Independent Chartered Financial Planners
Every quarter, we publish a global market review that breaks down the movements of key stock market indices and other important financial events from around the world. Compared to the first quarter of the year, where investors saw plenty of volatility, Q2 2025 proved positive for global markets. Source: JP Morgan Let’s break down the […]
14/07/2025 Wimbledon 2025 was, as usual, a display of sporting excellence perfectly parcelled in its classic British setting: green laws, red strawberries, and starch-white players’ uniforms. Over its 148-year history, Wimbledon’s winners have proved time and again that the journey of an athlete is complex, mentally challenging, and worth it in the end. Here are […]
14/07/25 20th century author Carson McCullers once wrote, “Death is always the same, but each man dies in his own way.” Understandably, it’s difficult to talk about death. What can make death even more complicated is that there are so many logistical factors that get in the way of facing your grief, such as the […]
12 June 2025 Five years ago, the term “artificial intelligence” would have sounded alien to most people. But today, AI is everywhere – providing anything from essay-writing support to cybersecurity features your bank or building society uses to protect your money. Whether you are already using AI tools at work or at home, or you […]
12 June 2025 Every year, provider Scottish Widows produces a Retirement Report that breaks down how attitudes to retirement are changing, and what retirees need to look out for in future. Its 2024 report found that: Drawing on that final point, if you are approaching or already in retirement, helping your children and grandchildren may […]
12 June 2025 Gold mining dates back as far as 4000 BCE, with evidence suggesting it spanned throughout Asia, Africa, and the Middle East during ancient times. Gold has long been a coveted resource that humans have held dear, having represented wealth, prosperity, and even divinity for thousands of years. And of course, the Californian […]
You may have seen the recent headlines about Marks & Spencer (M&S) and the significant cyberattacks the retailer has been a victim of, causing immense disruption to its online operations and costing an estimated £300 million in profits. In this case, scammers have stolen key customer information, which the BBC reported could include names, email […]
19 May 2025 Leonardo Da Vinci famously said: “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” In all areas of your life, you might find that overcomplicating your strategy leads to poor results. For instance, if you want to improve your physical fitness, having a simple plan that is easy to follow may help you remain disciplined and […]
19 May 2025 Professional mountaineers often attest to the fact that while the ascent is challenging, coming down from the mountain is the part that will really test their resilience. In a way, your career and retirement follow a similar trajectory. You tirelessly climb the mountain (pay into a pension) while you are working, and […]
19 May 2025 Even if you are not the world’s biggest golf fan, you won’t have missed the recent news: Rory McIlroy, Northern Irish golfer, won the 2025 Masters, achieving a career grand slam. Only six golfers can lay claim to the grand slam, which means winning all four of the sport’s major tournaments within […]