Can’t recommend Financial Fortress highly enough Ian Daltrey provided us with outstanding advice for overhauling our pensions, explained everything every step of the way and made everything so seamless that took all the worry away for us. So happy with the advice and service we have received.
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Act NOW – Amazing investment opportunity!
Given Lockdown 2 is now upon us, our investment management team has been busily scouring investment opportunities and believe we have spotted an amazing opportunity but be quick! We have received “insider information” which has even been picked-up by the BBC! WOW! ACT NOW!
What could these investment opportunities be? We have it on very good regard that there are lots of “numpties” and “irrational thinkers” currently “stock-piling” toilet paper – Wow, toilet paper! Who’d have thought it? Aparently the latest Government research shows that if you keep your botty and nose very clean then you will probably stay Covid-free! Our analysts have predicted a “sudden spike” in sales over the next few days before “becoming depressed” in around 2 weeks-time.
Further research by our in-house team shows that “bog roll maker” Andrex actually foresaw this madness and has amassed over 100 million rolls on stand-by, meaning the “ted-heads” and “roll-insecure” members of society are very misguided. We also believe the modern supply chain will keep up with this excess and irrational demand! Who would have thought it!
As always, get in touch with Financial Fortress to see how your portfolio can benefit from the latest investment trends!
Focus on fraud – the interception scam!
Fraud is definitely on the increase and recent stats show around £58 million getting scammed with “Corona-inspired” scams this year! Here we explain what is meant by different types of fraud and how to protect yourself! The “interception scam.”
Pretty simple really, fraudsters “intercept” your email (Cyber-space) or letters (Snail-mail), alter the bank/contact details and then pass the email/post back on to you. They will typically re-create the letter identically, changing only the information required to complete the scam such as the bank account and sort code for payment!
When is this used? A typical example would be when buying a house. Your solicitor may ask you for the £10,000 deposit to be paid to their account, but the fraudsters “stop” (intercept) the letter, change the details and then send it on. You get the letter, believe its genuine (as you may be expecting the bill) then send the money to the money pilfering scumbags accounts and are none the wiser. Until your solicitor explains they have not had the money anyway!
How to protect yourself. Whenever you receive a request for payment from a trusted source, especially when you may be expecting it, STOP, call the person you’re paying and CHECK. (Just don’t use the phone number on the letter as that will have been changed too!!). Use a search engine to locate a separate number and use that. REMEMBER – Once you have sent the money it’s gone forever!
Always contact your local experts for advice on anything money-wise so we can help ensure your very own Financial Fortress!!
Focus on fraud – the unregulated investment scam!
Fraud is definitely on the increase and recent stats show around £58 million getting scammed with “Corona-inspired” scams this year! Here we explain what is meant by different types of fraud and how to protect yourself! The “unregulated investment scam”
Pretty simple really, fraudsters (sometimes even genuine advisers!) convince you invest your hard-gotten savings (or pensions) into unregulated investments. As the investments are not regulated if they subsequently go-bust (as they always eventually do), you lose your money (or at very best get a few pence back for every £ invested.
When is this used? Typical examples may include versions of the following:
- A High, fixed rate of return (anything more than 0.5% beware)
- Any “guaranteed” return
- Anything “exotic” – golf clubs abroad
- Airport car parking
- Commodities, I mean things like palm oil or carbon credits
How to protect yourself. Always think if it sounds too good to be true then it usually is. Every provider has an FCA reference so go on the regulators register and check them out! Also remember that cold calling to discuss any type of pension product is NOW ILLEGAL! Therefore, anyone that calls out of the blue regarding pensions IS a FRAUDSTER!
Remember – Once you have sent the money its gone forever!
Always contact your local experts for advice on anything money-wise so we can help ensure your very own Financial Fortress and help you avoid costly mistakes!!!
Wrexham based advice firm defaults leading to claims on the FSCS!
REX Financial Services defaulted in September after ceasing all regulated business in the July, leaving its clients in the lurch and potentially facing huge losses. The FSCS (Financial Services Compensation Scheme) has already received many claims against REX for “dodgy” advice, specifically regarding “self-invested Personal Pensions – or SIPP’s”!
The bad thing is, as a responsible firm, we then pay the fee’s that support the payouts’ from the FSCS for bad advice. Meaning the cost of “good and appropriate” advice using “top quality regulated pensions” then has to go up to pay for it – Scandalous! Recent stats show the bill to good advice firms has increased recently given the rising payouts from £16million to £229million – Wow.
As always, be careful whom you put your trust in, whilst REX Financial doesn’t appear to have been a “pension scam” its clear their advice was at the very least “not the best”. Get in touch with your local experts to ensure your own Financial Fortress!
Could inflation exceed 2%?
Inflation is vital, as we keep saying. The ability for people to plan-ahead and gently encourage us all to spend our money is vital and this is why steady, managed inflation is important. A figure of around 2% is seen as “economically required” long term. Why? – Well imagine if the price of bread rose 100% a year, (ie: doubling every year along with everything else you may want to buy), if you have a £10 note today you would spend it as quickly as possible given everything will soon cost you twice as much! This then means people stop saving which means lower investment in business’s and long-term vehicles.
When inflation takes hold, it is near impossible to bring back under control and hence the worlds central banks are targeted to maintain around a 2% inflation rate. To demonstrate how serious inflation can be – high levels of inflation are largely regarded as being a major factor in the reason for World War 2 and the rise of Hitler! – Not good!
During a recent Federal Reserve announcement (in the US), the chair (Jerome Powell) announced that the Fed would become “more tolerant of inflation passing the 2% mark”. Modern economic theory is facing unprecedented challenges but in our opinion, inflation will always remain the key indicator to watch. Inflation in the UWhere the US goes, perhaps the UK and other developed countries will to? As always, we will continue to watch this space! Get in touch with your local experts to build your very own Financial Fortress!