Posts by Richard Jackson
Two weeks that shook the world: reacting to Ukraine
The invasion of Ukraine has shaken emotions and certainties as the world watches a growing humanitarian disaster. The reactions of global markets, which had misread President Putin’s strategy as much as many politicians, were similarly sent into crisis mode. On Thursday 24 February, Europe woke to the news that Russia’s forces had entered Ukraine from…
Read MoreNot quite as safe as houses – the rising cost of bricks and mortar
House prices rose by around 10% in 2021 – their fastest pace in 15 years – but that is no guarantee of what may come in 2022. Relying on bricks and mortar to boost your finances may no longer be as attractive as it once was. Source: Nationwide Just as inflation enjoyed an unexpected leap in…
Read MoreYear of the Tiger: Happy new tax year?
We’re now in the year of the Tiger according to the Chinese zodiac, which can symbolise resilience and strength. That may well be required after Wednesday 6 April ushers in the new 2022/23 tax year. New years are normally a cause – or excuse – for celebration, even if the pandemic has changed that in recent…
Read MoreThe patchwork effect of rising inflation
2021 ended with inflation sitting at 5.4%, but it may not have felt like that to you. You may have caught the food campaigner Jack Monroe on TV and radio interviews recently highlighting how the uneven effects of inflation on the most basic foodstuffs can have a disproportionate effect on lower-income groups. Her intervention has…
Read MoreHolding back the years: the new State Pension Age dilemma
The government has nearly finished its review of the next stage of State Pension Age (SPA) increases. But changes to life expectancy figures pose a significant, and potentially expensive, dilemma. A review of State Pension ages from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) back in March 2017 stirred initial controversy. The report by John…
Read MoreNew Covid-19 business support package available – apply by February 28
A new support package has been announced to assist businesses impacted by the Covid-19 Omicron variant. Applications are open to the end of February, but many have said the measures don’t go far enough given the extensive losses suffered in the hospitality and leisure sectors over the festive period. Although no businesses were legally required…
Read MoreShift your focus to tax year-end planning
With Christmas and New Year behind us, tax year-end planning should now be on your radar. The 2021/22 tax year will end on Tuesday 5 April. This year there is no Spring Budget and Easter arrives on 15 April, so no obstacles stand in the way of year-end tax planning. Nevertheless, the sooner you start…
Read MoreUncertainties removed on two key personal taxes
The future of two important personal taxes – inheritance and capital gains – has finally been clarified, simplifying aspects of year-end planning.The extended wait highlights the difficulty of changing useful revenue-raising measures in uncertain times. Four years ago, in January 2018, when there seemed to be both appetite and scope for reformation of the tax…
Read MoreShare market performance: our 2021 investment wrap-up
The world’s share markets generally produced solid returns in 2021, but UK stocks and fixed-interest investments suffered. Maintaining an international outlook in your portfolio can help underpin its value. 2021 was a good year for most investors in share-based funds, particularly those who had holdings linked to the US market. Despite the optimism around the…
Read MoreLearning lessons from rising inflation and interest rates
As 2021 drew to a close, inflation finally forced the Bank of England’s hand. What will higher rates mean for you? The November inflation figures, released in mid-December, once again exceeded the Bank of England’s (BoE) expectations. At the start of November, the BoE had said that CPI inflation was “expected to peak at around…
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