I am not going to ask you about how your New Year resolutions are shaping up, but the observation above about the tenuous nature of many of them is a not unusual occurrence for many of us. Naturally, the same can happen with financial market predictions. Thoughts that appeared valid and respectful considerations about the upcoming twelve months, can seem by the end of January tarnished and facile. Such is the nature of financial markets.
An integral part of our investment process is getting the asset allocation right. Citywire publication, New Model Adviser wanted to look under the bonnet at how 3 firms manage money on behalf of their clients. Andy Butcher took part in the Asset Allocation roundtable discussion at the end of November. The transcript can be accessed below.
Asset Allocation Adviser Roundtable
If you would like to speak to us about your investments, please do not hesitate to contact us here.
As someone who needs glasses, I know firsthand that 20/20 vision and the ability to experience the beauty and clarity of life is amazing. As we embark on the start of a new year, clarity and foresight is exactly what investors are seeking, especially with the daily dose of unprecedented headlines we receive. In hindsight, the guidance our team of economists, strategists, and portfolio managers gave last year proved prescient as ~90% of our ten themes for 2019 were accurate.
The advice world is constantly changing. Where will we be in 12 months’ time, or even 20 years’ time? Andy Butcher spoke with the Citywire publication New Model Adviser about the future of advice.
You can listen to the podcast here.
If you would like to discuss any of the matters covered please feel free to get in touch.
Judging by the preponderance of retail sales offers throughout November in my email inbox, the rise and rise of ‘Black Friday’ should completely randomise the precise timing of this year’s Christmas retail spending. Similarly for those who think about financial markets, the three percent rise in pan-European indices during the eleventh month of this year – particularly when mated with the very low levels of volatility seen across the prices of many asset classes during the month – appears to have also pulled forward the traditional ‘Santa rally’.
October historically has always been a big month for investors. In my formative years back in the 1980s during one October, there was a major market crash (and weirdly simultaneously in the U.K. an extreme weather event in southern England), meanwhile those interested in older historical events will recall the events of October 1929 and the infamous capital market events back then. A lot has happened in the month of October that has just passed and whilst it is unlikely the history books will remember the tenth month of 2019 assertively, for investors thinking about prospects over the next year, it may have been critical.
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The Residential Nil Rate Band was introduced to increase the amount of one’s estate that can passed on free from inheritance tax. However the rules aren’t as straightforward as the could be.
Andy Butcher spoke to Harry Brennan of The Telegraph about the unnecessarily complicated rules around downsizing and the Residential Nil Rate Band.
To see the full article, click below:
How death taxes are killing the housing market
If you would like to discuss your IHT position and options to reduce your liability, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Please note that you are required to register with the Telegraph for free in order to read the full article. We are not affiliated with The Telegraph and the views and information expressed on their website are their own.
The “Wizard of Oz” celebrated a magical milestone in August, returning to the town of its original screening to commemorate its eightieth anniversary. Decades after its release, many of the movie’s characters and themes provide parallels to today’s economy and financial markets.
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The Chancellor recently commented on the current IHT framework, hinting that making changes or scrapping the tax was on his mind.
Australia reformed their death tax in 1979, and Andy Butcher spoke to the Telegraph on his preference for a similar system in the UK.
To see the full article, click below:
Australia scrapped inheritance tax 40 years ago – but did it work?
If you would like to discuss your IHT position and options to reduce your liability, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Please note that you are required to register with the Telegraph for free in order to read the full article. We are not affiliated with The Telegraph and the views and information expressed on their website are their own.
Active or passive investment has been a long-standing debate in the investment community, but has recently come to the fore again as the proportion of global equity assets managed passively moves towards 50% (up from below 20% ten years ago).*
Our Senior Investment Analyst Stuart Saberi looks at both sides of the debate in our latest comment piece and explains how we use a mix of both strategies when managing client portfolios.
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*Morningstar Asset Flows, showing registered funds Worldwide including the US in US Dollar.