Market Update on UK & International Property Funds

Hi again,

its me just having returned from Mallorca’s rain and back to the real world of Financial Services & making our clients money!

There has been much in terms of press comment regarding Property funds, so I thought it would be worhtwhile adding a little JS critique :

UK property Norwich’s UP property trust fell 1% total return for Quarter1 08 against an average of -3% - they suffered less losses as they completely sold out of the London city office sector. They expect further capital declines for 2nd half of year but expect overall returns for midyear - midyear to be 08-09 5% 09-10 6.6% 10-11 8% 11-12 8.6% 12-13 8.7%. So on average over the next 5 years expected to be 7.3% - which isn’t bad at all! Rental growth is good, vacancy rates are low at 4%, and there are lots of buyers in the market as property now viewed as ‘fair value’. Overall quite positive on UK. Europe is going through a much slower correction than the UK, they expect capital values to fall, but a slow decline for remainder of the year, as interest rates are more supportive of debt purchases. Expect property to deliver total returns of 4.3% p.a on average over next 5 years but stress how difficult it is to predict. Asia Very bullish - huge potential, lots of positive demographics / growth of population. Very bullish on Japanese office sector and Singapore. US Commercial market performed well in 07 - 15% growth. Outlook for 08/09 - 15% capital decline

Regards, David

Pensions

Do you know how much money you will receive when you retire? 

 Do you understand your pension situation at all?

If you are looking for independent advice on your pension Jones Sheridan have a secret weapon: Linda Woodward is Jones Sheridan’s pensions specialist with over 10 years practical working experience in this arena and holds both the G60 and more recent CF9 qualifications.Pensions present unique and complex obstacles and can trip-up inexperienced IFA’s. This is why is it crucial to select a specialist in the field when seeking advice and guidance. Linda works with pensions every day and this extensive knowledge can be invaluable when making the decision to move your pension or stay with your current scheme.People change their Mortgage every couple of years with a view to getting the best deals. A pension could be considered an even bigger financial investment and yet many people do not know where they stand or what the state of their finances will be when they plan to retire. Like mortgages, pensions are subject to legislation changes and market changes. Add to this an individual’s changing attitude to risk and you can see why it is prudent to evaluate your pensions regularly.Recent changes in pension legislation have left a legacy of confusion. Jones Sheridan can provide a range of services to clients but most important is to provide clarity for the client, ascertain what any pension will provide on maturity, and if necessary help to improve the performance of any schemes. Linda will put every effort into researching old schemes to provide guidance on their value and, taking into consideration the objectives of the client and their attitude to risk, can suggest a route forward.Linda Says“Many of my clients are concerned about company pensions going bust, or seek advice during divorce proceedings, whilst employers may come to me concerned about unending liability. I often encounter complete oblivion to the value of any pensions. A tip for everyone is to take an interest in their pensions and keep track of them.I’m not a miracle worker but I will give an honest assessment and at the end of the day my clients will understand their pensions and know what they can expect.”

Initial consultations at Jones Sheridan’s offices are free but research undertaken on behalf of clients will be subject to administration charge of around £500. To talk to Linda call 01270 611468 today.

Regards,

David   

Long Term Care solutions on the doorstep!

It gives me great pleasure to announce that one of our Directors , Andrew Beattie, is now fully qualified to give critical advice in the complex area of long term care contracts. With the population living for longer and the pressure on state funds growing, the subject of how to plan and pay for long term health care is rising higher up the agenda for many people. With the added factor of rising costs for care it is now becoming more and more prudent to save for the eventuality. A pre-funded policy that balances the risk between need and length of need is fast becoming a well considered option for individuals who realise that the State is becoming overstretched and they may well fall out of the bracket for Government support. However, for those who haven’t planned for care and now need emergency support, Andrew can also offer advice on the options for immediate care plans. Typically this will assist the client to cover the shortfall on the actual costs for long term care and what they can afford to pay. Whatever the situation, Andrew is fully versed in the complex legal, tax and regulatory conditions and equally importantly, he can advise on how to use any relevant State funding to offset the costs. Andrew comments “it is becoming ever more important for our population to consider how they are going to be looked after properly in to their old age. The days have gone where the State is expected to provide and we see this as a vital areas of expertise. We can now help our clients to simplify the issues and plan for the necessity nursing home care or being cared for in their own homes”.

Andrew is happy to provide a free consultation to anyone wishing to consider their long term care arrangements. To book an appointment,

Regards, David

National Ethical Investment Week

I’m sitting here in my eco friendly office,  wearing my ‘green shirt’ & my ‘green socks’, thinking ‘green thoughts’ & generally pondering how to save the planet - only joking , but wouldnt it be nice if it was that easy!

 Seriously though there is something green on the horizon… ‘National Ethical Investment Week’. This runs from 18th-24th May to promote ethical investment expertise. We hope to be able to reach out to new clients and support existing ones to look at their investment portfolio with an ethical bias.

A few years ago recycling was not common practice but now most people recycle as much as they can - I , like many, have 4 different bins at home , allowing for ease in the re-cycling process. To be honest I considered it a pain to start off with , but once you get used to it , you start to appreciate the benefits. Going forward we believe ethical investing may become more popular, at this stage we believe people should be made aware that they have a choice as to how investments & pensions are allocated, & that there are some very good ethical funds which we can access. Of course investing through positive or negative screening should not  adversley affect the growth of one’s investment portfolio. 

If you would like a free ethical audit of your portfolio please call our specialist Robert Stone on 01270 611 468,

Regards ,

 David

New Charity Partnerships

I am writing with exciting news about our new charity partnerships.

This year, we have decided that we would really like to put something back into our local community by choosing two charities to benefit from our fundraising activities. We have various events planned throughout the year and the money we raise will be donated to Macmillan Cancer Support and The Wingate Centre.

Macmillan Cancer Support provides practical, medical, emotional and financial support for people affected by cancer. 1 in 3 of us will receive a cancer diagnosis at some point in our lives and 1.2 million of us are living with cancer. The money raised through our partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support will help them to continue their vital work to support people affected by cancer.

The Wingate Special Children’s Trust is an independent charity dedicated to enriching the lives of children and young people with profound physical and learning disabilities. Based at the Wingate Centre in Wrenbury, the Trust offers:

1. Specialist residential accommodation for groups from Special Needs schools and voluntary organisations from across the country.
2. Specialist sport recreational facilities for Special Needs schools, voluntary organisations, day centres and individuals.

Our partnership support will greatly assist in ensuring the Centre continues to provide these much needed facilities and extend its range of specialist equipment.

I have asked Chris Bridgman from the Wingate Trust & Alice Edmond from Macmillan Cancer Support to introduce themselves & there charities at the end of the administration meeting on Monday 21st January.

Regards,

Dave