Alt fi in 2016: What the latest industry report tells us
The growth of the alternative finance market is slowing. In 2015, it grew by 84 per cent compared to the 2013-14 rate of 161 per cent. This is the headline finding from Pushing Boundaries, the annual...
View ArticleOsborne’s pensions tax relief shake-up explained
Former pensions minister Steve Webb made headlines earlier in the month by claiming that abolishing Britain’s current system of pension tax relief could be George Osborne’s “’Gordon Brown’ moment”...
View ArticleReform wobbles have not jeopardised India’s rise and rise
For all the bombast, it is possible to see the still relatively new premiership of Indian leader Narendra Modi as a disappointment. Despite the Prime Minister’s overwhelming General Election victory in...
View ArticleStamp of approval: The world of philatelic investment
When share prices are volatile, fine wine, art and other tangible assets offer the bittersweet assurance that your investment will only turn to dust if exposed to excessive sunlight or extremes in...
View ArticleHow to tackle uniformity in business
As the latest crop of final-year university students plan for life after graduation, and submit countless applications for graduate programmes, many businesses are paying lip-service to diversity while...
View ArticleVestra Wealth's David Scott on investing in uncertainty
What do we mean by “risk”? For some, it is the absence of certainty. Others associate it with danger. Whatever your view, it is an inevitable part of investing. Since the start of the year, investors...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The robotics revolution: Why investment is booming
Robots are continuing their long march towards world domination. Their ultimate supremacy over humans is predicted to be reached in 2035, the point in time when robots will begin to develop at a...
View ArticleOil prices: Is the age of oil coming to a close?
It's the conspiracy theories around why Saudi Arabia is keeping oil prices low that make the saga so intriguing. Data shows the Saudis have raised their monthly production levels throughout this spell...
View ArticleWhy letting pensioners sell their annuities is a terrible idea
Pensioners will be able to sell on their annuities from next year, swapping regular income payments for a lump sum. It’s part of government plans to give greater freedom to the 5m pensioners who are...
View ArticleYour guide to being more charismatic
What is charisma? It’s difficult to put your finger on, but you know it when you see it. That’s the first message of Harley Street-based Richard Reid, aka Mr Charisma, who I recently had a session...
View ArticleBeat inheritance tax with these clever investments
Complex rules govern what, when and how much people can pass on to their children. The basic rule is that an individual can pass on £325,000 in assets, tax free. The taxman takes a 40 per cent cut of...
View ArticleFive growth stocks to super-charge your Isa
Savers will have more generous tax-free allowances from April. Basic rate taxpayers will be able to receive £1,000 interest on savings, gilts and corporate bonds without paying any tax (for higher rate...
View ArticleSocial selling: The right way and the Kanye way
Who couldn’t use an extra billion dollars? I’m sure many people checking their bank balance after the Christmas season could do with the extra cash. Apparently Kanye West had the same thought last week...
View ArticleTime matters: Why kids can be risk-takers
I'm getting into stocks. Or perhaps more accurately, I’m getting into stocks via a tax-free savings and investment account designed specifically for my daughter, who’s barely a month old. While none of...
View ArticleOf data leaks and oil spills: Managing a corporate crisis
As Johnson & Johnson, BP, Volkswagen and TalkTalk can all attest, corporate crises are never easy. Communicating an assured and consistent message at a time when consumers may be vulnerable to...
View ArticleInvestors fear bond market rout
Does the jump in high yield spreads say anything about the global economy? Markets have focused on oil prices as a barometer of health in the global economy and stock markets, but historically high...
View ArticleThe grass isn't greener: Why you should stay in your job
One in five people have said they are looking to change their jobs this year. And while there are plenty of benefits to switching, there are also many reasons to stay put. Making the move may cause a...
View ArticleThree reasons why gold prices are heading upwards
Gold has been the best performing asset so far this year, rising 15 per cent during a tumultuous period for global markets. The precious metal is now priced at $1,226 an ounce, $151 higher than at at...
View ArticleThe motivations of an equity crowdfunding investor
How do retail investors really make decisions when investing through crowdfunding platforms? A new paper, released today by the London School of Economics, sheds some light. The focus is whether equity...
View ArticleMentoring meaningfully: How to make your help really count
We're seeing more women than ever serving on the boards of Britain’s biggest companies. However, with only four years remaining to reach the government’s target (women must occupy a third of all board...
View Article
