Scammers targeted pension pots large and small, with individual losses ranging from under £1,000 to as much as £500,000. The average victim was described as a man in his 50s – but this could happen to anyone, so what can you do to avoid it happening to you?
Category: Financial News & Events, Retirement & Pensions
Yes, you did count correctly – there are twelve zeroes after the two. Another month of Government borrowing above £20bn has pushed total Government debt over the £2tn level for the first time.
Category: Financial News & Events
Where were you at the turn of the millennium? When the dot-com bubble burst? Well on Tuesday 18 August, the S&P 500 crept up by 0.23%. It was enough to bring the reading on the index to just above the previous high that it had hit nearly six months previously, on 19 February. In between those two peaks there was a fall of 33.9% to 23 March followed by a rally of 51.5%. The obvious question is why? The USA economy today is much less healthy – in all senses – than it was in February.
Category: Financial News & Events, Saving & Investing
Rishi Sunak introduced the Stamp Duty holiday on property valued up to £500,000 until March 2021. He wants to encourage us to make our moves sooner rather than later and get the housing market and its associated services going. Should you take advantage? Before you throw everything into making the most of this stamp duty holiday, make sure you’re in the right position to do so. You need to consider the bigger picture carefully with your eyes wide open.
Category: Financial News & Events, Financial Planning
I was driving home on Wednesday after a few days in Devon with my family and we were listening to Rishi Sunak’s summer statement. It struck me that this is a pivotal point in the UK’s economic history, because we’re facing an economic situation we haven’t really seen before. The recession we’re in now is…
Category: Coronavirus, Financial News & Events
These current events we are all going through have been unprecedented and worrying for many, especially those who fear for their jobs, or their businesses. I have put together a matrix (which is updated regularly as new information comes out) to summarise the main announcements and who they may benefit. The latest version of the matrix is now available.
Category: Coronavirus, Financial News & Events
HMRC have just published new guidance on choosing to delay making the second payment on account for the 2019/20 tax year. In April, the Government announced that Self-Assessment payments due 31 July 2020 could be deferred until 31 January 2021 – interest and penalty free.
Category: Coronavirus, Financial News & Events
While the focus has been on gyrating share indices, something interesting has been happening in the UK Government bond market.
Category: Financial News & Events, Saving & Investing
The headlines are now turning to the future looking at how deep a recession may be and the shape of the economic recovery. We can only wonder how the economy will recover and how long it will take. Many experts talk of the ‘shape of the recovery’ using names such as V U W or L to name a few. Read this article to find out what these shapes mean and what to expect with the economic recovery.
Category: Coronavirus, Financial News & Events
On Friday 1 May, the Treasury announced that it would legislate to reduce the penalty to 20% between 6 March 2020 and 5 April 2021 (inclusive). The timing means that anyone who has cashed in since 6 March 2020 is due a refund.
Category: Financial News & Events, Financial Planning
How to spot and avoid a pension scam
September 18, 2020
Think ahead to thrive and survive financially as a student
September 4, 2020
Government debt crosses the £2,000,000,000,000 barrier
August 28, 2020
What’s causing the 2020 gold rush?
August 21, 2020
