From practical guides to market commentary, stay informed about what matters for your financial future.
Ask most people whether they have a financial plan and they'll point to a pension and an ISA. But saving into products isn't the same as having a plan, says rockwealth partner Ed Blackett...
Financial advice consolidation is accelerating across the UK. For advisers inside firms that no longer share their values, 2026 may be the year to make a different choice. January is when it hits...
Market falls feel painful in the moment, but they are the cost of accessing long-term equity returns. Here’s why staying disciplined, avoiding panic decisions, and focusing on your plan matters most when volatility spikes...
Nicola Floyd has spent more than 20 years in finance, from investment banking to impact investing. Along the way, she changed her mind about how the industry serves clients and why evidence-based planning delivers better outcomes...
After two decades in financial planning, Andy Collett explains what he has learned, why consolidation is changing advice in the UK, and why he chose to build a client-first Cotswolds practice with rockwealth...
Tim Horrocks, Managing Partner at rockwealth, reflects on a rollercoaster year for markets, Budget rumours and media noise. His message for 2026? Ignore New Year forecasts and focus on what you...
A substantial investment from Söderberg & Partners strengthens rockwealth's ability to support advisers who want to build their own evidence-based advice business...
Swedish financial group Söderberg & Partners has invested in rockwealth — a vote of confidence in the evidence-based approach helping clients across the UK build financial security.
You earn six figures. You save diligently. Yet somehow you're still struggling to get ahead financially. The problem isn't your discipline or your income. It's that you're using tactics designed for...
Becoming a financial planner took an unconventional route for Hetty Hyde-Durrant, rockwealth's newest team member. In part two of our interview, she talks to Robin Powell, rockwealth's Head of Client...
Financial planning vs financial advice: which do you actually want and need? In the first of a two-part interview, rockwealth's Head of Client Education Robin Powell speaks to Hetty Hyde-Durrant, our...
The Leeds Reforms — the Chancellor's new plans for investing and the financial markets — promise to widen equity ownership and cut red tape. But what do they actually mean for your money? The phone...
It's hard to ignore the market turmoil we've seen since President Trump's announcement on tariffs. But, as investors, it's very important that we don't dwell on it. In most cases, the best approach...
Sahil Bloom is one of the world's most powerful social influencers. Although he had a very successful career in the private equity industry, he realised that his financial wealth didn't bring him...
It's usually stock markets that dominate the financial headlines. Bond markets, or fixed-income markets, can be very dull in comparison. But, so far this year, it's the latter which have commanded...
The gossip machine is in overdrive as to what Chancellor Rachel Reeves will announce in her first Budget on 30th October. Much of the speculation surrounds possible pension reforms. So is there...
Advocates of active money management often describe index investing as settling for average. But is it actually true? There have been very few better investments in recent decades than an S&P 500...
Something we very much pride ourselves on at rockwealth is that our investment philosophy is strictly evidence-based. But what do we mean by evidence-based investing? After all, “evidence” can be...
What do we mean by a financial bucket? Well, one of the reasons why financial planning can be so complicated is that we don't have access, most of the time, to our most valuable financial assets....
Humans beings like taking shortcuts. We look for quick fixes and easy solutions, whether it's the latest fad diet or a new cryptocurrency we're told will make us rich. Although, almost invariably,...
In the quest for financial growth, many ponder whether it's possible to outsmart the stock market. This curiosity spans across a spectrum of investors, from seasoned veterans to those embarking on...
This week marks the tenth anniversary of the birth of rockwealth. Founding partner TIM HORROCKS looks back at what he and his colleagues have achieved so far and spells out his goals for the future....
Financial regulation in the UK moves slowly. The Financial Conduct Authority has been criticised over the years for not acting faster, and more decisively, to protect consumers. But, last summer, the...
Private equity funds are very much the investment du jour — for ordinary investors, as well as institutions. But do the returns they produce justify the hype? As with the clothing industry, fashions...
'Time in the Market' Versus 'Timing the Market' Embracing Long-Term Investing Over Market Speculation In the investment landscape, the pursuit of rapid gains often lures investors towards market...
For those with globally diversified portfolios, investing in India has become more important than ever. India is one of the world's fastest-growing economies, with a growing middle class, a young and...
Cash holdings have recently offered returns at their highest rates since 2008. While cash is a reliable vehicle for capital preservation, it is not immune to the eroding effects of inflation. To put...
If you asked football fans of my generation for a few of their favourite players, I'm sure that most of those lists would include the name John Barnes. He could toy with opponents and manipulate the...
Retirement is a significant milestone in one's life. It's a time of relaxation, reflection, and, for many, a shift in financial priorities. How can you ensure that your retirement savings last...
Discovering the optimal amount to save into your pension requires a comprehensive understanding of key factors that influence contribution limits. rockwealth provides valuable insights into these...
Crafting a retirement plan involves a complex interplay of variables, chiefly the timeline you envision for retirement and the sustainability of your savings. We delve into the pivotal question...
Limited company owners have unique opportunities to manage their pensions effectively, offering significant tax advantages and a pathway to a substantial retirement fund. In this comprehensive...
Investing is a marathon, not a sprint. By taking it slow and steady, even ordinary investors can beat the pros. “By periodically investing in an index fund, the know-nothing investor can actually...
Figures produced by the Office for National Statistics show that loneliness is on the increase. 45% of adults in England feel lonely occasionally, sometimes or often. This equates to more than 25...
Human beings have an innate tendency to be overconfident, which can interfere with our ability to make good decisions. It happens in the field of investing all the time. We typically think we're an...
Everyone should have a long-term investment horizon. But we also have different time horizons for different goals and need to be aware of how those horizons change. Financial advisers are always...
It's one of the most famous books on investing ever written. It's sold more than two million copies, and the 50th anniversary edition — the 13th in total — is due to be published in February. The...
Did you know that most — yes, most — US lottery winners end up broke within a few years? One of the explanations for why that is refers to what's referred to as “financial context” — in other words,...
In the latest in our series on the different types of risk an investor has to face we look at sequence of returns risk. Simply put, the returns you see from your investments in the first years of...
Technological advances have empowered financial consumers in all sorts of ways. It's easier for example, to manage your own investment portfolio, or keep track on your expenditure, than it has ever...
Sir Arthur Lewis is still the only black Nobel laureate in economics — and he won the prize 43 years ago. To mark Black History Month, we take a brief look at Sir Arthur's extraordinary life and ask,...
rockwealth portfolio update In the coming weeks we are expecting some adjustments to our core investment portfolios managed by Betafolio. These adjustments are not being driven by market movements,...
Here at rockwealth, we are strong advocates for using passive funds, or at least broadly passive funds, to invest. Why? Because the evidence tells us that, in the long run, they deliver better...
Investing is easy when portfolio values are going up. We hardly notice the occasional market decline and, if we do, we might be tempted to view them as a buying opportunity. And that's what investing...
So it's finally happened. After several months of speculation as to whether the UK was heading for recession, we're officially in one. Gross domestic product fell 0.1% in the three months to June,...
I've been writing about the poor investment returns produced by active managers around the globe for more than a decade now. In that time, it's often been suggested that British fund managers were an...
KEY TAKEAWAYS: Reacting to down markets is a good way to derail progress made toward reaching your financial goals Over the past century, US stocks have averaged positive returns over one-year,...
There aren't too many people in developed countries like the UK that would argue against the equality of the sexes. In theory, it is pretty universally agreed. But things often look very different in...
According to the most recent Forbes 400 list which lists the richest people in America, Ray Dalio is worth $20 billion. That is the fortune that Dalio has made from starting and running the world's...
I can't remember much about my school reports, but I do recall a particular comment on my very last one. “Robin is bright and hard-working,” the teacher wrote, “but I do wish he would find more time...
A common piece of advice given to aspiring authors is to write about what you know. The idea here is that by tapping into your own experience, you make your work more authentic and engaging. When it...
Financial advisers don't possess magical powers. But they can play a crucial role in helping you achieve your investment goals. Readers of a certain age will recall an old Christmas tradition — the...
Unless you've been living under a rock, you'll either already be playing Wordle or wondering what all the fuss is about. Read on to find out why Wordle and similar puzzles are good for your health...
One of the many consequences of the pandemic is that it has disrupted our social lives and spoiled even the best-laid plans. But spontaneity can lead to memorable moments. Here are three good reasons...
There is a reason that many people who have many problems don't do anything to fix them. It comes down to our human emotions. Recent research by behavioural economist Joe Gladstone from the...
It won't have escaped your notice that global financial markets have had a turbulent start to the year. Despite the best efforts of advisers to educate them in how markets work, some clients are...
Which? has announced the results of its latest annual survey of UK hotel chains. Crowne Plaza, Sofitel and Radisson Blu all scored highly, but, perhaps surprisingly, it was the budget chain Premier...
The 2021/22 tax year ends on Tuesday 5 April 2022. This is the date when many allowances reset, and it could be your last opportunity to make use of some of them. Here are seven allowances...
RockWealth Cheltenham is pleased to announce a new addition to the team — financial planner Ed Blackett. We catch up with Ed to learn more about his approach to lifestyle financial planning, his...
Dark nights, cold weather, and incessant rain can make this time of year particularly miserable. Thankfully, the UK is home to some of the best cosy and comfortable hotels in the world...
Imagining yourself on your deathbed probably won't fill you with much enthusiasm. Me neither. But please bear with me, because here's an exercise that might just help you to live a fulfilled and...
There's nothing quite like waking up and opening the curtains to find a magical winter's morning awaiting you. If you're looking for a magical winter escape, here are destinations with snowy vistas...
Winter is well and truly upon us, and the cold temperatures provide the perfect excuse to warm up with a hot toddy. Here's a traditional recipe followed by a few hot toddies with a twist...
There's a constant temptation for investors to focus on the latest fads and developments. After all, that's what the financial media tends to focus on. But in truth, the rules of successful investing...
If the eye is the lamp of the body, it can light the way to all manner of success. But, as a new book by social psychologist Emily Balcetis explains, you may need to change what you're seeing. In the...
Finding Christmas gifts people want to receive can be tough, especially when you also want to find something with an eco-friendly twist. From stocking fillers to growing kits, we've curated a list...
RockWealth Cheltenham is pleased to announce a new addition to the team — financial planner DAN BODEN. Dan arrives from Ermin Fosse in Cirencester, where he worked for seven years. Here he explains...
The financial pages stress the importance of conviction in investing. Fortunes are made, we're told, by those who have a strong sense of how things will pan out and invest accordingly. But, as ROBIN...
Before the pandemic, around half a million UK households owned a second home — and the number is expected to grow now restrictions have been eased. But, warns ROBIN POWELL, if you're thinking of...
After all the trials and tribulations of the last 18 months, many of us have been left feeling in need of a treat away from home. What could be better than to relax with an evening of world-class...
As a firm, RockWealth takes corporate social responsibility seriously. We don't just talk about it; we back up words with action. That's why we're sponsoring the Corporate Social Responsibility Award...
Investors looking for income at the moment are in a tough spot. The UK 10-year government bond is yielding just 0.7%. Cash in the bank might earn you 1.0%. These traditional sources of income are...
The lockdown has given us plenty of time to think about our lifestyles, and, let's face it, most of us have had more than enough of being cooped up in our homes for weeks on end. No wonder, then,...
![Why succession planning is so important [Includes 10 question checklist]](/images/blog/Succession-Planning.jpg)
Preparing yourself, your family and your business for the future The operational demands of running a family business or other closely held enterprise can be all-consuming, but it's vital that...
If you're anything like me, you could do with a decent rest this summer. Psychologists have reported an increase in mental fatigue during the lockdown, and even “pandemic burnout”. I've escaped that,...
The price of gold has risen 8% so far this month, partly because of falling bond yields and pressure on the US dollar. It's currently selling at a four-month high, and many experts are predicting the...
Investing is not like football. On a football pitch, all of the players are playing the same game. They have the same objectives, and they follow the same rules. That is not the case in markets. As...
The summer is almost here and with the continuing uncertainties about travelling abroad, you may be thinking about parts of the UK you've yet to visit and where to stay. Eco-awareness is on the rise...
Running a business requires you to focus on many different things at once. But as modern life has been designed to steal so much of our focus, how can we take back control of our awareness and put it...
RockWealth was one of the first financial planning firms to embrace sustainable investing. It's sometimes referred as ESG investing, with E standing for environmental, S for social and, and G for...
Here at RockWealth, we like to encourage our clients to think in terms of probabilities when trying to estimate what their future returns might be. So, for example, the average annual returns of a...
Here at RockWealth we're pleased to announce the launch of two new RockWealth firms — one in Leamington Spa in Warwickshire and the other in Brighton, East Sussex. What's more, our plans for...
It's said that money can't buy you happiness. But is that actually true? It's a question we might well ask as we set our priorities for the new year. A Princeton University study published in 2010...
The turmoil of 2020 will leave investors with many lessons. The most significant of those may be that the biggest risks to markets are always the ones we don't see coming. There are, however, many...
BUSINESS “For some people, failure is the end of the world — but for others, it's this exciting new opportunity.” Can you relate to either of these descriptions? If the latter part of that sentence...
Twice a year, every year, the SPIVA (S&P Indices Versus Active Funds) scorecards across the world show the same long-term results: most active equity managers under-perform, most of the time. For...
Generating income from investments throughout your retirement years Retirement income boost You've been investing for decades to earn enough money to retire and the day has finally come that you can...
Everyone would agree that the first few months of 2020 have been extraordinary. Few of us would have imagined living through something like the Covid-19 pandemic. Economies have been disrupted,...
Warren Buffett is the most successful, as well as the most famous, investor of the modern era. So what does he make of the recent turmoil on global stock markets? More importantly, what are his...
Ask the average person to define a financial plan, and chances are they'll describe an investment strategy. And for many people who call themselves advisers, that's what it amounts to, more or less....
March 2020 will be remembered as one of the most dramatic months in stock market history. The scale and speed of the global sell-off made it one of the most significant events that markets have ever...
Have you ever experienced extreme turbulence on a long flight? It's frightening, isn't it? The sudden drops are unpredictable and disconcerting. You can feel as if you are going to die. It's how a...
Every year, it seems that there is a new argument against index funds. Investors can almost count on someone in the industry making the news with a criticism or a warning about why they are not a...
A young city worker was complaining he could not afford to invest. Once he had deducted money for rent, groceries, clothes, insurance, public transport and his colourful social life, there was...
In a recent research paper entitled 'How to increase the odds of owning the few stocks that drive returns', global asset manager Vanguard revealed a telling statistic. Between 1987 and 2017 just...
Regret has been cited by Nobel laureate Daniel Kahneman as probably the greatest enemy of good decision-making in personal finance. It is often the driving force behind panicky attempts to time the...
RockWealth LLP is delighted to announce that we are opening a new office in Norwich. The Norwich operation will be headed by Matt Frary, who has has worked as an independent financial adviser in...
Make no mistake, this is a landmark week in the history of British fund management. Yes, there've been several City “stars” who have fizzled out over the years. But surely none has crashed to earth...
The world, they say, is a global village. Nowhere is this truer than in investing. We firmly believe in taking a global approach to investing. But what does it mean to be a global investor, and why...
There's been plenty of research in recent years, and rightly so, on the performance of sustainable, or ESG, funds. More and more people are choosing to invest in a way that reflects their personal...
A perennial temptation for investors is the urge to quit the market at the top and to get back in at the bottom. While the lure of market timing sells millions of books and is standard fodder for...
Professor Elroy Dimson is one of world's most highly regarded experts in the field of academic finance. Professor Dimson chairs the Centre for Endowment Asset Management at Cambridge Judge Business...
Financial complexities of passing on wealth Passing on wealth is a sensitive subject, not just because of the financial complexities of it all, but also the emotion and family politics involved....
If an investment offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is. But even experienced investors can be tempted by sophisticated scams, especially in a low-interest environment when higher yields...
We all know we shouldn't throw good money after bad, but we do it all the time. Perhaps you've made yourself sit through a bad movie purely because you felt that having paid for the ticket you didn't...
Where are stock prices heading? What will happen in the global financial markets tomorrow, next week or over the coming month? It's tempting to speculate, isn't it? Indeed, speculation about the...
ANDY AGATHANGELOU is one of the most influential thought leaders in the UK investing industry today. He's the founding chair of the Transparency Task Force — an organisation set up in 2015 to try to...
People new to investing will often ask what the perfect portfolio should be. The simple answer to that question is there is no single portfolio that is right for everybody. There are literally...
“I have found that the importance of having an investment philosophy—one that is robust and that you can stick with— cannot be overstated.” —David Booth Global equity markets have delivered an...
Time to reimagine how to invest more tax-efficiently? Each tax year, from the age of 16 we are each given an annual Individual Savings Account (ISA) allowance. The ISA limit for 2018/19 is £20,000,...
Most investors like to alter their portfolios in line with economic and market forecasts. But the evidence shows us that it's a bad idea. It all looks so obvious with the benefit of hindsight, but...
Princeton University professor Burton Malkiel famously claimed in his bestselling book, A Random Walk Down Wall Street, that “a blindfolded monkey throwing darts at a newspaper's financial pages...
"What to do when the market goes down? Read the opinions of the investment gurus and laugh. We all know the pundits can't predict short-term market movements. Yet there they are, desperately trying...
Places are filling for up for our very first evidence-based investing seminar for trustees, which we're holding in Cheltenham on Wednesday 3rd October. Speaking alongside me at the event will be...
When you are at the point of retiring, the new pension freedoms have opened up all sorts of alternative strategies to taking your pension benefits. The very concept of retirement is changing. 'Phased...
A big problem for many investors is their overconfidence. They have unrealistic expectations about their own abilities at picking stocks and timing the market, and about the results they're likely to...
Healthier lifestyles and feeling happier about financial planning for retirement An increasing number of middle-aged Britons are getting healthier as they exercise more and eat better than they did...
Warren Buffett is generally recognised as the most successful, and highly respected, investor in the world. His company, Berkshire Hathaway, has provided excellent returns for its shareholders over...
As any experienced mountaineer will tell you, there's more to climbing a mountain than getting to the top. Statistically, there are in fact more accidents on the descent. It's a similar story with...
Take the time to think about what you really want from your investments You need to consider what you really want from your investments. Knowing yourself, your needs and goals, and your appetite for...
Whatever you're putting money aside for, there's likely to be a role for Individual Saving Accounts (or 'ISAs'). Low interest rates on cash savings since the financial crisis have meant that many...
The need for a greater awareness of what must be saved today If savers want a particular standard of living at retirement, then they will need a greater awareness of what must be saved today. Despite...
Taking advice early and developing a personal financial plan is crucial to meeting long-term goals Succession planning may be one of the most challenging experiences facing any leader, especially an...
'The tragedy of old age is not that one is old, but that one is young' With the UK's population ageing, more people will be living with long-term care needs. Oscar Wilde once said: 'The tragedy of...
Lifetime ISA Saving for a first home or retirement at the same time The start of the new tax year on 6 April 2017 saw the launch of the Lifetime ISA (LISA), which was announced in the 2016 Budget....
Investment strategies: Yield on equities and corporate bonds look understandably attractive People are living longer. Simple demographics mean that supplementary income is no longer a luxury – it's a...
Time to take control over where your money is invested tax-efficiently Each tax year, we are each given an annual Individual Savings Account (ISA) allowance. The ISA limit for 2016/17 is £15,240,...
Consolidate pensions What you need to consider to ensure you don't lose out Have you ever considered moving and consolidating your pension to another scheme or provider? There are a whole host of...
Two in three agree living with family is beneficial Multigenerational households could be set to grow in popularity as property costs continue to rise. A new report from Aviva suggests that based on...
As we've discussed in the first two parts of this three-part series, we do not recommend turning to dividend-yielding stocks or high-yield (“junk”) bonds to buttress your retirement income, even in...
In Part I of our three-part series on investing for retirement income in low-rate environments, we explained why we don't advise bulking up on dividend-yielding stocks as a reliable way to generate...
Part I: Dividend-Yielding Stocks – A Straw Strategy If ever there were an appropriate analogy for how to invest for retirement, it would be the classic fable of The Three Little Pigs. As you may...
David Bowie's estate planning could be a lesson to us all It's fair to say there was no one else quite like David Bowie. He was truly one of a kind, and his music helped inspire generations of people...
Every investor is unique, but everyone faces the same trade-off between risk and reward The best place to start when you are looking to build a diverse investment portfolio is to ask yourself why...
Taking all of a pension pot as a lump sum When someone reaches retirement, they can take up to 25% of their pension as a tax-free lump sum (called the 'pension commencement lump sum'). The remaining...
The first concise picture of current and changing sources of retirement income Current retirees are satisfied with 47% of pre-retirement income according to a recent report that reveals those...
UK couples are spending more than £44,000 on average when they divorce or separate Achieving a fair resolution of all the financial issues surrounding divorce or the dissolution of a registered civil...
INHERITANCE TAX ADVICE If you require assistance with IHT, please call us on 01242 505 505 or message RockWealth via our contact form.
NISA Investment Advice - Providing you with increased simplicity and greater flexibility Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) have been around since 1999, providing a tax-efficient wrapper for savings...
New survey reveals how some approaching retirement wished they had made different choices Not saving enough for retirement is the biggest financial regret among those aged 55 or over (today's baby...
Business property relief (BPR) can be a valuable relief from IHT. It allows you to claim relief on business assets that you own, including qualifying businesses that you hold shares in. BPR: THE...
YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) have been around since 1999, providing a tax-efficient wrapper for savings and investments. However, in Budget 2014, the Chancellor, George...
A tax-efficient way to help you minimise the tax you pay No one knew back in 1999 how popular Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) would become but with £443 billion[1] now held in ISAs, they've...
New IFA firm offering online investment platform and discretionary services RockWealth LLP, the Cheltenham-based IFA firm, today announced it is open for business. Following FCA approval in February,...
Pensions & Retirement Planning Funding a comfortable retirement will be the biggest financial priority for many people, yet some people spend more time planning their holiday than their own...
rockwealth helps families across Gloucestershire build financial security - with evidence-based investing, fair fixed fees, and advice that puts your life first.
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