Conversations with clients recently have often started with the question: “Why are the markets continuing to perform well when there is so much uncertainty in the world?”It is a natural enquiry with conflicts in Ukraine and Iran while, closer to home, we now have the instability at the top of the UK Government and a […]
After the initial hit to global markets following the outbreak of the Iran War, there were signs of some stability returning yesterday. The bigger concern is likely to be around rising oil and gas prices and the potential knock-on effect for energy bills, petrol prices and, of course, inflation. In the immediate term, economists are […]
The team has had a slightly busier than usual start to the new year, with lots of client reviews and some clients seeking advice regarding the Government’s reforms around pensions becoming liable to Inheritance Tax (IHT). From April 6th next year, most unused pension funds and death benefits will be included in a person’s estate […]
In many ways, it was a relief to finally hear Wednesday’s Budget after so many weeks of speculation as to the likely content of Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ famous red box. A lot of the wilder rumours turned out to be just that, rumours, including concerns that restrictions may be introduced to the 25% tax free […]
The rumour mill is in overdrive and we are still 10 weeks away from the Budget. It seems like every day, one media outlet or another is speculating on what may be under consideration for inclusion in Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ statement on November 26. Despite proclaiming that last year’s Budget – the first by a […]
It is a theme that we constantly return to at Phillip Bates & Co Financial Services, but there really is no substitute for long-term, diversified financial planning. It was just a few weeks ago that we were facing up to President Trump’s tariff wars and their potential consequences for economies around the world. While there […]
There have been many headlines about President Donald Trump’s tariff policy over the last couple of months following so called ‘Liberation Day’. After the first few days of the announcement, it has been hard keeping pace with what tariff is applied to what country, who’s striking trade deals and who is still out in the […]
On the wall behind me in my office is a chart displaying the various ups and downs of the global economy over the last century. Included within it are global recessions, world wars and various other events that have triggered financial downturns or upturns. In terms of our own recent history, the collapse of the […]
The best that Chancellor Rachel Reeves could hope for from Wednesday’s Spring Statement was as little drama as possible. Her principal objective was to demonstrate that she and the wider Labour Government are trying the best they can with an extremely difficult set of cards. This would have been the same had it been a […]
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has not enjoyed the happiest of starts to 2025 with calls in some quarters for her to even be removed from her post. While this is unlikely to happen any time soon, there is no question that this Government’s management of the UK economy is under intense scrutiny as the fallout from […]
