All assets absolute increase

All asset classes have shown an absolute increase in assets in the first quarter of 2012, according to data published recently by investment research firm Camradata.  The firm claims that the figures represent growing evidence of a “long-term recovery”. Our experienced Independent financial advisors at Enable of Bishop’s Stortford know real wealth management requires proper risk assessment, appropriate to the investor and time.  Keeping the bigger picture in mind is what IFA’s are expert at.

In its latest report, Camradata figures also show that most equity classes have given returns of 20 per cent or more over the last three years, with “more managers reducing risk against their benchmarks and active managers, in particular, delivering value”.

Their data continue to show an upward trend in the number of investment houses active in most sectors, with the number featured in European equity, for example, rising from 36 to 47, while in US high yield the total increased from 17 to 25. Steve Butler, managing director of Camradata, said: “Broadly, there has been a bounce up in values and returns over the last three years. “It’s hard to see who could be disappointed with that kind of performance. What we’re seeing is managers continuing to create wealth against the same kind of bleak, market backdrop.”

Whether you are an active or passive investor wanting to take risks or minimize your risk, Enables independent Financial Advisors can help you look at your options.

Taxing the rich - do you declare earnings from overseas property?

Whether the rich should  pay more tax is a debatable political issue but Enable,  Independent Financial Advisors of many years experience note that The Revenue are targeting the wealthy and have started with Owners of overseas property  first.  A 200-strong team of investigators has been set up to identify wealthy tax evaders, Revenue & Customs declared this  at the end of last year when it unveiled a new “affluent” unit, which will focus on the tax affairs of  those earning more than £150,000.

Commodity traders are said to be the Revenue’s next target, and holders of offshore accounts will come under scrutiny later next year. The tax affairs of the very wealthiest 5,000 individuals, with at least £20m in assets, are handled by a specialist group that generated an extra £86m of revenues in 2009-10 and £162m in 2010-11.

Danny Alexander announced the launch of the unit which will deal with the 350,000 richest people, at the Liberal Democrat conference in September when he said “the small minority who don’t pay what they owe” would be found and made to pay their fair share.  David Gauke, financial secretary to the Treasury, said the new unit was expected to raise £560m in the next few years, adding: “The government is committed to tackling tax evasion and avoidance across all areas of the economy. That is why we allocated HMRC £917m to reduce the tax gap over the next four years in the last spending review. This new team is part of that investment.”

Making sure you are tax efficient is part of good financial management expert advice from experience IFA like Enable of Bishop’s Stortford is always best.