With classic British understatement, you could say the second quarter of 2025 has not been without incident. But market performance over the period fails to capture the full drama. The FTSE Private Investor Balanced Index, a reasonable proxy for the majority of our industry’s clients, returned around 2.5%, which could be considered slightly better than…
A trade war no one could afford to win A client asked at the start of last week: “Will the US and China reach a trade agreement?” Our short but confident answer was: Yes. Longer answer: Because the maths, the money and the politics all say they must. And sure enough, the US and China…
Assessing the Impact As Donald Trump completes his first 100 days in office, a complex economic narrative emerges, one which challenges traditional approaches while attempting to address long-standing structural challenges. His presidency has introduced uncertainty and volatility, yet the broader economic context remains one of relative strength. This dynamic sets the current period apart from…
Global markets are in a tough spot, caught between geopolitical tensions, shifting monetary policies and sector-specific trends. European and Chinese stocks have been climbing, while U.S. equities are under pressure, weighed down by tariff concerns. Trump’s return to office has fueled uncertainty, leaving investors on edge. The big question is how much of his aggressive…
As Sir Keir Starmer aptly put it, Europe finds itself “at a crossroads in history,” confronting a future where the assumed security offered by the United States is no longer a given. This threatens to upend 80 years of reliance on the US and has resulted in a vow from European leaders to re-arm so…
It has long been true that good, trustworthy and truly professional financial advisers are not easy to find. Synergi is very proud to be listed among the “excellent” advisers worldwide – Jonathan Martin DipPFS EFA, Synergi Switzerland. Read the full article at the link below. Industry cites ‘excellent’ list of international advisers amid Brite Advisors…
A policy of life assurance or capital redemption that has been issued by and IOM Insurance Company is considered an Isle of Man asset. Therefore, upon the death of the last surviving policyholder, an application to the courts in the Isle of Man must be made to obtain Probate before its value can be paid…
The amount you manage to save will decide the kind of life you’ll be able to live in retirement. That’s why it’s important to keep track of every penny. Find out how to make sure you’ve got eyes on all of your retirement income. Do you have some past pensions? You’ll usually get a new…
The State Pension will change in the new tax year – the amount you can get is increasing. Our guide to the UK State Pension changes explains what you need to know. Knowing what to expect from your future State Pension, and when you can expect to get it, can be an important part of…
HM Revenue and Customs has collected £3.9billion in inheritance tax (IHT) from April to September 2023. This is up £400million from the same period last year. With the current nil rate band (NRB) frozen until at least 2028, the IHT receipts are likely set to increase. The original forecast of the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR)…