Welcome to Concept Financial Solutions Limited
Company/Market update 37 - 27/01/2025
We hope you are all well. The New Year 2025 is well and truly with us. Trump is in place as the new US President, we have had the early year storms and we are thinking of the Summer holidays we have booked or will be booking.
The office is open as usual. We are contactable via all normal available resources. Leave a message if urgent and we will contact you.
We send out regular information to most clients regarding their Investment/Pension portfolios. There are the quarterly Newsletters (Q3 issue available) and other tools available on this website in Online Services for more general information and access to services. Most of you have online access to provider platforms and product sites.
We have a new Buildings and Contents insurance option available to you on the website for 2024/25 to enable you to enter your own details into a Broker provider website for multiple quotes from well known insurance companies. See 'Get Quote' under Online Services. Please note you are dealing with the broker provider, The Source directly. We only provide you with access to them as an additional service as a user of our website. (Concept FS do not provide any advice or specific recommendation in relation to this service as we act only as an introducer via this website).
The office is staffed daily for the period between 9.30 am and 4.30 pm Monday to Friday. Emails, Post and telephone messages are monitored and answered, also we are contactable on our mobile numbers directly.
If phone calls are not answered please leave a message with your details. We will call you back. Please text or email if preferred. See the contacts page on this website for our telephone numbers and email.
We offer client meetings as home visits as well as meetings in the office (albeit limited due to space)
We have technology available to provide online visual/verbal contact - preferred medium being Teams or Zoom
We work remotely from our home offices as Advisers , as well as from the office.
We are here for our existing clients as well as new potential clients looking for Financial Advice.
Investment outlook and current situation.
As previously stated in past reports, unrest continues in the world, conflicts and environmental events still create anxiety with unfortunate consequences for humanity, our safety and financial well being. The main anxieties being created presently by the ongoing Israeli/ Palestinian and Russia/Ukraine conflicts. Although there appears to be moves to alleviate the pressures of conflict with potential ceasefires and hostage swaps More locally , Labour government changes are being implemented and further ones being prepared to raise financial questions and concerns. The US financial markets appear to like a Trump administration. Here in the UK it appears the markets are still settling into a Labour party driven economy. We are aware and alert to any change that may impact our clients from these changing times.
We look to keep up to date with events and try to make sense of decisions made by politicians and financial institutions that have major effects on markets and our personal and financial well-being. There is very little we can do once events take their course. Markets eventually settle and some level of order and understanding starts stabilisation. Things still look a little volatile in equity markets although showing a level of recovery especially in the more established Markets of the US, Europe and UK. There appears to be reduced inflation, although interest rates are still relatively high, which should aid Equities and Bonds into recovery and some stability. Annuities are still looking attractive at present for income production through Pensions, giving good levels of guaranteed income. Although these are showing a recent reduction due to slowly reducing interest rates caused by falls in inflation in the longer term.
Falls in Bank Interest Rates are not showing reductions in loans and mortgage rates. Savings rates are still reasonably attractive although longer term fixed rates are reducing.
We understand your concerns on seeing these events unfold and feeling the personal effects on your financial status. As we have said in the past, risk is a consequence of investing. We endeavor to seek assurances from fund managers to ensure they are working in the markets to eventually aid a speedy recovery when able to do so. Investments are researched, analysed and made with a view to long term future returns. Markets are showing recovery and good levels of growth again. Party policies can effect market volatility through the noise made by politicians looking to gain advantage. Most good invest-able companies remain so during these times because of good management, planning and remaining positive to potential change. Import/Export Tariffs and Taxes are going to be big talking points worldwide regarding trade and international relations.
If you require any sort of assurance or discussion about the current circumstances please do not hesitate to contact us either through the office or directly by phone, text or email. We are more than happy to meet and discuss your investments with you.
Investing is a long term commitment, as is our commitment to you as your Financial Advisers
Written by Ian Harby (Director) 27/01/2025
Russia/ Ukraine and Israel/ Palestine Conflict - January 2025
First and foremost, we acknowledge these are primarily human crisis's with awful consequences for millions. Things are looking no better in the Ukraine at present with some atrocities still being committed by Russia on civilian targets. A change in US strategy driven by Trump may have consequences for both Russia and Ukraine. This also may be the case with the other conflicts around the world due to Trumps tactics in dealings overseas. His unorthodox approach to issues and relationships with aggressors can sometimes produce positive outcomes.
Israel/ Palestine (Hamas) look to be speaking and making some headway in concessions to each other. How long this situation will last and the effectiveness of the moves toward a level of peace is still questionable.
We are making ongoing efforts to obtain information and guidance from our providers of investment products and portfolios regarding the effects of the hostilities and the pressures placed on the economies by sanctions, provision of financial support and armaments by major countries and the mind set of the countries involved to prolong the potential devastation and suffering. Rebuilding and health rehabilitation is seen as an unfortunate consequence of conflict but as opportunity by some.
Having listened and spoken to several of our primary providers of investments, the general consensus is to retain the investments. Companies and Markets are understanding the effects of the conflicts and investing appropriately to reduce any negative effects of the conflicts and take opportunities that arise as a result.
Situations such as this require level headed, counter intuitive reactions to emotional and potentially stressful times. Financial markets and fund managers will work without emotion with regard to money, using the realities of the situation and analytical strategic actions within portfolios in the search for positive financial outcomes.
There is only hope these conflicts are resolved quickly to minimise suffering for all.
Ian Harby (Director) 27/01/2025
Inflation and Interest Rate Rises. Politics and Elections
There are many events happening in the world of Global and UK Banking at present and are only added to by political changes and strategies. This can cause financial unrest and worry for major financial institutions and investors worldwide. Things are easing at present. Our primary guidance, is as above to remain and stay invested as situations are starting to recover. It can be worrying and we understand it is not 'a nice feeling' to see investment values fall. There appears to be a plateau of reasonable stability in the markets driven by lower inflation and lower interest rates which is leading an upturn in performance via a sustained period of stability and potential growth. The expectation of unrest can cause an effect on markets either for the better or have negative outcomes. However, if you need to contact us at any time to discuss your investments please do not hesitate to do so.
Ian Harby (Director) 27/01/2025
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We offer a comprehensive financial planning service for all your investment and protection needs:
-
Protection
How much cash would your family need to maintain their current lifestyle if you die prematurely? Would you require a regular income or a cash sum if you suffered a serious illness or disability? - Retirement
When do you want to retire and how much income will you need? - Investment
Are you making the best use of any spare capital? - Savings
Are you making the best use of any surplus income? - Mortgages
Do you want to reduce your current mortgage outlay or are you moving home?
We hope you find the site both useful and informative. Over time our aim is to expand the site to offer more services such as viewing your policies and portfolios securely on the site but we would welcome your feedback not only on the current content and presentation of the site but how you feel it could be improved or indeed what other services or information we could include to help you.
If you do have any suggestions please e-mail us or use one of our contact forms.
Europe | ||||||
London | ||||||
Index | Value | Move | % | |||
FTSE 100 | 8,740.58 | 117.29 ![]() | 1.36 ![]() | |||
FTSE 250 | 20,973.70 | 210.83 ![]() | 1.02 ![]() | |||
FTSE 350 | 4,792.96 | 62.31 ![]() | 1.32 ![]() | |||
FTSE All Share | 4,742.15 | 61.17 ![]() | 1.31 ![]() | |||
Americas | ||||||
New York | ||||||
Index | Value | Move | % | |||
Dow Jones | 44,733.90 | -139.34 ![]() | -0.31 ![]() | |||
Nasdaq | 19,717.90 | 25.61 ![]() | 0.13 ![]() |