Portfolio performance to the end of December 2011

Published by Marc Westlake under Portfolios |

Summary performance to the end of December 2011 for our various portfolio strategies.

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Market Insights

Published by Marc Westlake under Wealth |

Happy New Year.

Our review of 2011 and outlook for 2012 please click on the link below

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Portfolio performance to the end of November

Published by Marc Westlake under Portfolios |

November was one of those months where the conservative part of our portfolios (fixed interest) performed poorly at the same time as the growth part. Concerns over European Bond markets weighed heavily on the European Inflation linked bond fund (although this has since substantially recovered). T

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Absolute return funds

Published by Marc Westlake under Portfolios |

With so much money flowing into absolute return funds (or retail hedge funds as we prefer to call them) the following analysis asks are these a good investment for our clients?

We conclude that they are not and investors should not believe the hype.

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Reckless conservatism

Published by Marc Westlake under Portfolios |

With so many clients holding considerable amounts of their retirement funds in bank deposits. We consider if this strategy is likely to produce the best outcomes for both the retiree and their family in the light of the requirement to take a 5%pa imputed distribution.

We conclude that (his

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Estate Planning

Published by Marc Westlake under Wealth |

Consideration of the tax benefits associated with inter-generational gifts being made into pensions for children or grandchildren who are non-earners.

To read more, please click on the link below

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Budget 2012

Published by Marc Westlake under Economics |

A brief summary of some of the main changes arising from the latest Budget with particular emphasis on the main changes to savings, investments, pensions and capital taxes.

To read the full article, please click the link

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The good old days?

Published by Marc Westlake under Economics |

In this brief review of the 20th Century, we consider current events in the context of Global history and conclude that our perception of how bad things are today is probably being excessively influenced by the media to the extent that on average many of us view current conditions to be far worse

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Rabobank downgraded by Standard and Poors

Published by Marc Westlake under News |

We have heard many commentators recommending various “safe havens” in recent months ranging from currencies like the Swiss Franc or the Canadian Dollar to German Bonds and bank accounts with Rabobank.

The downgrading of Rabobank by Standard & Poors from AAA to AA is just an

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Is the Euro Broken?

Published by Marc Westlake under Economics |

"A day will come when all nations on our continent will form a European brotherhood... A day will come when we shall see ... the United States of America and the United States of Europe, face to face, reaching out for each other across the seas." Victor Hugo 1848

What a contrast

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