by Colin Baines | Jan 2017 | Comments
Bond prices are falling, which means that bond yields are rising, which means that defined benefit pension providers which need to buy a guaranteed income for their retirees, are getting more for their money. A case was quoted in the FT recently of a 40 year man who...
by Colin Baines | Nov 2016 | Comments
The FCA Senior Managers Regime has now been functioning in respect of banks and insurers for six months. The regime will be extended to all regulated financial services firms, including advisers from 2018, but the regulator has not so far been clear as to how it will...
by Colin Baines | Oct 2016 | Comments
Trading in Binary Options is ‘the latest and fastest growing manifestation of investment fraud’, according to the City of London Police who say that £12 million has been reported lost by customers already this year. A Binary Option, also known as an ‘All or Nothing’...
by Colin Baines | Sep 2016 | Comments
Annuity rates, which are based on gilt yields, have long been in decline as low interest has chipped away at returns. Brexit delivered a further blow, to the extent that on 11th August, the 15 year gilt yield fell to an all time low of 0.9%. The great virtue of...
by Colin Baines | Aug 2016 | Comments
One third of homeowners currently over age 45 and with a mortgage are unlikely to pay it off before they are 65, which suggests that people are overestimating the capacity of equity in their homes to satisfy their financial aims in retirement. In the wake of long term...
by Colin Baines | Jul 2016 | Comments
The term ‘Malware’ is short for ‘malicious software’ and is any software used to disrupt computers operations, gather sensitive information, gain access to private computer systems or display unwanted advertising. Previously such activities were referred to as...
