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Investing for the future

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Investing for the future

The ice caps are melting, temperatures are soaring and wildlife is struggling, all down to the need to power our modern lives. With 75% of adults in Great Britain worried about the impact of climate change, and a further 43% feeling anxious about the future of the environment more widely (Office for National Statistics, 2021), it’s becoming ever clearer that there is a global need to rectify the injustices we have done to our planet. 

People, governments and companies alike are now scrambling to be at the forefront of these efforts, and what is a more effective way to attain this than starting with changing how we invest?

Ethical Investing

In its purest form, ethical investing is the strategy in which investments are chosen based on one’s ethical code. It strives to support those industries actively trying to make a positive impact, and of course create an investment return. 

The idea of what is ‘ethical’ is will differ from person to person, with some opting for the ‘do no harm’ route, where they will guide their investments by specific cases e.g. avoiding buying shares in Activision Blizzard, Inc. due to the recent sexual harassment scandal, or avoiding so-called sin stocks: tobacco, gambling or weapons organisations to name a few. 

Alternatively, other people will opt for the ‘do good’ route, in which they will support those companies that are tackling ESG issues head-on. E.g. buying Beyond Meat shares due to the positive impact the company has had on the environment as a result of using 93% less land, 46% less energy, and produced 90% fewer greenhouse gas emissions in the production of its’ Beyond Burger compared to its cow counterpart.

The point is that ethical investing is personal to you, and whilst there is no correct way to conduct this strategy, the most effective way will be a combination of both tactics, in order to create a well-diversified portfolio.

How effective is Ethical Investing

As with all investing approaches, there are associated benefits and drawbacks, and the ethical strategy is no different. On a positive note, ESG UK funds have outperformed non-ESG UK funds over 3 and 5 year periods. Furthermore, there is a general idea that companies more concerned with ESG issues are usually ran better and less prone to scandal, which will lead to further material benefits. On the whole, there is the chance for profits, and to feel good doing it!

Of course, ethical investing will experience peaks and troughs just like other strategies. It is important to be mindful of the fact that whilst returns are attractive, there are risks involved. To start, this approach limits your options. Many of the top performing companies have characteristics that fail to meet ethical fund’s criteria, and so are ruled out. Furthermore, just because a company aligns with your own moral compass, there is no guarantee of absolute return.

Is ethical investing for me?

When investing in these types of funds, or employing this particular strategy, it is important to think about your own long term goals, as well as being wary of how much of your capital you are willing to put at risk.

Contact us for advice on your investing needs. We have an array of passionate and knowledgeable advisers ready to take on board any ethical considerations you may have when investing. We can help you too!

Please note that these types of products are not suitable for all clients and that this should not be taken as personal advice. All investments can go up and down in value and therefore you could get back less than you invest. Past performance is not a guide to the future.

Written by: George Kemp

21 July 2022


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Ascot Wealth Management Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority reference 551744. Our registered office: Scotch Corner, London Road, Sunningdale, Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 0ER. Registered in England No. 7428363. www.old.ascotwm.com Unless otherwise stated, the information in this document was valid on 3rd February 2017. Not all the services and investments described are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Tax, trust and company administration services are not authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The services described may not be suitable for all and you should seek appropriate advice. This document is not intended as an offer or solicitation for the purpose or sale of any financial instrument by Ascot Wealth Management Limited. The information and opinions expressed herein are considered valid at publication, but are subject to change without notice and their accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed. No part of this document may be reproduced in any manner without prior permission. © 2017 Ascot Wealth Management Ltd. Please note: This website uses cookies. To continue to use this website, you are giving consent to cookies being used. 

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Blog Article – Gold’s Yin to the Stock Markets Yang

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Gold’s Yin to the Stock Markets Yang

Do we have a Gold bubble?

Many people believe in the idea of a Gold bubble. A bubble occurs when the price of an asset quickly increases without any obvious reason or cause to suggest a higher value. The price of gold mainly rises simply just because people think it will. It is very hard to place the real value of Gold as it doesn’t directly yield income, which is why speculators increase the price of gold beyond its intrinsic value, resulting in the gold bubble. 

The price of gold can fall, however it is very unlikely that it will fall below the amount it costs to dig it out the ground and to bring it to the market. If in the unlikely event it does fall below these costs, the extraction of gold will rapidly slow down, increasing demand, which will push the prices back up again. This is why most financial advisors would use gold in their clients’ portfolios as it is seen as a safe asset and a good hedge against inflation, however there is no fundamental reason that it’s value should increase when the pound falls.

The effects of a stock market crash on gold

There are many questions from investors on when the best time to buy gold is, and if it can be used to weather the storm in a stock market crash. 

The below table shows the performance of gold during the past stock market crashes.

Screenshot 2022-07-19 at 12.25.48

Out of the 9 stocks market crash scenarios shown in the table, there was only one occurrence of gold falling more than the S&P, and more importantly 6 out of the 9 scenarios shows the value of gold increasing when the S&P is falling. The 2 yellow columns show that gold fell when the S&P fell, but at a lower rate, showing that is would’ve still been more beneficial for investors to be invested in gold.

The reason for this negative correlation between the performance of the S&P and gold is because when there is high levels of fear due to the stock market falling, investors tend to invest in gold as it is seen as a ‘safe haven’. Similarly, if the stock markets are performing exceptionally well, investors are more likely to take advantage of this opportunity and deflect their attention from investing in gold.

Should I invest in gold?

In the current climate with confidence in politics and the worldwide climate at an all-time low, gold can act as an important part of investments portfolios to help preserve wealth and possibly make a positive return in times when markets are falling. The gold market has the advantage of a high liquidity that allows investors to easily sell their gold for cash. 

However, just like any other investment, it is important to consider the time frame you are looking to invest for, and the likelihood of you needing to access that money. It is essential to make sure your portfolio is diversified. Investing in gold can help to diversify a portfolio as when a market declines, the price of gold has historically increased.

Please note that these types of products are not suitable for all clients and that this should not be taken as personal advice. All investments can go up and down in value and therefore you could get back less than you invest. Past performance is not a guide to the future.

Written by: Jemma Long

12 July 2022


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Ascot Wealth Management Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority reference 551744. Our registered office: Scotch Corner, London Road, Sunningdale, Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 0ER. Registered in England No. 7428363. www.old.ascotwm.com Unless otherwise stated, the information in this document was valid on 3rd February 2017. Not all the services and investments described are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Tax, trust and company administration services are not authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The services described may not be suitable for all and you should seek appropriate advice. This document is not intended as an offer or solicitation for the purpose or sale of any financial instrument by Ascot Wealth Management Limited. The information and opinions expressed herein are considered valid at publication, but are subject to change without notice and their accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed. No part of this document may be reproduced in any manner without prior permission. © 2017 Ascot Wealth Management Ltd. Please note: This website uses cookies. To continue to use this website, you are giving consent to cookies being used. 

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WEBINAR: Peer To Peer Lending

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For our next webinar, Claire and Sam will be continuing on from Junes theme of alternative investment strategies. This coming month, on the 24th of August, we will be focusing on peer-to-peer lending. 

Join Claire and Sam for 45 minutes to 1 hour of learning everything you need to know about Peer to Peer lending.  

What will be covered?

  • Diversification of income sources
  • Uncorrelated returns to market
  • Safety of investment
  • The Various options available

Those who register to the event will be sent reminder emails leading up to the day and time of the webinar.

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Ascot Wealth Management Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority reference 551744. Our registered office: Scotch Corner, London Road, Sunningdale, Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 0ER. Registered in England No. 7428363. www.old.ascotwm.com Unless otherwise stated, the information in this document was valid on 3rd February 2017. Not all the services and investments described are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Tax, trust and company administration services are not authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The services described may not be suitable for all and you should seek appropriate advice. This document is not intended as an offer or solicitation for the purpose or sale of any financial instrument by Ascot Wealth Management Limited. The information and opinions expressed herein are considered valid at publication, but are subject to change without notice and their accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed. No part of this document may be reproduced in any manner without prior permission. © 2017 Ascot Wealth Management Ltd. Please note: This website uses cookies. To continue to use this website, you are giving consent to cookies being used. 

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Boost Your Savings

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Boost Your Retirement Savings

Saving for retirement is one of the most important financial goals you can achieve. It’s easy to think that planning for the future is something you can put off until you’re much older but the sooner you start, the more money you are likely to finish up with when you retire. So it’s well worth saving as soon as you get a regular income. Even a small amount of retirement savings can provide you with enough income to live on if you need it.

Here are some tips on how to boost your retirement savings to maximise long term returns:

1. Take full advantage of workplace pensions and auto-enrolment

Using your company’s pension scheme and auto-enrollment is an easy way to increase your savings. An occupational pension is an employer-organised pension, and all employees between the ages of 22 and the state pension age are entitled to a pension if their annual income exceeds £10,000.

Most employers have already introduced a pension plan for their employees and, even if the employee does not contribute, the employer pays a minimum contribution. They can also provide a generous matching element to encourage employees to save more for their retirement.

If you are self-employed and not eligible for a workplace pension, you can set up a personal pension to save for your retirement. You can add regular contributions or make ad hoc payments into your self-employed pension, and your pension provider will invest on your behalf.

This permits the provider to offer a larger range of investment options, and therefore gives you more options than the usual workplace pension. While you won’t get the benefit of employer contributions, you will still benefit from tax relief.

2. Benefit from higher rate tax relief

Tax relief is applied to payments made into a pension. The amount of tax relief you get depends on what tax bracket you are in:

  • Basic-rate taxpayers get tax relief of 20%. For every £80 you pay in, the government will top this up by £20. This brings the total pension contribution to £100.
  • Higher rate taxpayers get tax relief of 40%. For every £60 put in, the government tops this up by £40.
  • Additional rate taxpayers get 45% relief. For every £55 put in, the government will give top this up by £45.

3. Use pay rises as an excuse to save

Increasing the amount you pay into your pension is the easiest way to boost your fund value. A good time to do this is if you get a pay rise. You are not used to having that money at your disposal, so instead of giving yourself the opportunity to spend it, redirect a portion of it into your pension.

4. Understand what your pension is invested in

Take time to explore and understand the investment options open to you. Most pension schemes allow you to check online where your money is invested and how your investments are performing.

If you are paying into a pension through your employer, you are likely to be paying into the standard default fund. This offers the advantages that your money is invested straight away in assets such as shares, and that a manager will look after your investments. However, default funds are designed for the needs of the average scheme member, and you don’t choose the assets, sectors or countries where your money is invested.

Depending on factors such as your investment principles, age and attitude to risk, you may find that the default option is not suitable for you. You may prefer the potential for high returns, or you may not agree with the ethics of the company or industry where some of your investment money is allocated.

There will be other funds to choose from in a workplace scheme and these are worth considering.

For people saving into a personal pension, check that your investments are diversified and that you are not overpaying in fees.

5. Avoid pension scams

Beware of pension scams. Fraudsters are posing as investment professionals and trying to persuade people to transfer their money into unauthorised schemes. These are likely to be high-risk investments, which may even be fake accounts so you could lose your money.

It’s always worth checking the FCA register of regulated companies (fca.org.uk/register), and the FCA warning list of known scam firms (fca.org.uk/scamsmart/warning-list).

If you have any questions about retirement planning, get in touch today.

Written by: Kariemah Boltman

30 June 2022


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Ascot Wealth Management Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority reference 551744. Our registered office: Scotch Corner, London Road, Sunningdale, Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 0ER. Registered in England No. 7428363. www.old.ascotwm.com Unless otherwise stated, the information in this document was valid on 3rd February 2017. Not all the services and investments described are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Tax, trust and company administration services are not authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The services described may not be suitable for all and you should seek appropriate advice. This document is not intended as an offer or solicitation for the purpose or sale of any financial instrument by Ascot Wealth Management Limited. The information and opinions expressed herein are considered valid at publication, but are subject to change without notice and their accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed. No part of this document may be reproduced in any manner without prior permission. © 2017 Ascot Wealth Management Ltd. Please note: This website uses cookies. To continue to use this website, you are giving consent to cookies being used. 

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Going Green – A look at Property Energy Efficiency

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Going Green – A look at Property Energy Efficiency

The Squeeze of the cost of energy prices is felt throughout every home. The soaring rise in energy bills will leave many feeling the pinch. Coupled with the rise in inflation and the current cost of living crisis, there is nowhere to escape. 

Every pound counts and saving where you can is necessary with energy prices predicted to rise further this year. Households are being encouraged to save money by improving energy efficiency. Improving the energy efficiency of your home is the best long term solution to reducing energy bills.  

The mortgage market is doing its part to encourage this and this is how.

Green Mortgages – Go Green and Save!!!

The government set into motion their plans to reduce the carbon emissions by 75-80% of current levels by 2035. Housing is responsible for roughly 14% of the UK’s total emissions.

Regulations to building more energy efficient homes to reduce housing emissions have been put in place by the UK government. Existing homes can play a part too. According to the Climate Change committee, 19 million properties have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) less than “C”. 

Mortgage providers have launched “Green Mortgage Products” which incentivise properties with A & B, by introducing lower interest rates than those available for standard EPC rated properties. This is to persuade homeowners to make their homes more energy efficient. 

Energy Performance Certificates are an assessment of how well your property uses and retains energy. The improvements to your homes energy efficiency can save you in energy bills and in mortgage interest payments.

On rates currently available, an EPC rating of A or B would get you a residential green mortgage product rate over five years of 2.56% at 60% loan to value (LTV) versus the standard mortgage product rates which would be 2.67%  for the equivalent LTV. This means someone on a green mortgage interest product will pay 3.09% less interest on their mortgage over that same five year period. This is a saving of thousands over the medium to long term.

As long as your property Energy Performance Certificate is A or B you qualify for a green mortgage.  

Green Mortgages for Buy To Lets (BTL)

Investment BTL properties can also qualify for green mortgage products. The additional benefits of energy efficiency in these properties can extend beyond the lower mortgage interest rates you would qualify for. Energy efficiency properties raise the value of the property and can mean more rent can be charged by the landlord. The tenants would in turn also save on energy bills. 

Many investors have seen to use this as a strategy to increase their property portfolio value by improving low energy efficient BTLs in order to increase the value of the property and be able to charge higher rents and in turn increase their rental yields.

Government help

The government estimates the cost of improving your property to an energy rating of “C” to be around £4,700.  Residential homeowners and landlords on tighter budgets may not have the cash to make the improvements needed to obtain a high enough EPC rating to allow them to switch to a green loan. 

The Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and the Chancellor Rishi Sunak confirmed that the fourth and final phase of the Government’s Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme will go ahead. The new ECO grant scheme will run over 4 years, and end in March 2026. Like before, ECO grants will be available to improve the energy efficiency of the UK homes that need it most. The grants are funded by energy suppliers.

In this scheme, ECO grants will focus on a property’s EPC to ensure the home can gain maximum benefit from any energy efficiency measure installed. The aim of the ECO is to help UK homes achieve an EPC rating of at least a C.

Energy Efficiency Improvements to your home

Making your home more energy efficient is not just about installing the most expensive solar panels. The aim is to create all-round home energy efficiency, from roof and windows to walls to heating. Small improvements to the home can count to the overall energy efficiency of your home.

  • Double glazing windows
  • Installing cavity wall 
  • Loft insulation
  • Draught-proofing windows and doors 
  • Installing pipes and tanks 
  • Installing condensing boiler
  • Reducing water usage
  • Energy efficient glazing
  • Installing low-energy usage light bulbs 
  • Energy-efficient heating and air conditioning systems
  • Water heaters (natural gas, propane or oil

The government encourages you to use TrustMark registered company for improvements. Making upgrades to take advantage of requirements to make the properties more energy efficient which will raise the value of your property.

Contact us for advice on your mortgage needs. We deal with a variety of advice services in the mortgage market. We can help you too!

Written by: Nwabisa Janda

16 June 2022


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Ascot Wealth Management Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority reference 551744. Our registered office: Scotch Corner, London Road, Sunningdale, Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 0ER. Registered in England No. 7428363. www.old.ascotwm.com Unless otherwise stated, the information in this document was valid on 3rd February 2017. Not all the services and investments described are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Tax, trust and company administration services are not authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The services described may not be suitable for all and you should seek appropriate advice. This document is not intended as an offer or solicitation for the purpose or sale of any financial instrument by Ascot Wealth Management Limited. The information and opinions expressed herein are considered valid at publication, but are subject to change without notice and their accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed. No part of this document may be reproduced in any manner without prior permission. © 2017 Ascot Wealth Management Ltd. Please note: This website uses cookies. To continue to use this website, you are giving consent to cookies being used. 

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CBAM – Portfolio Performance & Review – 12 JULY

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On the 12th of April, we are hosting a webinar with our Discretionary Fund Manager, Cape Berkshire Asset Management (CBAM).

The heads of the investment team, Mark and Shingirai, will be your hosts for the webinar and they will offer insight that we don’t normally share with clients or the public, so book your seat and bring along any questions you may have.

  

Join Mark and Shingirai on the 12th of July for 45 minutes to 1 hour. 

What will be covered?

  • 2022 Q1 Macrothemes
  • Portfolio Performance
  • Portfolio Positioning
  • Remainder of 2022 Outlook and Strategy

Those who register to the event will be sent a link to the webinar a day prior to the event.

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Ascot Wealth Management Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority reference 551744. Our registered office: Scotch Corner, London Road, Sunningdale, Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 0ER. Registered in England No. 7428363. www.old.ascotwm.com Unless otherwise stated, the information in this document was valid on 3rd February 2017. Not all the services and investments described are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Tax, trust and company administration services are not authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The services described may not be suitable for all and you should seek appropriate advice. This document is not intended as an offer or solicitation for the purpose or sale of any financial instrument by Ascot Wealth Management Limited. The information and opinions expressed herein are considered valid at publication, but are subject to change without notice and their accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed. No part of this document may be reproduced in any manner without prior permission. © 2017 Ascot Wealth Management Ltd. Please note: This website uses cookies. To continue to use this website, you are giving consent to cookies being used. 

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UK Inflation Rate at Levels Last Seen in 1992 – What this means for you

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UK Inflation Rate at Levels Last Seen in 1992.
What this means for you.

The news of late has not made pretty reading. Prices are up, adjusted wages for inflation are down and the economy has not been moving in the right direction. We, as consumers, are feeling the pinch. We are used to the rising cost of fuel as a direct reflection of rising prices and inflation but household budgets will pick up the increase in prices for further products as the post pandemic worldwide landscape settles the supply chains in an ever changing and dynamic global geopolitical environment. 

So, this begs the question, when in history were inflation rates this high and what can we learn from it?

UK Inflation rates hit highs of 27% in 1975, 20% in the early 1980’s and just over 11% in the early 1990’s. This has been a distant memory over the past 30 years only for a high inflationary environment to rear its head once more. The world is a different place since the early 1990’s with access to cheap goods from China and other Asian countries and the access to Russian energy and commodities for European imports an integral part in the Euro zone’s economic growth. Globalisation has taken over since then with the interconnected nature of worldwide economies prospering from shared growth across the board.

Fast forward to the present and we see the CPI index at just over 6%. What happened? It would have taken something big to jolt the global economies back into this high inflation environment. Up steps the Covid-19 pandemic. As restrictions have eased, consumers are spending more which has driven up prices. This has shifted Government planning to more self-sufficiency and generating economic stimulus packages in order to assist consumers who were locked down over the past 2 years.

This self-sufficiency has begun with moves by the Government to ease the squeeze on household budgets already taking effect. The fuel duty has been cut by 5p per litre until March 2023, National Insurance thresholds have been raised, the Employment Allowance increased from £4k to £5k and a promised basic rate tax cut to 19% from 20% is in the works before 2024. The self-sufficiency has begun.   

The tools to combat high inflation rates would be for the Bank of England to raise interest rates. Back in 1992, the interest rates were above 10%. They have been steadily decreasing to 0.1% recently. These rates have already begun to rise to 1% since December 2021 with more increases expected in light of many analysts seeing the inflation rate peak over 10% by the end of the year. So it will be likely that we will see more interest rate rises by the end of the year.

So what does this all mean for you, the consumer?

As a result of interest rates rising, three things will happen to you.

So what does this all mean for you, the consumer?

As a result of interest rates rising, three things will happen to you:

  1. Mortgage payments will increase (if you are not on a fixed rate mortgage)
  2. Your credit card and loan repayments may increase in the light of higher interest rates
  3. The Savings rate will increase – but be warned as the interest rates are not rising in line with the rising inflation rate.

The actions you can take are as follows:

  • Streamline your household budget, cut wasteful expenditure in light of rising prices
  • Confirm your mortgage position as to whether you are in a fixed or variable rate period
  • Focus on building and maintaining your emergency savings (recommended to have at least 3 month’s worth of living  expenses)
  • Focus on paying down short term debt over the next few months

The main takeaway at present for you as you attempt to travail the rest of 2022 is that your household budget will get tighter from now until the end of the year. Thankfully, we are heading into our summer which may put a pause on household energy prices rising. But this will likely be a stay of execution as we head into the winter later this year.

So batten down the hatches, sit on your cash for the next few months to call on for those inevitably rainy days and look to outlast this period of high inflation to come out the other side in a strong and healthy financial position.

Written by: Greg Armstrong

19 May 2022


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Ascot Wealth Management Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority reference 551744. Our registered office: Scotch Corner, London Road, Sunningdale, Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 0ER. Registered in England No. 7428363. www.old.ascotwm.com Unless otherwise stated, the information in this document was valid on 3rd February 2017. Not all the services and investments described are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Tax, trust and company administration services are not authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The services described may not be suitable for all and you should seek appropriate advice. This document is not intended as an offer or solicitation for the purpose or sale of any financial instrument by Ascot Wealth Management Limited. The information and opinions expressed herein are considered valid at publication, but are subject to change without notice and their accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed. No part of this document may be reproduced in any manner without prior permission. © 2017 Ascot Wealth Management Ltd. Please note: This website uses cookies. To continue to use this website, you are giving consent to cookies being used. 

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WEBINAR – Structured Products – 22 June

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On the 22nd of June, Claire will be focusing on Structured Products. 

Join Claire for 45 minutes to and 1 hour of learning everything you need to know about Structured Products.  

Those who register to the event will be sent a link to the webinar a day prior to the event.

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Ascot Wealth Management Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority reference 551744. Our registered office: Scotch Corner, London Road, Sunningdale, Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 0ER. Registered in England No. 7428363. www.old.ascotwm.com Unless otherwise stated, the information in this document was valid on 3rd February 2017. Not all the services and investments described are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Tax, trust and company administration services are not authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The services described may not be suitable for all and you should seek appropriate advice. This document is not intended as an offer or solicitation for the purpose or sale of any financial instrument by Ascot Wealth Management Limited. The information and opinions expressed herein are considered valid at publication, but are subject to change without notice and their accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed. No part of this document may be reproduced in any manner without prior permission. © 2017 Ascot Wealth Management Ltd. Please note: This website uses cookies. To continue to use this website, you are giving consent to cookies being used. 

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Win with Ascot WM | Giveaway

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WIN A DAY IN PARADISE AT:

Foxhills Country Club for you and your partner/friend
PLUS 2 bottles of Champagne.

We have teamed up with Victoria James Concierge to giveaway this awesome prize:

2 x bottles of Veuve Clicquot Champagne (No Under 21’s, we will be asking you for your ID upon handover of prize)

  • 2 x full access passes to Foxhills Country Club (Chertsey, UK). You become a member for the day, allowing you to enjoy our full range of Country Club facilities including:
  • Tranquil spa garden including Finnish sauna, hot tub, organic natural pool, with deck chairs and bean bags to relax on
  • Par three 9 hole Manor golf course
  • A refreshing 20m indoor pool
  • Vitality pool with therapeutic swan neck jets
  • Poolside steam room
  • Gym including scheduled fitness classes
  • Tennis and squash courts
  • Walking trails

TO ENTER, FILL IN YOUR DETAILS BELOW:

Don’t forget to confirm your subscription in the email sent to you after you have submitted your details. If you don’t confirm your subscription, you wont be entered into the competition.  

When clicking submit, you acknowledge and consent that your information (name, surname, email address and birthday) will be shared with both Ascot Wealth Management and Victoria James Concierge for marketing purposes and you will be considered to have opted into both Ascot Wealth Management and Victoria James Concierge mailing list. Entrants are free to opt-out of communication at any time. 

Please note that transport is not included. We cannot guarantee what facilities will be open due to covid and we do not have any control over the Covid restrictions at the time of claim and the winner will need to abide by the local rules at the time of claiming the prize.

Terms & Conditions

Please note that terms and conditions apply. Click below for full terms and conditions.


Terms & Conditions


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Ascot Wealth Management Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority reference 551744. Our registered office: Scotch Corner, London Road, Sunningdale, Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 0ER. Registered in England No. 7428363. www.old.ascotwm.com Unless otherwise stated, the information in this document was valid on 3rd February 2017. Not all the services and investments described are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Tax, trust and company administration services are not authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The services described may not be suitable for all and you should seek appropriate advice. This document is not intended as an offer or solicitation for the purpose or sale of any financial instrument by Ascot Wealth Management Limited. The information and opinions expressed herein are considered valid at publication, but are subject to change without notice and their accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed. No part of this document may be reproduced in any manner without prior permission. © 2017 Ascot Wealth Management Ltd. Please note: This website uses cookies. To continue to use this website, you are giving consent to cookies being used. 

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The Cost OF Living Crisis

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The Current Cost Of Living Crisis

UK Inflation has hit a 30 year high of 6.2% in February 2022, the highest since 1992 when inflation reached 7.1%. Although Rishi Sunak’s OBR predicted inflation to average 7.4% this year, analysts speculate inflation could rise to 8.1% during 2022, meaning companies will likely reflect the increased costs of materials on consumers via more price hikes.

Pleasingly, unemployment has fallen to 3.9%, but real regular pay fell by 1% – the biggest fall for eight years. Given this, it is a vital time to think about inflation proofing personal finances and budgeting on a tighter annual income.

Energy Bills

The chancellor announced that there will be 0% VAT for energy efficient improvements which means that you could see a price drop of £1,000 for a solar panel installation. Although this may be a nice discount Mr Sunak did not mention anything about the most prominent illustration of the ‘cost of living crisis’ we’re up against, the rising energy bills.

Energy costs are expected to rise at least 14 times faster than wages in 2022. Trades Union Congress (TUC) expects gas and electricity to go up an average of 54%, with an expectation that the energy price cap will be £1,500 by October 2022. TUC have called on government officials to reduce household costs by introducing windfall tax on energy firms, offering rapid home insulation programmes and giving a boost to universal credit. With such movements likely to be slowly explored, it is important to consider how personal finances can be managed to assist the increased costs of living for all households, but especially lower income households.

Households can save on energy costs by considering some of the following:

  • Have structured products linked to different indexes. For example, the FTSE 100, Euro Stoxx or the S&P 500.
  • Use different counter parties. By doing this, if the counter-party does default, then you don’t lose the money held in all your plans. While it is important for a counter-party to have a good credit rating, this is not regularly updated. Therefore we also look at credit default swap pricing which gives a real time indication of the reliability of the counter-party.
  • Vary the type of plan. This can be done through choosing between deposit, income or kick out plans. It can also be done through choosing between types of kick out plans.

Whilst the market for shopping around between energy providers has diminished greatly, it is always worthwhile using comparison sites to compare your existing deals and ensure you are using smart meters correctly.

Tax Planning

For those who work from home, it is important to remember the working from home tax credits that can be claimed via self-assessment to help cover the costs of home office use. Whilst this £312 tax relief won’t combat the increased costs of using electricity at home, it will take some of the edge off!

However, if you claimed the working from home tax relief in 2020/21 or 2021/22 and have since returned to the office, it is important to check your tax code to ensure this has been removed. This will avoid the risk of receiving a liability at the end of the tax year. As a reminder, a ‘standard’ tax code for a full personal allowance should be 1257L for 2021/22 and 2022/23.

Asides from checking your tax code, you may also have employer benefits worth exploring to reduce your monthly costs. For example:

  • Ensure pension contributions are set up as salary sacrifice. This will save you the 12% national insurance tax or £12 for every £100 you save, unavoidable via net pay or personal contributions.
  • Think about your benefits in kind. If you no longer use the C02 heavy company car on the driveway, can a more environmental and cost effective vehicle be used to reduce your earnings and thus tax due?
  • Maximise company benefits – consider the use of corporate gym packages, cycle to work schemes and life assurance in place of this being a personal cost.

Fixing your Mortgage

Usually the biggest household cost is rent or mortgage repayments. With interest rates on the rise, this is a good time to review variable rate mortgages, especially those with no early repayment charges. At present mortgage rates of 1.5% are still available for borrowers with a sub 50% loan to value. We’d suggest looking into your existing mortgage six months before the end of your term, as we do not expect these low borrowing rates to continue into 2023.

Savings

The Bank of England has recently announced their third rate rise since December 2021, with current rates at 0.75%. This is to try and combat soaring inflation, which the MPC target to be 2%. The recent rate rise of 0.25% will not drastically improve family finances, but it is set to try and dampen demand whilst not draining the UK economy.

High-street banks are reportedly offering interest rates sub the Bank of England base rate, despite illustrating record years for mortgage interest received. Therefore, this is an important time for savers to increase family finances by shopping around for different savings rates.

For those looking to start saving, Cambridge Building Society are offering 5% on its extra reward savers account, with deposits of £250 a month for 12 months. During this period savers will gain an additional £81.58 in interest.

For those with larger sums to save, Aldermore are offering 0.6% on easy access, with Paragon offering 0.8% with £10,000 savings or more. If a notice account suits you, Investec offer a 32 day notice account with 1.1% annual interest.

In recent research from Paragon, over 75% of personal savings earn a rate of 0.1% or less, which given the UK savings reached £1.7 trillion according to the Bank of England, shows there is a significant amount more interest savers could be achieving.

Importantly we’d always encourage savings to ensure they have full FSCS protection with their bank or building society before depositing funds. Current FSCS limits are £85,000 per person per deposit taker.

Please contact us if you need any advice on tax planning, savings rates or mortgage offers given the cost of living crisis identified.

Written by: Catriona McCarron

31 March 2022


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Ascot Wealth Management Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority reference 551744. Our registered office: Scotch Corner, London Road, Sunningdale, Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 0ER. Registered in England No. 7428363. www.old.ascotwm.com Unless otherwise stated, the information in this document was valid on 3rd February 2017. Not all the services and investments described are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Tax, trust and company administration services are not authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The services described may not be suitable for all and you should seek appropriate advice. This document is not intended as an offer or solicitation for the purpose or sale of any financial instrument by Ascot Wealth Management Limited. The information and opinions expressed herein are considered valid at publication, but are subject to change without notice and their accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed. No part of this document may be reproduced in any manner without prior permission. © 2017 Ascot Wealth Management Ltd. Please note: This website uses cookies. To continue to use this website, you are giving consent to cookies being used.