Uber expansion: Lessons on how to rapidly scale March 29, 2015 How does a business scale in five years, from operations in one city to a presence in over 280? Uber, the Silicon Valley tech firm, has done just that – in the meantime disrupting the entire private car hire industry. What lessons does it offer other ambitious firms? Uber is a local service operating on [...]
The Royal Navy style of leadership March 29, 2015 In today’s world, “the battleground is one for talent… and talented people will not put up with poor leadership.” This was the stark message from Sir Trevor Soar, the Royal Navy’s former commander-in-chief of the Fleet, when he addressed businesses at the Santander Breakthrough Summit in Leeds about the importance of nurturing future leaders. Soar [...]
The one degree you should study if you want to become a billionaire March 26, 2015 Studying engineering for three or four years might not sound like great fun to most 18-year-olds, but it's exactly what they should be looking to do if they want to earn the big bucks later in life. Why? Because out of every possible subject you can do at university, it gives you the highest chance [...]
Investing at the gates of hell: Why Kurdistan makes sense – Animal Spirits March 26, 2015 Each month John Hulsman examines under-appreciated opportunities around the world, uncovering markets that it would be easy to overlook. Drake’s prayer, written in 1577 by the legendary English sea captain Francis Drake as he was about to embark on his circumnavigation of the globe, has been much on my mind recently. “Disturb us, Lord, to [...]
Investing in the USA: Should you go active or passive? March 26, 2015 ETFs track the performance of a market, giving investors “passive” exposure to an index such as the S&P 500. Active fund managers use stock selection in the hope of beating the index. Which should you pick to invest in the USA? Active: “Index trackers will generally underperform due to impact of fees” IAN HESLOP [...]
The most exciting frontier markets opportunities: From Vietnam to Pakistan, Romania to Nigeria March 26, 2015 Every portfolio needs diversifiers, and frontier markets are becoming increasingly relevant for investors seeking growth. Frontiers tend to be uncorrelated with developed markets, so the investment stories will thrive – or fail – independent of events in Europe or the US. Below, we highlight four of the hottest frontier markets right now. VIETNAM After [...]
Tough at the top: Will the FTSE giants fall from grace? March 26, 2015 From dividend cuts, to the accounting scandals just waiting to happen, SVM’s Colin McLean talks to Annabelle Williams about the potential pitfalls facing the UK market. The last few years have been tough for the UK’s biggest companies, as FTSE giants from supermarkets and banks, to insurers and oil majors, have come under pressure. [...]
Accounts with benefits: The perks of premium bank accounts March 26, 2015 Nothing says “badge of success” quite like a private bank account. Historically, offering them to customers has been the preserve of the private bank, but in recent years, growing numbers of high street institutions have begun to offer packaged – or premium – accounts to customers with substantial savings and (more often than not) six-figure [...]
Crowdfunding: A brief history March 26, 2015 It’s transforming the prospects of small businesses, but it’s still early days for crowdfunding in the UK. By the middle of this month, the Scottish National Party had raised nearly £35,000 on crowdfunding website Crowdfunder. It’s not the only party to turn to crowdfunding to bankroll its General Election campaign – over the past three [...]
The Big Question: Which multi-asset fund should I put my pension in? March 26, 2015 The upcoming pension reforms will mean new freedom for investors. Multi-asset solutions, which aim to give exposure to a range of asset classes while limiting risk, could be the best solution for your pension. We ask the experts for their recommendations. “The new pensions rules will throw some historic strategies up in the air” [...]
