Ian Gunn hears echoes from the 1980’s and 2020.

Another less than cheerful blog from Ian Gunn.

James Rooney considers the immediate impact of the war in Ukraine for our clients

James Rooney reflects on the investment climate of the last 12 months and consider what might lie ahead for investors over the course of the next year and beyond

From our very own Happy Santa, Ian Gunn

Ian Gunn considers the future of interest rates in the UK

Ian Gunn joins the queue and finds Chaos Kong

James Rooney considers the impact of rising UK inflation

Ian Gunn tries to keep up with the changing face of money.

Ian Gunn considers whether cash is still ‘real money’.

Ian Gunn considers the investigation of Dame Elizabeth Gloster into London Capital & Finance plc (“LCF”), a failed financial firm, and into the Financial Conduct Authority’s regulation of it. Her report was presented to Parliament at the end of last year.

Ian Gunn considers whether the Retail Prices Index finally to be laid to rest

​Investors would do well to bear in mind these words from Gilbert & Sullivan’s HMS Pinafore, since things are seldom what they seem in financial markets. Ian Gunn considers a couple of examples, past and present.

Ian Gunn takes another look at proposals for the reform of capital gains tax.

Ian Gunn considers the application of the Phillips curve in respect of the decision-making surrounding COVID-19

James Rooney sets out the extraordinary earnings data for ASHE 6115

Ian Gunn reflects on ever-present risks for investors.

Ian Gunn considers the change and how it impacts on personal injury claimants

Ian Gunn looks at the review of Capital Gains Tax (CGT)

Ian Gunn considers the introduction of Private Residence Relief (PRR) and Lettings Relief and the potential impact this might have on property investments.

On 2nd September 2019, National Savings and Investments withdrew from general sale its popular Guaranteed Growth and Guaranteed Income Bonds.

Ian Gunn ponders the woes of Woodford investors in the funds he managed.

From April 2019, the level of income tax paid by Welsh taxpayers will, to a degree, be determined by the Welsh Government. Rates may therefore vary from those paid by tax payers in England and Northern Ireland.

Richard Winward considers the increase in IHT receipts and the things to think about to mitigate the potential impact

Ian Gunn looks at two examples where precision matters.

Richard Winward considers the move for fund managers to manage within volatility limits rather than asset-type limits

6th April 2015 was a significant day in financial services history, as it marked the start of ‘pension freedoms’.

James considers whether risk and volatility are the same or different, with the help of the Beastie Boys

Discount rate issues surface again.

It was my 30th birthday on 6th July 1988. However, that is a memorable date for a far more important reason. On that day, a massive explosion at the Piper Alpha oil platform, approximately 120 miles north-east of Aberdeen, killed 167 people. The total insured loss was reported as about £1.7 billion. It is the worst offshore oil disaster in terms of lives lost and industry impact.

Making financial transactions in the wrong order can be costly in relation to the tax implications that may arise.

Ian Gunn takes a long look at interest rates and why investors should be wary.

In Wales, with effect from April 2018, Land Transaction Tax (LTT) will replace Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT).

In May this year, Europe's data protection rules will undergo their biggest changes in two decades. Since they were created in the 90s, the amount of digital information we create, capture, and store has vastly increased. Simply put, the old regime is no longer fit for purpose.

Conveyancing solicitors are all the same, aren’t they? Wrong.

Using Marriage Allowance to reduce a tax bill.

We received an update from the Ministry of Justice with regards to the proposed Bill this morning.

In May this year, Europe's data protection rules will undergo their biggest changes in two decades. Since they were created in the 90s, the amount of digital information we create, capture, and store has vastly increased. Simply put, the old regime is no longer fit for purpose.

The Ministry of Justice have provided an update with regard to the response to the Justice Committee report in respect of the discount rate

As the global elite gathered in Davos last month, Piers Morgan was also there, to interview President Trump.

In its response to the Autumn Budget last November, the Resolution Foundation, a ‘think tank’, painted a bleak picture of the outlook for the UK economy.

All too often specialists in their respective fields focus on their own discipline, or a problem at hand. Bringing these various disciplines together to produce a collegiate plan is necessary if the most beneficial long-term outcomes are to be achieved.

The answer, of course, is that all have at some point been the subject of a speculative bubble.

MiFID II is set to be implemented on 3rd January 2018. What is it and what does it mean for investors?

Ian Gunn ponders the fashion for passive investing...

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, David Gauke, has on 19th July 2017 announced that the increase in the pension age to 69 will now take place seven years earlier than planned.

On the 7th September 2017 the government published the outcome of the discount rate review and published draft legislation.

Ian Gunn considers the impact of a negative discount rate on indemnifying claims against medical professionals, employers and defendants with public liability.

This blog considers the impact of the General Election result and the impact on "strength and stability".

The FCA initiated their “Assessing Suitability Review” in April 2016 in recognition of the important role they have to play supporting the sector in delivering suitable advice.

Compensation for injury will rarely, if ever, provide certainty that a claimant’s needs will be met for life.  With the ever-tightening purse strings of Local Authorities, if a claimant is to receive the statutory funding to which they are truly entitled they will need to play a diligent game that amounts to little more than ‘cat and mouse’ to obtain a suitable care package that reflects their need.

Understanding the difference between independent, restricted and whole of market advice.

This blog considers the issues with regard to purchasing a property for a family carer to live in and claim Housing Benefit to pay the rent.

As if the UK had not already had enough of being asked to vote in mindless television shows over the last decade (think Big Brother, Strictly Come Dancing, I’m a Celebrity et al), it is becoming apparent that the political arena is wanting its own fair share of the action too.

​The new tax year is not generally seen as a time for popping the champagne and welcoming in the dawn of a new financial year. However, we have provided a brief overview of some of the main reasons why this new tax year could provide some welcome 'resvolutions'.

We would like to take this opportunity to remind our clients of the importance of retaining the tax year-end documentation provided by the relevant institutions.

Holding clients' damages on client account can be a wholly reasonable thing to do, but beware the potential impact on benefits entitlements.

The outcome of HMRC's consultation on part surrenders and part assignments of life insurance policies is now complete. Rather than opt for the most simple and best-supported option from the consultation outcomes, an alternative has been adopted.

​On 6th April 2017, the ISA as we currently know it celebrated its 18th birthday, but just how much could investors have benefitted from its ‘childhood’?

I thought I would share the views of Sir Henry, as published on his own website, with regard to the past, present and future of setting the discount rate.

This is the first of a series of posts about the Lord Chancellor’s decision to reduce the discount rate used in assessing lump sum awards in personal injury claims to minus 0.75%. As some have already observed, what was a discount is now an uplift.

It is now just over 12 months since economists at Royal Bank of Scotland issued the stark warning to “sell everything” and brace for a “cataclysmic year”. They predicted that, during 2016, major stock markets could fall by a fifth, and oil could plummet to $16 a barrel. This Blog considers how good this prediction was.

Post injury, many clients will find their existing home unsuitable for their needs, possibly due to the impact of a disability or a need to relocate closer to the support network of family and friends. Those able to hijack their other heads of loss to secure a suitable property once the effect of Roberts-v-Johnstone has taken its toll, may have a myriad of decisions to consider in aiming to maximise their position and financial protection. This blog considers some of these options.

The Lord Chancellor has made an additional Regulatory Statement to the London Stock Exchange regarding the discount rate.

This blog considers the importance of estate planning when meeting the needs of personal injury claimants post-settlement.

Judgment was handed down this morning, which prevents the ABI from being able to delay the release of Lord Chancellor's review of the discount rate.

​Further to our blog on 5th January 2017, and as reported by the Bank of England on 16th January 2017, the PRA has confirmed that the FSCS protection limit will be increased to £85,000.

As reported by the Bank of England on 21st November 2016 the PRA have set out proposals to reset the deposit protection limit to £85,000, with effect from 30th January 2017.

This blog considers the implications of the decision of Norris J in OH v Craven

Set out in this blog is the Lord Chancellor's statement to the London Stock Exchange in full.

The ABI announced on the 19th December 2016 that it had launched a legal challenge of the Lord Chancellor’s decision to review the discount rate for personal injury damages, calling on the Government to complete its consultation and change the methodology before proceeding.  

Refusing child benefit proves detrimental to the mother’s state pension benefits.

In the 2015 Budget, the Chancellor announced plans to extend pension freedoms to around five million people who had already bought an annuity with their pension pots. However, it seems like there have been second thoughts.

Liz Truss has announced that the result of the review by the 31st January 2017.

We have included all of the most important life expectancy reports, so that they are all in one place.

We have collected a wide range of documents with regards to the calculation of the discount rate and popped them in our 'knowledge bank'.