If you asked me to sum up in three words how the markets performed last year, I would say “better than expected.” There were more than a few surprises. We headed into 2023 on a turbulent note and then the markets soared, surpassing the most optimistic forecasts. It was a Read More >>
This year marks the 20th anniversary of Belmayne Independent Chartered Financial Planners LLP – to give us our full Sunday name! It gives me great pleasure to write this blog, as I have been here from the start and have witnessed firsthand the trials and tribulations that have taken place Read More >>
The festive period might feel like a dim and distant memory, but for some, the repercussions last a lifetime. Christmas can bring stress and heartache for families under financial or emotional strain and if the cracks in your relationship are already starting to appear, it can prompt some big changes Read More >>
What do you imagine when you think about a happy retirement? Chasing grandchildren across the lawn? Relaxing on the deck of a cruise ship? Playing golf with your mates? All of the above??? Whatever comes to mind, you need to consider how you are going to get there. A couple Read More >>
Proof plays such an important role in our lives – innocent until proven guilty being the most fundamental example. We would never expect a jury to base a conviction on someone’s say so, or start taking a new medicine that hadn’t been tested. So, if someone told you an investment Read More >>
Government statistics show four in ten adults are not saving enough for retirement. As a financial planner, that worries me greatly. Despite combined efforts by providers, the government and key stakeholders to encourage individuals and employers to engage with their pensions, the message is clearly not getting through. So, how Read More >>
I realise income protection is not a terribly exciting concept, but it is nonetheless important and something that is often overlooked. Safeguarding what you already have is one of the three main pillars of financial planning and essential to your wellbeing. Putting as little as five or ten percent of Read More >>
You’d be forgiven for wondering if your investments are ever going to make any money at the moment. In the last three years, we have witnessed the sharpest fall in equity markets ever seen, followed by the worst conditions for fixed interest assets on record. It’s been one thing after Read More >>
When was the last time you reviewed the plans you’ve made for retirement? Pensions are not a ‘once and done’ thing. Life’s milestones often change the way we view retirement and what we hope to achieve from it. These changes potentially mean adjusting the provisions we have in place. For Read More >>
The European banking giant, Credit Suisse, found itself in trouble recently, which I’m sure you saw in the media. It spooked investors and its share price fell by a quarter of its value in a single day. Thankfully, the Swiss National Bank threw its beleaguered compatriot a £44 billion lifeline Read More >>
