Bath & West Wealth Management

WeekWatch - 23/09/2024 Investors began the week digesting news of a second assassination attempt on Donald Trump, but otherwise all eyes were looking towards the US Federal Reserve and whether it would cut interest rates for the first time in more than four years. In the run-up to Wednesday’s announcement, market bets i...

Are you prepared for any upcoming tax rises and price increases;

Are you prepared for any upcoming tax rises and price increases Financially, it’s been a difficult few years for households, across all income brackets. As a result, many families focused down on day to day costs, at the expense of longer term investing and pension saving. Now, the government is widely reported to have its sights on raising certain taxes too, ...

WeekWatch - 09/09/2024 For much of the post-COVID period, equity markets have been largely driven by strong returns from massive companies collectively dubbed ‘The Magnificent Seven,’ thanks to their excellent performance.

WeekWatch - 02/09/2024 The wider media interest in Nvidia’s second quarter results last week demonstrated just how important a few large technology companies have become to the US market.

Should I save or invest? How to choose wisely, and well..

Should I save or invest? How to choose wisely, and well When we talk about saving and investing, we generally think of them as the two main ways to set money aside for the future. It can be easy to confuse them as one and the same thing – or think that you should opt for one or the other.

WeekWatch - 24/06/2024 UK stocks climbed last week, as inflation returned to the Bank of England’s target 2% rate for the first time since 2021.

Should I pay to top up my State Pension?

Should I pay to top up my State Pension? To get the full State Pension, you now need 35 qualifying years of NICs. If you’ve got between 10 and 35, you’ll get a pro rata amount, but if you’ve got less than 10, you won’t be eligible for any State Pension.

How much does private education cost?

How much does private education cost? Spending money on private education is often seen as the best way to set your children up for future success. But if you thought choosing the right school – and getting in – was hard, the scale of the fees and the financial commitment required is enormous.

WeekWatch - 28/05/2024 Although a month is a long time in politics, current opinion polls suggest the incumbent Prime Minister faces a steep, uphill battle to remain in his post. Instead, it is Sir Keir Starmer and the Labour Party who are heavy favourites to come out on top.

WeekWatch - 20/05/2024 Stock markets continued to grow last week, as improving inflationary data in the US encouraged continued optimism from investors.

Why income protection is more than just a safety net;

Why income protection is more than just a safety net Income protection insurance pays a regular monthly amount if you can’t work because you’re unwell, or suffer an injury that results in a loss of earnings. Knowing that, if you suddenly couldn’t work, the mortgage and bills would still be paid, can take a real weight off your shoulders, and mea...

WeekWatch - 13/05/2024 The tradition of May festivities dates to Roman times and the celebration of Flora, the goddess of flowers. The UK has got Michael Foot to thank for the May Day bank holiday, which he introduced in 1978 when he was the Labour Employment Secretary.

Don’t leave your family an avoidable IHT bill;

Don’t leave your family an avoidable IHT bill Inheritances can be life changing. An inherited lump sum can send children or grandchildren to great schools, or on great gap years. They can mean a mortgage paid off early, or a new business launched.

WeekWatch If the market values of the big-tech Magnificent Seven were combined, it would create the second-largest stock exchange in the world.

WeekWatch - 22/04/2024 A survey last year confirmed the chocolate digestive as the UK’s favourite biscuit. So, last week’s news that a fall in the price of chocolate biscuits had contributed to UK inflation hitting its lowest level in two-and-a-half years would have been welcomed by many.

CIO Investment Insights Q2 2024: Making Sense of Valuations;

CIO Investment Insights Q2 2024: Making Sense of Valuations In this update, I want to discuss an important principle that guides how we invest: valuations. Valuations are a way to help us ignore the hype and to identify areas of the market that truly represent good value.

What’s changing and what’s not – your new tax year checklist;

What’s changing and what’s not – your new tax year checklist In a welcome move in his Spring budget, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt cut employee National Insurance Contributions for the second time this year. But with tax thresholds frozen, many people find themselves slipping into a higher tax band – and paying more tax.

Growing firms face challenges, but there are positive signs for the year ahead News that the UK went into recession at the end of 2023 is a reminder of the tough economic environment facing small businesses. But despite this, the outlook for SMEs in the UK is cautiously optimistic.

How to give your whole family a head start this year When you’re in your 40s and 50s, you can sometimes feel like you’re financing three generations, not just one. Many people find themselves caught in the ‘sandwich’ generation – responsible for both their children’s future financial wellbeing and that of their parents. At the same time, y...

Why do we find it hard to save for our future self? It used to be a favourite closing question in job interviews – and it could really put you on the spot. But imagining your career in ten years’ time can feel far easier than imagining yourself twenty or thirty years’ from now. Job-free, family-free, and free to live the life you want.

Can I pass on my pension when I die?

Can I pass on my pension when I die? Many people only start thinking about inheritance when they’re writing their Will*. Deciding who gets what, and how much, certainly focuses your mind. But there is real value, and tax-efficiency, in financial planning that considers retirement and inheritance as part of the same long-term, family ...

Making the most of your ISAs before tax year-end

Making the most of your ISAs before tax year-end We’re all used to checking we’ve made the most of all those annual tax allowances as we head into tax year-end. But it’s also the perfect time to review whether you’re still getting value for money from your Cash ISAs. With many of us still needing to keep a watchful eye on family finances, ...

Do I have to sell my home to pay for care?

Do I have to sell my home to pay for care? It can seem like ‘tempting fate’ to start planning for social care if you might not need it. But an unexpected change in our health or mental capacity can catch us out and put the whole family under financial pressure. It really is important therefore to start to think about this early, and open...

WeekWatch - 28/11/2022 Equity markets trended higher last week, as investors were allowed a sliver of optimism around the future of the global economy.

How to build and maintain wealth for the long term in the middle of a recession

How to build and maintain wealth for the long term in the middle of a recession The Bank of England has declared that the UK is now in recession and that it will extend deep into 2023.1 For anyone looking to build or maintain their wealth in these circumstances, advice is essential. While speaking to your adviser is always a good idea no matter what’s going on in the wider wo...