“Housing market outlook worst ‘for 20 years'”

Jan 19, 2019 | Housing market

An independent (financial adviser’s) view

When stockmarkets are bumpy, the frequency with which I’m asked ’should we invest in property instead because it always goes up and we’d get a regular income’ increases. So, for the record:

1. If your house was valued every day rather than every few years, it would go up and down just as much..

2. If you took an income from your stocks and shares, it would be about the same, but more tax efficient and possibly reliable than rental.

3. You can’t make a partial withdrawal from a house.

4. If you must, wait a bit as many (not estate agents, of course) think our property market might tumble soon…

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“Record year for annuity sales driven by advisers”

“Record year for annuity sales driven by advisers”

I was asked this week whether annuities are now ‘a good investment’. They’ve been recommended very rarely in recent years, since ‘pension freedoms’ allowed pretty much unlimited drawdown on pension funds and anything left to be passed on to beneficiaries free of Inheritance Tax.