Bonds are a unique asset class, offering investors returns at a lower risk level compared to stocks and shares. Yet they can be mysterious – particularly for new investors. In this guide, our Padiham financial planners explain how bonds work, their distinct features as well as their pros and cons…
The individual savings account (ISA) is one of the UK’s most powerful “vehicles” for someone to save and invest. Yet ISAs are also widely misunderstood and many people make needless mistakes with them, leading to missed opportunities for wealth growth. In this article, our team at Elmfield…
With the Bank of England (BoE) steadily raising the base rate, savers are seeing some benefits in the form of higher interest rates on their regular savings accounts and Cash ISAs. However, this could also lead some savers to pay tax on their interest, which perhaps they didn’t pay before…
Investing in shares, bonds and property can be rewarding – but also involves risk. How do you know what the value of your investment will be in the future? This uncertainty brings a lot of powerful human emotions into the equation like fear, excitement, apathy and overconfidence. Without careful…
The UK’s inflation surge in 2022 is persisting, despite efforts by the Bank of England (BoE) to bring it down to more “normal” levels (closer to 2%). Presently, inflation stands at 9.4% and could reach 10% or more by the end of the year. This is bad news for households, since the higher inflation goes, the less “buying power”…
The Bank of England (BoE) has raised the base rate four times in six months. With inflation now standing at 9%, some analysts believe further rises may be on the horizon. Rising interest rates have multiple effects on the economy and household finances. However, they can also have an impact on stock markets…
Investors can, of course, invest in companies and assets in their home countries. However, can you invest overseas – and should you? As financial planners, we believe there is a strong case for “global diversification” (spreading your investments across different countries). However, why is this often…
Many of us have been saddened and shocked by the stories coming out of Ukraine recently. At Elmfield, we hope for a swift and peaceful resolution to the conflict. As economic sanctions have been imposed by the West on Russia, global markets have been turbulent. On 24th February, for instance, as news of the invasion…
China’s economy has shown promise for quite some time. Pre-1978, China saw 6% annual GDP growth. Yet after this (i.e. when the state started relinquishing control over productive assets), the growth rate shot up to 9%. In 2021, the World Bank still projected 8.1% growth for China despite the challenges…
There are two main reasons to buy shares (e.g. via a fund). The first is to generate dividends from them over time – regular payments, out of company profits. The second is to hold them for a long time, with the intention of eventually selling them at a higher price than you bought them. You can even combine…
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