magazine archive
magazine archive
Personal Finance
If you're under 50 do you need to invest in bonds?
Thursday 03 Feb 2022The bond market is under pressure. High inflation and the potential for rising interest rates have led to price falls, which may be the beginning of a tougher period for bonds. That’s after a terrific decade in which they have enjoyed abundant returns, thanks to loose monetary policy. Bonds tend to...
When and how do I pay for charges on investments?
Thursday 27 Jan 2022It is common to pay fees when you put money into stocks, funds and bonds via a DIY investment platform. The initial and ongoing fees vary depending on what you own, how you invest and how much money you have invested on the platform. For example, with AJ Bell Youinvest you will be charged £1.50...
Key personal finance dates for your 2022 diary
Thursday 13 Jan 2022This year is bringing a whole host of changes to personal finances, from the introduction of a new tax to certain paper notes being phased out. Here’s a run-through of what’s happening in 2022 and the key finance dates for your diary. Train fares increased by 3.8% at the start of the year, which...
House price boom presents problem for Lifetime ISA savers
Thursday 16 Dec 2021House prices in the UK are rising at the fastest rate since before the financial crisis, with no signs of the market slowing down since the stamp duty holiday ended. The latest Halifax House Price Index shows that on a quarterly basis, the house price growth of 3.4% over the past three months is...
How to avoid a Christmas debt hangover
Thursday 02 Dec 2021Tis the season to spend lots of money, as the famous song (doesn’t) go, and many people may have already started their Christmas spending already. Whether it’s presents to go under the tree, buying food to host on the big day or kitting the house out in decorations, the festive season is often...
The magic number for portfolio diversification
Thursday 25 Nov 2021Diversification is a universally agreed principle of portfolio management, for both professional and DIY investors. However, there’s less consensus when it comes to achieving this in practice and also answering one of the key questions investors often ask about allocating their money: what’s the...
How to make charity donations as tax efficient as possible
Thursday 18 Nov 2021As we near the end of 2021, many people might be thinking about what donations to charity they plan to make this Christmas or before the end of the year. Many people decide to gift money as part of their Christmas giving, but anyone planning to be charitable this year should make sure they’re doing...
How to beat rising interest rates
Thursday 11 Nov 2021The Bank of England surprised markets by keeping interest rates on hold at 0.1% on 4 November but says it will probably hike rates in the coming months. Beyond that, more interest rate rises almost certainly lie in store, though they might be slow and steady. The Bank won’t want to put too much...
Reached 45% tax? How to reduce your investment tax bill, legally
Thursday 04 Nov 2021Many retirees will get a combination of income from their pension and from their investments and property holdings. However, they are subject to the same tax rules as someone earning that income when they are employed. This means once you hit an income of £150,000 you will start to pay tax at 45%,...
Don’t get carried away by bitcoin’s ETF-inspired surge
Thursday 28 Oct 2021Bitcoin has hit a new record high, prompted in part by the launch of the ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF, the first ETF tracking the cryptocurrency to be launched in the US. Other ETF launches are said to be waiting in the wings. This raises the question of whether bitcoin is now in the middle of a...