Market Overview & Outlook Quarter 2 2024 (1 April – 30 June 2024) – More of the Same?
After a strong first quarter, equity markets retreated in April, reacting to expectations of central bank rate cuts being pushed out on stronger economic data. The uptrend resumed through the quarter as softer US data alleviated concern inflation may remain above target or begin accelerating again. US markets were again among the strongest, with leadership […]
Should I consider buying missed National Insurance years to boost my State Pension?
The starting point is to obtain your state pension forecast via the Government Gateway. Follow this link to login to the Government Gateway (make sure you have your login details to hand) and follow the steps https://www.gov.uk/check-state-pension. This is potentially a great opportunity for everyone age 40 to around 73 to consider. Until 5 April […]
Politics, Sport and Financial Planning
At time of writing, a large part of the nation is focused on the European Football Championships. Perhaps this is a welcome distraction from the 24/7 news and commentary we are enduring in the lead-up to next week’s general election, which inevitably carries more noise than substance. Maybe there is greater satisfaction to be drawn […]
Upcoming General Election: Manifesto Highlights
We are pleased to summarise an array of manifesto pledges, focusing on Rishi Sunak’s Conservatives and Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour, concentrating on tax, pensions and economics. Labour Tax: Pensions: Conservatives Tax: Pensions: Honourable Mentions from the Competition Summary Despite Reform UK closing the gap on The Conservatives to just three points in opinion polls, Labour […]
Navigating the UK General Election
In a somewhat surprising announcement, current prime minister Rishi Sunak stood outside of 10 Downing Street in his soaked suit jacket as he declared a premature UK general election to take place on Thursday, 4 July. Many political commentators had predicted the election to occur later in the autumn, but following a conversation with King […]