Our first newsletter of the year.

Hopefully you will find the cost of living related articles thought provoking.

Please do get in touch with one of the team should you have any questions. 

 2023-04 Spring Newsletter.pdf

US: Banks recover as turmoil subsides

After some challenging weeks, bank stocks in the US performed well. On Thursday, the Biden administration released a set of proposed new regulations for mid-size banks that would impose more stringent capital and liquidity requirements and more frequent stress tests under a wider range of market scenarios. The proposed changes would bring regulation of mid-size banks more in line with the rules faced by the country’s largest banks.

Japan: Sticky inflation

Investor sentiment was boosted by the calming ...

Looking at the image above it looks pretty straightforward, right?  That’s the ideal scenario, though there can be some instances where you might need a bit of a hand hold.  That’s where having a mortgage adviser to guide you through can be beneficial.

As an example let’s have a look at one of our more recent cases, Nathan and Jennifer, a young professional couple looking to purchase their first home.

We first spoke with Nathan back in the summer of 2022, when he was looking to potentially purchase a property by himself, with a helping han...

Buying a home comes with extra costs and fees you need to be aware of – from securing your mortgage to booking the removal van.

Whether you’re a first-time buyer, downsizing or moving to your dream family home, it’s an exciting – and busy – time. It also comes with costs that could take you by surprise, so here’s a look at the ones you’re likely to come across and how we can help you through the journey.

Advice fee

We can help when you’re applying for your mortgage in principle, putting you in a strong position once an offer is accepted. ...

US: No Pause for The Fed

Unsurprisingly, financial stocks performed more poorly. The Federal Reserve raised interest rates 0.25% points as expected. The Fed said that it did not expect to cut interest rates this year – this is in stark contrast to what the market expects which is interest rates coming down as early as June. Economic data continues to suggest that the economy remained in a strong position, at least until the turmoil in the banking sector.

Japan: Inflation slows due to government subsidies

The rate of consumer inflation slo...

The Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, has delivered the next part of his plan: “a Budget for long term and sustainable growth”. Read on to find out who were the winners and losers from the 2023 spring Budget.

Winners

Over-50s returning to work

In his speech, the Chancellor said that “older people are the most skilled and experienced people we have”. So, he announced steps to make it easier for those over 50 to work for longer. 

Firstly, the government announced an enhancement to the “midlife MOT” strategy – offering reviews to help individuals ta...

Getting on the housing ladder can feel like one of the hardest and longest processes in the world and the cost of living crisis is probably not helping. You need to come across as attractive buyers for lenders to consider you, but there are many factors that can reduce how much lenders are willing to let you borrow for your home.

How do lenders decide whether to offer you a mortgage?

If you’re applying for a new mortgage, remortgaging or increasing your current mortgage, lenders are required to carry out an affordability assessment. This i...

US: Will fed stop raising rates now?

Key drivers of markets were the developments in the banking sector as well as worries that a sharper economic slowdown would now mean the Federal Reserve would have to slow down, or stop with, further rate hikes. The Federal Reserve meet this week to decide if they’ll hike interest and if they do, by how much. Broadly speaking, as a result of the banking crisis, investors now expect interest rates to begin falling before the end of the year.

Japan: Large companies agree biggest wage increase in decades

With inflation at its highest level in 41 years and energy prices skyrocketing, the cost of living crisis has dominated headlines since inflation began to creep up from historic lows in mid-2021.

While the Covid pandemic began the inflationary increase, this was further exacerbated by the war in Ukraine pushing up energy and food prices even further.

Following such an extended period of price rises, you may be concerned about your household finances and long-term plans. So, here are five ways to protect your finances during the cost of liv...