Jargon Busters: What is ESG Investing?

“What is the purpose of investing?” On the face of it, this might seem a simple question to answer. Afterall, investing is all about making money… right? Perhaps not entirely. While wealth planners and other financial professionals certainly do aim to help their clients achieve financial goals, money-making is no longer the sole motivation for…

Market Commentary: June 2022

From Bear Market To Recovery It’s official: the S&P 500 is now in a bear market, joining its peer, the Nasdaq 100. Recovery is inevitable, but what do recoveries typically look like?   Since 1950, S&P 500 bear markets have taken an average of 154 days (or 5 months) to find a bottom. On average,…

Market Commentary: November 2021

Rates, Seasonal Spending and Covid ConcernsUK Markets    An unambiguously strong labour market release has emphasised that December’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting is very much live. A repeat of this strength in next month’s release, which will be published two days before the MPC’s decision, could easily be enough to generate a majority for a…

Blogging Basics for Financial Advice Firms

When it comes to marketing your financial advice firm, writing your own blog can be a great place to start. Not only is it an opportunity to share news and demonstrate your knowledge to prospective clients, but a blog also provides relevant content to share on your social media pages while improving the chances of your website ranking organically (for free) on search engines.  Anyone who has…

Market Commentary: October 2021

UK, US and Asian Market UpdatesUK Markets    Whilst standardised inflation data for the UK actually fell in September, all signs show that the Bank of England (BoE) is contemplating an imminent increase in interest rates. Certainly, the Gilt market thinks so and (despite a fall on Friday) yields have risen more than 320% since this time…

4 Ways to Improve Mental Health Support at Work

Practical Advice for Your WorkplaceIf you think mental health and wellbeing aren’t important topics for businesses to consider, think again. An extensive study from the World Health Organisation (WHO) discovered that depression and anxiety costs the global economy an estimated US $1trillion in lost productivity every year.   Workplaces that promote mental health awareness, provide…

Market Commentary: September 2021

Bank of England and Federal Reserve Toughen RhetoricBoth the Bank of England (BOE) and the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) issued policy updates last week suggesting they have become a little more confident in the economic recovery. Both may look to reduce their bond buying programs in due course. Equity markets dealt with the news reasonably…