Category: Investment
Our Guide to Individual Savings Accounts
Investing in an Individual Savings Account (ISA) is a tax-efficient, flexible method for future planning. One of the most attractive features of an ISA is its tax benefits – it’s immune to both Income Tax and Capital Gains Tax on any growth within the fund or on income you withdraw. This makes contributing to an ISA an intelligent decision for those looking to grow their wealth while minimising tax liabilities.
Making Better Investment Decisions
Investing is no longer a luxury reserved for the very wealthy; it's a financial necessity for everyone. Whether we're saving for retirement or our children's education, personal investing is crucial in securing our financial futures.
The perils of trying to time the market
The common adage 'buy low, sell high' might seem like a fool proof strategy for maximising investment returns. However, the reality is far more complex than simply trying to predict market fluctuations. Timing the market involves anticipating its highs and lows to buy when prices are at their lowest and sell when they peak.
Mastering Your Financial Future: The Power of Cash Flow Modelling
Investing can feel like navigating uncharted territory, particularly for those new to the field. With many options and strategies available, it's crucial to grasp what you aim to achieve with your investments clearly.
How bonds’ structure and tax advantages can help you pass on wealth
Investment bonds offer several benefits that some investors may be missing out on, and have become even more beneficial due to recent changes in tax regulations.
Maximising your investments in your 50’s
As you approach your 50s, securing a comfortable retirement becomes more urgent, making it essential to strategically optimise your investments for a retirement that aligns with your envisioned lifestyle and aspirations.
How to navigate ESG investing
ESG investing targets companies valuing environmental, social, and governance factors, fostering responsible practices for a sustainable future, and offering potential financial gains through high ESG scores.
DPMS Portfolio Commentary June 2023
After a frustrating Q1 2023, with a sustained market recovery derailed by banking failures, Q2 2023 has been a generally more positive quarter. This comes despite continued nervousness in the market related to the US debt ceiling being called into question (and swiftly resolved), sticky inflation in the UK, US & Europe and possible further interest rate hikes and China’s sluggish economic recovery.
Guide to setting up a future for my grandchildren
Investing in the future of your grandchildren is a great way to help them prepare for their financial needs in life. By setting aside money now, you can provide them with added security and increased opportunities in the years to come. Investing for grandchildren can be used to help fund college tuition, make a down payment on their first car or home, or even start a retirement fund.
DPMS Portfolio Commentary March 2023
March 2023 has been somewhat of a rollercoaster ride as investors have processed a variety of information, led by markets absorbing news of a number of bank bail outs started with the run on Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and smaller New York based Signature Bank and the impending impact on interest rate policy led by the US Fed.
DPMS Portfolio Commentary February
Given our more cautiously positive outlook for 2023, including a mild economic recession, continuously high interest rates and the reopening of the Chinese economy, the Vizion Wealth Investment Committee have agreed to a shift towards a balance of Defensive and Cyclical equities utilising both Growth and Value styles. This comes in the form of a move towards Value funds in the UK, Europe & North America which have historically outperformed during periods of interest rate increases and a move towards Growth funds in Asia and Emerging Markets in conjunction with the Chinese economy reopening and supply chains becoming re-established.
Guide to Individual Savings Accounts
Time is running out to take advantage of this year’s Individual Savings Account (ISA) allowances. On 6 April when the new tax year starts, if you haven’t used all of your or your children’s ISA allowances from the previous tax year, it will be lost forever. Check out this guide to Individual Savings Accounts.
DPMS Portfolio Commentary December
So far, Q4 of 2022 has been more positive than some anticipated with better-than expected American inflation data and hopes of The Federal Reserve easing rate rises, a less severe beginning to Winter for Europe, hints that China may begin to ease it’s zero-COVID policy and the return of traditional fixed interest as an attractive long term investment following Jeremy Hunt’s reversal of the mini-budget. This all comes despite Central Banks continuing to raise interest rates and warnings of recession across the globe.
Guide to Leaving a Tax Efficient Legacy
If you thought Inheritance Tax was just for extremely wealthy people to worry about, think again. Rising property prices have meant more estates than ever are likely to face an Inheritance Tax bill.
Investing for Positive Change
Over the past few decades, there has been a growing interest and awareness in investing in companies that take into account environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors. This type of investing – also known as sustainable, responsible or impact investing – aims to generate both financial returns and positive social and environmental impacts.
DPMS Portfolio Commentary November
As we are expecting the remainder of 2022 to remain volatile with further interest rate hikes and the effects of a recession, the Vizion Wealth Investment Committee have agreed to remain maintain a more defensive style to portfolios, further reduce exposure to Small-Cap Equities, balance our Chinese & Indian Equity exposure and start to increase positioning towards traditional fixed interest given the recent sell off of bond capital values.
DPMS Portfolio Commentary September
Q3 of 2022 has proved much more positive than the first half of the year despite the backdrop of recessionary warnings across the globe. Whilst Central Banks have continued to push interest rates higher at each opportunity, global inflationary figures have started to look as though they are starting to peak, with the US proving the key indicator for global inflation. However, there remain concerns for economic growth forecasts across developed economies being dampened by inflationary pressure and subsequent interest rate rises.
Show me the money!
It’s not surprising that the world of investing can seem complex, especially in the current global economic climate. Investors face an endless supply of market news, many investment choices and often-changing market conditions.
Is Inflation Eating your Savings?
The word ‘inflation’ had barely featured in the market’s vocabulary in the last three decades until it suddenly started to come back with a vengeance in 2021. As higher inflation looks set to persist in 2022, finding ways to generate a return on investments greater than inflation will be a key investment theme – otherwise your wealth falls in real terms.
DPMS Portfolio Commentary February 2024
2024 had a relatively rocket start with inflation coming in higher than expected across developed markets driving bond yields upwards and capital values down, the Purchasing Manager Index (PMI) surveys showing relatively weak results and geo-political instability in the Middle East unnerved investors. However, recent weeks have seen a reversal of this with some strong Q4 earnings results, improved consumer sentiment and optimism towards the first interest rate cuts since 2020.