Ipswich Financial Adviser

Archive for the ‘Investments’ Category

What do you do if your ISA is not performing? You may well have ISA’s (Individual Savings Accounts) that you have invested in and the performance is not what you had hoped for.

There is a solution to this; the top tip is NOT to cash them in, unless you actually need the money for something. This relates to cash ISA’s or investment linked ISA’s.

It is much better to SWITCH the ISA to another provider. By switching you can then get better performance or a better interest rate on your ISA monies. If you surrender and cash in your ISA, then you will loose the tax efficient status that the ISA gives you.

If you need any help or advice on the correct ISA for you, please contact Thompson Financial Consulting and we’ll be happy to help.

The value of investments and the income from them can go down as well as up and an investor may not get back the amount invested. Past performance is not a guide to future performance.

If you are fortunate enough to have savings or investments and these are not in a tax efficient vehicle like an ISA, it is likely you will have to pay tax on the interest you receive at your prevailing income tax level. This could be nil, 20% or 40% of the interest you receive.

But what if your spouse has a lower income tax level than you? The sensible thing to do would be to put some or all the money into your spouses name so that any interest received would be taxed at your spouse’s lower income tax rate. Simple but very effective!

Always check with your tax adviser and financial adviser before making any changes to your savings or investments to ensure you don’t trigger any other taxes, but on most occasions you can prevent paying unnecessary tax to the HRMC.

If you would like any help or advice on this matter please contact Thompson Financial Consulting Ltd

The value of investments and the income from them can go down as well as up and an investor may not get back the amount invested. Past performance is not a guide to future performance.

If you are over 50 years old in the 2009 /2010 tax year then you can take advantage of the increased ISA allowances from the 6th October this year. All other ISA investors will have to wait until 6th April 2010 for the increased limits.

The ISA limit will be raised to £10,200, of which £5,100 can be held in cash.

This is a wonderful opportunity to be able to invest your money in a tax efficient investment. Don’t miss out and even if you don’t have the full allowance it is still worth while utilising your ISA allowances.

If you require any help or advice please go to Thompson Financial Consulting Ltd

The value of investments and the income from them can go down as well as up and an investor may not get back the amount invested. Past performance is not a guide to future performance.

Investment Tips.

But what does this word RISK actually mean when you talk about investing, well it is really quite straight forward if you replace the word risk with “volatility” it becomes much clearer.  How much volatility, (the amount your money swings up and down in value),  are you prepared to accept within your investment. The more volatility you are prepared to accept the more  potential you have to increase the long term returns that you may receive.

This is one of the key things to consider when you are investing within (pensions, ISA’s, Unit Trusts, OEIC etc) as this will dictate the potential returns and losses you may receive.

I find when I asked my cleints about volatility NOT risk,  we can quickly and easily tailor an approach which is correct for them.

So if you haven’t thought about your investments or pensions in this way, do so and make changes to ensure you are comfortable with how your investments or pensions are set up. Please contact me if you need any help or advice.

Contact me at Thompson Financial Consulting Ltd

The value of investments and the income from them can go down as well as up and an investor may not get back the amount invested. Past performance is not a guide to future performance.

Are you on the edge of a cliff!

I come across many clients that invest in a manor that can only be described as ”at the edge of a cliff ” a very precarious place to be. This is down to a lack of knowledge as to how to invest money. These people choose to invest in one particular investment area, great if things are going well but NOT good when the investment sentiment turns against them. Their hard earned pension or investment money heads downwards at an alarming rate, just like falling off a cliff.

Make sure you diversify your investments, ISA’s  or pensions into different areas like Equities, Property, Gilts, Bonds, Cash and Commodities.  If investment sentiment turns against you, you are then a long way back from the “edge of the cliff.”

If you want more information or help in setting up portfolios for investing go to Thompson Financial Consulting Ltd

The value of investments and the income from them can go down as well as up and an investor may not get back the amount invested. Past performance is not a guide to future performance.