We spend so much of our lives online that protecting our digital selves is now as important as protecting any other asset. Cybercriminals continue to find more devious and more sophisticated ways to access passwords, bank accounts, and personal identification data. And large-scale hacks like the 2017 Equifax breach underscore just how vulnerable our data […]
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You have probably noticed that most of the things that the “experts” are warning you to prepare for are things beyond your control. Rather than stare into a crystal ball and make predictions, we prefer to look at our clients’ priorities and hopes and focus on how we can help people get the best life […]
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It’s been said that volatility is a tax that investors have to pay for harnessing the wealth-building power of the financial markets. But rationalising market fluctuations doesn’t make them any less nerve-wracking, especially if you’re nearing retirement age. Some investors react to volatility like they’re living in the path of a hurricane. They board up […]
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As part of our Life-Centered Planning process, we’ve talked about how market volatility is a normal part of investing. We’ve also discussed how we’ve structured your investments to “weather the storm” and maintain a comfortable level of income for you and your family during turbulent times. But we also understand that even folks who are […]
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“Oil falls on middle-east uncertainty.” When financial markets are volatile, you often hear that “uncertainty” is the cause. This suggests that uncertainty comes and goes, but because financial markets are forward looking, and because the future is unpredictable, investors must cope with uncertainty all the time. That can be hard, especially in volatile periods when […]
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Why, day in and day out, do you do the things that you do? Because you have to? Because you want to? Because you’ve had the same routine for years and you’re used to it? If you feel like your life is something that just happens to you, it’s time to reassess how you’re spending […]
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Are you happy and content? We are generally wealthier than we were a few decades ago. Our standard of living has increased. Healthcare has improved. But we are no happier than we were back then… So where does that leave us – what should we do? How can we use the money we have to […]
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New Main Residence Nil Rate Band Planning This will benefit individuals with direct descendants who have an estate, which includes a main residence, with total assets above the current inheritance tax threshold, or nil-rate band. What is the “Main Residence Nil Rate Band”? It will introduce an additional nil-rate band when a residence is passed […]
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We’re well into the new year now and after President Trump’s inauguration on Friday past I thought it might be useful to reflect on the past year. In 2016, the UK market reached new highs and stocks in a majority of developed and emerging market countries delivered positive returns. UK investors with overseas assets benefited […]
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Establishing and defining goals can be a daunting prospect for most of us. If you’re like me you tend to shy away from that and think about something else. Talking about the future in definite terms isn’t easy for many of us. Taking the time to think about the future in the distracted world we […]
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