Why Draghinomics might actually work this time April 5, 2016 It might have been an uncharacteristically nervy Mario Draghi in front of the cameras in Frankfurt last month, but the European Central Bank president has made some of his shrewdest moves to date. Staring in the face of a strong euro, growth-sapping deflation, feeble growth and stubbornly high employment, the ECB president had to contend [...]
Over 55s undecided on whether pension freedoms are actually any good April 3, 2016 One year on from the introduction of pension freedoms, the jury's still out on whether or not they are actually any good, a report released today has found. The survey by the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA) found that, while 44 per cent of over 55s thought that the introduction of pension freedoms last April had been [...]
Defined benefit pension funding level fails to improve for FTSE 350 firms April 3, 2016 The deficit carried on defined benefit (DB) pension schemes by FTSE 350 companies has barely budged over the last year, according to figures released late last week. The study by JLT Employee Benefits discovered that, at the end of March 2016, FTSE 350 firms only held assets that covered 86 per cent of the liabilities of [...]
Here are the most popular credit cards of 2016 – and the rewards they offer April 1, 2016 The five most popular credit cards of 2016 have been revealed today and, unsurprisingly, it turns out customers love getting rewards for spending their money, with cashback cards topping the list. Train commuter, furniture-lover or jet-setter; there's a reward scheme to suit everyone. Here's a run down of the cards people have been searching for most on Which? Money Compare [...]
Crowdfunding website used by mobile challenger bank Mondo to raise £1m in 96 seconds celebrates £150m milestone April 1, 2016 It has helped mobile banks, car parking apps, artisan food markets, Uber challengers and cocktail companies along their way. And now Crowdcube is celebrating a milestone: since launching in 2011, companies have raised £150m on its platform. The crowdfunding website estimates that its 381 successful raises – 34 of which have totalled more than £1m – will create 7,000 new jobs. Read more: Numis leads [...]
Alternative finance powerlist: These are the most influential people in peer-to-peer lending and crowdfunding on social media April 1, 2016 The growth rates for alternative finance in the UK and Europe make it pretty clear that this is a sector that can't be ignored. Providers made £1.74bn available to UK firms and individuals in 2014, with person-to-business lending at £749m, person-to-person lending at £547m and invoice discounting at £270m. Indeed, the former, which includes debt-based crowdfunding, [...]
Executive pay and clarity around incentive plans are the most important issues for investors attending AGMs this year March 31, 2016 Sir Martin Sorrell and Tidjane Thia, watch out: executive remuneration is the top priority for investors attending AGMs this year – and there has been an increase in those willing to vote against incentive plans. Some 70 per cent of institutional investors surveyed by Capita Asset Services said they would systematically vote against incentive plans when [...]
Isa guide 2016: What first-time buyers need to know about the Lifetime Isa and the Personal Savings Allowance March 31, 2016 It only seems like yesterday that George Osborne was unveiling his Help to Buy Isa to let more aspiring homeowners get a foot on the property ladder. But the announcement of the Lifetime Isa in this year's Budget, and the introduction of the Personal Savings Allowance – which comes into effect on 6 April – is about to complicate [...]
Over half of over 50s depending on the new state pension to keep them afloat in their retirement March 31, 2016 Whether it's warnings from Waspi about women's state pension age or mutterings from MPs about how complicated the new state pension is, there's a lot of doubt floating about over what the state pension will look like in the future. However, that hasn't stopped some soon to be retirees treating it as the cornerstone of [...]
Four ways scammers could break into your pension pot March 31, 2016 If you think you'd know a pension scam when you see it, think again. According to a report by Citizens Advice released today, nearly nine out of ten (88 per cent) people are oblivious to the common tricks that pension fraudsters pull, despite three-quarters (76 per cent) feeling confident that they were crafty enough to avoid [...]