Author name: George Ladds

Planning for retirement is a significant concern for many. A report published by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) in September 2023 revealed that 69% of UK adults worry about whether their savings will be enough to support them. This widespread concern raises a crucial question: Will my money last? The Million Dollar Question: How […]

Our perception of success has always shaped the world around us. For many, success is equated with status and, more often than not, the money we accumulate. In investing, this mindset can become dangerous, tempting us to chase what’s perceived as “successful” without understanding the risks involved in asset bubbles. As history shows, asset bubbles

Labour and taxes: The Balancing Act Most dislike paying taxes, yet we all desire the best public services. Society is evolving—people are living longer, and medical advancements continue to improve our quality of life. However, these benefits come with a price. If our expectations remain high, maintaining at the same level is unrealistic. This creates

Navigating Market Volatility Over the long term, investing in the stock market has consistently proven rewarding, but navigating market volatility is challenging. Historical data from the MSCI World Index, spanning from January 1999 to July 2024, supports this with an average return of 7.39% and volatility of 14%. However, the journey to achieving these returns

Retirement: what is it good for? Over the last few months, I have studied the FCA Thematic Review into Retirement. It has challenged my thinking about retirement and the challenges facing financial planners and those facing retirement. So, we ask, “Retirement: what is it good for?”. Below are two case studies: Case Study One Imagine

Fear of missing out is a genuine worry for many. At the start of November, in my last blog post for my previous company, I stated that “the indications are that we are close to the bottom of the market”. I have always said that I am not an economist, but I do look at

Propaganda We live in a complex world where propaganda is part of our everyday lives. I am sometimes asked, “Should we move everything to cash?”. My answer is often, “Why?” This sparks a discussion about what someone has read or seen. I have started reading Propaganda by Edward Bernays, written in 1928. It has an

Setting realistic expectations Setting realistic expectations is something we are all guilty of failing to do! I recently read an article in the Telegraph which stated: ‘I’m 28 and a pretty terrible investor. I need your advice to turn £10,000 into £30,000.’ The timescale for this was five years, and the journalist was looking to

I recently read an article in the Times that stated that ESG was dead: “Woke goes broke! £1bn pulled from ESG funds”. If you google ESG, these are some of the headlines: “ESG will be dead in five years”. “ESG is beyond redemption: may it RIP.” “Is ESG Investing Dead? Fund Outflows Signal Tough Times.”