The Business of Factoring
I have a business and it seems my invoices are going astray as no one seems to really want to pay them! It’s causing quite a few cash flow problems so I have looked at factoring as a possible solution. Any thoughts on its suitability? Factoring is very much a sign of the times unfortunately, […]
What is China’s investment story?
Is China a spent investment story or do you feel it’s a place to be investing your money? In 2008 I sold out of China and Asia, for that matter and bought back again in May 2009. I’d had a great run for four years to 2008 but saw the noise around oil as a […]
Uncovering Hidden Charges
When asked about how stressful the responsibility can be for investing advice for the public, I balance the thought with how stressful my life would be should I not be qualified to make the decisions I do. It is only with a healthy cynicism that I have been able to break through worlds of emperors’ […]
Pensions, if insurance companies really cared
Personal pensions, or any pension for that matter, are about as exciting as getting a DVD extended version of a Halifax advert for Christmas. That said, pensions are one of the biggest investments we will ever make, yet we have the most amazing apathy towards them. They are complicated and have just become more and […]
Is the FTSE 100 safe?
Is the FTSE 100 safe? Hardly. Pay real attention now if you have a tracker sold to you as a cheap investment. The FTSE 100 is a measure of the UK’s top 100 companies; however, research by Schroders showed that 62% of the sales of FTSE 100 companies came from outside the UK. Thankfully the […]
Close Brothers’ Property Wealth Manager
With the Close Brothers’ property wealth manager arrangement you sell your house to the company who then lease it back to you. For your sale you do not receive cash just an investment into a load of other properties at pretty much the worst time to consider investment into property. The document given refers in […]
Cumulation
We are reviewing the advice given in relation to cumulation: I’ll give you a few options but be careful of one point, cumulation – I’ll explain (beware though, by my own admission this is quite a technical answer that you will have to read a few times but the tip is a good one): If […]
Terms & Conditions of Insurance Companies
Small print of terms and conditions of insurance companies: Be careful regarding the terms and conditions that insurance companies have on their plans. If you come to claim on a critical illness plan you’ll find that companies are well protected by the small print they have. That is too late of course to enter into […]
Child Trust Funds
I have grandchildren and wanted to save for them but wanted to know if saving into a child trust fund was a good idea. When the child trust fund was first announced, I have to say I nearly choked. To what problem was it a solution? I couldn’t fathom it out. Most people took the […]
Is BP’s Share Price Undervalued?
There are various conflicting views on BP and for most of us looking for a quick bargain on our shares, BP could easily be a target. Most of us already have high exposure to BP in any event. If you were to look at the top ten holdings in your pension fund or endowment policy, […]
Do I pay through the nose for financial advice?
Am I better paying my independent Financial Adviser via a fee or commission? The answer here relates to any financial adviser rather than just an Independent Financial Adviser. There is a perception in most people’s eyes that if they have not actually paid out a cheque for financial advice that they have indeed got it […]
The bottom of the UK housing market?
It was only a matter of time before house prices eventually would be supported by quantitative easing and lower interest rates. The Bank of England have not made the same mistake as last time and were aggressive in their monetary policy which has clearly had an impact on the confidence levels of the homeowner.