Wealth By Nick

05/10/2024

Do UK equity returns change depending on which political party is in power in the UK?

This is a common question we are receiving with the Autumn budget fast approaching. The above graph shows UK equity returns from 1997 to 2024. The red lines are when labour were in power, and the blue lines are when the conservatives were in power.

As shown, there has been no connection between which political party is in power and how well UK equities have performed. Over the period we have reviewed, UK equities have generally produced positive returns for investors, regardless of which political party was in power.

Stock markets are influenced by domestic and international factors, making it challenging to attribute market performance solely to a governing party.

Graph Source: Financial Express, up until 23rd May 2024.

Disclaimer: The value of your investments can go up as well as down.

11/09/2024

Making the leap from the financial security of income during your career, to retirement, can be a significant life change.

A financial advisor can help assess your current financial situation, and develop a personalized financial plan to navigate through this period.

Reach out to see how I can provide confidence and peace of mind to your retirement.

Disclaimer: The value of your investments can go up as well as down.

14/05/2024

Are you coming to the end of your fixed-rate mortgage period? As many as 1.6 million mortgage borrowers will roll off their fixed rate mortgages over the course of this year.

The average two-year fixed rate mortgage is now 5.93%, and the average five-year fix is 5.5%.

These rates are likely to be a lot higher than borrowers have been used to. It may be worth speaking to a mortgage advisor to find the cheapest deal that you may be eligible for.

Savers should have some comfort that there are at least 1,364 savings accounts available within the UK that still beat inflation. Money that outgrows inflation will not lose real monetary value over time.

There are alternative investment opportunities besides cash that may outgrow inflation. There may be some investment risk with alternative investments that can cause your money to go down, as well as up.

Information obtained from (The Money Facts, Nationwide).

Your property may be repossessed if you do not keep up with the repayments on your mortgage.

13/05/2024

Dreaming of owning your own home? When purchasing a new house, it’s essential to consider all the costs involved beyond the deposit.

By factoring in all these expenses up front, you can make an informed decision and budget effectively for the total costs of buying a new house.

It is important to note that this is not individual advice and legislation is subject to change.

Please feel free to contact me for more information.

It is important to remember that your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up with mortgage payments.

01/05/2024

Exciting news for savers and investors! You can save or invest up to £20,000 into an ISA ‘wrapper’ during the 2024/25 tax year.

The best part? You will not pay any tax on your investment growth or returns. In addition, you will not pay any income or capital gains tax on withdrawals from ISA wrappers.

It’s time to make your money work for you!

All information has been source from (Paragon & Hargreaves Lansdown).

This post does not constitute advice and is guidance only.

25/04/2024

Are you ready to take charge of your financial future? In today's post, I'm addressing the 5 most common questions I've received about personal pensions.

From understanding contribution limits, to exploring tax relief, death benefits, or retirement age eligibility, I'm here to provide clarity and guidance.

All information has been sourced from (NI Direct, Standard Life and Money Helper). This post is guidance only and does not constitute advice.

Please drop me a DM if you require more information.

17/04/2024

‘Buy low, sell high’ is a common phrase used amongst investors trying to time the market.

However, in reality, how likely is this theory to succeed?

Negative news may give you cause for concern, and you may find yourself questioning whether your decision to invest was the right one. You might be tempted to switching your investments to cash.

However, long term investing should be about spending ‘time in the market’, rather than trying to ‘time the market’.

The value of your investments can go down as well as up, so you could get back less than you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

This post does not constitute advice and is guidance only.

All information has been sourced from (Bank Rate, Standard Life & FT Adviser).

12/04/2024

Would you notice if £9,470 went missing from your bank account? Of course you would.

1 in 4 people have lost track of a pension worth £9,470. An extra £9,470 could make a big difference to your current or future retirement planning.

It is relatively easy to track lost pensions down:

1. Contact your old employer to find the pension provider.

2. Follow the government gateway website (link provided below).

https://www.gov.uk/find-pension-contact-details

Go and find the money you worked hard to get.

(All the information is from ABI, Standard Life and Gov.UK).

Find the contact details for a pension provider by using the Pension Tracing Service

10/04/2024

Is your remortgage on the horizon? Don't miss out on potential savings by remortgaging or product transfer.

The below images will explain how these options can help you potentially reduce monthly repayments, borrow more against your house, and much more.

This post is for information only and should not be relied on as a recommendation or advice that any mortgage is suitable for you.

All mortgages are subject to the applicant(s) meeting the eligibility criteria of lenders. Make an appointment to receive mortgage advice suitable for your needs and circumstances’.

Your property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

All information has been sourced from (Newcastle building society, Barclays Bank & Money Saving Expert).

23/03/2024

Are you a first-time buyer in Wales looking to step onto the property ladder? The Help to Buy shared equity loan is designed to make home ownership more achievable and affordable.

This government-backed scheme allows first-time buyers to borrow up to 20% of the purchase price of a new build home. The scheme has a maximum house price of £300,000.

The scheme allows for a 5% deposit, which is less than you would usually need to get a mortgage without a Help to Buy loan.

Please drop me a message or visit the official Help to Buy Wales website for further information.

21/03/2024

The aim of this page is to provide information on pensions, investments, mortgages, protection, and other financial topics in simple English.

I believe that financial planning should be available to everyone, not just the wealthy.

I hope you find this page useful and interesting. Please feel free to follow, like, comment, and share your thoughts and questions.

Please see a summary of our 6 steps to financial freedom:

1. Establish and define the client-partner relationship (What do you want?) - We seek to understand you as a person and your aspirations. What do you want out of life, what do you want for you and your family, what are the likely financial implications of these objectives, both now and in the future.

2. Gather client data (Where are you now?) - We then dig deeper to establish your precise financial position and how financial decisions you have taken in the past have impacted your current and future arrangements.

3. Speak to me (Analyse and evaluate financial status) - Are your current plans and investments good, average or bad? Do they still meet with your current objectives, attitude to risk and personal taxation position? If not, what actions are required?

4. Make a plan (Develop a Financial Planning recommendation) - Referred to as your Personal Financial Plan. We design a highly personalised written plan around the objectives you have shared with us. The plan will consider in some detail where you are now, where you wish to get to and provide some specific recommendations on how to get there. It will also incorporate your attitude to personal investment risk, and any ethical considerations you have highlighted. By looking at the “bigger picture”, we are able to create a fully integrated plan precisely relevant to your own circumstances.

5. Start your plan (Implement the Financial Planning recommendation) - Having first agreed on any recommendations made, the next step is to implement them. This will normally consist of the completion of relevant paperwork with full assistance provided by our highly professional and qualified Client Services Team.

6. Monitor & Review (Monitor the Financial Planning recommendation ) – To review your plan on a regular basis (At least annually but more frequently if required). Your circumstances will change, markets rarely stand still, tax law alters and new opportunities continually arise. For these reasons we believe that it is imperative that we undertake a proactive review service. This is achieved through our Annual Review Programme.