Private school fees have once again increased this year, with an average termly fee of £12,000 (£36,000 per year) for boarding schools and £5,064 (£15,191 per year) for day pupils1. A lifetime endeavour As data from the Independent Schools Council shows, sending your child to private school is a significant financial commitment – for many […]
Monthly archives: August 2021
In the News
Dividends making a slow recovery It has been a rocky year for dividends, with data showing that investors lost almost £45bn in dividends between Q2 2020 and Q1 2021. Many will therefore be relieved to hear that, while dividends are still falling, they did so in Q1 2021 at the slowest rate recorded since the […]
Has COVID changed our investment behaviour?
The mantra of ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ is likely to have been a well-versed phrase for investors over the past year or so, as the pandemic profoundly impacted the investment landscape. The global impact of the virus has been the catalyst for a seismic shift in public behaviour. Investors should consider the implications of […]
Economic Review – July 2021
UK growth forecast upgraded The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has sharply increased this year’s growth forecast for the UK, although recent data does suggest the country’s strong economic rebound has begun to slow down. In its latest assessment of global economic prospects, the IMF highlighted a worrying divergence in fortunes between rich and poor nations, […]
News in Review
‘It’s time we recognised the quality that other countries see in the UK’ In an open letter to UK institutional investors last week, Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak urged pension schemes to invest more of savers’ money into UK assets, to help drive the economic recovery and boost long-term growth prospects. They believe the country needs […]
News in Review
“Our economy is rebounding faster than initially expected” Last week saw the International Monetary Fund (IMF) release its latest assessment of the global economy. Among the headline stories was a sharp increase to this year’s UK growth forecast, with the renowned international soothsayer now predicting a 7% expansion – 1.7 percentage points higher than its […]
In the news – Money
Be wary of that holiday selfie Now that many of us are able to make travel plans, remember to think twice before posting a holiday selfie on social media. Your insurer may consider this as telling people that you are away from home, leaving your property unoccupied and as a result, potentially invalidating or compromising […]
Lenders reassured by mortgage guarantee scheme
The government’s mortgage guarantee scheme, which launched in April 2021, is encouraging lenders to offer mortgage finance to buyers with smaller deposits. It has been welcome news for prospective home buyers. The scheme works as follows. The government offers lenders a ‘guarantee’ on 95% LTV mortgages (i.e. those worth 95% of the property value, with […]
Warm outside? Don’t forget about the LTA freeze
Summer, freedom and (hopefully) sunshine are all well on the way, but not planning for the Lifetime Allowance (LTA) freeze could cast a cloud over your finances. For the next five years (until April 2026), the pension LTA will be held at its current level of £1,073,100. This means that the amount you can hold […]
In the news – Home Finance
How does your garden grow? Since the pandemic hit the UK, Brits have been spending more time in their garden – and spending more on them, too. According to new research1, 58% of respondents to a survey said their garden is now a bigger priority, which has been reflected in their spending. Almost a quarter […]