Bloomsbury Financial Planning

Sneaky pension planning

Bloomsbury identify alternative routes to improved tax relief for those with higher earnings working outside of the UK.

Sneaky pension planning

Bloomsbury identify alternatives to accomplish improved tax relief for high earners working outside the UK.

Pension possibilities

How to make use of tax planning opportunities following the government's assault on pension tax relief in the last budget.

Family pension fortunes

How recent innovations in pension scheme design can offer improved flexibility over taking benefits and minimise tax.

Investment taxation

We are always seeking new ways to minimise or avoid tax, read on to discover our latest thoughts.

Protecting pension tax-free cash

New rules in April 2006 were designed to simplify pension rules, however, one aspect relating to tax-free lump sums remains a grey area; we endeavour to unravel the mystery.

Annuities - a difficult choice

Recent interest rate levels have had a significant impact on those seeking to take income from money purchase pensions. Our latest article takes a look at what has been happening and considers recently launched annuity alternatives.

Clever planning using offshore bonds

When establishing a portfolio, it pays to make it as tax efficient as possible. In this article we set out three little known tax planning angles available by using an offshore investment bond.

Dash for cash

With business owners being squeezed by a number of factors in the effort to secure funds, we look at alternative methods of raising cash.

Big reductions at the January investment market sales

Extreme market events demonstrate that, despite bad publicity, capitalism is not yet at an end.

Read our latest article to find out how speculation and investment can be easily confused.

Are you going to pine for your pension?

How can you be sure the deferred benefits in your defined benefits occupational pension are safe?

Our latest article identifies the benefits of taking professional advice in the wake of recent economic turmoil.

Reasons to be cheerful

Is the latest bout of financial hangovers a result of the excesses of the past?

Read our latest article to find a more optimistic perspective on the current financial turmoil.

What's the future for investment returns?

With markets taking a tumble we put investment returns in perspective

Read our latest article on the outlook for investment returns in today's volatile markets

A Framework for Success

A framework for success is vital for wealth managers.

Our recently published article takes a look at the key to devising a successful wealth plan and how a disciplined framework helps to keep investments on track.

Life Settlement Funds

Our article gives the low down on this relatively new and growing asset class.

An investment which produces a steady 8% annual return, is non correlated with equities and is not affected by economic woes sounds too good to be true. Read our article to find out if it is.

Tax Wrap

Getting the right tax wrapper needs careful analysis of the facts

Bloomsbury takes a look at how to minimise investment taxation with the use of different tax 'wrappers',

Salary Sacrifice

Bloomsbury examines a tax saving opportunity for employees in 2008/09

As salary sacrifice for those on the margins of higher rate tax becomes more attractive over the next year, employees should be speaking with their employers now to look at the way forward.

Should your pension retire abroad?

Our latest article explains how you can take your pension overseas and unlock benefits.

If you are thinking of retiring abroad and you have significant pension benefits, you might be able to take advantage of the Qualified Recognised Overseas Pension Scheme (QROPS) regulations. Our latest article explains the issues.

Don't let the kids blow it!

The dilemma of transferring wealth to younger generations

Wealthy individuals have a real problem. If they hold onto their wealth the taxman will take up to 40% on death. If they give it to younger generations they run the risk of seeing it frittered away. But there is a third way and in our latest article we explain how to minimise tax whilst also protecting against reckless spending.

The Frog Investor

Apparently if you drop a live frog into a pan of boiling water it will jump straight out and will suffer no adverse consequences. If, however, you place it into a pan of cold water and very gradually turn up the heat, the frog will not jump out. Instead the frog will boil to death, oblivious to the changing temperature of the water until it’s too late for it to muster enough energy to escape. Investors are sometimes a bit like frogs in water and from time to time will be either (or even both) a jumping frog or a sitting frog.

Crisis? What crisis?

Was August really so bad for investors?

With all the talk of financial Armageddon in August we decided to look beyond the headlines and review what effect this had on stockmarket indices. Read the article now.

Index commodities funds

New fund launch gets Bloomsbury's seal of approval

In the past year or so several funds have been launched which allow access to passive exposure via a diversified commodity futures index at relatively low cost. The latest of these is the Lyxor ETF Commodities CRB (GBP). Read why we like this fund over all others.

Too good to be true?

Private equity appears to offer attractive returns or does it?

Read our analysis of the facts behind the hype and our conclusions about this asset class.

When less is more

Investment fund companies are quietly raising their charges

We've reviewed the independent research on what's happening with charges on investment funds and the news isn't good. Read our summary and conclusions of what this means to investors

Understanding Enterprise Zone Syndicates

Can something that costs more really save money?

There are a number of benefits to buying property in an Enterprise Zone - the main argument being that the eventual cost of the property is less. Discover further compelling reasons for buying in to an EZS.

Back to the Future

A story for our investing times

The early 1970s were uncomfortable times for all investors. It couldn't be about to happen again.. could it? Read our new article which takes a lighthearted look at what happened then and the parallels with the present day.

Investors behaving badly

The emotional side of investing explored

Why are we unable to make rational decisions when it comes to investing? Read our latest article which explores the academic research underpinning the little understood field of behavioural finance.

Asset allocation - a consistent view of risk and reward

There are a number of ways to approach asset allocation, we believe the key is to clarify and commit to your strategy so all clients are advised in a consistent and effective way.

An investment approach to charitable giving pays dividends

Charitable giving can be very tax efficient but is it always effective?

Many of our clients are increasingly thinking about more than just giving; they are also thinking about how to ensure that their giving creates real impact. Read how we help improve 'returns' on our clients' charitable donations.

Learning to Love Risk

Traditional thinking is that risk in investment is something to be avoided

In this article we dispel this idea and suggest that risk, far from being a bad thing, is something that investors should embrace. After all, with risk comes reward, and by avoiding some common pitfalls we believe investors can learn to love risk.

Rebalancing portfolios: science and emotion - Part 2: The Optimal Approach

Devising an asset allocation policy is one thing but maintaining it is quite another

How often should a portfolio be rebalanced back to the agreed asset allocation? We bring you the second part of our detailed investigation into this important aspect of investing.

Rebalancing portfolios: science and emotion - Part 1: Why Rebalance

Devising an asset allocation policy is one thing but maintaining it is quite another

How often should a portfolio be rebalanced back to the agreed asset allocation? Read the first part of our detailed investigation into this important aspect of investing

Beware charging dinosaurs

We all know you get what you pay for but some pay more than others

Robert Lockie explains Bloomsbury's views on charging for advice and portfolio management

Risky business

Carolyn Corless explains how Bloomsbury evaluates risk with its clients

Risk is the source of investment returns, otherwise capital markets wouldn't exist. But just how does one evaluate risk and uncertainty when it comes to investment? Read this article to find out.