Author Archives: James Etheridge

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) is working with firms, advisers, consumer groups and industry experts to improve investment advice. Through a process known as the Retail Distribution Review (RDR), the FSA is modernising the way recommendations about investment products such … Continue reading →

The risk-return trade-off is a concept that every investor should be familiar with. Stated simply, it means that to gain a higher potential return on an investment, you have to accept more risk. It’s also important to understand what those … Continue reading →

It seems impossible to open a newspaper at the moment without reading yet another headline attacking pensions. ‘Interest rates keep annuities low.’ ‘Pension companies still overcharging.’ ‘Stock market falls wipe billions off pensions.’ There’s no doubt at all that if … Continue reading →

One of the starting points of financial planning is establishing what money is available in an emergency.  The unexpected often happens and if you don’t have any money immediately available then you might struggle.  What would you do if your … Continue reading →

A recent report from Aviva says that 93% of families do not have adequate financial protection.  Worryingly those most likely not to have financial protection were single parent families, those that would be most venerable. Illness Of those that were … Continue reading →