Pensions Advice, Retirement Planning - Investment Financial Adviser Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland UK

Posted by William on November 10th, 2008 in UK Financial Advice

Since my last article on on “what to do with your endowment policies” seems to have caused more than a little interest I thought it was a good time to give you a little update. As the markets continue their rocky road, with-profit investors are bound to be concerned. However UK life offices do operate in a heavily regulated environment these days and whilst it’s clear that performance will be affected, the general consensus is that there are no nasty surprises lying in wait.

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Posted by William on October 7th, 2008 in UK Financial Advice

Okay, I hate to say I told you so, but there’s little joy in being right about the final US treasury approval of the $700 billion dollar bailout plan… doing virtually nothing. The rescue plan has done very little to calm jittery financial markets everywhere. I really didn’t think it would halt the downward slide when it was proposed and that certainly seems to be the case. Incredible way to blow nearly a trillion dollars of tax payer cash though - wow!

Yesterday in response, unconvinced financial minds, brokers and investors forced the FTSE to a gloomy new record - Monday 6th October 2008 saw the lowest drop in the FTSE value in one day that it has ever experienced.

The Asians are not convinced the cash injection has done the trick either - yesterday the Nikkei dropped to it’s lowest level since 2004. The Yen is rising whilst the Euro and GBP head in the opposite direction. Government Gilts are being snapped up as folks scramble for security.

Covered bonds are in sharp focus too. These are mortgages/loans to the public sector - which are ’secure’ or ‘covered’ by a pool of assets. They are subject to stiffer regulation and those issuing the bonds must make sure their assets reserves consistently cover/back their covered bonds. Institutions which have access to them are set to fare better in weathering the worsening credit/mortgage crisis here in UK.

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Posted by William on September 2nd, 2008 in UK Financial Advice

Hi all,

This is a very common question and one I deal with on a regular basis. As ever there isn’t only one set answer. The first thing you need to establish is what type of policy you hold. Continue reading this post…

Posted by William on August 14th, 2008 in UK Financial Advice

Hi all, great to be back - with somewhat of an apology for the scarcity of my posts lately. It’s been a simple case of “nose to the grindstone” serving clients and also taking some much needed R n’ R with family hols. With all of that said, the last quarter has been one of the most exciting periods (or that may read “frightening” depending on how your personal finances are set). Scanning the financial headlines brings up some obvious culprits… Continue reading this post…