Articles Archives - Intelligent Partnership

Alternative Finance Members Only Innovative Finance ISA: An Overview for Advisers

14 Apr 2016

16 Feb 2016

Pension changes, restrictions on what higher earners can save and the threat to higher rate relief has brought the VCT sector back into consideration for many advisers. With upfront Income Tax relief and the ability to earn tax-free income, we think VCTs will be an important tool in advisers’ kit bags. With £3.46 billion funds under management in 97 VCTs from 32 providers, advisers will need to familiarise themselves with the current market. This article will outline the VCT market composition at Q1 2016, the typical charges VCT investors need to be aware of when making VCT investment, as well as the investment performance.

30 Jul 2015

Over the last few years there has been rapid growth in a new segment of the bond market, commonly referred to as mini bonds. Mini bonds are unlisted company bonds marketed to retail investors. Although they raise relatively small amounts of funds compared to listed retail bonds or equity fund raising and are usually issued by smaller companies, some household names such as John Lewis, Tesco and Ladbrokes have also participated in the market, raising awareness of this new asset class.

5 Mar 2015

The new pension freedoms are fast approaching and savers will no longer be required to purchase an annuity. These new freedoms open up a range of asset classes that have not been accessible to these investors previously. There has been a significant amount of speculation as to where investors may want to put their hard earned money. Alternatives should be considered alongside mainstream investments as a way of fulfilling the goals of a pension investment. This article looks at the new changes, what pensions savers are looking for and how alternatives can fit into the pension freedom era.

3 Dec 2014

The UK has introduced the first tax relief – Social Investment Tax Relief (SITR) – for social investments that incentivises ethical investing. SITR offers generous tax breaks that are changing the ethical investing landscape and how various investors can get involved. Investors can now achieve financial returns while having measurable social benefit. This article takes a look at the social investment market, SITR and considerations for advisers and clients on social investments.

28 Aug 2014

Collectibles are often items of personal interest and seen as a hobby, rather than an investment. While they are not traditional financial products, there are many ‘investment grade’ collectibles that can provide diversification, a hedge against inflation, a physical store of wealth and an additional source of returns. In this article, Intelligent Partnership’s Junior Research Analyst, Samantha Goins, covers the benefits and considerations when investing in collectibles, as well as how to mitigate some of the risks.

1 Aug 2014

Gold is the most widely understood precious metal, which for thousands of years has been used as a currency and sign of wealth. Today it is used as a physical store of wealth and safe haven asset by ordinary retail investors, providing diversification and a hedge against inflation. In this article, Intelligent Partnership’s Investment Analyst Luke Jackson covers the benefits and considerations when investing in gold, as well as touching on the different ways for retail investors to access this sector.

29 Jul 2014

4 Jun 2014

Student property is one of the fastest growing alternative investment sectors. It provides a physical store of wealth, a hedge against inflation and regular rental income – in much the same way as well established commercial and residential property. There are many options available in the market for retails investors and it has been a top performing asset in recent years. But investors must understand the fundamentals behind the sector and fully assess the opportunities presented to them.