What a ride! After hitting all-time highs on 19th February, the market plunged nearly 19% in six weeks, only to recover swiftly not long afterwards. A bear market scare and a bull market bounce, all within a single quarter.

We’ve previously explored the mechanics of VCT investing – the rules, the risks, and the generous tax perks, but we’re returning to the topic this week. The key question we ask is: Is VCT investing still worth considering?

This is a question that comes up frequently: If you have some spare cash, should you use it to pay off your mortgage or invest it for future growth?

Global financial markets have suffered a bruising few weeks. At the time of writing, the US benchmark S&P 500 index has fallen 8% year-to-date and stands 12% below its all-time high achieved just seven weeks ago(!!).

It’s been a volatile few weeks on the stock market, driven by concerns over a potential trade war and signs of a slowdown in the US economy.

Investing is typically framed as a choice between two approaches: active or passive. But what if there was a middle ground that could potentially offer the best of both worlds?

Since 2011, the US market has grown by over 20%, now making up two-thirds of global equities.

Nine charts tell the story of an extraordinary year in financial markets and some insights for the period ahead.

Is doubling down on US equities, at the expense of global diversification, a good strategy? We think not.

TL;DR version: not really

Is your workplace pension invested too defensively?

We're overdue a bear market. It will feel daunting, but it's all part of the investment journey.

"What to do when the next bear comes"

Understanding the mechanics of the Additional Permitted Subscription

Using investment bonds to defer taxation on underlying investment profits from a period as a higher/additional rate taxpayer to one as a basic/non

Junior ISAs and Junior Pensions offer scope to build sizeable ‘nest eggs’ in your children or grandchildren’s names, and in a highly tax efficient manner.

"Balancing tax efficiency with accessibility"

A decent option for the 'rainy day' fund

“Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world. He who understands it, earns it. He who doesn’t, pays it” [Albert Einstein].

Overcoming emotional bias in investing...

Long-term VCT investors can supercharge returns by ‘recycling’ positions into new VCTs every 5 years.