Read the latest news and articles from the Gem & Co team
As the old saying goes, investing is simple but not easy. It is simple to look back at market data today and wish that we had, for example, owned more US equities and less UK and emerging market equities over the past ten years, given their annualised returns of around 14.5%, 5.0% and 6.5%, respectively.
Read more
As a parent, your child facing an illness could affect your finances just as much as becoming ill yourself. Appropriate financial protection could offer you a safety net when you need it most, including if you need to take a long period off work to care for your child. Read on to find out how
Read more
Embarking on a holiday is about more than simply sightseeing – it’s also your chance to experience new and tantalising local dishes from around the world. An increasing number of people worldwide enjoy exploring exotic flavours during their time abroad. Acorn Tourism Consulting states that food tourism is one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing
Read moreShould I buy a buy to let (BTL) as an investment or not? I am sure that many clients are wondering whether they should invest their hard earned savings into a buy to let property or not. Is the market at a peak? Where should I invest? What will my returns be? Property can surely
Read moreWe started last month’s bulletin in the Crimea, with Russian troops in de facto control of the peninsula. Well, the Crimea is now part of Russia again and the collected denunciations and threatened sanctions of William Hague, John Kerry and the European foreign ministers will do nothing to change that. The question now is what
Read moreIntroduction A year on from the Budget 2013 and the outlook for UK plc looks considerably brighter. Growth has returned since last year and the forecasts for 2014 and 2015 are being continually revised upwards. In George Osborne’s 2013 Autumn Statement, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) predicted growth of 2.4% for this year: at
Read moreThe latest Legal & General ‘Mortgage Mood’ survey reveals that two thirds of consumers (65%) are not financially preparing for an interest rate rise in the next two years. At the same time, only 7% of those polled are considering re-mortgaging their home in the next 12 months. The Mortgage Mood survey is a quarterly
Read moreIn one of the most significant changes announced during George Osborne’s 2014 Budget, the rules governing ISAs will dramatically change in July of this year. Below, we break down exactly how the new rules will impact savers and allow you to shelter more from the taxman. New ISAs New ISAs, or NISAs, will be introduced
Read moreA recent Saga report evidences how British baby-boomers are helping to keep the economy afloat. This iconic generation, the post-war babies that grew up to revolutionise popular culture, makes up just over a third of the UK’s population, but punches above its weight when it comes to spending its wealth. The report, undertaken by the
Read moreThe Chancellor may have gone for the popular phrase from Chancellors of yore by taking ‘a penny off a pint’, but what were the real big announcements during The Budget 2014? We summarise the 8 main points: 1. Changes to pensions mean many more options than just buying an annuity In measures to be introduced
Read more