My Blog

Trust the EU to put a price on women’s equality.

admin — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 14:11:18 +0000

For a long time the cost of life insurance has actually been going down. For years women got lower rates than men because statistically they live longer.

The EU gender directive is about to change all that.

From 21 December women can no longer be charged less than men just because they’re women. This means it could cost you up to 15% more for your life insurance if you wait until after December 21st to take it out.

So, if you’re thinking about taking out life cover, there really is no time like the present.

Call Chris Bucknall on : 0800 068 0041 or 07977 264445

Our Seminar – Business to face consequences of pension and employment reforms Are you ready?

admin — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 13:39:08 +0000

Is this what’s happening to your business costs? Well it’s about to get worse!

Is this what’s happening to your business costs? Well it’s about to get worse!

FREE BUSINESS SEMINAR

Thursday 5th July - Hilton Garden Inn, 1 Brunswick Square, Birmingham, B1 2HW

7.30am to 10.30am

Thursday 26th July 2012 - Park Plaza Hotel, Nottingham

7.30am to 9.30am

Please note that due to circumstances beyond our control the Nottingham date has been changed to 26th July.

Specifically designed for Company Directors, Chief Executives, HR, Directors, Managers and Senior Decision Makers

Numbers are very limited for this event so book early to secure your seat.

It remains to be seen whether UK business development, founded on its workforce, will be stimulated by new employment regulations. What is certain is that businesses face the consequences of additional fixed costs by forthcoming pension reforms. Do you know what these changes to the workplace entail? Crucially, are you ready?

Simply, most of us are not saving enough for retirement. The UK’s growing pensions crisis has led to the introduction of auto-enrolment and the National Employment Savings Trust. Pension landscapes will change, impacting on wage structures and business growth. As employers you must plan to absorb the fixed costs of your new duties. As individuals, prepare properly for your futures. Specially selected financial experts join forces to discuss the relevance of new workplace legislation and how this will change the complicated world of pension regulation. The impact of Europe is also considered. Whether you are a business owner, senior decision maker, employer or an individual purely interested in maximizing tax relief and saving tax, stay ahead and join us for this FREE invaluable Breakfast Seminar at Tuesday 3^rd July 2012 Park Plaza Nottingham.

PENSION REFORM AND TAX SAVING

Pensions expert Gavin Hill from LV presents on the forthcoming changes to pension law due later this year, the compulsory enrolment of all employees into a qualifying workplace pension or NEST together with the associated obligations to contribute. Our specialist considers the impact of these new fixed business costs on UK business development overall. Rounding off his presentation, Gavin identifies recent changes in ‘carry forward’ rules and other tips to maximise tax relief and reducing corporation tax liabilities through making pension contributions.

IMPACT OF EUROPE

Fund Manager Andrew Chapman from Quilter provides a commentary on the investment strategies within SIPPs as well as the current stock market conditions and the issues that the stock markets currently face. His examination identifies how the issues in Europe are impacting on FTSE and other global indexes

Something less ordinary when higher risk appeals

admin — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 12:02:19 +0000

Some people like to take a little extra risk

It is a fact of investment life that all stock exchange investments carry some degree of risk; many individual investors wisely adopt a strategy that avoids extremes of risk and also spreads exposure across a chosen range of market sectors or countries. Such a strategy, properly managed and maintained, moderates the risk of major loss whilst aiming to achieve the client’s expected level of return on their investments.

For more experienced investors, who have built a wellbalanced portfolio of relatively cautious equity investments, there may be grounds for allocating a modest proportion of net wealth to investments with a more adventurous risk profile. It is something to discuss with your adviser, because any such strategy must be squared with your overall investment objectives and attitude to risk.

There are a number of interesting sectors to consider and fund managers that provide the means through which to invest. Higher risk investors will often be on the lookout for a new market or a sector with long-term potential and must be
seasoned enough to deal with short-term losses. These new sectors could attract high returns, but there may be times when they perform less well than more staid investments. High risk does not guarantee high reward; it just offers the
possibility.

Out of Africa
Volatility, financial or otherwise, means added risk and this can also be seen in areas of the world where there is less political stability and where there is ongoing political instability. Yet such areas, often with untapped natural resources and energetic local workforces, can create opportunities for growth. This is very
much the case in parts of Africa.

This vast and varied continent could be worth consideration for those who already have exposure to the emerging economies of China and India or simply want to tap into a relatively untested market. Nigeria, a significant oil producer, and Kenya are among the countries in specialist fund managers’ sights. South Africa, less in the news since the 2010 World Cup, has a well established track record thanks to valuable deposits of gold, diamonds and industrial minerals.

Latin America is also interesting – Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has claimed her country’s burgeoning economy could grow by 4 per cent in 2012. Likewise, for investors wanting to keep closer to home, Eastern Europe has a number of exciting
emerging economies and it has been mooted that Turkey, with one foot in Europe and the other in Asia, may beat its 4 per cent economic growth target.

Except when disasters occur, the oil and gas majors are usually solid earnings generators but the wider energy sector is always going to be hugely topical. It can have some big swings, such as the impact on power generator Tepco of the 2011 Japanese tsunami. There has been fresh interest in the renewables market
and, although performance may often be dependent upon political decisions, areas like solar panels and wind turbines have emerged as important.

Shares that could recover
For some investors, there’s enough excitement available within our shores and one option is to buy into a ‘recovery’ fund, where the companies in the portfolio will have been selected because they have been through some difficult times but are now believed by the fund’s managers to be on the up again. Property is another sector with recovery potential – once seen as the road to riches, it now has less allure.

Funds focused on the commodities markets could also be worth closer examination. Likewise, there are funds that specialise in very small firms, such as in the biotech sector – some will fail and some will make it big, with the prospect of reward
for the investor holding a diverse spread. As investment in the technology sector has shown in the past, having lots of investors pile in does not provide any guarantees; the greater the risk of individual failure, the greater the benefit of a well-chosen selection. Never keep such fragile eggs all in one basket.