Investments

FSA Warning On New Investor Scams

Aug 19th, 2008 | By James Green | Category: Investments

Investors have been warned to beware of fraudsters targeting former customers of rogue stockbroker Pacific Continental Securities.
The UK Financial Services Authority closed down Pacific Continental Securities in June of 2007. The company had been authorised as a broker for several years but had a turbulent and contentious history. Having done little to police the matter [...]



Quick Guide to Individual Savings Accounts (ISA’s)

Aug 14th, 2008 | By James Green | Category: Investments, Tax Saving Ideas, UK Personal Taxes

An Individual Savings Account (ISA) allows any UK taxpayer aged 18 or over to save up to £7,200 each year (for 16-17 year olds this is £3,600 cash) and not pay tax on the income they receive from the investment.
They are now a permanent feature of the UK savings landscape.
Tax Advantages of ISAs

All income from the ISA [...]



Investing Offshore - It’s Legal So Why Not Do It?

Aug 12th, 2008 | By James Green | Category: Doing Business Offshore, Investments, Offshore Tax Planning

“Going Offshore” is a phrase that one commonly hears usually accompanied by a wry smile or a sly wink of the eye.
There is an assumption that somehow “Offshore” is “dodgy” and anyone who has an offshore bank account or business must automatically be up to no good. Phrases like “tax avoidance”, “tax evasion” and, increasingly [...]



The Financial Services Authority (”FSA”)

Jul 24th, 2008 | By James Green | Category: Guide to City Jargon, Investments

The FSA is an independent non-governmental body formed following reforms in the regulation of financial services. The supervision of banking and investment services (including pensions, life assurance etc) was merged with the responsibilities of the previous regulator, ”The Securities and Investments Board (SIB), which changed its name to the Financial Services Authority in 1997.
The FSA’s four statutory [...]



European Economic Area (”EEA”)

Jul 24th, 2008 | By James Green | Category: Guide to City Jargon, Investments

The European Economic Area consists of all the member states of the European Union plus three of the four European Free Trade Association (EFTA) states, namely Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein. By treaty the EFTA states have been allowed to be part of the European Single Market without being required to join the EU.
The Fourth EFTA [...]



Beware of Money Transfer Opportunity Scams

Jun 24th, 2008 | By James Green | Category: Business Opportunities, Investments

Despite having some pretty good anti-spam software hardly a day goes by without at least one spam email reaching my in box offering me a part-time job which involves transferring money through my bank account on behalf of someone else.
I’m sure you get them too, and they are also popping up on the internet under [...]