Articles

Following on from Kepler’s recent announcement of their 2024 Investment Trust ratings,

We reveal the winners of our Investment Trust Ratings for 2024…by Thomas McMahon

Corporate actions can be defined as any process initiated by a company for which it either has to inform investors or seek some form of approval. They can be either mandatory, where an investor has no say, or voluntary, where the shareholder has a voice in the matter.

“ESG” sounds like something very technical and jargon-y.

Impact investing (so-called because the stocks and funds on offer have a positive impact on society, or the environment, or both) is fast gaining followers, not just for its morally virtuous stance, but also for its returns.

Making money and protecting the environment are not mutually exclusive. You can actually enjoy excellent returns while helping to safeguard the planet.

Ways to prepare your portfolio to mitigate some of the worst effects of a recession.

When extreme losses take hold, so-called “circuit breakers” are triggered, particularly in US indices such as the S&P 500. But what are these circuit breakers, and why are they activated?

How to react when markets tumble is something of a million-pound question. But there are things you can do, and lessons to be learned when indices turn red.

It’s important to remember that different geographic areas offer different advantages for investors, and indeed have different risks.

Being a successful investor is dependent on a combination of factors - there’s no single winning formula. Yet experts are unanimous that an essential element of any portfolio is diversification.

At its most basic, having a diversified portfolio is simply the investment version of the phrase ‘don’t put all of your eggs in one basket’. But true diversification is more than just buying shares in lots of different companies. A properly diversified portfolio usually includes different types of assets, as well as investments in different types of businesses from different areas of the globe.

Review your pension today to get ahead with your retirement planning

The chances are you’ve heard of SIPPs – Self Invested Personal Pensions – and maybe you have a good idea how they work. However, lots of people have either never heard of a SIPP or have been put off opening one because they feel they are too complicated or too time consuming to manage.

How much do you have in your pension? Do you even know where all your pensions are? And most importantly of all, are you certain you’ll have enough to live on when you retire?

Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world. He, who understands it, earns it … he who doesn’t … pays it.’ Albert Einstein

Whatever style an investor adopts, the goal is always to identify and buy an asset in the hope and expectation that its price will increase; whilst the ambition may be simple enough, its achievement may be altogether trickier – how do you judge whether your investments are positioned to get the best possible return? – asks Christian Leeming.

Investment trusts were once dubbed the ‘best kept secret in the City’; not any more it seems, as investors have embraced the fact that some trusts have consistently increased their dividends over decades, and have done so in the face of enormous headwinds – just one of which is the current COVID-19 pandemic.1 - writes Hannah Barnaby

Most of us will be aware that first-time buyers are getting older.

ISAs are a fantastic vehicle for long-term savings thanks to generous tax-saving features. When saving into an ISA you don’t pay any tax on the money in your account, or any income tax on the interest you earn. However, there are a few rules you should be aware of when using them.

What does LISA stand for? The Lifetime ISA – it’s new. What’s the big appeal? The government will add a 25% bonus to what you invest, up to £1,000 a year on your maximum £4,000 investable allowance until you are 50. Can anyone open a LISA? No, you must be aged 18–39.

Review your pension today to get ahead with your retirement planning

The chances are you’ve heard of SIPPs – Self Invested Personal Pensions – and maybe you have a good idea how they work. However, lots of people have either never heard of a SIPP or have been put off opening one because they feel they are too complicated or too time consuming to manage.

The question “what age can I retire” is probably one of the biggest you’ll ever ask yourself. It is arguably the most fundamental question of any long-term savings plan, as retirement is normally the ultimate goal toward which most of us save.

ISAs are a fantastic vehicle for long-term savings thanks to generous tax-saving features. When saving into an ISA you don’t pay any tax on the money in your account, or any income tax on the interest you earn. However, there are a few rules you should be aware of when using them.

Now that we are in the new tax year how should you respond? Is now the time to take advantage of market-sell offs or is it best to hold fire?

With less than one month to go before the tax year ends on 5 April, there is still time to make the most of your tax allowances before you lose them. Here are five simple tax rules you can take advantage of before 5 April to reduce your tax liability and maximise your savings.

Increased turbulence on global stock markets has led many market commentators to ruminate on the possibility that the decade plus long bull run will soon come to an end.

The past few years has been difficult for those who invest for income, with much publicised dividend cuts

Looking at why time in the market, rather than timing the market, paid off

Your future self might just thank you

It is not just the home that can benefit from a spring clean, it makes sense to sharpen up your investment portfolio too to make sure it still aligns with your long-term goals.

The increasing popularity of share buybacks in the UK market

Financial first footing could see geopolitical upheaval vying with social, economic and environmental crises as the key influences in the year ahead.

Discussing the evolution of UK Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs),

With around six weeks left until the end of the tax year, it’s a natural moment to take stock.

If you are on course to be eligible for the new full State Pension, it is worth knowing that what you might receive in one hand, could be taken by another.

Lifetime ISA queries – the account, its flexibility and your money