by Brian Downton | J, Jan, 2016 | blog, general
As the old saying goes – what goes up must come down. Recently oil prices have been coming down quite spectacularly. This has naturally raised the question of how investors can benefit from this. To answer this question, we need to understand why oil prices have...
by Brian Downton | J, Jan, 2016 | blog, general
Human beings, in general, are notoriously bad at calculating risk and weighing up reward, it’s almost hard wired into us. Our survival, millennia ago, was based around our inability to think too much about the future and focus on ‘eating today’. This, while useful...
by Brian Downton | J, Jan, 2016 | blog, general
The late 1980s TV series “Home to Roost” saw Henry Willows (John Thaw) have his life turned upside down after his 18-year-old son Matthew came to live with him. Today practical economics has made adult children living at home a reality in many families. The current...
by Brian Downton | J, Jan, 2016 | blog, general
Spring half term: Is it a time for all the family to come together, or a long, frequently wet week during which your kids demand to be entertained? All too often it can feel like the latter, and while teachers take a well-earned break from the classroom, your role as...
by Brian Downton | J, Jan, 2016 | blog, general
If you are going through a divorce, money is probably the last thing you want to talk or think about. Experiencing something as difficult as the end of a marriage cannot be helped by asking questions about your financial future, can it? Unfortunately, money cannot...
by Brian Downton | J, Jan, 2016 | blog, general
Type “unwanted gift” into eBay and see how many results you get. In theory it may be the thought that counts, in practice these days it’s far from unusual for recipients to turn gifts they would prefer to forget into cash via sites like eBay. Some people might find...
by Brian Downton | J, Jan, 2016 | blog, general
It can be hard to define the point when two people become a couple, planning to be together for the years to come. When it does happen however it can be an appropriate time to make sure that all practicalities are addressed. This means ensuring that you and your...
by Brian Downton | J, Jan, 2016 | blog, general
For people who lead busy lives, managing the family finances may be just one of many important jobs to do. Fortunately taking care of your personal wealth can take less time than you might think. Here’s a quick guide to what you need to do and how often. Once a year...
