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Welcome to the season of perpetual hope

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’.

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Rotation should be a beautiful word for investors

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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Are over complicated rules clogging up the housing market?

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.

 

What would a change in IHT look like?

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 versus Passive Investing

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.

Click here to see the full article.

 

*Morningstar Asset Flows, showing registered funds Worldwide including the US in US Dollar.

Rising house prices increase the number of people paying Inheritance Tax (IHT)

Higher house process and a frozen nil rate band mean more people are paying IHT.  Andy Butcher provided comment to The Telegraph on the matter, arguing the main tax-free allowance (the nil rate band) should be increased.

To read the full article please click here.

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.

 

Andy Butcher features in the Financial Times

Over the weekend, Andy Butcher featured in the ‘Your Questions’ section of the Financial Times, answering a readers’ question on Inheritance Tax (IHT) matters.

The online article can be found here:  Will we inherit our mother’s house — or will our stepfather?

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 a subscription to the Financial Times is required in order to read the full article.  We are not affiliated with the Financial Times and the views and information expressed on their website are their own.