http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/ WhatInvestment Provides Aid and Informtion for Small Investors 120 en-gb Articles@DirectoryM.com Articles@DirectoryM.com http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/ WhatInvestment Provides Aid and Informtion for Small Investors http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Images/Image.aspx?Site=customDarkBlueWAdSense_en-GB Under the current rules, investors can transfer from one ISA manager to another at any time they wish, whether this be their current-year ISA subscriptions (and related income) or all or part of their previous years’ subscriptions. While subscriptions to stocks and shares ISAs can only be transferred to another stocks and shares ISA, subscriptions to a cash ISA can be switched to either a cash ISA or a stocks and shares ISA. http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Switching_ISA_Providers_Leeds-r1377653-Leeds_EN.html http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Switching_ISA_Providers_Leeds-r1377653-Leeds_EN.html Five years on from the first vouchers being issued, the introduction of the CTF has revolutionised long-term savings for children. Since the beginning of 2005, the parents of all babies born in the UK on or after 1 September 2002 have been eligible to receive Child Trust Fund vouchers, worth £250 (£500 for low-income families), from the government. Further vouchers for the same amount are sent to parents when their children reach the age of seven. http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/ISAs_and_Child_Trust_Funds_Leeds-r1377652-Leeds_EN.html http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/ISAs_and_Child_Trust_Funds_Leeds-r1377652-Leeds_EN.html As ever, the investment goals of the investor are the vital starting point. For example, a 30-year-old investor is likely to have a very different investment outlook to a 65-year-old facing retirement. For those who are more risk-averse, it is perhaps better to stick with cash ISAs, where capital will be safe and the decision on where to invest the money is based largely on the highest rates. http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/ISA_Investment_Strategies_Leeds-r1377651-Leeds_EN.html http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/ISA_Investment_Strategies_Leeds-r1377651-Leeds_EN.html Income can be gleaned from a wide range of assets, including equities, bonds, cash and property and, like any other portfolio, investments for income should be diversified, giving exposure to different instrument types and sectors. Indeed, diversifying risk might be seen as especially important in an income portfolio since you may be reliant on the regular payments. http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Regular_vs_Lump_Sum_Investing_Leeds-r1377650-Leeds_EN.html http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Regular_vs_Lump_Sum_Investing_Leeds-r1377650-Leeds_EN.html Investors are being urged to shake off any misconceived views about ISAs, both new and old, in order to make the best of the tax breaks available to them. Read on to know the details. http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Busting_ISA_Myths_Leeds-r1377649-Leeds_EN.html http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Busting_ISA_Myths_Leeds-r1377649-Leeds_EN.html Now that the financial institutions appear to have stopped collapsing, and governments have embarked upon an unprecedented programme of buying up their own and others’ debt, while extending their own debt levels to almost incomprehensible levels, what exactly happens next? http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/The_Artemis_Strategic_Assets_Fund_Leeds-r1369839-Leeds_EN.html http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/The_Artemis_Strategic_Assets_Fund_Leeds-r1369839-Leeds_EN.html Finding the best way to maximise returns and minimise risk is every investor’s goal, and careful asset allocation can go a long way towards achieving such a balanced portfolio. Asset allocation is the process of dividing investments among different types of assets (e.g. equities, bonds, property, commodities, collectables), with the objective of maximising gains while controlling any risks. In other words, it is about not putting all your eggs in one basket. http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Your_Guide_to_Asset_Allocation_Leeds-r1369838-Leeds_EN.html http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Your_Guide_to_Asset_Allocation_Leeds-r1369838-Leeds_EN.html Keiron Root highlights those investment companies best placed to benefit from any further signs of a recovery. Please read on for more detailed information in the following article. http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Investment_Trusts_to_Watch_Leeds-r1369837-Leeds_EN.html http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Investment_Trusts_to_Watch_Leeds-r1369837-Leeds_EN.html Bryan Collings, manager of the Ignis HEXAM Global Emerging Markets Fund, outlines ten reasons why it is more important than ever for investors to have sufficient exposure to emerging market growth. http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Top_10_Reasons_to_Invest_in_Emerging_Market_Equities_Leeds-r1369836-Leeds_EN.html http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Top_10_Reasons_to_Invest_in_Emerging_Market_Equities_Leeds-r1369836-Leeds_EN.html As the global financial crisis caused the prices of most asset classes to plummet, commodities have been gaining favour among investors. Jenny Lowe explains how increasing numbers of investors are participating in the commodity boom. http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Your_Guide_to_Investing_in_Commodities_Leeds-r1369835-Leeds_EN.html http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Your_Guide_to_Investing_in_Commodities_Leeds-r1369835-Leeds_EN.html The past couple of years have been a turbulent time for investors, but the collapse in the market has produced plenty of attractive openings. Many of these undervalued stocks are listed outside the UK, so, if investors want to hold such shares directly, rather than through a fund of some description, only those with access to an international share-dealing service can take full advantage. Nick Sudbury highlights the dealing services that enable UK investors to buy and sell shares listed on overseas stock markets. http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/How_to_Buy_and_Sell_Overseas_Listed_Shares_Leeds-r1369834-Leeds_EN.html http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/How_to_Buy_and_Sell_Overseas_Listed_Shares_Leeds-r1369834-Leeds_EN.html While many savers use Individual Savings Accounts to take advantage of their tax status to boost their personal savings and investments, research highlights that, for many investors, the typical fees charged for an ISA often outweigh their tax savings. http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Giving_Your_Tax_Savings_to_a_Fund_Manager_Leeds-r1365458-Leeds_EN.html http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Giving_Your_Tax_Savings_to_a_Fund_Manager_Leeds-r1365458-Leeds_EN.html With investors increasingly focussed on income, and fund management houses keen to plug any gaps in their ranges of income-producing funds, it is an interesting time for the Investment Management Association (IMA) to make changes to its classification of UK Income funds. Read more. http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Income_Producing_Funds_Leeds-r1362563-Leeds_EN.html http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Income_Producing_Funds_Leeds-r1362563-Leeds_EN.html An area of tax planning that has become increasingly popular in recent years is the use of business property relief (BPR) in the mitigation of inheritance tax (IHT) liabilities. http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Using_Business_Property_Relief_Leeds-r1362562-Leeds_EN.html http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Using_Business_Property_Relief_Leeds-r1362562-Leeds_EN.html Diversifying one’s portfolio is not only prudent, but essential to preserving and growing your investments in changing market conditions. Investing in gold offers one of the safest means of diversifying your portfolio, as it provides the security of a stable, reliable commodity. The annual demand for this precious metal consistently outweighs supply. http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Investing_in_Gold_Leeds-r1362561-Leeds_EN.html http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Investing_in_Gold_Leeds-r1362561-Leeds_EN.html While many investors have been withdrawing their money from traditional forms of managed fund during the current financial crisis, one area has experienced significant growth. Both the numbers of, and the value of assets under management within, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have increased dramatically over the past year, and market participants expect this trend to continue in the future. Keiron Root examines the reasons for the dramatic rise of the exchange-traded fund. http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Exchange_Traded_Funds_Revealed_Leeds-r1362560-Leeds_EN.html http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Exchange_Traded_Funds_Revealed_Leeds-r1362560-Leeds_EN.html Forestry investing is becoming more popular and more accessible for the average individual investor. At one time, direct investment was the most common option and so inevitably the smaller investor tended to be somewhat marginalised. Now there are unit trust, investment trust, exchange-traded fund (ETF) and SIPP options for investment in forestry and timber, as well as more individual investor friendly direct investment packages. http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Your_Guide_to_Investing_in_Forestry_Leeds-r1362559-Leeds_EN.html http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Your_Guide_to_Investing_in_Forestry_Leeds-r1362559-Leeds_EN.html Families have used trusts as a means for holding and passing on wealth for generations, but what exactly is a trust? How can trusts help with estate planning and what are the various types of trust available? This article will help to demystify some of these aspects, in particular looking at how trusts are used with insurance policies, bearing in mind that tax and legislation are liable to change, so that the relevant tax rates and reliefs may be altered in the future. http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/The_Basics_of_Saving_in_Family_Trusts_Leeds-r1362557-Leeds_EN.html http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/The_Basics_of_Saving_in_Family_Trusts_Leeds-r1362557-Leeds_EN.html Investors have taken heart from better-than-feared corporate news from some of the banks and other sectors, though it has become even clearer than before how delicate an operation steering economic and financial recovery will prove to be. http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Hunting_for_Value_Stocks_Leeds-r1362556-Leeds_EN.html http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Hunting_for_Value_Stocks_Leeds-r1362556-Leeds_EN.html The development of the government’s Child Trust Fund (CTF) initiative has focused attention on the importance of parents and grandparents setting aside money during a child’s formative years, with the intention of providing a sizeable nest egg when they come to face the expenses of adulthood. Read more. http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Saving_for_Your_Childs_Future_Leeds-r1362555-Leeds_EN.html http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Saving_for_Your_Childs_Future_Leeds-r1362555-Leeds_EN.html As governments worldwide scramble to prevent the global economy from seizing up, spare a thought for the children who stand to inherit a legacy of recklessness and greed. Therefore, today’s youth need more than ever to understand the cost of living. Read more. http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/When_to_Start_Saving_Leeds-r1362554-Leeds_EN.html http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/When_to_Start_Saving_Leeds-r1362554-Leeds_EN.html Those who prefer to make their own investment decisions have plenty of options when it comes to finding a suitable broker. As an absolute minimum they should expect good-value online and telephone trading in UK equities and funds. There is also a decent chance that investors may even find a service that gives them everything they want, although the more discerning will probably need to open accounts with more http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Choosing_an_Execution_Only_Broker_Leeds-r1362553-Leeds_EN.html http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Choosing_an_Execution_Only_Broker_Leeds-r1362553-Leeds_EN.html It is encouraging to see that, despite the current testing economic times, parents are still putting money aside to provide for their children's future. Since their introduction in 2005 by the Labour government, more than four million Child Trust Fund (CTF) accounts have been opened in the UK, and nearly one million are regularly topped up via monthly direct debits by parents and family members. http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Investing_in_a_CTF_Leeds-r1362552-Leeds_EN.html http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Investing_in_a_CTF_Leeds-r1362552-Leeds_EN.html Much is being said about how so called "defensives"–stocks which are more resilient in a downturn – have been left behind in the market rally and are now cheap. Well, yes, but only up to a point. In reality such stocks look good value because others have marched ahead. This is distorting valuations and flagging up opportunities that may not materialise. The following article tells you when is the right time to buy defensives. http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Buying_Defensive_Stocks_Leeds-r1362551-Leeds_EN.html http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Buying_Defensive_Stocks_Leeds-r1362551-Leeds_EN.html The whole point of a savings account is that you entrust your money to the institution paying the best rates of interest, and these change weekly, sometimes daily. http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Investment_Ideas_Leeds-r1362550-Leeds_EN.html http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Investment_Ideas_Leeds-r1362550-Leeds_EN.html People often sell too late, after their stock or fund has already crashed, or too early, when it still has some fuel left in the tank. Here are some tips for you to minimize your loss. http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Outsmart_the_Markets_Leeds-r1362549-Leeds_EN.html http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Outsmart_the_Markets_Leeds-r1362549-Leeds_EN.html With almost 5,500 funds to choose from, it is difficult to know whether you have chosen the right ones. Read the artical and learn how to find the right one. http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Investing_in_Funds_of_Funds_Leeds-r1362548-Leeds_EN.html http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Investing_in_Funds_of_Funds_Leeds-r1362548-Leeds_EN.html Many investors lack a coherent investment strategy for their self-invested personal pension (SIPP). So what should you do to make the most of the flexibility proffered from SIPPs? Keep reading. http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/SIPP_Investment_Strategies_Leeds-r1362547-Leeds_EN.html http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/SIPP_Investment_Strategies_Leeds-r1362547-Leeds_EN.html If you want to keep more of your money, the best way to do so is through tax planning, and the easiest way to accomplish it is online. http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Tax_Planning_Leeds-r1362546-Leeds_EN.html http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Tax_Planning_Leeds-r1362546-Leeds_EN.html There are tons of advantages of using contracts for difference and spread betting compared with traditional share dealing. Keep reading and you will see. http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Invest_using_CFDs_and_Spreadbetting_Leeds-r1362545-Leeds_EN.html http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Invest_using_CFDs_and_Spreadbetting_Leeds-r1362545-Leeds_EN.html Choose CTF and there will be a huge variety of these, from mainstream investments like global growth investment trusts to more risky vehicles such as Far Eastern funds. http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Children_Trust_Fund_Leeds-r1362544-Leeds_EN.html http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Children_Trust_Fund_Leeds-r1362544-Leeds_EN.html Subscription shares are treated the same as warrants in stock market listing rules, which limit the total number of subscription shares, warrants and other share options to no more than 20 per cent of an investment company’s issued equity share capital at the time of issue. http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Subscription_Shares_Leeds-r1359806-Leeds_EN.html http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Subscription_Shares_Leeds-r1359806-Leeds_EN.html With the tax year end looming, investors should make the most of whatever tax breaks are available to them. Tom McPhail, head of pensions research at Hargreaves Lansdown, highlights 7 ways to make the most of the pensions tax relief rules ahead of the year end. http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Tax_Tips_for_Pension_Investors_Leeds-r1358104-Leeds_EN.html http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Tax_Tips_for_Pension_Investors_Leeds-r1358104-Leeds_EN.html Andy Parsons, advice team manager at The Share Centre, explains why investors looking for long-term capital growth and some exposure to overseas markets should consider the BlackRock European Dynamic fund. http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/BlackRock_European_Dynamic_Leeds-r1358103-Leeds_EN.html http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/BlackRock_European_Dynamic_Leeds-r1358103-Leeds_EN.html When it comes to fund management, are two heads better than one? Cherry Reynard investigates whether investors are better following star fund managers or opting for the team approach to managing money. http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Fund_Management_Styles_Leeds-r1358102-Leeds_EN.html http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Fund_Management_Styles_Leeds-r1358102-Leeds_EN.html Investing in a forest may seem a rather exotic choice for your portfolio,but there are substantial profits to be made. Jenny Lowe reports. Read on to find more detailed information. http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Investing_in_Forestry_Leeds-r1358101-Leeds_EN.html http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Investing_in_Forestry_Leeds-r1358101-Leeds_EN.html Fund managers say now is the time for investors to make the most of the high-yield potential of corporate bonds. Jenny Lowe investigates. Read on to find more detailed information. http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Attractiveness_of_Corporate_Bonds_Leeds-r1358100-Leeds_EN.html http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Attractiveness_of_Corporate_Bonds_Leeds-r1358100-Leeds_EN.html Jenny Lowe reveals how one fund manager is hoping to uncover an abundance of property opportunities in the future – and he’s not doing too badly in the present. Read on for more information. http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Prising_Profit_from_Property_Leeds-r1358099-Leeds_EN.html http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Prising_Profit_from_Property_Leeds-r1358099-Leeds_EN.html Private banking is often dismissed as out of reach for all but the ultra-wealthy. Victoria Hartley explores the market to find out just who exactly is welcome and what you can get for your money. http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Private_Banking_Leeds-r1358098-Leeds_EN.html http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Private_Banking_Leeds-r1358098-Leeds_EN.html Share-building plans enable investors to buy shares for as little as £1.50 per trade. But are they worth it? Harvey Jones finds out. Read the following article to find more information. http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Cheap_and_Cheerful_Sharedealing_Leeds-r1358097-Leeds_EN.html http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Cheap_and_Cheerful_Sharedealing_Leeds-r1358097-Leeds_EN.html Jenny Lowe investigates the differences between passive and active fund management and asks which is best in the current climate. Read the following article for more detailed information. http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Passive_vs_Active_Investing_Leeds-r1358095-Leeds_EN.html http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Passive_vs_Active_Investing_Leeds-r1358095-Leeds_EN.html Children are dear little things – not just because they are sweet and lovable, but also because they cost their parents a fortune. Annie Shaw discovers how parents can take an active role in securing – in spectacular fashion – their children’s long-term financial future. http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Make_Your_Child_a_Millionaire_Leeds-r1358093-Leeds_EN.html http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Make_Your_Child_a_Millionaire_Leeds-r1358093-Leeds_EN.html Growing up in Britain isn’t going to be easy for the next decade or two, with a broken economy, crippling university fees and rampant youth unemployment. Your children or grandchildren are going to need all the financial support they can get, so the sooner you start investing for their future, the better. Here Harvey Jones uncovers those unit trust and investment trust schemes available to parents saving for their child’s future. http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Funding_Your_Childs_Future_Leeds-r1358092-Leeds_EN.html http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Funding_Your_Childs_Future_Leeds-r1358092-Leeds_EN.html Investment trusts have a huge amount to offer the right investors, but there are over 800 available. To make an informed decision, investors need to make choices about the sector in which a trust invests, the investment objectives of its manager, the gearing policy and the dividend policy, and decide whether they are happy with the discount at which the fund may be trading. Here Sarah Coles sets out the ground rules for getting advice on investment trusts. http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Getting_Investment_Trust_Advice_Leeds-r1358090-Leeds_EN.html http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Getting_Investment_Trust_Advice_Leeds-r1358090-Leeds_EN.html As ever, personal circumstance and preference will determine the best route to take, but the following comments may help. The key is whether the money is needed now or not. WSH is not in a “desperate hurry” but, understandably, doesn’t want to see the value of the pot decrease. I agree that it appears to be sensible to leave the Equitable without penalty as soon as this is possible, as one of the largest risks to pension money is an unstable provider. http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Annuity_Blues_Leeds-r1347279-Leeds_EN.html http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Annuity_Blues_Leeds-r1347279-Leeds_EN.html You could certainly put the bond into a bare trust, and that would still be a Potentially Exempt Transfer but I would ask what would be gained by using the trust structure. The beneficiaries of a bare trust, if over 18 as here, are entitled to income and capital absolutely, so they could claim the bond, or its proceeds, and the trustee(s) could not refuse. Why not just gift the bond outright to the children? That would still be a PET and drop out of account after 7 years. http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Trust_in_Trust_Leeds-r1347278-Leeds_EN.html http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Trust_in_Trust_Leeds-r1347278-Leeds_EN.html Friendly society savings plans have been tax-exempt for many years – they relate back to very old legislation supporting savers in local communities. However, savers have been limited to investing just £300 per annum. http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Friendly_Society_Savings_Plans_Leeds-r1347276-Leeds_EN.html http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Friendly_Society_Savings_Plans_Leeds-r1347276-Leeds_EN.html I am not sure that a discretionary trust is appropriate in the situation you are describing. Normally people will use a trust as a sort of management device – to put money or assets into it so that can be used for the benefit of one or more people without their formally being able to get their hands on all the funds. http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Discretionary_Trusts_Leeds-r1347275-Leeds_EN.html http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Discretionary_Trusts_Leeds-r1347275-Leeds_EN.html Before a Local Authority agrees to fund a person’s residential/nursing care, they undertake financial means-testing. In your circumstances the actual property will be excluded while you live there, but your wife’s other capital and/or income will be included in the means-test. If this is above the upper threshold, she will be classed as a self-funder. http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Domestic_Arrangements_Leeds-r1347274-Leeds_EN.html http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Domestic_Arrangements_Leeds-r1347274-Leeds_EN.html Finding a steady source of acceptable income remains one of the biggest problems that investors face today. This is a common bugbear of mine, as the name that a fund has can be very misleading for someone who is not familiar with the Investment Management Association (IMA) sectors. A number of funds carry the name ‘income’ or ‘high income’, but for an investor seeking a high income in the non-investment-world sense, they are little more than useless. http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Income_Concerns_Leeds-r1347273-Leeds_EN.html http://local.whatinvestment.co.uk/Income_Concerns_Leeds-r1347273-Leeds_EN.html