I know that it can be difficult to follow financial writing, but I hope that this post is more interesting than most. It turns out that interest isn’t always interest. Many investors in London Capital & Finance were recently surprised to find that the 8% per year interest they had been promised was unlikely to […]

Transparency is an important part of our business culture. We want to ensure that our clients have full and complete understanding of the charges they pay to an investment or product provider, investment fund managers and, of course, any fees that they pay to us as their Financial Planner. Before we start work with a […]

Are white, middle-aged, middle-class investment managers dangerous? I recently a seminar presented by one of the leading investment houses. At that seminar, I listened to a series of presentations on the state of investment markets and the global economy, delivered by a series of highly respected experts. As I was listening to the various discussions […]

A new law has come into force which makes it illegal for companies to cold call about pensions. The ban on unwanted, unsolicited phone calls to people about their pensions follows an industry campaign to make the practice illegal. Companies breaking the new law could face fines of up to half a million pounds. It’s […]

Prospective clients occasionally ask us about our record as a firm of Chartered Financial Planners. It’s a perfectly reasonable question to ask; after all, if you’re considering entrusting your financial life to a company you know relatively little about, you should carry out plenty of due diligence first before engaging as a client. Our track […]

It’s an exciting time for our business, with the decision to open a new Informed Choice Petersfield office next month. The new office location opening is part of our plans to expand the Informed Choice brand into Hampshire. Holders Barn forms part of a prestigious new mixed development in Station Road, Petersfield. We signed a […]

What does it cost to get professional financial advice in respect of your pension pot or investments? According to some new research, the average cost of pension financial advice is close to £3,000. The research, carried out by consumer group Which?, looked at the fees charged by more than 100 financial advisers. Its findings tell […]

I had a pleasure of being a guest on BBC Radio 4 Money Box with Paul Lewis at lunchtime today. Finishing off my duties as Run Director at Cranleigh parkrun, I hopped in the car for the short drive to Guildford where the BBC have a contribution studio at the University of Surrey. After connecting […]

Do you use an investment platform to manage and administer your portfolio? These online platforms have become incredibly popular for investors, both for those with and without a financial adviser. A new market study, carried out by the Financial Conduct Authority, suggests that competition is working well for most consumers using investment platforms. The FCA […]

Three years on from the introduction of pension freedoms, how is the retirement income sector serving consumers? The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has launched a new consultation designed to protect consumers, improve engagement and promote competition in the retirement income market. This consultation has been published alongside their final report, part of the FCA’s Retirement […]