Growth plan newsletter

What the Chancellor, Kwasi Kwarteng, presented to the House of Commons on Friday was definitively not a Budget; it was ‘The Growth Plan’. The sixth chancellor since 2016 was careful to avoid the B word, despite the huge sums of spending and borrowing that he announced – greater than in most, if not any, real Budgets, let alone mini-Budgets. When the Autumn Budget proper emerges – probably in November or December it is most unlikely to contain anywhere near such a wide range of radical and costly measures as were announced on 23 September.

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Financial markets make progress in July against a difficult backdrop

The investing environment could hardly be more challenging. Global economic activity is slowing, Western developed economies are flirting with recession, inflationary pressures are extremely elevated, and Western central banks remain committed to raising interest rates in a concerted effort to bring them under control. The geopolitical backdrop is still as dark as ever; the war in Ukraine continues, China’s bellicose threats against the United States ahead of House speaker, Mrs Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Asia have become more pointed. Europe faces a natural gas shortage over the coming winter, Dr Mario Draghi’s Italian government has collapsed, while in the UK, the same fate has befallen Mr Boris Johnson’s administration.

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IHT receipts soar to £6.1 billion

As the latest Inheritance Tax statistics show a record £6.1 billion haul for the government, Andy Butcher spoke with The Telegraph and the Express.

Inheritance Tax could be ‘scrapped’ as Capital Gains would tax Baby Boomer wealth ‘fairly’

Inheritance tax take hits record high – and the number of families paying will double by 2026

There are various ways to reduce ones IHT liability.  If you would like to discuss this further, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Please note that you are required to register with the Telegraph in order to read the full article.  We are not affiliated with The Telegraph or the Express and the views and information expressed on their websites are their own.

Deciphering the Market’s Difficult Message

More than 200 years ago, a French military officer stumbled across the Rosetta Stone, a 2000-year-old carving with clues to deciphering the Egyptian hieroglyphs that had puzzled the world for centuries. We don’t exactly have a Rosetta Stone for our perplexing market’s future – no one does. But just as the Rosetta Stone opened a window into Egypt’s mysterious past, we have some clues that might help investors crack the code in the coming months.

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Five Months Into The Year

Every year is different from what you expect, and that is particularly true in financial markets. It is easier to say over the first five months of 2022 which investment areas have lost you money, especially if you also factor in the enhanced inflationary backdrop. There will always be some element of volatility in financial market investment, but it still plays the most essential role in any pension fund portfolio or medium-term financial target. What really matters is maintaining confidence during times of uncertainty.

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Challenges and Opportunities in May

Whilst the spring weather continues to warm, plenty of financial sector issues continue to worry global investors across both equity and bond markets. Meanwhile heightened inflation levels continued to impact bank account balances, and the war in Ukraine has led to many tragedies along with heightened geopolitical, commodity and supply concerns.

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Come Together

It has been 60 years since the Beatles signed their first record deal. The rock group from Liverpool dominated the industry for nearly a decade – and long after that as individual performers. John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr created timeless tunes and memorable messages that we can borrow today to portray our economic and financial market outlook.

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Spring Budget comments

Following the latest spring budget, the ‘Wealth Briefing’ website picked up Andy Butcher’s comments on the increase in the National Insurance threshold amidst a rising cost of living crisis.

UK Tries To Ease Cost-Of-Living Pain As Inflation Runs Hot – Wealth Managers’ Reactions.

If you would like to discuss your financial position with us, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Please note that we are not affiliated with the Wealth Briefing and the views and information expressed on their website are their own.