Financial blog and news from Chester financial adviser Cambrian Associates http://www.cambrian-associates.co.uk/cambrian-update Mon, 21 May 2012 01:59:44 +0000 http://www.cambrian-associates.co.uk/cambrian-update/double-dip-recession-bad-news-for-investors- Tue, 01 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000 Double Dip Recession – bad news for investors?   Many experts believe that investors should back British stocks, despite the second successive quarter in which the economy has shrunk.  http://www.cambrian-associates.co.uk/cambrian-update/double-dip-recession-bad-news-for-investors- http://www.cambrian-associates.co.uk/cambrian-update/your-guide-to-financial-fraud Tue, 01 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000 Your Guide to financial fraud   The Financial Services Authority has stated that it is contacting 76,732 people who are potential fraud victims over the next 6 weeks.  Their Operation Bexley has identified this number of people whose addresses or emails were on lists recovered from companies who were fraudulently selling worthless shares or running scams involving plots of land. http://www.cambrian-associates.co.uk/cambrian-update/your-guide-to-financial-fraud http://www.cambrian-associates.co.uk/cambrian-update/paying-for-advice Tue, 01 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000 Paying for advice   The Financial Services Authority’s Retail Distribution Review (RDR) will come into full force on 1 January 2013.  As a result, Advisers will no longer be able to be remunerated by commission.  Instead, we will have to agree our fees for advice and ongoing service with you at outset.  http://www.cambrian-associates.co.uk/cambrian-update/paying-for-advice http://www.cambrian-associates.co.uk/cambrian-update/the-mind-boggles- Sun, 01 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000 The mind boggles …   … but people still appear to be using “claim management firms” to pursue allegations of the mis-selling of Payment Protection Insurance by Banks.  £7.6 billion has been set aside to cover such compensation claims but there must be reasonable grounds for mis-selling to have occurred.  It is wrong to assume that such Policies were automatically mis-sold in conjunction with loans.  For example, if you were self-employed you could hardly be made redundant so the Policy could be invalid; you might have suffered ill health in which case a sickness claim might be rejected http://www.cambrian-associates.co.uk/cambrian-update/the-mind-boggles- http://www.cambrian-associates.co.uk/cambrian-update/is-it-the-right-time-to-invest-in-a-rental-property- Sun, 01 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000 Is it the right time to invest in a rental property?                 People in Britain are paying £48 billion a year in rent, much of it to amateur landlords.  This is predicted to grow to £70 billion by 2016 as the number of tenants grows.  http://www.cambrian-associates.co.uk/cambrian-update/is-it-the-right-time-to-invest-in-a-rental-property- http://www.cambrian-associates.co.uk/cambrian-update/how-about-technology-funds-for-your-isa- Sun, 01 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000 How about Technology Funds for your ISA?   Since the DotCom bubble burst on Millennium Eve, Technology Funds have been best avoided.  During the 3 years to 1 March 2003, Money Management records that the average Technology Fund lost 84.5% and that the worst fell by 92.3%.  http://www.cambrian-associates.co.uk/cambrian-update/how-about-technology-funds-for-your-isa- http://www.cambrian-associates.co.uk/cambrian-update/fundraising-success Sun, 01 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000 Fundraising success   On 16 March 2012 Cambrian hosted a fundraising concert at St Werburgh’s Catholic Church in Chester.  With the invaluable help of musicians and staff from King’s School and Chester Catholic High School, not to mention stirring performances from international organist, Roger Fisher, a great evening was enjoyed by over 400 people.  http://www.cambrian-associates.co.uk/cambrian-update/fundraising-success http://www.cambrian-associates.co.uk/cambrian-update/a-new-addition Sun, 01 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000 A New Addition One of those who attended the concert was Mrs Jack Taylor, Mira.  She went into labour during the interval!  Their first child, Max was born at 4.05p.m. on Saturday 17th March. http://www.cambrian-associates.co.uk/cambrian-update/a-new-addition http://www.cambrian-associates.co.uk/cambrian-update/shares-outperform-house-prices Thu, 01 Mar 2012 00:00:00 +0000 As measured by the FTSE (with dividends reinvested) and the Halifax house price index, shares have outperformed property prices over the following  periods: http://www.cambrian-associates.co.uk/cambrian-update/shares-outperform-house-prices http://www.cambrian-associates.co.uk/cambrian-update/have-you-been-mis-sold- Thu, 01 Mar 2012 00:00:00 +0000 Bearing in mind the numbers involved (over one million complaints about mis-sold Payment Protection Insurance last year) and the amount of money the Banks are having to set aside (£7.6 billion) it is worth reading on to find out if you have been a victim. http://www.cambrian-associates.co.uk/cambrian-update/have-you-been-mis-sold-