Five Months Into The YearMay 31, 2022Every year is different from what you expect, and that is particularly true in financial markets. It is easier to say over the first five months of 2022 which investment areas have lost you money, especially if you also factor in the enhanced inflationary backdrop. There will always be some element of volatility in financial market investment, but it still plays the most essential role in any pension fund portfolio or medium-term financial target. What really matters is maintaining confidence during times of uncertainty. Continue Reading
Challenges and Opportunities in MayMay 4, 2022Whilst the spring weather continues to warm, plenty of financial sector issues continue to worry global investors across both equity and bond markets. Meanwhile heightened inflation levels continued to impact bank account balances, and the war in Ukraine has led to many tragedies along with heightened geopolitical, commodity and supply concerns. Continue Reading
Matt Robinson: West Lancs Sprint TriathlonApril 24, 2022West Lancs Sprint Triathlon was great fun and the perfect introduction to triathlons. I’d recommend it to anyone who fancies having a go. Luckily, I was sat next to a veteran Iron Man athlete on the poolside pre-race, who talked me through his strategy, which calmed my nerves and set me up for a successful day. My swim was composed, my cycle felt good… then the run was absolute murder! I completed it in 1h 5m 02s, placing 42nd out of 481 finishers, which I’ll take for my first go-out! I’m looking forward to the next one… Continue Reading
Dan’s 15,000 Tandem SkydiveApril 8, 2022Dan's 15,000 Tandem Skydive Back in March, my brother and I completed a 15,000ft tandem skydive at Black Knights Parachute Centre. The whole crazy idea came from a wild joke, mentioned at the dinner table for my brother’s birthday and concluded with us both throwing ourselves out of a plane. The entire experience was adrenaline-packed, from getting onto the plane to the first look down at the edge, it was by far the most extreme activity I’ve completed to date. However, the sky was clear, and the day was warm, and I’d recommend it to anyone who fancies the experience. Continue Reading
Come TogetherApril 8, 2022It has been 60 years since the Beatles signed their first record deal. The rock group from Liverpool dominated the industry for nearly a decade – and long after that as individual performers. John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr created timeless tunes and memorable messages that we can borrow today to portray our economic and financial market outlook. Continue Reading
The Spring Statement: The Detail Behind The HeadlinesMarch 25, 2022If a week is a long time in politics, then the near five months since Rishi Sunak’s second 2021 Budget feels close to a lifetime. Back on 27 October, it looked like 2022 would be a year of recovery in which the pandemic faded in the rear-view mirror and ‘transitory’ inflation duly transited to lower levels. It has not worked out like that. Continue Reading
Citizen of the WorldMarch 2, 2022Events in Eastern Europe over the last week have correctly dominated TV, radio, newspaper and online news. It also meant that almost all equity or bond investors made losses during February, many for the second consecutive month unless - like the U.K. equity market - there was high proportional exposure to commodity sector shares. Continue Reading
Welcome to February!February 3, 2022There is a famous quote by the legendary Belgian professional cyclist Eddy Merckx that he “raced from 1 February to 31 October every year, competed for everything”. Unfortunately for financial markets there is never a defined season, and, whilst 2021 ended positively, January 2022 will go down into the history books as being a little bit more difficult. Continue Reading
Challenges and OpportunitiesJanuary 25, 2022Whilst the application of many millions of booster jabs have given a strong protection against the Omicron variant, offering the hope of COVID normalisation, global financial markets have not had a positive first few weeks of 2022. Continue Reading
Get 20/20 Financial Vision With The Right Expert Support June 10, 2022 Our finances touch nearly every aspect of our lives and going it alone can be difficult, so it makes sense to turn to experts who can support you in your decisions Continue Reading
Five Months Into The Year May 31, 2022 Every year is different from what you expect, and that is particularly true in financial markets. It is easier to say over the first five months of 2022 which investment areas have lost you money, especially if you also factor in the enhanced inflationary backdrop. There will always be some element of volatility in financial market investment, but it still plays the most essential role in any pension fund portfolio or medium-term financial target. What really matters is maintaining confidence during times of uncertainty. Continue Reading
Challenges and Opportunities in May May 4, 2022 Whilst the spring weather continues to warm, plenty of financial sector issues continue to worry global investors across both equity and bond markets. Meanwhile heightened inflation levels continued to impact bank account balances, and the war in Ukraine has led to many tragedies along with heightened geopolitical, commodity and supply concerns. Continue Reading
Matt Robinson: West Lancs Sprint Triathlon April 24, 2022 West Lancs Sprint Triathlon was great fun and the perfect introduction to triathlons. I’d recommend it to anyone who fancies having a go. Luckily, I was sat next to a veteran Iron Man athlete on the poolside pre-race, who talked me through his strategy, which calmed my nerves and set me up for a successful day. My swim was composed, my cycle felt good… then the run was absolute murder! I completed it in 1h 5m 02s, placing 42nd out of 481 finishers, which I’ll take for my first go-out! I’m looking forward to the next one… Continue Reading
Dan’s 15,000 Tandem Skydive April 8, 2022 Dan's 15,000 Tandem Skydive Back in March, my brother and I completed a 15,000ft tandem skydive at Black Knights Parachute Centre. The whole crazy idea came from a wild joke, mentioned at the dinner table for my brother’s birthday and concluded with us both throwing ourselves out of a plane. The entire experience was adrenaline-packed, from getting onto the plane to the first look down at the edge, it was by far the most extreme activity I’ve completed to date. However, the sky was clear, and the day was warm, and I’d recommend it to anyone who fancies the experience. Continue Reading
Come Together April 8, 2022 It has been 60 years since the Beatles signed their first record deal. The rock group from Liverpool dominated the industry for nearly a decade – and long after that as individual performers. John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr created timeless tunes and memorable messages that we can borrow today to portray our economic and financial market outlook. Continue Reading
The Spring Statement: The Detail Behind The Headlines March 25, 2022 If a week is a long time in politics, then the near five months since Rishi Sunak’s second 2021 Budget feels close to a lifetime. Back on 27 October, it looked like 2022 would be a year of recovery in which the pandemic faded in the rear-view mirror and ‘transitory’ inflation duly transited to lower levels. It has not worked out like that. Continue Reading
Citizen of the World March 2, 2022 Events in Eastern Europe over the last week have correctly dominated TV, radio, newspaper and online news. It also meant that almost all equity or bond investors made losses during February, many for the second consecutive month unless - like the U.K. equity market - there was high proportional exposure to commodity sector shares. Continue Reading
Welcome to February! February 3, 2022 There is a famous quote by the legendary Belgian professional cyclist Eddy Merckx that he “raced from 1 February to 31 October every year, competed for everything”. Unfortunately for financial markets there is never a defined season, and, whilst 2021 ended positively, January 2022 will go down into the history books as being a little bit more difficult. Continue Reading
Challenges and Opportunities January 25, 2022 Whilst the application of many millions of booster jabs have given a strong protection against the Omicron variant, offering the hope of COVID normalisation, global financial markets have not had a positive first few weeks of 2022. Continue Reading