Investing and personal wealth

This section of our site is aimed at those who are interested in investment products with more risk attached than a savings approach based on deposit accounts and ISAs, for example. Topics covered include: stocks and shares, unit and investment trusts and capital gains tax.

Open-ended investment companies (OEICs)

Unit trusts

A basic explanation of unit trusts.

Investment trusts

Single premium investment bonds

These are investments packaged as life assurance, primarily designed for investment but with an insurance over-ride (often 101% of the investment value).

Offshore Funds

Onshore and offshore bonds

Investment bonds are usually single premium life insurance contracts. They are sold by life insurance companies to allow customers to invest in a range of funds managed by professional investment managers.

Exchange-traded funds (ETFs)

Exchange-traded funds are index-tracked investment funds that trade on a stock exchange. They are generally used to track the performance of particular market indices.

Venture capital trusts (VCTs)

Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS)

The Enterprise Investment Scheme is a government scheme designed to help smaller higher risk companies raise finance. It does this by offering a range of tax reliefs to investors.

Stock and shares - equities

Stocks and shares are the most widespread types of equity that most people will get involved with in investment terms.

Fixed interest securities

Gilts

Hedge funds

Borrowing money

Risk and reward

Part of our role as a financial adviser is to help you determine your attitude to risk, and help select investments that will meet your needs.

Sensible investing

This is all about dividing your monies into various sections to cover all your needs, and of course meeting your risk-reward profile.

Capital gains tax

Turning assets into income and avoiding capital gains tax

For most people, capital gains tax becomes a concern only when they want to turn long-term investments into income, typically when they retire and want to start using their savings to top up their pension.