In July, the markets were affected by general elections taking place in the UK and France, and the ongoing presidential campaign in the US. Read on to find out what else affected investment markets in July 2024. Uncertainty and numerous other factors may affect the value of your investment portfolio. However, for most investors, long-term trends are a better indicator of their strategy’s performance than short-term movements. Returns cannot be guaranteed, but, historically, m

The trend for wanting your money to have a positive effect on the world when you invest has been growing. If it’s something you’ve considered, the terminology might seem confusing with phrases like “ESG investing” and “impact investing” used interchangeably. Read on to discover what the difference is and how it might affect your investment decisions. ESG and impact investing share similarities but take different approaches ESG investing incorporates environmental, social, and

Failing to set out your wishes in a will could mean your assets aren’t passed on to the loved ones you’d like to benefit from your estate. As a result, this could have a significant effect on your legacy. A will is one of the main ways to ensure your assets are passed on to your loved ones according to your wishes. So, if you don’t have a will in place, what will happen? Intestacy rules are applied if you pass away without a will If you pass away without a valid will, also kn

It doesn’t matter how much you prepare; sometimes unexpected life events could mean your carefully laid plans go awry. While you can’t know what’s around the corner, you can change how you respond to unpredictable events to help keep your financial plan on track. A life event could have a huge impact on your wealth, both now and in the future. Circumstances outside of your control might even lead to you changing your long-term goals. So, even if you already have a robust fina

When you received your last promotion or pay rise, your first instinct might have been to celebrate by splashing out on a new gadget, booking a holiday or allocating more of your money to your disposable income. However, if you overlook reviewing your finances, “lifestyle creep” could affect your ability to reach long-term goals, including your retirement plans. Lifestyle creep leads to your regular expenses rising Lifestyle creep refers to your regular expenses rising in lin

Interest rates and inflation continued to affect markets around the world in April 2024. Read on to find out what else may have affected investment markets and your portfolio in April. Expectations of interest rate cuts were good news for gold. Investors who feared falling interest rates would lead to lower returns on cash and government bonds purchased more gold. It led to the asset hitting a record high on 8 April at $2,535 (£3,171) an ounce. Yet, while many experts are pr

If you face a serious illness, it could place pressure on your finances and mean you’re not able to focus on what’s most important – your health. Yet, research suggests many families could be overlooking the protection that critical illness cover could provide. Read on to find out how critical illness cover works and how it could improve your financial resilience. Critical illness cover may pay out if you were diagnosed with a serious illness. It could help you pay off large

If you’ve come across the phrase “ESG investing” but weren’t sure what it meant or if it’s right for you, read on. You’ll discover what it means and some key considerations if it’s something you want to incorporate into your investment strategy. ESG investing simply stands for “environmental, social and governance” and involves considering factors from these three pillars alongside financial information when you’re making investment decisions. It’s an approach to investing th

A will is an important way of outlining what you’d like to happen to your assets when you pass away. Yet, figures suggest will disputes are on the rise. If you’re worried about potential conflicts when you pass away, read on to discover some useful steps you might want to take. According to a report in the Guardian, thousands of families have been embroiled in disputes dubbed “ruinously expensive” by solicitors. As well as the potential legal costs, court cases can be emotion

The State Pension is often a useful foundation when you’re creating an income in retirement. Yet, a survey from Just Group found that a third of people didn’t check their State Pension forecast before stopping work. While the State Pension might not be your primary income in retirement, it’s often valuable because it’s reliable – you’ll receive a regular income when you reach State Pension Age for the rest of your life. In addition, under the triple lock, the State Pension al