Worldwide Financial Planning

US equities recieved a big boost from easing inflation, encouraging employment data and positive retail sales which all looked far from recessionary. The better outlook for the US also contributed to the more positive attitude towards Japan.

Retirement is a major life event which requires careful consideration and planning. Understanding the options available for accessing your pension is essential to making the right choice for your financial future. Each option has its own set of benefits and drawbacks, and the best choice depends on your personal circumstances, financial goals, and risk tolerance.

Trading is usually lighter in mid-summer, meaning large and unpredictable market moves are more common, but the scale of this week’s sell-off was notable. The long bull run for US equities has many investors concerned about how long the rally can last and markets still lack a clear view of where interest rates go from here.

The options are to: immediately take an Annuity; a Flexible Access Drawdown; Retire later; take as Regular Lump Sum Withdrawals; Take the Whole Pension Pot; or a combination of the above.

The performance of US tech stocks over the last two years and the narrowness of that rally has generated a lot of concern about whether revenue growth and lofty valuations are sustainable. This week’s updates from US tech stocks have not been terrible.

I covered the methods of mitigating Inheritance Tax last week and was asked a question regarding equity release to mitigate the tax where the property or home may be causing the tax.