Since the Old Age Pension was introduced more than a century ago, it has provided a valuable income to millions of retirees. While just half a million people claimed their pension in 1908, by February 2019 this number had increased to 13 million. While changes have been made to the State Pension over the last […]
The coronavirus has not only inflicted huge emotional hardship across the world, but also vast economic damage. After a record-breaking 11-years of growth, the longest US bull run in history came to an end in the middle of March. Oil prices fell into negative territory, unemployment has soared, and many thousands of businesses are teetering […]
In recent months there has been significant volatility in global stock markets. Nowhere is this better illustrated than the Dow Jones which experienced its biggest one-day fall since 1987 on 12th March, and its biggest one-week rise since 1974 in the few days before Easter. Watching stock market turmoil can be stressful, especially if you […]
In recent months, there has barely been a part of the UK economy not hit by the coronavirus pandemic. With more than eight million staff furloughed and millions more freelance and self-employed workers struggling to generate an income, the government has resorted to a range of unprecedented measures to support the economy. In addition to […]
Over recent weeks, the news headlines have been dominated by one story. The health, economic and societal impact of the coronavirus pandemic have filled newspapers and news bulletins for a couple of months, and normal life has taken a back seat as we navigate the new normal. During these unprecedented times, it’s easy to have […]
If you’re an investor, you may have come across the phrase “time in the markets, not timing the markets.” What this means is that it is often more beneficial to stay invested for many years, rather than worrying about whether now is the best time to invest or to withdraw from the market. To help […]
Over the last few weeks, you may have found yourself with more time to tackle those little admin jobs that you have been putting off for months. To help you, we’ve put together this handy ten-point financial checklist of things you should consider doing. From finally sorting your will to applying for government coronavirus support, […]
In uncertain periods, it’s very easy for emotions to take over decisions. This is certainly true if we consider the recent stock market uncertainty caused as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Sharp falls in the market are worrying for any investor, and fear can be a powerful emotion. However, when your investing decisions are […]
If you’re an investor, you’ve probably come across the phrases ‘bull markets’ and ‘bear markets’. Indeed, over the last 12 months or so you may have seen both terms used to describe global stock markets! But what are bull and bear markets? Why do they occur? And should we be worried about the current bear […]
The last few weeks have seen an unprecedented change in the way the UK economy works. Supply of many goods and services has essentially dried up as workers stay at home and businesses furlough staff. Demand has also fallen off a cliff for all but the basic essentials. This combination of issues and the fact […]