Welcome to the Winter edition of our newsletter
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News
UK dividends: A bad 2020, but a better 2021?
New data show how far UK dividends fell last year, but projections for 2021 suggest the declines are nearly over. In January 2021, Link Asset Services published its latest UK Dividend Monitor covering the final quarter of 2020 and the … Continue reading
Four financial lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic
As the pandemic enters its second year, what have we learned? The World Health Organisation declared Covid-19 a pandemic on 11 March 2020, coincidentally the day that Chancellor Rishi Sunak presented his first Budget. At the time, the Chancellor announced … Continue reading
First-time buyer deposits rise after Covid-19 property boom
The average deposit paid by first-time homebuyers jumped by £10,000 in 2020. When the pandemic took hold in the first half of last year, it looked as if the housing market was headed for a fall, if not something more … Continue reading
The 2020 investment year – a ride to remember
The world’s share markets had a rollercoaster ride in 2020. Index 2020 Change FTSE 100 -14.3% FTSE All-Share -12.5% Dow Jones Industrial +7.25% Standard & Poor’s 500 +16.3% Nikkei 225 +16.0% Euro Stoxx 50 (€) -5.1% Shanghai Composite +13.9% MSCI … Continue reading
The tax year end approaches as filing deadline eased
2020/21 is drawing to a close, with a Budget now slated for early March. Ahead of that, HMRC is easing some of its traditional deadlines in the light of the ongoing pandemic. If you’re struggling to prepare your self-assessment tax … Continue reading
Taxing wealth – a viable option?
An independent body of tax experts has set out the framework for a one-off wealth tax. Will the Chancellor be tempted? “[W]e have a responsibility, once the economy recovers, to return to a sustainable fiscal position.” So said the Chancellor … Continue reading
New rules on pension drawdown and investment
From February new rules apply if you choose pension drawdown but do so without taking advice. The Covid-19 pandemic has deferred many events of all sizes, from the Tokyo Olympics to millions of foreign holidays. One of the less prominent … Continue reading
Covid-19 measures: 8 January 2021 update
As the third Covid-19 lockdown took effect on 5 January 2021, the Chancellor announced a further £4.6 billion in grants to the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors. This new round of support follows extensions to the job retention and loan … Continue reading
When I’m 66 – SPA’s latest milestone
The latest phasing of State Pension Age (SPA) increase is now finished. On 6 October 2020, the SPA reached 66. Unless current legislation is changed, it will remain there until 6 April 2026, at which point the next increase, to … Continue reading
Not the Autumn Budget or the Autumn Statement
The Chancellor’s November ‘Financial Statement’ revealed more spending and more government borrowing, but no mention of tax rises. Source: Office for Budget Responsibility The UK budgetary cycle is in something of a mess at present. In 2019, unusually there was … Continue reading
Fireworks in November
November was an exciting month for the world’s stock markets. Source: Investing.com November was an exhilarating month on the world’s stock markets, as the graph above illustrates. It cannot be said that many experts – bar room or otherwise – … Continue reading
Continuing challenges in the search for income
Deposit rates are continuing to fall. On 24 November, the interest rate cuts that National Savings & Investments (NS&I) announced back in September took effect. The headline change was a drop in Income Bond rates from 1.15% to just 0.01%. … Continue reading
Can you afford to retire if you’re self-employed?
New research shows the majority of the self-employed are not saving for retirement. Source: IFS Here’s a quick quiz: Are you self-employed? If so, have you contributed to a private pension in the last year? The Institute for Fiscal Studies … Continue reading
