Japan overtakes UK as world’s second largest pension market February 16, 2021 The UK pensions market was overtaken in size by Japan in 2020, pushing the UK to third place. The United States retained its position as the largest pension market in the world, making up 62 per cent of worldwide pensions assets. Japan and the UK represented 6.9 per cent and 6.8 per cent respectively. The [...]
Ranked: Monzo tops list of best UK banks as digital services thrive February 15, 2021 Digital fintechs Monzo and First Direct provide better service to customers than traditional banks, according to a recent survey. Ipsos MORI conducted a review of around 1,000 customers from each of the 19 biggest personal current account providers in the UK to rank the best and worst banks. The findings are designed to compare the [...]
FTSE 100 gains despite record slump in UK GDP February 12, 2021 The FTSE 100 pared back its losses this afternoon despite data showing the UK economy shrank by a record 9.9 per cent last year. The figures reflect the damaging economic nature of national lockdowns imposed to curb the spread of coronavirus. Mining and financial stocks led the declines, as the FTSE 250 also dipped by [...]
UK financial services sector maintains stable tax contribution amid Brexit and COVID-19 uncertainty February 10, 2021 | City Talk A new report published by the City of London Corporation today (10 February), shows that the UK’s financial services sector contributed a record £75.6bn in tax in the year to March 2020 – a period covering significant uncertainty about the UK’s relationship with the European Union. This contribution remained stable compared to the previous year’s [...]
Where to find shelter from rising inflation February 10, 2021 | City Talk In the wake of Covid-19, investors have started debating whether long-dormant inflation risks will soon resurface. Stay-at-home orders and government spending have left consumers with extra savings and pent-up demand that could eventually drive a spending splurge. At the same time, lockdowns have kept many businesses shut, destroying capacity in some sectors of the economy [...]
15 socially responsible investing ideas for your ISA February 8, 2021 Sustainable investment funds have exploded in popularity in the last few years, now holding more than $1 trillion of investors’ cash as the ‘Blue Planet effect’ made people rethink the impact of their choices on the planet. These funds have also proven themselves against their rivals – over the last 15 years, ethical funds have [...]
How the pros use ISAs to cut clients’ tax bills February 8, 2021 ISAs are more than just places to park some extra cash to grow tax-free. Used with a bit of sophistication, they can cut your tax bill by thousands of pounds. Professional financial advisers use ISAs for modestly wealthy clients up to those with multi-million pound portfolios. Why? Because they work. Here’s how to get the [...]
How to use ISAs to simplify your life February 8, 2021 ISAs are an incredibly useful savings and investment tool which should form the bedrock of your financial planning strategy. They can even help you simplify and streamline your personal finances for an easier life. Here’s how. Spend less time on your tax return If you complete a self-assessment tax return, any interest, capital growth or [...]
Vaccines, central banks and a value revival: What’s driving investment decisions in 2021? February 8, 2021 In 2020, there was only one story in town: the coronavirus crisis, and newsflow about the pandemic was the biggest driver of stock markets. With macroeconomic news affecting investments more than ever before, what are the key issues that will shape the experts’ investment decisions this year, and what could it mean for your investment [...]
How the experts would invest £1,000 in an ISA right now February 8, 2021 Stocks and shares ISAs are a tax-efficient way to potentially grow your money by investing, so they should be an essential part of your overall wealth planning. But, with such a wide array of investment choice, the hardest part is deciding what to put in them. To give you some food for thought, we asked [...]