When Tom and Pete bought their first property together, things couldn’t have been going better. They both had good jobs, were pulling in decent salaries and were excited about spending the rest of their lives together. They chatted about making a Will a few times, but somehow life always got in the way. Until one […]
Happy 21st to the ISA
An Individual Savings Account (ISA) is a tax wrapper for your money. There are two main types available depending on the level of risk you’re prepared to take: Cash ISA Stocks and shares ISA If you’re 16 or older you can have a Cash ISA, whereas Stocks and Shares ISAs are aimed at 18s and […]
Omnis Market Update
Last Week – Key Takeaways Markets: Shares welcome Democrat’s victory in Senate Global shares rose as they focussed on the prospect of further support measures for the US economy rather than the events in Washington DC on Wednesday and the impact of lockdown on the US job market (see US section); The Democrat party won […]
Tax-free investing It’s time to talk
With the first wave of Child Trust Funds maturing this year, there’s a great opportunity to talk to your children about the benefits of saving and investing. If one of your children has recently celebrated their 18th birthday then there’s a good chance they’ll have some money in a Child Trust Fund (CTF), which they […]
Business Protection. You need it more than ever
Prior to lockdown, over half (51%) of businesses had some form of debt, owing an average of £176,000 each – and yet just 20% used an insurance policy as security. To add to this already significant issue, bank lending to struggling businesses via government-backed COVID-19 loan schemes reached nearly £52bn as of mid-August – meaning […]
New Blog – Stamp Duty holiday has positive impact
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the property market, but latest figures indicate there are positive signs of growth following the introduction of the Stamp Duty holiday. Property searches riseCoinciding with the Stamp Duty cut July was the busiest month so far this year for mortgage searches. The largest rise occurred in […]
Retirement and risk – striking a balance
The impact of COVID-19 caused extreme stock market volatility, with the average pension fund falling over 15% in Q1. While some of that value may have been regained over the last few months, pension savers remain understandably cautious. In the past, the level of risk to which pension funds were exposed would reduce on the […]
How has COVID-19 affected your retirement?
2.6% – the average pension fund is 2.6% lower than at the start of year 1.5 million people over the age of 50 are planning to delay their retirement 15% plan to delay retirement by an average of three years 26% say they plan on working indefinitely The coronavirus pandemic has not been kind to […]
Omnis Market Update
Last Week – Key Takeaways Brexit: Competition and fishing remain sticking points The pound strengthened against the US dollar amid optimism that the UK and the EU would agree a free trade deal before the Brexit transition period ends on 31st December; EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier claimed on Thursday that talks were in their ‘final […]
Home insurance – Buildings vs. contents cover
Your home is likely to be the most expensive purchase you’ll ever make so it’s important to insure it properly. Having the right type of cover in place means your property will be protected for a range of incidents, from burglary to a burst pipe. Buildings insurance explainedBuildings insurance covers the permanent fixtures and fittings […]
Don’t fall for a financial scam
Official bodies are warning consumers of an increase in scams designed to prey on people’s coronavirus fears. Statistics from Action Fraud reveal that over £16m was lost to online shopping fraud during lockdown. In some scams consumers purchased goods online that never arrived. Others targeted animal lovers who lost nearly £300k in just two months […]
Corporate Partners of the Wildlife Trust
We have decided to become Corporate Partners of The Wildlife Trust. Giving back is something that is very important to Ewing Associates and each year we try to support different local charities. This year our focus was to make our Financial Planning operation more environmentally friendly and to highlight the importance of sustainability to our […]
2020 spending review at a glance
Forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) show the economy will contract by 11.3% this year It may take until the end of 2022 for the economy to return to its pre-pandemic size GDP will grow by 5.5% next year, 6.6% in 2022, 2.3% in 2023, 1.7% in 2024 and 1.8% in 2025 The […]
Omnis Market Update
Last Week – Key Takeaways UK: Brexit talks continue as deadline looms UK shares fell and the pound weakened against the US dollar as the UK and EU struggled to agree a free trade deal with the end of the Brexit transition just over two weeks away; Despite direct talks between the Prime Minister Boris […]
Supporting Blue Smile and the Mental Health of School Children
Blue Smile is delighted that Ewing Associates has most generously donated to support our work with children in local schools. Blue Smile offers arts-based therapeutic and psychoeducational support to children who might be struggling with their emotional wellbeing or mental health. We offer 1:1 therapy sessions, group work and whole class workshops. Our work enables […]
Omnis Market Update
Last Week – Key Takeaways US: Shares hit record high US shares rallied after Republican and Democrat politicians joined forces to propose a new economic relief package worth just over $900 billion and plans for a slower resumption of production boosted oil prices (see ‘Commodities’ section); However, the number of jobs created by the US […]
Are you engaged with ‘good’ investing?
Are you engaged with ‘good’ investing? Socially Responsible Investing and Environmental, Social and Governance Investing explained. Social and environmental change is accelerating at pace, with climate change one of the biggest issues facing humanity today. Recent climate protests around the globe have raised awareness and prompted many people to question their personal and corporations’ impact […]
Omnis Market Update
LAST WEEK – KEY TAKEAWAYS Markets: Vaccine developments and Biden victory boost shares Global shares seem set to experience one of their best months on record in November after making further gains amid optimism about a coronavirus vaccine and Joe Biden’s victory in the US presidential election; However, the UK’s economic outlook weighed on domestic […]
Omnis wins coveted 5 star service award!
At the recent Financial Adviser Service Awards 2020, Omnis Investments were awarded the coveted 5 stars and also topped the list of winners in their category. As a part of Openwork, we have exclusive access to Omnis Investments, which has an exclusive range of funds and strategies across the full risk/return spectrum, managed by leading […]
It’s time to think about life insurance
If you have dependents – people who rely on you financially – then you should have life insurance. In fact, if you have dependents and don’t have life insurance, you are exposing them to grave financial risk. And who would want to do that? Life insurance tends not to feature on ‘to do’ lists because […]
Omnis Market Update
Last Week – Key Takeaways Markets: Vaccine rally loses steam Global shares rallied at the start of the week as Moderna became the second firm to announce a successful trial of a coronavirus vaccine; The markets fluctuated later in the week as the optimism was tempered by concerns about an increase in new infections in […]
Spotlight on Enterprise Investment Schemes and Venture Capital Trusts
Complex tax-efficient investments such as Enterprise Investment Schemes (EIS) and Venture Capital Trusts (VCT) are a consideration for those who may be able to tolerate a high level of investment risk. EIS and VCT are investment vehicles which encourage investment in small, unquoted trading companies in their early stages, who are typically trying to raise […]
What you need to know about self-build mortgages
If you’re thinking of building your own home, financing the project may be high on your list of priorities. Self-build mortgages are different from normal mortgages. They release funds at stages during the building work, rather than in one lump sum when you complete a property purchase. Some lenders also extend a loan to help […]
Omnis Market Update
Last Week – Key Takeaways Markets: More certain outlook lifts shares Global shares rallied at the start of the week after pharmaceutical firms Pfizer and BioNTech announced a coronavirus vaccine which they have jointly developed proved to be effective in more than 90% of trials; There was further certainty for investors as Joe Biden emerged […]
What are millennials investing in?
It’s seems like every day you see another article in a newspaper about millennials ‘killing industries’ in recent times young people were said to have caused the demise of doorbells, napkins and even breakfast cereal. These tales of millennials bring the end to industries often go viral on social media and bring some interesting responses. […]
The Bank of…Granny and Grandad?
WRITTEN BY KIRSTY TELLING 21ST OCTOBER 2020 The Bank of…Granny and Grandad? For many younger people struggling to get a foot on the property ladder, the Bank of Mum and Dad is the only option. With rent taking a huge chunk out of their income and the requirement for increasingly onerous deposits, two in five […]
Omnis Market Update
WRITTEN BY DANIEL ROGERS 9TH NOVEMBER 2020 Last Week – Key Takeaways Markets: Shares rally as Biden closes in on White House Global markets rose as Joe Biden, the challenger, edged towards victory in the US presidential election which ended up being much closer than many polls predicted; The Democrats seem likely to remain in […]
Getting mortgage-ready
WRITTEN BY KIRSTY TELLING 27TH OCTOBER 2020 Buying a home takes careful preparation and planning. As well as finding a property you like, you need to get your finances in good order before lenders review them and assess your ability to make repayments on your loan. Save upDuring the recent lockdown, many lenders pulled their ‘high […]
US Election 2020
WRITTEN BY KIRSTY TELLING 28TH OCTOBER 2020 The office of US President carries huge influence all over the world and, as a result, the way the American electorate votes on 3 November will undoubtedly impact financial markets across the globe. US elections are always occasions of great political theatre but the 2020 campaign, played out […]
Omnis Market Update
WRITTEN BY DANIEL ROGERS 02ND NOVEMBER 2020 Last Week – Key Takeaways Markets: New lockdowns concern investors Global shares fell as the number of coronavirus infections in the US and Europe continued to rise, and many European countries were forced to reintroduce lockdown restrictions in an effort to contain the spread; There was further bad […]
Omnis Market Update
WRITTEN BY DANIEL ROGERS 26TH OCTOBER 2020 Last Week – Key Takeaways Brexit: Talks resume between UK and EU The pound strengthened against the US dollar after the EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier claimed a free trade deal was within reach if the two sides are prepared to make compromises, and the UK agreed to […]
Omnis Market Update
WRITTEN BY DANIEL ROGERS 19TH OCTOBER 2020 Last Week – Key Takeaways Markets: Shares falter as new infections rise Global shares fell in the middle of the week as the number of coronavirus cases rose in Europe and the US and politicians continued talks over a further round of support for the US economy (see […]
Flexible insurance for when you need it
WRITTEN BY KIRSTY TELLING 09TH SEPTEMBER 2020 It’s all too easy for us to put our head in the sand when it comes to thinking about our protection requirements. People tend to find it challenging to engage with the topic as it involves thinking of negative potential scenarios. In reality, this is the reason to […]
Exchanging contracts? Get insured first
WRITTEN BY KIRSTY TELLING 09TH SEPTEMBER 2020 Purchasing a property can be a busy, stressful time and it can seem like there are a million things to remember. Some things however, are more important to remember than others – for example, getting the right insurance in place at the right time. Many people believe that […]
Are you approaching retirement?
WRITTEN BY KIRSTY TELLING 09TH SEPTEMBER 2020 If you are nearing retirement, you may have been particularly worried about the impact of recent market volatility on your pension assets and perhaps you are reassessing your retirement plans. There are several things to consider if you are planning to retire, which will depend very much on […]
The world is changing – so should your insurance
WRITTEN BY KIRSTY TELLING 09TH SEPTEMBER 2020 The world is changing rapidly in a way that nobody could ever have expected, meaning your personal and financial circumstances are likely to have changed. It is important to regularly review all aspects of your finances and that includes reviewing your protection insurance, to make sure your policy […]
COVID-19 affects retirement plans for over three million
WRITTEN BY KIRSTY TELLING – 14TH SEPTEMBER 2020 Recent research shows 1 in 10 UK adults with a pension (and not yet retired) have reduced or stopped pension contributions because of Covid-19. 1 in 10 UK adults have reduced or stopped pension contributions 1 in 4 workers are worried about paying for every day essentials […]
Daily Investor Update 3 August
Written by Imogen Lockhart 03rd August 2020 First of all, as the UK and many countries around the world tentatively ease their lockdowns, we hope that you and your family are continuing to stay well and benefiting from the initial steps to get back to normal. The coronavirus pandemic has caused significant volatility in global […]