Healthy habits of Isa millionaires March 21, 2018 For many of us, becoming a millionaire might seem like a farfetched dream. But it might not be as difficult as you first thought, provided you adopt the right behaviours. While the government has regularly ramped up the annual tax-free threshold over the years, in 2017 the allowance saw a massive jump up to [...]
Full stream ahead: With Spotify opting for an unusual IPO route, should investors be wary? March 20, 2018 Spotify, the streaming giant that prides itself on helping people discover music, is about to go public. The company plans to list on the New York Stock Exchange on 2 April, but it’s doing things differently – opting for a direct listing instead. This means that, instead of issuing shares, the private investors and [...]
How artificial intelligence is re-coding the way we manage our money March 14, 2018 It was 1950 when Alan Turing developed a test which looked at a machine’s ability to generate responses that were so human-like that you wouldn’t be able to tell it was a computer. Fast forward almost seven decades, and we are now at a tipping point in tech, as artificial intelligence (AI) nudges us [...]
Two rules to rule them all: Watch out for companies with dual class shares March 6, 2018 Despite the relentless push towards corporate governance, one trend is going against the tide, threatening the old rule: “one share, one vote”. Regulators are rethinking their rules by letting firms issue controversial dual class shares. Companies that adopt this structure will issue two types of shares to give preferential rights to one set of [...]
Keeping the little guys in the loop: How Funding Circle hopes to fix the financial system March 1, 2018 Let's be honest, financial institutions can be bleak places. Pretentious, impenetrable, and determined to make you feel conscious of your own tiny existence. So when I step into the bustling hive that is Funding Circle’s office, it’s a breath of fresh air. There’s not a suit in sight, the place is immersed in a babble [...]
On trend: Invest in the new era of British fashion brands February 21, 2018 The past few days have been some of the most important in London’s fashion calendar. As Fashion Week graced us with its presence once more, City A.M.’s Alys Keys reported on the shift towards a more democratic industry, propped up by the power of digital influencers. The internet will continue to redefine how we shop, [...]
Top of the food chain: Meet the company helping street-food vendors become the next big thing February 8, 2018 Londoners have a growing obsession with good food. Our European cousins may have scoffed at British cuisine in the past, but a change has taken place over recent years. The multicultural nature of our city means we have been flooded with influences from all around the world, and we now boast an entire smorgasbord [...]
It’s pensioners, not first-time buyers, who should get stamp duty relief January 18, 2018 Stamp duty is in the news again. Earlier this week, Labour’s shadow housing minister, John Healey, called on the government to extend the tax break introduced in the November Budget to first-time buyers who use the shared ownership scheme. Policies that are seen to help struggling first-time buyers always go down a treat from [...]
The future of bitcoin: How the cryptocurrency is touted to trade going forward January 16, 2018 Not a day goes by when we don’t hear about the frolickings of bitcoin. The digital currency has certainly divided opinion. Punters are forever reminding us of the mammoth gains bitcoin made last year. And in the same breath, comparisons are continually being drawn between trading these cryptocurrencies and gambling. As bitcoin reached an [...]
Life-changing investments: The science that could save the NHS January 11, 2018 No one can deny (apart from a handful of politicians) that the NHS is in a bad way at the moment. The crisis reached a head last week when hospitals were forced to cancel tens of thousands of operations in order to free-up resources for emergency care. This – unsurprisingly – sparked a national outcry. [...]