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As I write these words our Government is arranging a ‘cost of living cabinet meeting’ Let’s hope they come up with something that will allow all the people in our country to eat as well as heat!
This is the title of a talk being given at my next Big Question Forum session on Thursday evening this week 7pm. You are welcome to join us.
With Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s Spring Statement came the headlines telling us so.
Just had a phone call from one of my students - she couldn't believe it but wanted to check – four days ago she decided to move her £95,000 pension pot, all of it, into funds investing totally in Inflation linked gilts/bonds. Four days later her funds had shot up to just over £99,000. Send your money out to work?
Just over three hours flight at £29 a ticket. Once on the borders, now invading the country, the Russian army brings fear, uncertainty and bloodshed with it. Feel for the people! People first always
Is some of it invested in the business worlds of Russia? China? Perhaps you don't know?
“I’m willing to bet my last shilling on petrol not going above five bob per gallon!” Yes, I was relaxing with a cup of tea and 1960’s period drama Heartbeat was on TV. How wrong could the affable Mr Scripps of Aidensfield Garage be? It’s a lovely silly romantic series. A sigh of relief drifting into the imaginary slower kinder world of my twenties!
Thats what we are being told. Just get on with it! Will life ever be the same again? Success this year in our lives and with our finances will much depend on our mindset. Would you agree?
Your cup can never be full or half empty, in fact it is always full. One half water and the other half-air. If half full then is the balance in your cup hot air (worrying about all the issues) or fresh air (enabling you to take control?)
If only! 8% on your money? If only your money in the bank during the year to date had earned interest of 8%. Nice to think of it. Deposits of £2000 a gain of £160 or £5,000 a gain of £400. A nice Christmas bonus?
Well it seems that way to me. Halifax say the average house price in the UK is now £273,000. How unlucky do you have to be, as a first time house buyer, to be granted a 90% mortgage?
As an investment I mean. In one word, ‘illiquidity!’ Yesterday’s post discussed what goes on in the background to enable your fund manager to convert your investment into cash to pay you back when you want it.
An interest rate (last time I looked) of 1.08% from Shawbrook Bank? Who? No one you’ve ever heard of? Probably doesn’t matter. Your money would be covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme up to £85,000 if the bank went bust.
Never put all your financial eggs into one basket? But this man has! Just had lunch with a stockbroker friend. I have seen his advice grow his clients money by 67% in as little as one year recently!
Arrested that is by a headline, saying 'Financial Education is Key to Wellbeing' Then again, reports suggest that those taking financial advice are likely to have average or above average good mental health. This latter point is with thanks to HSBC's insurance business.
Friday 12th Nov 2021. 16.44. Such was the instruction given me on that very day and time! So rejoice I did, as I read the rest of the e mail. Hello Rob. You know what you are talking about. I have the evidence! My Responsible Growth Fund has rocketed in just 3 days from £10. To £10.09!!!
Rejoice! Friday 12th Nov 2021. 16.44. Such was the instruction given me on that very day and time! So rejoice I did, as I read the rest of the e mail. Hello Rob. You know what you are talking about. I have the evidence! My Responsible Growth Fund has rocketed in just 3 days from £10. To £10.09!!!
Remember that? Ending just last week! Almost forgotten already? Fading in the memory as life crowds in with today's fresh news and daily demands? That happens to me too!
Volkwsagen and Toyota have refused to sign up to save your life and the planet around you. These car manufacturers refuse to build cars to eliminate new car emissions by 2040!
Well it just doesn't make sense does it? Let me explain. If you picked up your copy (as you do) of the Financial Times and skimmed your eyes down to the bottom of the first page you would see what I mean!
I learnt to cross the road! That was 73 years ago! Excitingly nerve-racking for a 5 year old. Look left. Look right. Look right again I was told. Now listen! Nothing coming? Ok, don't run. Walk quickly! Phew I did it! Of course I was holding Mum's hand all the way!
The Monetary Policy Committee is expected, more than likely, to raise interest rates from December this year. Inflation heads towards 4% and possibly 5%. Never mind COP 26 and the battle against COVID. There is a lot going on out there.
Enough doom and gloom! First the bad news. Next is the good news. Read on! The bad first. The Budget will leave millions worse off next year. A squeeze on our disposable incomes is inevitable. Rising costs may bring us to have to make life-limiting choices. Do we shrink back in fear, clinging on to every penny for dear life or make a plan to break through triumphantly?
Budget blues or budget bonanza? Is the Chancellor Riski Rishi or Rational Rishi? In this post, and another tomorrow I want to share some rational ideas as to how you might preserve your standard of living. The Chancellor of the exchequer says, if you are on the national average income ( around £31,000 pa) you will be better off as a result of his budget. In tax terms that may be true. In real life it may not be. Inflation pushing your living costs up by 4% at least, and soaring energy bills rocketing could upset that hope.
Would you like to be Rishi Sunak waking up this morning? Today at (12.30pm Wednesday 27th Oct) the Chancellor of the Exchequer will lay out the UK's financial strategy for the future. So what is your personal financial strategy in your business and personal life for your future?
You might agree with me that holding individual shares is too much of a high-risk in these uncertain times? Far better, in my view, to invest your money in Unit Trust Funds and things called OEICS which are Open-Ended Investment Companies.
A short while back I met a young lady who met a very genuine and sincere financial adviser. His proposition was that she should consider saving a small monthly sum into his companies investment funds. He correctly explained to the lady that his company would deduct 4.5% from every contribution she made and her understanding is that the fund would take another 1.5% per annum out of her savings.
