Archive for 'Investing'

How Much Can I Put In An ISA?

How Much Can I Put In An ISA?

I’ve suddenly had a lot of people contact me to ask the above question regarding the tax free ISA (Individual Savings Account) products that are available to UK taxpayers.
This is probably due to changes that came in last month. If you don’t know what an ISA is then have a look at this earlier article.
Currently the [...]

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Offshore Investing

Offshore Investing

Investing Offshore can be a very attractive option for the discerning investor who would like to explore other markets, shield his or her investments from potential capital lawsuits, or grow them in a confidential, secure investment not governed by the rules and regulations of their home jurisdiction.
Over a year ago I posted an article Investing [...]

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HM Treasury

HM Treasury

This is the UK government department, headed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, which is responsible for managing the country’s public revenues.
In recent years it hasn’t had the best of records (despite many ill-informed commentators promoting Gordon Brown as a “prudent” chancellor – HAH!!!) as can clearly be seen by anyone who looks at the [...]

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Friendly Society

Friendly Society

A Friendly Society is incorporated under the Friendly Societies Act 1974 or under the Friendly Societies Act 1992 or any subsequent act replacing or amending these acts.
Friendly Societies are voluntary mutual organisations whose main purpose is to financially assist their members, or their members’ families, during sickness, unemployment or retirement and to provide life assurance [...]

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Free Float

Free Float

This refers to shares in a public company which are freely available for purchase or trade by the general public.
Although a company may be designated a Public Limited Company unless it is listed on a recognised stock exchange its shares may not be in “free float” and even if it is publicly listed the shares [...]

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Open-End Funds

Open-End Funds

One of the most common questions we receive asks for a definition of an open-end fund and a definition of a closed-end fund.
An open-end fund is a collective investment scheme that can issue and redeem shares according to market demand. Therefore unlike a closed-end fund, where the number of shares in issue is fixed at [...]

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Bucket Shop (or Boiler Room)

Bucket Shop (or Boiler Room)

Beware the fraudulent activities of a share “bucket shop”.
 A Bucket Shop (sometimes called a “boiler room”) is a fraudulent brokerage firm that uses aggressive sales techniques, usually by telephone, to sell stock that the brokerage owns and wants to get rid of. The securities they sell are typically poor investment opportunities, and almost always penny [...]

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