Wilkinson Financial Management

20/05/2026

📢 ‼️ Charity Event Alert ‼️ 📢

🥾The team at WFM are taking on the Cotswold Way Trek on 27th June, raising money for the St. James’s Place Foundation. Carrie, Tach & Veronica are aiming to complete the half marathon course, while Richard 'stupidly' agreed (months ago) to do the full marathon route 😥🥾

💰We would welcome any support you can provide to benefit a foundation which provides grant funding to charities up and down the country. See Just Giving link below 👇🏼

🔗

Help Wilkinson Financial Management - Team WFM raise money to support St. James's Place Charitable Foundation

18/05/2026

Last week's market update in 6 minutes:
bit.ly/week-watch-18-05-2026

📈 Stock Take - UK government bond yields continued rising last week, as UK government leadership challenges and international questions increasingly weighed on investor minds.
💷 Wealth Check - The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is looking into how investment companies treat bereaved customers, to assess whether they are getting the right support.
📷 In The Picture - St. James's Place has published its fifth Financial Health Report, carried out by Opinium. It found that financial resilience has fallen since 2025, as cost of living pressures continue.

11/05/2026

Last week's market update in 6 minutes:
bit.ly/week-watch-11-05-2026

📈 Stock Take - Following bruising local election results, media reports have been awash with gossip around the prime minister Keir Starmer’s future.
💷 Wealth Check - Homebuyers committed more than a fifth (21.3%) of their gross income to meeting mortgage payments in 2025, the highest level since the global financial crisis.
📷 In The Picture - UK intermediate and long-term gilt yields are all at, or near, multi-year highs. This reflects a tough global economic outlook, but also specific domestic concerns (weak economy, high reliance on imported energy, political uncertainty).
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05/05/2026

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq ended the week at record highs. Despite a spike in energy prices, market sentiment remained upbeat, supported by a strong corporate earnings season and positive AI newsflow.

With reporting season nearly over, the four key US-based cloud operators Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services/AWS, Google Cloud and Meta (known as hyperscalers), all reported strong double-digit revenue growth, reflecting strong end-user demand and a payoff for the high spending already undertaken.

This is encouraging these companies, which account for almost 20% of the S&P 500’s weighting, to raise their already aggressive spending plans. Ahead of first quarter 2026 results, they were forecast to spend just over $650 billion on capital expenditure in 2026. Cumulatively, this figure is now set to be over $700 billion. The week ended with Apple also reporting strong earnings.

So far this quarter, US companies have reported annual earnings growth of almost 30%, more than four times the mid-single digit average growth recorded over the past five years.

Read more: bit.ly/week-watch-05-05-2026

28/04/2026

US markets continue to rise despite ongoing US-Iran 'tug of war'

Upbeat sentiment towards technology and AI, together with another strong week of corporate earnings supported US markets. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite indices rose to new highs. Almost one third of companies in the S&P 500 have so far reported first quarter earnings, with the proportion reporting positive earnings surprises higher than average.

Chip manufacturers were sought out by buyers, fuelling upbeat investor sentiment across the technology sector. Investors believe these companies will play a crucial role as the use of AI broadens and competition between the main players intensifies.

Carlota Estragues Lopez, SJP’s equity strategist, commented on the US market’s narrow reliance on technology since the war started. Traditional hedges such as fixed income and gold have not worked as well as they have historically. She added: “This greater uncertainty has meant investors have been reluctant to sell risk to avoid being surprised on the upside.”

Read more: https://www.wilkinsonfinancialmgt.co.uk/article/detail/sjpp/weekwatch-27-04-2026.html

23/04/2026

Markets have continued their upward momentum, but the backdrop remains anything but straightforward.

Recent gains have been supported by easing energy prices and optimism around geopolitical developments. At the same time, inflation, interest rate expectations and global growth forecasts are still shifting.

It’s a reminder that markets can respond quickly to changing headlines - often before the full economic impact is clear.

While short-term sentiment has improved, uncertainty hasn’t disappeared. Different regions and sectors are being affected in different ways, from energy and tech to global supply chains.

As always, periods like this highlight the importance of keeping a long-term perspective, rather than reacting to each new development.

The value of investments may fall as well as rise, and you may get back less than you invested.

Read more: www.wilkinsonfinancialmgt.co.uk/article/detail/sjpp/weekwatch-20-04-2026.html

16/04/2026

As a team we have decided to take part in the Cotswold Way Trek which will test all of our strength and stamina.

Richard, Veronica, Carrie & Tach will form the WFM team on Saturday 27th June 2026.

If you can sponsor us, every contribution will go to the St. James's Place Charitable Foundation which is an integral part of our company and culture. The main focus of the Charitable Foundation is helping children and young people who have special needs or are disadvantaged, both in the UK and overseas.

Find out more about the challenge or make a donation via the link below 👇

bit.ly/wfm-cotswold-way-trek

13/04/2026

Markets have shown how quickly sentiment can shift.

A temporary ceasefire helped equities recover, with major indices regaining much of their recent losses. But beneath the surface, uncertainty remains. Energy prices, inflation expectations and consumer confidence are all moving in different directions.

Moments like this can feel encouraging, but they also highlight how reactive markets can be to short-term developments.

While volatility often dominates headlines, it’s worth remembering that markets have navigated similar periods before. Sharp movements, whether up or down, are a normal part of investing.

The focus for many investors remains on staying disciplined, rather than reacting to each new development.

The value of investments may fall as well as rise, and you may get back less than you invested

🔗 Read more: bit.ly/week-watch-13-04-2026

13/04/2026

Trusts are becoming a more common part of estate planning – but they’re not always straightforward.

They can offer a way to pass on wealth with greater control, while potentially helping to manage inheritance tax. This can be particularly relevant as rules evolve, including upcoming changes to how pensions are treated.

However, trusts come with their own set of rules, including potential tax charges and ongoing responsibilities. They’re not a one-size-fits-all solution, and how they’re structured can make a significant difference to the outcome.

For many, the key is understanding how a trust fits into the wider estate plan, rather than viewing it in isolation.

The levels and bases of taxation and reliefs from taxation can change at any time and are dependent on individual circumstances.

Read more: https://www.wilkinsonfinancialmgt.co.uk/article/detail/sjpp/can-a-trust-help-protect-your-estate.html

07/04/2026

Last week's market update in 6 minutes:
bit.ly/week-watch-07-04-26
📈Stock Take - Shares in the US and Europe enjoyed their first positive week since the start of the Iran war. In contrast, bond yields and the price of gold fell.
💷Wealth Check - The government has rejected calls to double the amount of time bereaved families will have to pay inheritance tax (IHT) on pension assets and on estates with qualifying agricultural and business property.
📷In The Picture - The Middle East is a key supplier of fertiliser. Together with the hike in production costs, the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz has caused prices to rise sharply, which could lead to higher global food prices if they remain elevated for long.

03/04/2026

Wishing all of our lovely clients and connections a Happy Easter filled with joy and time with their loved ones🐰🐣

Please note: our offices are now closed for the long weekend and will reopen on Tuesday 7th April.

If you need assistance before we reopen, please call us on 01625 780 790 and leave a voicemail message or email our Practice Manager, Tach: [email protected] for urgent matters.

We appreciate your understanding and look forward to helping you achieve you financial goals when we return.