward-thinking individuals. Here’s why: Impactful Investing: The power to foster change lies within our portfolios. Aligning investments with our core values, we contribute…

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The Three Peaks Challenge

Mark Hughes – Foresight’s Head of Operations – was recently diagnosed with tongue cancer.  The cancer appeared one week and was so aggressive that it resulted in Mark being fast-tracked through our wonderful NHS system which enabled him to be treated within 4 weeks.   A 10-hour operation followed, and he is now going through…

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wealth strategies
Financial Planning Across Life’s Stages: Wealth Strategy Tips for the UK

Effective financial planning is crucial throughout life’s various stages, from starting a career to planning for retirement and beyond. This guide explores the unique financial needs at each life milestone for you, providing tailored advice to ensure financial stability and growth. Starting a Career: Building a Financial Base: Begin with solid budgeting practices, save diligently,…

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Mastering Change with The Quantum Programme

Bespoke Wealth Management for Every Stage of Your Life In an era where financial landscapes are perpetually shifting, The Quantum Programme from Foresight Wealth Strategists offers a pioneering approach to wealth management. This bespoke process is designed to adapt and evolve, perfectly aligning with your personal and financial aspirations at every stage of life. The…

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Learn to enjoy money
Learn To Enjoy Your Money

As a Wealth Strategist, one of the things that you learn at a very early point is that it is not theamount of money you have that makes you happy, it’s what you do with it that gives the enjoyment.And, although the richest clients are not necessarily the happiest, it is also true to say…

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Get rich schemes
Are Get Rich Schemes Worth It?

With many of the major indices fluctuating and some disposable income to spare, people have beenlooking at alternative ways to make money.  Many have gravitated towards cryptocurrencies, mostparticularly Bitcoin, although a plethora of these currencies have been created over the past fewyears. With the rise of social media in recent years, it is impossible to…

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Avoid Pitfalls When Making Financial Gifts

Making a gift to your family and friends while you are alive can be a good way to reduce the value ofyour estate for Inheritance Tax purposes, ensuring those closest to you benefit from a lifetime ofyour hard work. Estate and tax planning is a complex area and professional financial advice can helpyou avoid several…

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Welcome to Damiene

  Join us in welcoming Damiene Mitchell to the Client Manager Team. Damiene has a background in financial services administration and is delighted to have a new role where his technical knowledge will be expanded under the guidance of Foresight. Outside of work, Damiene loves sports but being originally from Johannesburg, South Africa, his passion…

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Welcome to Dan!

  We’re thrilled to announce that Dan Willoughby has joined the Foresight Wealth Strategists team as our new Client Manager. With his extensive background in financial services and a particular passion for estate planning, Dan is perfectly positioned to support our clients in navigating their financial journeys. Outside the office, Dan is an avid basketball…

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foresight bank holiday
Foresight Wealth Strategists Bank Holiday.

Foresight Wealth Strategists Bank Holiday. We’re pleased to announce our very own Foresight Bank Holiday on July 12th. This unique day is dedicated to celebrating our team’s hard work and commitment. It’s a time for us to unwind, recharge, and enjoy some well-deserved rest. As we take this day to reflect on our achievements, we…

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How Safe Is Your Final Salary Pension?

Services provider Carillion has found itself joining the likes of Toys ‘R’ Us and BHS, in becoming the latest company to self-destruct. Leaving a devastating effect on defined benefit (DB) pension savers. The Carillion disaster happened just as the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) reported that roughly two-thirds of the DB pension schemes in operation in…

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Financial planning
Mastering Financial Planning Techniques with Foresight: Your Path to Empowerment

Navigating the complexities of personal finance requires more than just saving for a rainy day; it demands a comprehensive understanding and application of financial planning techniques. At Foresight Wealth Strategists, we’re dedicated to empowering individuals through education and strategic planning, ensuring your financial goals aren’t just dreams but achievable realities. This article explores essential financial…

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Spring Budget 2024

The Chancellor delivered the last Spring budget of this on 6th March.  In his speech, Jeremy Hunt said he was setting out to reward hardworking families with National Insurance tax cuts – leaving the average worker over £900 better off.  However, it remains to be seen as to whether the tax cuts have moved Tory sentiment in…

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Key Dates in March

Pension Credit, which averages over £3,900 a year, is there to lend a hand with day-to-day expenses for those who have reached state pension age and are on a low income.   About 1.4m people are already receiving Pension Credit, but an estimated 880,000 eligible households are yet to claim it.   In the Spring Budget,…

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Vacancy – Receptionist/Admin person

Up to £25K pa, depending on experience. Foresight Wealth Strategists has an exciting opportunity for a Receptionist/Admin person to join our growing team.  As one of the leading financial planning practices in the North-West, we are looking for someone who will be able to provide our clients with an unrivalled front of house customer experience. Our clients are…

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Children Should Be Saving For Themselves

Children are expensive!  The cost of raising a child from birth to their 18th birthday currently stands at nearly £250,000. Their wants and needs are satisfied more inexpensively when young – although childcare is becoming an ever-increasing burden.  But when they get to their late teens and early twenties those ‘must-haves’ – the first car,…

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Tax doesn’t need to be Taxing

The UK Government is forecast to take a total of £950bn in tax this year, approximately 36.9% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which makes this the highest tax burden the UK has faced since just after the Second World War.  Tax is important as it helps pay for services such as schools, the NHS, and…

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Recommended Internet Provider

Foresight has been using Zen Internet for our internet connection for over 20 years. I have always been a fan of Zen, based in Rochdale, which are the only internet provider that has remained in business since 1995.  They offer an amazing product, excellent and knowledgeable service, and at a competitive price.  Not the cheapest,…

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Considering Animals and Pets in your Will

We all want the best for our pets and animals during our lifetime, but consideration also needs to be given to what happens beyond this.  This is important from an animal welfare point of view, but also from an estate planning perspective as well.  Pets are considered ‘personal chattel’, meaning that the changing ‘ownership’ of…

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Get to know Mike Barnes

Our team members are one of the main factors that sets us apart from other businesses. Join us as we sit down with Mike to talk about his day-to-day life at Foresight, and what he gets up to when he’s not in the office. Tell us a bit about yourself   All through school and…

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Vacancy – IFA Administrator

Location – Richmond House, Hale, UK Salary – £22,000 -£30,000 (DOE) Due to continued expansion, we are delighted to announce that we are looking to recruit an IFA Administrator to join our dynamic and forward-thinking team. Our ambitious plans can only be achieved by recruiting the right people.  We provide an excellent on the job…

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2023 Budget Announcement

The aims of the Chancellor in this year’s Spring Budget were to get people into work and keep them there, with key changes to childcare and pensions. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) stated that the UK will not enter a technical recession and inflation will more than halve and reduce to 2.9% by the…

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Professional Advisor Nominations

We are delighted to announce that this year we have been shortlisted by Professional Adviser again, this time not for one but three awards!   At Foresight, we pride ourselves on excellence and are committed to providing the best advice and a great experience for our clients, whilst also supporting our team members through their careers.  …

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ISA deadlines for 2023

Using Individual Savings Accounts (ISA) has always been a very tax-efficient way of investing, with no liability to either income tax, or Capital Gains Tax on the invested funds. These days ISAs offer the opportunity for every individual to invest up to £20,000 per annum.  Unlike pension allowances, ISA allowances cannot be reclaimed from previous…

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Vacancy – Client Manager

Location – Richmond House, Hale, UK Salary – £22,000-£45,000 (dependant on experience and qualifications) Who are we… Foresight Wealth Strategists are an award-winning financial planning practice, based in the centre of Hale, near Altrincham. Since 1998, we have been specialising in providing high-quality financial planning advice to business owners, professionals, and high net worth individuals.…

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Welcome to Holly

We welcome Holly to the Foresight team as a Financial Administrator.  Holly has worked in the financial planning industry for several years and comes complete with a methodical and organised approach to her work. Holly has a keen interest in social media from a previous career and will be posting team news on Instagram Outside…

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Case Study: From IPO to Independence

Robert was introduced to Foresight by an existing client, who had previously sold his business for a significant amount. Robert was working at a tech company that grew very quickly to a point where they had an Initial Public Offering (IPO.  Robert ended up with a large shareholding and wanted to find out what his…

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Welcome to Thomas

We are delighted to welcome Thomas as a Client Manager who has joined us after working as a Paraplanner for another financial adviser. He has a Finance and Banking Degree from Sheffield Hallam and is another United supporter in the office – a Peterborough United fan. Keeping fit is important to Thomas and is a…

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Torn Will triggers £800k family dispute

The family of 92-year-old Carry Keats is facing an £800,000 court dispute after she partially tore up her Will shortly before passing. Keats, who owned property and land in Wiltshire, tore up most of her Will on her deathbed, leaving her estate’s future uncertain.  Here’s what’s at stake:  If the court decides Keats’s actions legally…

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Happy Steaming!

It’s that time of the year where we need to heat our homes to keep warm.  However, in doing this, we also dry the air around us. It is a well-known fact that dry enclosed air isn’t a great environment to live in. For many years I have used steam diffusers both at home and…

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Simplifying estate after death
Case study: Simplifying estate after death

Samantha became a client of Foresight after attending one of our estate planning events.  Her mother had recently passed away and she was not confident about what to do. The mother had collected a significant number of banking and investment accounts through her lifetime and, as sole executor and beneficiary, it now fell on Samantha…

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Aligning Your Investments with Your Values: A Guide to Ethical Investing

In today’s investment landscape, aligning portfolios with personal values isn’t just possible—it’s becoming a priority for many. At Foresight Wealth Strategists, we recognise the increasing importance of sustainable and ethical investing. This guide explores how you, as an investor, can make choices that not only yield financial returns but also contribute positively to the planet…

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Welcome to the team Charles Truswell

Join us in welcoming Charles to the Team! Charles joins us as a Client Manager, with a background in financial services in administration, he’s delighted to have a role where he can expand his technical knowledge under the guidance of our team. Outside of work he enjoys all sports, particularly cycling or grappling, whether watching…

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Welcome to the team Greg Blease

Greg has recently joined us as a Wealth Strategist, having advised clients for a couple of years in his previous role. Greg is Diploma qualified and close to completing the work to become Chartered, he prides himself on producing the best possible outcomes for clients and delivering an exceptional client experience. Outside of work Greg…

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You don’t need to say I do

Most people know that Inheritance Tax (IHT) payable on death at a rate of 40% on assets in excess of the £325,000 per person Nil Rate Band (NRB).  Nowhere near as many realise that unmarried couples cannot inherit their partners estate above this figure tax-free, no matter how long they have been living together.  This means that,…

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Discover our brand new look

You may have heard over the past few months that we have been working hard on developing our branding, and building a new website? We’re pleased to say that we are now live! Have a look here… Our new brand and website reflects the evolution of Foresight Wealth Strategists, we are a modern and dynamic team…

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It’s our 25th Birthday today!

Today is the 25th anniversary of Foresight. Who would have thought that, on the 16th February 1998, we would have ended up where we are today? What a journey it has been! There have been incredible highs, some significantly lower points – but, overall, the best decision I ever made to start the company. We…

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Welcome to Meg!

We are delighted to welcome Meg to the Foresight Team as our newest Client Manager. Meg is working towards her Diploma and brings a wealth of knowledge over with her from her previous roles. Meg is already settling in to the team and we look forward to supporting her through this next stage of her…

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Use those Tesco Clubcard Points!

More than two million Tesco customers could potentially lose out on a total of £13 million worth of Clubcard vouchers if they do not use them. The vouchers, first issued in December 2020, expire automatically after 2 years if not claimed, meaning that customers would lose out on the savings. The benefit of the vouchers…

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Interest Rates on the Up!

The Bank of England has raised interest rates again – the 7th time this year and only 6 weeks after the previous rise – this time by 0.75 percentage points to 3%. Not so good for those with large mortgages, but the first time in well over a decade that interest rates for savers have…

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The Gender Saving Rate

Recent research has shown that men have £599 billion more in their ISAs, investment accounts and private pensions than women. This staggering figure equates to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Switzerland. Other research by the consumer money website, Boring Money, found that 3.3 million fewer women hold investments in the UK compared with men…

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How does the weakness in Sterling affect me?

The pound slid to an all-time low against the dollar amid worries about the direction of the Government’s economic policy, following the much-derided mini-budget from the now ex-Chancellor of the Exchequer, Kwasi Kwarteng. Although the political situation has swiftly moved, the longer-term effects of a government prepared to unveil deep unfunded tax cuts with no…

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In Conversation with…Ben Dyson

In October 2022 Ben Dyson our Senior Wealth Strategist joined Kimberley Dondo on her In Conversation With… Podcast. They discussed a number of things, including how Ben got into a career in finance, and how he uses his knowledge to empower clients to be financially free listen to the entire podcast here. Author Foresight Foresight…

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The End of an Era

For most people, the period of financial excitement that came to a messy end in 2008 will always be the point of comparison for future recessions. For reference, I was still in education at this time, so largely sheltered from the worst of things. However, the ripple effects were still felt. Prior to ’08, university…

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How do you compare?

Industry experts, the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association (PLSA) suggest that, to have a moderate standard of living in retirement, a couple needs a net income of around £30,600 a year or £36,200 for those living inside London. Yet only about 42% of UK households are on track to achieve this. They have done a…

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Do you know where all your pensions are?

When people move home, only around 1 in 25 remember to tell their pension providers their new address.  This has led to over £19.4 billion of unclaimed pension pots, equating to 1.6 million pensions with an average fund size of £13,000.  National Pension Tracing Day is on Sunday, 30th October, an unhelpful date as all…

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Investing in a zombie company

The Financial Times recently reported that the UK Future Fund, a government-run venture fund set up during the pandemic, has mostly invested in zombie businesses that have no long-term viability.  This is not surprising given the apparent confusion over whether the fund was focused on growth or simply providing a backstop for high-risk businesses. The…

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The cost of education

A good education can be invaluable, but also requires significant investment and long-term planning.  Last year the average cost for parents getting a child from birth to the age of 21 came in at £231,843, according to a recent study compiled by the Centre for Economics and Business Research in London.  Although the total includes…

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How to avoid a pension scam

Pension scams are on the rise, with at least £2,241,774 reportedly lost to pension scammers in the 5 months between January and May 2021, the problem is getting bigger. Scammers try to persuade you to transfer your pension savings, or to release funds from it, by making attractive-sounding false promises that whilst sounding appealing have…

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Join us in welcoming Damian to the Foresight Team

Damian has joined our team as our newest Client Manager, Damian has previously worked in the Financial Services industry at a compliance firm doing research and has transitioned into paraplanning. Damian is currently working towards his diploma in Regulated Financial Planning and in his spare time competes all over Europe in Buhurt (medieval armoured combat)…

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Revelations for Revolut

Back in 2008 we saw a number of banks collapse and others bailed out by the taxpayer. This highlighted that savers needed to make sure their money was protected if the worst ever happened again. Broadly speaking, bank savings are covered for up to £85,000 through the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). The FSCS protects…

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Search behind the sofa

People now have only 100 days left to use the paper £20 and £50 banknotes before they are no longer in circulation.  The last day of legal tender status is 30th September 2022.  People who still have them need to use them or deposit them at their bank or a Post Office before that date.…

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State of the Nation for Quarter 2

Every quarter, we sit down together and discuss what has happened so far in the year, look at where we are in regard to our targets and what our focus is going to be for the next quarter. We have found doing this quarterly works particularly well, as it ensures the team are kept abreast…

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Is HMRC the major beneficiary of your estate?

The latest HMRC data reveals that Inheritance Tax (IHT) receipts for the period April 2021 to February 2022 stood at a whopping £5.5 billion, £700 million higher than the corresponding period in 2021. The average amount paid per estate was around £209,000 and this amount can often be mitigated by various well-accepted financial planning techniques,…

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Meet Our Little Bits of History

Throughout June, Altrincham Town Centre found itself being watched over by 50 life-sized, artistically, designed Corgi statues. As part of the celebrations for the Queens Platinum Jubilee in June 2022, Altrincham BID worked with Inch Arts to create “Trooping the Corgis”. Businesses across the town commissioned artists, schools and community groups to decorate each dog…

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Saving Less Than You Think

One of the biggest worries for new retirees is that they will run out of money. However, there is now evidence that the opposite seems to be happening, retirees are not actually spending enough. Researchers at Texas Tech University stated, “Rather than spending down savings during retirement many studies have found the value of retirees’…

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The 4% Rule

In 1994, William Bengen published research that revolutionised the financial planning world.  He was trying to figure out how much money retirees could withdraw from their portfolio each year without running out of money. Bengen found that retirees throughout history could have withdrawn 4% from an investment portfolio that held 50% in bonds and 50%…

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The Tax Claw is coming

Within this new tax year, which started on 6th April, there are a couple of new ways in which you could potentially pay more tax.    National Insurance (NI) is rising, but the threshold at which it starts to be paid will also be raised. NI is set to rise by 1.25% from April and…

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Leave a legacy not a fight

Leaving money to a charity of your choice within your Will is a great way to ensure a positive legacy for the future. It makes the money you worked so hard for during your lifetime continue to do good when you are no longer here.    Additionally, if you give at least 10% of your…

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New Starter

We are pleased to welcome James Allen to the team as our latest Wealth Strategist, to ensure that we are able to maintain and improve our service levels as we continue to grow.  James has been working in financial services for 14 years in areas such as mortgages and protection and is looking forward to…

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New Starter

We are delighted to welcome Kat Thanes to our team as our in-house Marketing Executive.  Kat has been with us since April and has been working away behind the scenes.  You may have noticed some of the changes she has already implemented and over the next few months many more will appear.  Kat’s role with…

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We’re making some changes at Foresight

The pandemic has made us all take a step back and reassess how we are working. Having a good work life balance has never been more important. We are really appreciative of our team at Foresight and have already made a number of internal changes to reflect this, such as offering flexible and hybrid working. We…

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HMRC calculated that the number of people would increase by 300,000 to 4.6 million people in the 2021/2022 tax year

However, these HMRC estimates were based on Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) estimates for wage growth from March 2021, which have since changed significantly.  Parliament has also frozen current long term tax thresholds, as well as ever-increasing inflation appearing on the scene. HMRC’s estimated number of higher rate taxpayers was based on a 0.9% growth…

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Solidus Award

At Foresight, we always aim to provide the best service for our clients and work hard to maintain these standards.  However, it is always good to have outside recognition of our efforts. We are proud to announce that have been awarded the Solidus Achievement of Excellence for our Estate Planning and Trust based solutions.  Solidus…

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Rishi Sunak – Spring Statement

The Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, has delivered his Spring Statement.  Whilst this was originally not intended to be a fiscal event, there were a number of tax announcements.  In addition, the Chancellor published a “Tax Plan” for the remainder of the Parliament with a warning that the invasion of Ukraine “presents a risk to our recovery”.…

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Be A Better Investor

We have already reached the time of year when many New Year’s resolutions have already been broken. However, one resolution that you should have had and should now be a habit is to be a better investor.  And that means learning to hold your nerve. Moving forward you want to continue to ignore, as hard…

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UK Graduates Face 49.8% Tax Rate

When the Prime Minister announced that National Insurance rates were to be increased from April to fund the NHS and social care reform, there was a general consensus that the extra funds were a welcome way to improve the NHS. However, the tax rise now means that graduates will face a 49.8% tax charge on…

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A Happy Announcement

We are delighted to announce that Simon Booth, our Managing Director, and Lissa Horton, our Director of Operations, have tied the knot. Simon and Lissa married in mid-January at Chelsea & Kensington Registry Office in London – where all self-respecting rock stars get hitched.  They told no one about their secret marriage preparations and even…

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What Does Inflation Mean For Me ?

The headline rate for the Consumer Prices Index inflation increased to 5.4% in December, a rise from 5.1% in November, and the highest rate in 30 years. With the Bank of England seeming more hawkish on inflation, interest rates have risen again to 0.5%, at this month’s Monetary Policy Committee meeting. This rise to 0.5%,…

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Making Tax Returns Less Taxing

We are firmly within the tax season and, as the 31st of January tax return deadline looms, we thought it would be worth a look at five tax tips to make your life easier. The first one is your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) number. Your UTR number will have been sent to you when you…

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New Starter

We are pleased to welcome Ben Holland as the latest member of the Foresight team. He joins us as a Client Manager, to help with the ever-increasing workload at Foresight. Ben has previously worked at an IFA practice in Stockport as a Trainee Paraplanner and therefore has a good understanding of what the financial planning…

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Willing Wisdom Update

You might recall that we wrote an article in October last year about our Willing Wisdom campaign to make sure your family knows what you want to happen when you pass away. At Foresight, we are one of a handful of advisers who have acquired the Willing Wisdom Index to help clients plan.  The index…

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Getting The Best Returns

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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The Final Gift

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 cost of a comfortable retirement

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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Ben Dyson gets married…

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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Changes to Pension Ages

Last year, the Government published a consultation on draft clauses for the Finance Bill 2021-22.  Amongst these were clauses that will increase the Normal Minimum Pension Age (“NMPA”) for the purposes of pensions tax. NMPA is the earliest age at which a member’s pension benefits can be taken under a registered pension scheme without higher…

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Budget – Autumn 2021

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’s Dictionary corner

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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Stamp Duty Holiday

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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The Bank of Starbucks

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

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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Boris’s Tax Raid Upon Dividends

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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Greenwashing

The scale of the climate change challenge is immense and becoming more apparent each year.  If we want to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, then global emissions need to fall 7.6% every year this decade. To put this into perspective upon this, the worldwide lockdowns caused by COVID-19 only saw emissions drop…

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Buying into the Cryptocurrency fantasy

Everyone has been talking about it. Cryptocurrency. It has gone mad!  Just over a year ago, one Bitcoin was worth just over $10,000.  Since then, it has peaked at over $60,000, dropped to nearly $30,000, and, this week, reached a new peak of over $66,000. You can easily be forgiven for feeling like you have…

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Inflation – The Silent Killer

Inflation is a silent killer – it earns its’ reputation through the slow deterioration of the purchasing power of your money over time.  It is also the enemy of your savings because you always need to take it away from any growth to find out the real rate of return. Low inflation is easily overlooked…

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Long or Short Term Investing?

If you had invested in a UK Index fund from 1980-2009 you would have achieved a return of some 700% on your investment. However, if you had missed just the best 20 days of stock market performance during that period, that return would have been reduced to just 240%. Getting market timing right is a…

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New team member…

We are delighted to welcome Chris Porter as the latest member of our growing Client Manager team.  Chris is coming on board as a Trainee Client Manager, to help deal with our ever-increasing workload Chris has significant financial services experience, having previously worked in Banking and Finance, speciallsing in pension administration for the last 9…

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Consolidating Pensions

Workers nowadays have, on average, 11 jobs during their working lives.  So, it is not uncommon to have built up numerous pensions, which are easy to lose track of overtime. Some might be “Defined Benefit”, also known as Final Salary schemes, which promise a certain level of pension from retirement age, while others – increasingly…

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Property or Pension?

Before we begin any discussion, let us be quite clear – both property and pensions can deliver long-term growth, both can be used to fund retirement, and both can play an important role in savings. In the UK, property has long been seen as a good investment, with house prices beating inflation by 3% per…

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Making Financial Gifts

Making a gift to your family and friends while you are alive can be a good way to reduce the value of your estate for Inheritance Tax purposes, ensuring those closest to you benefit from a lifetime of your hard work. Estate and tax planning is a complex area and professional financial advice can help…

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Are get rich schemes worth the risk?

There are many reasons to look at so-called “get rich schemes” during the current climate.  We are only just coming out of a national lockdown and the future of the UK economy looks bleak with short-term inflation and recession fears to name but a few.  Many people have had more time on their hands, and…

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The Impact of The Lifetime Allowance

The Spring Budget announced that the Pension Life Time Allowance (LTA) would be frozen until at least April 2026 at £1,073,100.  Previously, the LTA increased at the target rate of 2.5% however last year due to the low inflationary environment, it only went up by 0.5%. A prolonged period with no inflationary increases will mean…

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Longevity Risk

One of the most fundamental risks in retirement is longevity, the risk of running out of money before running out of life.  Whilst there are a lot of benefits to living a long time, longevity undoubtedly increases financial risk.   So just how long will your retirement plan need to generate income?  Most people underestimate their life expectancy, often significantly.  A man who is 65 years…

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Probate is getting easier…

Each year around 25,000 estates in the UK have to pay Inheritance Tax (IHT), but a further 250,000 also have to jump through onerous and time-consuming hoops to establish that they do not.  The job of gathering every last detail of a friend or relative’s financial affairs, requiring as many as 25 different forms to be completed, is a real labour of love.  However,…

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Divorce and Collabortive law

The pandemic has been a very difficult time for everyone, and one of the fallouts is going to be an increased divorce rate as many people re-evaluate their lives.  Even Bill Gates, once the world’s richest man, said that he and his wife Melinda were not going to be able to grow old together.  Indeed,…

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Are you covered? – Cyber Insurance

You might have read in the news a couple of weeks ago that between 800 and 1,500 businesses around the world were affected by a ransomware attack centred on US IT firm Kaseya, a company that provides software tools to IT outsourcing shops. The most notable disruption occurred in Sweden, where hundreds of Co-Op supermarkets had…

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No desire to retire generation

Retirement might mean stopping the 9-to-5, but it does not have to mean giving up on work these days.  With many people gaining the taste for flexible working during the pandemic, the freedom to work how and when you like suits those who may have caring responsibilities or even health issues, whilst giving those considering…

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Wills are not just for old people

“I’ll do them when I am older.”  If I had a pound for every time that I had heard that phrase when asking about Wills, then I would be significantly more wealthy.  Unfortunately, as we all know, there are only 2 certainties in life – and suddenly taxes seem the more appealing. As the pandemic…

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Investment Update – April 2021

A year has passed since the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic.  In the year since, tremendous effort has been expended to stop the spread of the virus, and protect people and economies.  Whereas this time last year, equity markets were falling sharply, and corporate bond spreads were widening dramatically, many equity indices…

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What is your number?

Some people dream about retirement, others plan assiduously for it, and for others, it just comes along.  Retirement means many things for different people but knowing when you can afford to go depends on your number – the level of assets that you need to be certain that you do not need to return to…

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New Team Member

We are delighted to welcome Freddie Barton as the newest member of the Foresight team.  He will be coming on board as a Trainee Client Manager, to help with the ever-increasing workload at Foresight. Freddie has previously worked at another practice as a Trainee Paraplanner and therefore already has a good understanding of what the…

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Financial Planning in your 60’s

By the time you reach your 60s, you should already have covered the basics of financial planning: ISAs, Pensions, Wills and even Trust planning.  So, what are the next steps as you move towards the end of your working life and into retirement? For many people, actioning their financial plan can be a mentally difficult…

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ISA Allowance 2020/2021

Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) offer the opportunity to invest up to £20,000 annually.  ISAs are a tax-efficient way of investing, with no liability to either Income Tax or Capital Gains Tax on the invested funds. Unlike pension allowances, the ISA allowance cannot be reclaimed from previous years.  Therefore, if you are intending to utilise this…

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The Stealth Tax Trap

The bill for COVID is coming, make no mistake about it. Yet, in a clever game of political smoke and mirrors, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak served up some hope in the Budget, freezing personal and corporation tax bands rather than increasing tax rates as originally mooted. All seems to be well until you…

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Learn to enjoy your money

As a Wealth Strategist, one of the things that you learn at a very early point is that it is not the amount of money you have that makes you happy, it’s what you do with it that gives the enjoyment. And, although the richest clients are not necessarily the happiest, it is also true…

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Lasting Power of Attorneys

Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs) allow you to appoint an individual to act as your legal representative in the event of declining mental health or injury. Whilst LPAs are vitally important documents and critical to your financial planning, it is estimated that less than 1% of the British public have one.  In contrast, 40% of…

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A New Team Member

We are pleased to welcome Callum Robinson as a new member of the Client Manager team. He will be coming on board as a Trainee Client Manager, to help deal with the ever-increasing workload at Foresight. Callum has previously worked in the Hospitality Industry as a Manager and therefore has a great understanding of customer…

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Professional Adviser Awards Finalists 2021

We are pleased to announce that Foresight is once again a Finalist in the Professional Adviser ‘Adviser of the Year Firm’ Awards 2021. These seek to reward excellence and are one of the most prestigious in the financial planning profession, with over 200 advisers, firms, and providers being considered for the 2021 awards. Foresight has…

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Investment Update – January 2021

Past experience has taught us that market environments that feature cheap financing, easy access to investments, the incentive to engage in speculative activity, and a technological or political “spark” tend to lead to bubbles. Bond prices are so elevated that a quarter of all global bonds are trading with negative interest rates.  Tesla now has…

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New ISA rules now allow for a …. CADI

The rules have now changed on how ISAs can be passed on to spouses and civil partners upon death. These rules now allow for a Continuing Account of a Deceased Investor (CADI), which improves the rules on Additional Permitted Subscriptions (APS).  The process of inheriting these assets is now simpler and more tax-efficient, meaning fewer…

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Don’t rely on your assets if things go wrong

“Asset rich, but cash poor” – it is a problem that many face in retirement.  But exactly what does it mean?  Assets are wealth that you own, whereas cash is money that can be spent without selling anything first.  The last part of that definition is crucial and the reason why many people suffer a decrease in their standard of living when moving…

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Financial Planning in your 50’s

If you are still working in your 50’s then this is the perfect time to make sure your retirement savings are on track to provide you with your desired lifestyle.  It is never too late to consider financial planning and being over 50 comes with some significant advantages, namely the benefit of having a better…

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We are hiring…

We are delighted to say that, due to our continued expansion, we are looking to recruit four additional team members – two Client Managers (what other people call Paraplanners) and two Trainee Client Managers to join our dynamic and forward-thinking team. We have ambitious plans, and these can only be achieved by recruiting the right…

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Resurgence of Bitcoin

Bitcoin has proven to be a phenomenon of the modern financial system that will just not go away.  Despite a rollercoaster ride for speculators and holders of the alternative currency, interest in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies is again reaching record highs.    Bitcoin, along with a range of other cryptocurrencies, have emerged in the last few years with proponents proclaiming…

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What do I need my business to be worth?

Business owners spend years, sometimes decades, building their business.  Yet when it comes to selling their business, many often do it without any real thought about what they really need and the effect upon them and their family. The day-to-day pressures of running a business often means that personal financial planning drops to the bottom…

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ESG and Greenwashing

Over the past few years, there has been a growing demand from investors who not only want investment growth but also want to see the companies and funds they invest in providing benefit to the environment and communities.  Known as ESG – Environmental, Social, and corporate Governance – the market is awash with claims of ESG friendly investments.  In fact, the sector has been one of the fastest-growing, and this trend has accelerated dramatically during…

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Does your family talk about money?

The average age for a UK adult to become a parent is 29.8 years old.  By this point, most people should have at least a basic understanding of how to look after their finances. They should be contributing to a pension.  Some will be diligently saving into ISAs in the hope of becoming an “ISA…

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Financial Planning in your 40’s

Finances play a critical role in life throughout.  Many decisions are dictated by the state of our finances, so having good financial planning is one of the most effective tools in achieving the life that you truly want. As we go through life our lifestyles and priorities shift and so do our financial planning requirements. …

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Financial planning in your 30’s

By the time you get to your 30’s, you are probably starting to realise where your career is going, and how things are going to pan out from a financial point of view.  It’s a time where your parent’s words that you would never have as much money as you had in your 20’s suddenly has…

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Market Prospects for a Biden Presidency

The US election was, as many predicted, a hard-fought election.  Although the coronavirus pandemic was a key issue for both sides, the election was characterised by the overt populist support that Trump enjoyed and played out through his large rallies, and the more mainstream support for Biden.  Although the result of the election has not been formally announced and President Trump has not yet formally conceded, we now expect…

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The Real Value of Advice

When times are good and confidence is high, pretty much anybody should be able to generate reasonable returns.  However, in turbulent times such as these, having the support of a trusted adviser who you can rely upon to help, advise and guide you can really start to pay dividends. We see many people who have…

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Financial Planning in your 20’s

Financial planning is all about setting plans and expectations.  Imagine you’re starting a business. A business plan is essential in order to acquire funding, renting office space, and generally getting started. Most of us learned this by the time we were sat in GCSE Business Studies and perhaps we have even had experience writing one.  However, so many people don’t follow this for their…

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US Election 2020 – Preview

2020 has already turned out to be a year for the record books for all the wrong reasons, with the coronavirus pandemic and global shutdown making most of the headline news.  However, despite the end of the year being near, 2020 still has a few tricks up its’ sleeve.  Chief amongst these is the US Presidential…

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Foresight has it’s very own star!

We are very proud to announce that Ben Dyson, one of our Wealth Strategists, has become the Personal Finance Society’s youngest fellowship graduate in 2020. The Personal Finance Society is part of the Chartered Insurance Institute, the most prestigious recognised body for financial services professionals and Ben’s achievements place him right at the top of…

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An Article of Little Interest

National Savings and Investments (NS&I) announced at the end of September that they would be drastically cutting their interest rates to as low as 0.01% per annum. This has left many cash savers scrambling to the private banks still offering accounts rates above 1%.  However, with the river of new money in the form of…

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Avoiding IHT doesn’t mean rushing to tie the knot

Currently, there are around 3.3 million unmarried cohabiting couples in the UK. Yet most legislation focuses mainly upon protecting married couples when it comes to estate planning, meaning that many cohabiting couples face large Inheritance Tax (IHT) charges on both first and second death. This is because unmarried couples do not benefit from spousal exemptions…

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Investment Update – September 2020

Around the world, economies have re-opened with a degree of reservation. However, since August many countries have faced a resurgence in coronavirus cases, prompting concerns that a ‘second wave’ is already underway.  Several European countries have witnessed a spike in coronavirus cases including France, Spain, Belgium, and Luxembourg.  Even once ‘safe’ countries such as Denmark & Iceland have been…

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Socially Responsible Investing

Traditionally, investment decisions have been made using standard methodology.  A balanced portfolio should have a diversified asset allocation with elements of equity, fixed interest, and cash.  But, until recently, there has been little thought as to the underlying companies and, more importantly, how companies use the invested money. But there is now an ever-increasing movement…

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Investment Update – August 2020

Stock prices started the month strongly thanks to good early results from COVID-19 vaccine trials, better-than-expected employment reports, and higher-than-anticipated manufacturing activity. In the US, despite multiple States reporting increased COVID infections, stocks continued to climb, especially in large technology. American indices are now back in positive territory for the current year. These behemoth companies,…

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Recession

During 2020 the world economy shifted from a position of strong growth to severe global recession.  Although this is clearly a significant concern, recessions are a normal part of the economic cycle so it is important to look at this in the right context to understand what is occurring now and what might happen next.…

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Coronavirus Economic Impact

The UK has been in lockdown since March 2020 as part of the measures to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 across British society.  Countries around the world have adopted a variety of strategies with many across Europe following a similar stance.  This strategy was put in place following the alarming figures coming out of China…

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The Ultimate Guide for Making Your Will

Writing a Will is the only way to ensure your wishes are carried out as you intend on death.  Without this your estate will be subject to the intestacy rules, meaning you have no control over its’ administration, creating heartache and uncertainty for those you have left behind. So why should you get a Will?…

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Powerful strategies to maximise your inheritance

Inheritances can provide a real springboard for future generations. They can give much-needed capital to buy property, start businesses, or just assist in improving day to day living. However, it requires specific strategies to be in place to maximise and maintain these funds through the generations. This article looks at the way parents can ensure…

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Saving during the pandemic

This year is definitely like no other – for all the wrong reasons. But this period of isolation is giving us the time and space to organise ourselves. It is also a time for contemplation. As we enter another three weeks of lockdown, people are starting to focus on what we are gaining by being…

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Why your children should save for themselves!

Children are expensive.  It’s not a secret and never has been, with the average child costing nearly £250,000 from birth to their 18th birthday. Their wants and needs are satisfied more inexpensively when young.  But when they get to their late teens and early twenties those ‘must-haves’ – the first car, the University education and…

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Recovery in Financial Markets Outlook

Since the coronavirus outbreak was labelled a pandemic earlier this year, global financial markets have suffered a sharp downturn and dropped into bear market territory within an incredibly short timeframe.  To put the speed of the drop into context, it took 188 trading days during 2008 for financial markets to drop into bear territory and…

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Estate Planning & Coronavirus

Nothing tends to focus the mind like a pandemic.  It puts everything in perspective, and suddenly makes you wonder whether your existing estate planning arrangements are as effective as you originally thought they were?  All in all, a review is in order.  So, what should you be looking out for? These are the main areas…

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Beam – Behavioural Finance App

We have come across a fantastic App that enables you to examine your responses to certain situations. BEAM is the product of years of research and based on Nobel prize-winning theories around behaviours and their impact on your money decisions. Through a series of short, simple, but engaging games, BEAM enables you to explore, measure…

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Behavioural Finance – Emotion vs. Rationality

Behavioural finance is the study of how human behaviour, driven by emotions and sentiment as much as rational decision-making, affects how we act in relation to our investments and financial decisions.  Whilst there is clearly underlying rationality to financial markets and how assets are priced, the human element must be considered as part of this…

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Budget 2020

Ahead of this week’s Budget, delivered by the newly appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Right Honourable Rishi Sunak, there was widespread anticipation as to what the contents of his Budget would be. It was expected that he would announce significant increases in public spending and investment in line with the pledges made by the…

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Foresight Pre-Budget Lookout

Rishi Sunak will unveil both his and Boris Johnson’s first Budget on Wednesday, 11th March.  Sunak was unexpectedly appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer on 13th February 2020, following the sudden resignation of Savid Javid, the previous short-lived incumbent. Sunak was previously Chief Secretary to the Treasury and has had less than a month to prepare…

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Coronavirus Market Volatility

The past few weeks have seen heightened market volatility, culminating in a large-scale global correction to equity markets on Monday, 9th March 2020. The falls are amongst the highest seen since the financial crash of 2008, with fear and panic gripping traders, fund managers and investors across the world. The immediate cause of this sell-off…

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Coronavirus Market Analysis

The dominant news story of 2020 so far has to be the outbreak of coronavirus. First reported on 31st December 2019 in Wuhan, China, it was subsequently declared a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 30th January 2020. On 11th February the WHO announced the official name for…

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Think Twice About Shortening 2020

Last year, abbreviating 2019 to 19 was something that most of us took for granted.  But shortening 2020 to 20 could put us at major risk of fraud.   A recent Facebook post by the East Millinocket Police Department in the United States said,  ‘When signing and dating legal documents, do not use 20 as…

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After Brexit – Thinking Ahead

After almost 4 years of negotiations, the UK has formally turned its back on the European Union (EU) and almost half a decade of membership in the world’s largest single market. However, the Jan 31st deadline arrived with more of a fizzle than a bang. Although the UK has officially left the EU, there is…

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Are you financially compatible?

Valentine’s Day is all about romance.  Or, if you are more cynical, the commerce of romance. Buying flowers that are double the price they were last week, presents to show just how much you love someone – and the more you spend the more you love them. Apparently! Romance and attraction can only take you so…

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Electric Cars

The popularity of electric cars continues to grow.  From pioneering new brands like Tesla through to established manufacturers such as Mercedes, BMW, Porsche and Audi, the development of electric cars continues at a rapid pace.  Consumer demand is also growing quickly, with 3,147 cars registered in August 2019, compared to only 659 the year before.…

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Trusts set up for people you love

Intergenerational wealth preservation and succession planning are always hot topics when we speak with clients.  The ability to protect your estate for the benefit of your family is always a key planning priority.  Estate planning ensures that no beneficiaries go without, whilst enabling protection from the external factors which impact intergenerational wealth transfer.  That is…

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Brexit: What’s happening?

Whether you were a Brexiteer or Remainer, we can all agree that the Brexit ordeal has been as confusing as it has been arduous. Even the most diligent of us have found it difficult to keep pace with the twists and turns of the negotiations; with an ever-changing cast of politicians and tabloid rhetoric only…

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Professional Adviser Awards 2020

We are pleased to announce that Foresight Wealth Strategists have been shortlisted again as a finalist for ‘Adviser Firm of the Year’ in the Professional Adviser Awards 2020. Simon Booth. Managing Director said ‘To be a finalist in these prestigious awards for a second consecutive year is a fantastic result and confirms our commitment to…

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Unregulated mini-bonds

The current investment landscape can be challenging for investors to navigate, with interest rates at record lows and likely to remain that way for a considerable period of time.  Savers can no longer rely on deposit rates to generate the returns they require from their capital and this is forcing many investors to look at…

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Go straight to Jail…

There must be a Monopoly Board Game in every household – the classic game of strategy that teaches you how to manage your money.  To be a winner you need to start investing early, build a strategic property portfolio with houses and hotels on – and then then start forcing your friends and family out…

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How Safe Is Your Final Salary Pension?

Services provider Carillion has found itself joining the likes of Toys ‘R’ Us and BHS, in becoming the latest company to self-destruct. Leaving a devastating effect on defined benefit (DB) pension savers. The Carillion disaster happened just as the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) reported that roughly two-thirds of the DB pension schemes in operation in…

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