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3 weeks ago | 
investorschronicle.co.uk | Holly McKechnie
Investment trust takeover deals are increasingly common. Seven trusts were taken over last year, according to the Association of Investment Companies (AIC), as the sector battled with widening discounts. Another tranche of potential buyouts is on the cards this year, including high-profile bid offers for Warehouse Reit (WHR) and Assura (AGR). As a shareholder, news of a potential acquisition can be both a blessing and a curse.
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3 weeks ago | 
investorschronicle.co.uk | Holly McKechnie
Following a recent market rally, is it time to revisit the investment case for this risky region? Published on June 3, 2025Latin America has always been a high-risk proposition for investors. Sometimes that risk brings high reward: 2025 has seen returns for the region soar in the face of growing global uncertainty.
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1 month ago | 
investorschronicle.co.uk | Holly McKechnie
Over the next month, shareholders for nine funds will decide whether or not the trusts should continue to existPublished on May 29, 2025Following four sets of continuation votes in May, the investment trust sector will face another round of votes in June, as the spectre of consolidation rears its head. The majority of the scheduled votes are routine in nature, as shareholders are typically given the opportunity to participate in a continuation vote every three or five years.
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1 month ago | 
investorschronicle.co.uk | Holly McKechnie
Rising rates of childlessness call for a new approach to will writing and inheritance tax planningPublished on May 27, 2025Estate planning advice is generally geared to those with children. After all, the desire to provide for your offspring even when you are gone is a natural instinct. But if you are among the growing number of people who are child-free, either by choice or by circumstance, you may have different priorities and necessities.
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1 month ago | 
investorschronicle.co.uk | Holly McKechnie
Portfolio Clinic: Our reader wants to retire early, but will his property and pension investments meet his needs? Holly McKechnie investigatesPublished on May 23, 2025Early retirement is a common financial goal. Escaping the rat race and extending the time spent enjoying life is an appealing prospect, but doing so requires a rock-solid financial plan. Given the unpredictability of life, running out of money in retirement is a real worry.
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1 month ago | 
investorschronicle.co.uk | Holly McKechnie
Will elevated interest rates and the prospect of recession spell trouble for the sector? Published on May 9, 2025Debt investors face two major challenges: interest rate risk and credit risk. Given the current political and economic landscape, it would be understandable to be nervous about both. However, for savvy investors there are still opportunities in this esoteric sector.
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1 month ago | 
investorschronicle.co.uk | Holly McKechnie
If someone offered you the chance to double, triple or even quadruple your returns, you might be tempted. However, get-rich-quick investment schemes almost always come with a catch. Leveraged exchange traded fund (ETFs) are a case in point. While the potential gains are eye-catching, in reality the funds rarely deliver results for private investors – quite the opposite. The risks are built into the design of these funds.
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1 month ago | 
investorschronicle.co.uk | Holly McKechnie
Could market turmoil turn the page for value investing? Published on May 2, 2025Value investors have had a difficult time over the past decade. With growth stocks in the tech sector driving the majority of returns, there has been little room for this much beleaguered style. However, the upheaval caused by President Trump’s tariffs has highlighted the limits of US exceptionalism and the relentless search for growth. In response, value investing could be due a resurgence.
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2 months ago | 
investorschronicle.co.uk | Holly McKechnie
Portfolio Clinic: Recent market turmoil has muddled our reader’s retirement plans. Holly McKechnie explores what they should do nextPublished on April 25, 2025For soon-to-be retirees, US President Donald Trump’s tariffs could not have come at a worse time. Watching your pension fund drop in value as markets crash is unnerving to say the least. However, it is important not to let panic get the better of you.
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2 months ago | 
investorschronicle.co.uk | Holly McKechnie
The Department for Work and Pensions has announced plans for a small pensions pot consolidator in a bid to boost retirement savings. Under the new system, pension pots valued at £1,000 or less will be automatically combined into one pension scheme. Savers will retain the right to opt out. The number of small pension pots has risen drastically in recent years due to auto-enrolment and a rise in the frequency with which workers move jobs.
