Special Report

Six Things to Know to Weather a Market Downturn

06/10/2022 It can be unsettling for investors when their portfolios and the markets start heading into the red. Here are six investing basics to keep in mind during volatile times.   PERIODS OF VOLATILITY ARE NORMAL All markets move in cycles, and periods of steep contraction are completely normal. While the length of market contractions varies, periods of growth and expansion are usually waiting on the other side. The markets have proven remarkably resilient over the long term, and while returns can be quite volatile year-to-year, they’re generally positive over multi-year periods. DON’T PANIC Letting emotions dictate your investing strategy is a risk you shouldn’t take. Short-term decisions can have long-term consequences on your portfolio. Being patient can pay dividends. KNOW YOUR PORTFOLIO Understand your investments and how specific assets represent different goals and outcomes. Keep in mind your risk …

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The UK : Mini-Budget, Massive Ramifications

04/10/2022 Jeremy Batstone-Carr, European Strategist, Raymond James Investment Services Ltd* Key Takeaways The UK “mini Budget” is a high-risk plan to reinvent the UK as a high growth/high wage economy. An uncosted and aggressive borrowing plan to generate sufficient growth in the future has impacted on the gilt-edged market and sterling. “Buying” growth by adding debt does not solve the UK’s long-term productivity problem. Persistent high inflation has imparted a significant affordability problem for the average UK household. Energy costs, although rising, have been capped by the new administration. The Bank of England has stepped in both to rescue the pension fund sector and restore the UK’s economic credibility, essential to avoid a debt servicing crisis and to “cover” the widening current account deficit. The combination of a temporary return to bond purchases and likely yet higher interest rates has …

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Q&A: Dollar Dominance—Can It Continue?

04/10/2022 By Tracey Manzi, CFA, Senior Investment Strategist, Investment Strategy   The US dollar has been getting a lot of attention these days. This is not surprising given the greenback has gained over 17% against a basket of currencies this year to levels not seen in over 20 years.* While moves of this magnitude are not unprecedented, the dollar’s steady climb is starting to have spill-over effects on the rest of the world. This has implications for the economic performance of various regions and on the financial markets. Sanctions against Russia have also revived investor concerns about whether the dollar can maintain its role as the world’s reserve currency. In this Q&A we delve into some of the more pressing questions on investors’ minds. Q: Why is the dollar so strong?   A: The surge in the dollar this year …

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Europe: Playing Sheriff Means Accepting “Black Hats” And A Lot Of “High Noons”!

04/10/2022   Jeremy Batstone-Carr, European Strategist, Raymond James Investment Services Ltd* Key Takeaways Europe’s energy crisis has dominated investor sentiment and determined political initiatives and exacerbated regional inflationary pressures and growth slowdown. Apparent acts of sabotage on the Nord Stream gas pipelines have refocused attention on Europe’s lack of energy security, whilst ensuring that the Ukraine conflict remains front of mind. Commission plans to manage energy costs carries the risk that suppliers may not invest in additional capacity and do little completely to protect households from rising energy bills. Political disunity threatens to fracture regional cohesion. The Italian election result being merely the highest profile indication of popular discontent. The ECB has embarked on a rate hiking programme in an effort to contain regional inflationary pressure, whilst standing ready to utilise its new anti-fragmentation tool were peripheral sovereign bond yields …

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What Diversity Means for Your Business

30/09/2022 Employee diversity is more than a moral obligation — it’s also a valuable resource.   The bottom line Let’s look at why diversity overall is beneficial to the bottom line. As with any system, a wide variety of skills and viewpoints tend to strengthen an organisation. This cognitive diversity is important in driving innovation, higher revenues and better decision-making, and – very important in today’s talent wars – it creates a wider talent pool to draw from. In fact, diversity can drive up to a 60% improvement in decision-making. Public companies in the U.S. with diverse executive boards have been shown to have a 95% higher return on equity than non-diverse boards, and companies in the top quarter for gender diversity were more likely to have above-average profits. Companies in the top quarter of ethnic and cultural diversity outperformed …

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Protect your privacy on social media: How much is too much?

Follow these tips for protecting your privacy on social media. In 2020, there were 3.96 billion active users on social media and the number keeps growing. Whether it’s to find a place to eat, stay in touch with friends or family, or connect with industry peers to gain knowledge for your career growth, social media has a platform for you and your interests. But are you being safe with divulging your personal information, also known as personally identifiable information (PII)? Don’t reuse passwords According to a Balbix report, 99% of users reuse passwords across either work accounts, personal accounts, or work and personal accounts. Using the same username and password across multiple applications increases your risk of identity theft and account compromise. We recommend using a password manager to hold all of your passwords. There are plenty of products available …

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The Power of Yes

Julie Singer’s openness to new experiences has coloured her life with adventure. “Trying things in this beautiful, strange world is the only way to find your path.” In those few words, Julie Singer, AAMS®, CFP®, effortlessly summed up her mantra. The one that inspired her to study abroad in South Korea, Jamaica and Germany. The one that led her to Utrecht, Netherlands, to conduct independent graduate research on microfinance in developing countries, and to serve as a graduate teaching assistant in London for comparative homicide and comparative punishment courses. And eventually, it’s what led her to become a fourth-generation wealth manager. In short, trying things and searching for her path is what has coloured Singer’s life with adventure. Of course, not all of her experiences have been a dream. Her path, like most of ours, has been marked by twists, …

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Encouraging diversity of thought

Aspire Spring 2022 Wary of decisions made based on a single perspective, Helena Bakunowicz created a wealth management practice that strives to include varied points of view. In choosing to study politics, Helena Bakunowicz opted for a university degree in a subject she found interesting – international relations, to be specific – rather than one that led to a particular career. Her classmates with similar humanities degrees from Loughborough University are now in a range of roles from lobbyists pushing for change to sales directors and lawyers. Bakunowicz is a wealth manager. It might seem divergent, or even happenstance, that a newspaper ad spotted by a family friend set her on a course toward wealth management, a field that suits her combination of analytical and interpersonal skills. Yet, her approach to providing bespoke investment strategies for clients is clearly rooted …

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The importance of discussing inheritance with your heirs

As you finalise estate plans and decide how you’ll distribute your fortune, it will benefit everyone involved to open lines of communication with presumed heirs. You’ve achieved a level of financial success that allows you to share your wealth with the ones you love. Of course, substantial inheritances are a generous gesture that also carry great responsibility. Having a series of conversations with your heirs – to openly discuss the transfer of wealth and what expectations come along with it – will make sure everyone is on the same page. Oftentimes, your children have questions too, but money (especially large sums) feels like a taboo topic. They don’t want to seem greedy, for example. Give them permission to better understand your hopes for your family’s future. Here’s what you should consider as you plan the conversation. Who? It’s best for …

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Are you and your partner on the same retirement page?

Many couples don’t agree on when, where or how they’re going to spend their golden years. When Fidelity Investments asked couples how much they thought they’d need to save for retirement to maintain their current lifestyle, 49% said they had “no idea.” Over half the survey respondents – 54% – disagreed on the amount needed to retire, and 43% had differing answers when asked their planned retirement age.1 In some ways, that’s not surprising – many couples disagree on financial and lifestyle matters long before they’ve stopped working. But adjustments can become more difficult in retirement, when you’ve generally stopped accumulating wealth and have to focus more on controlling expenses and dealing with unexpected events. Ultimately, the time to talk about and resolve any differences you have about retirement is well before you need to. Let’s look at some of …

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