by Brian Downton | J, Jan, 2016 | blog, general
As the Beatles pointed out in their 1964 hit “Can’t buy me love”, there are some things money can’t buy, at least not directly. Money can, however, influence happiness – if used wisely. Here are some tips on how using your personal wealth wisely can help to make you...
by Brian Downton | J, Jan, 2016 | blog, general
They say that when China sneezes, the rest of the world catches a cold. So when China suffered the financial equivalent of a massive heart attack at the beginning of the week, the world’s financial markets duly went into full-scale panic mode. But what does this mean...
by Brian Downton | J, Oct, 2015 | blog, general
It’s been a long, long six years since 2008, which for many of you might have been the last time you had an over inflation pay rise. For some people reading this blog, it might have been the last time you had a pay rise at all. Between 2010-2013 real wages overall...
by Brian Downton | J, Sep, 2014 | blog, general
The late, great, Rik Mayall and his fellow Young Ones lived in a very different era from modern students. While the trials and tribulations of house sharing may ring familiar bells, the financial landscape facing the modern student is very different to that of their...
by Brian Downton | J, Sep, 2014 | blog, general
While the Financial Standards Authority might have become a familiar name, it is now no more. As of April 2013 regulation of the financial services industry was divided between the Financial Policy Committee (FPC), Prudential Regulatory Authority (PRA) and Financial...
by Brian Downton | J, Sep, 2014 | blog, general
Marie Antoinette was probably framed. The infamous comment “Let them eat cake” was almost certainly a corruption of a remark made by a previous French queen. Nevertheless the lack of bread was one reason why Marie Antoinette lost her head in 1793. A hundred years...
