Greenwashing sustainable investments
FOLLOWING last week’s column on sustainable investing, I had a number of enquiries asking how you can decide if a pension or investment fund actually does what it says on the tin, ie invests in what you want, and avoids what you want. Most of us have simply had enough of, not only the barefaced […]
What is sustainable investing?
WHAT is sustainable investing? Talk about sustainability to most and it is a very passionate yes. To others it can be an image forced upon them of a tree-hugging, lentil eating typification. Why the binary thought process? Because it is often maligned, and inappropriately so. Knowing what many pension funds are inappropriately invested into, I […]
Is the old investment world gone?
THE investment world and arena changes like the sands. If you aren’t with it, the potential impact on return for you as a pension or ISA investor can be quite extraordinary. Sticking to old strategies in a new world reminds me of my 1992 flight with Monarch airlines to Egypt. A woman sat beside me, […]
Tax day soaky damp squid
IF the budget earlier this month turned out to be a damp squid, the much-feared tax day to follow, soaked that squid in soaky wet stuff, gave it a wet duffle coat to wear, and copious water to drink. If you were sat fearing the worst for capital gains tax, potential inheritance tax changes and […]
How can I get my children on the housing ladder?
WE have seen numerous ideas coming from the UK Government regarding supporting the housing market. The housing market – the depreciating asset that appreciates in value. We can see why. Rising house prices give a feeling of confidence. If I am in debt for £10,000, it really hurts. If I am in debt for £200,000 […]
Will interest rates rise and should I fix?
IT’S that pivotal moment right now. Is a fixed rate mortgage best, or should I wait to see what happens with inflation? And another question I have been asked is, how long to fix for, and what the best rates are. I will cover them all. Inflation rising sustainably (ie not a sharp spike and […]
Stamp licking budgets
MOST Budgets are like a stamp-licking competition, especially now that you don’t need to lick them. You build up to the excitement of something happening and hey presto, nothing does. Whilst last week’s Budget delivered reasonably benign information from Rishi Sunak, we have ‘Tax Day’ to follow. This ‘day’ will create a plan for long-term […]
Part 3: Equity release: – What would an independent financial adviser recommend?
OVER the last two weeks we’ve talked about the pros and cons of equity release. Choosing where you go for advice is one of the most important factors to consider. Equity release The first port of call is an independent financial adviser (IFA). There are a range of options but none serve you like an […]
Part 2: How safe is equity release?
FOLLOWING last week’s column on when equity release can be used, here are a few pointers for you to avoid any pitfalls. The Money Advice Service suggests that you always use an independent financial adviser (IFA) and check they are on the FCA register. That is your starting point. Equity release If you use a […]
Part 1: Is equity release ever a good idea?
TAKING a break from watching Anthony Bourdain on my Netflix documentaries during rainy Sunday lockdown, my television turned on to a mainstream television to be hit with an advert selling equity release. Selling it like it was a bar of chocolate. It isn’t. Realising I am out of touch with adverts (I’ll watch mainstream TV […]
Looking at the upsides of Bitcoin
GIVEN Joe Biden’s inauguration in the USA followed by his move to protect the environment, I broke the column chain I was going to cover last week on Bitcoin to cover ESG markets (in short ethical and sustainable models of investing). But, back to Bitcoin and I’ll cover that in two columns: One is the […]
Trump – end of an error, launch of ESG
THIS week was supposed to be a follow up to last week’s column on Bitcoin, and its pluses and minuses. But I could not let the inauguration of Joe Biden and its impact on both the economy and ESG (environment, social, governance) investing go astray. For too long, we’ve lived in an era of phoney […]