Read the latest news and articles from the Gem & Co team
Introduction Since the Spring Budget, the UK has held a General Election, the negotiations to leave the European Union have continued – not always at breakneck pace – and there has been the usual collection of mixed news for the UK economy. The General Election started as an expected coronation for Theresa May and ended
Read moreRecent figures have suggested that over 17,500 older homeowners took out equity release plans on their homes during the first six months of 2017, marking an increase of 44% compared with 2016. Equity release plans, also referred to as ‘lifetime mortgages’, allow homeowners aged over 55 to access their home’s equity without the requirement to
Read moreAfter months of speculation, the Bank of England finally raised interest rates in the UK for the first time in over a decade. The increase from 0.25% to 0.5% might seem small, especially when you consider that the last time the interest rate was increased in July 2007 it was up to 5.75%, but the
Read moreTwo of the biggest concerns faced by workers when they reach their 50s and 60s are those of achieving job satisfaction and a work/life balance. Recent studies have offered fresh insight into the reasons behind these issues and the best ways to tackle them. One study conducted by economists at the University of Southern California
Read moreWhat’s the saying? ‘Close, but no cigar’. That’s how it was in October as all but two of the markets we cover rose in the month. Brazil’s market did manage to stagger up by just 14 points, meaning it was unchanged in percentage terms, but the Russian stock market let the side down, falling back
Read moreIntroduction We should probably begin this Preview in Boots the Chemist, shopping for Strepsils and Lemsip. The Prime Minister’s cold was widely blamed for her lacklustre performance at the Conservative Conference: sadly, there was only one speech at the Conference which received even more criticism than the Prime Minister’s. Step forward Philip Hammond, Chancellor of
Read moreWell, we’re still here. Despite the seemingly best efforts of the leaders of the United States and North Korea – the world is still turning. But September was a month of ‘another day, another North Korean rocket flying over Japan’ and it ended with Kim Jong-un threatening to explode a nuclear bomb over the Pacific.
Read moreA new report has revealed that the UK’s working adult population has missed out on a staggering £94 billion over the past five years through failing to invest in the stock market and holding their money in savings accounts. The figure comes from public policy think tank, The Social Market Foundation, which has also found
Read moreOnce again, the team at GEM & Co is proud to be recognised as one of the best businesses at the Merton Best Business Awards. This year we were delighted to receive the runner-up award in the ‘Best Business under 50 employees’ category at this year’s award ceremony held at Epsom Downs Racecourse on 27th September 2017. In
Read moreThis month we welcome Joanna Smithers and Phillipa Morrow to the GEM & Co team to further enhance the quality and experience of our service. Joanna joins us as Practice Manager, a new role developed for our business in order to enable our three financial planners to spend more time focusing on their clients and their
Read more