Bitcoin has various use cases and applications that shouldn’t be ignored for narratives that obscure more than educate.This is an opinion editorial by Taimur Ahmad, a graduate student at Stanford University, focusing on energy, environmental policy and international politics.Author’s note: This is the first part of a three-part publication. Part 1 introduces the Bitcoin standard and assesses Bitcoin as an inflation hedge, going deeper into the concept of inflation. Part 2 focuses on the current fiat system, how money is created, what the money supply is and begins to comment on bitcoin as money. Part 3 delves into the history of money, its relationship to state and society, inflation in the Global South, the progressive case for/against Bitcoin as money and alternative use-cases.“Money has … [Read More...]
Star stock picker Terry Smith paid nearly £30m as Fundsmith booms
Bumper year for co-owner of UK’s largest equity fund seen as the British version of Warren BuffetThe popular British stock picker Terry Smith pocketed nearly £30m last year, making him one of the best-paid executives in the fund management industry.Accounts filed at Companies House show the Fundsmith executive – who owns more than 50% of the fund management company – took home £29.7m in the 12 months to March 2020, nearly double the £16.2m he earned a year earlier. Continue reading… [Read More...]
Neil Woodford needs permission to set up new firm, says FCA
City regulator still investigating collapse of fund manager’s previous businessThe City watchdog has said that the one-time star investment manager Neil Woodford, whose funds were shut down in 2019, still faces the outcome of a regulatory investigation over the collapse and will need authorisation before his plan to return to the investment management business.In a highly unusual step, issuing a public statement about an individual’s business plans, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said Woodford’s comeback attempt was subject to securing its permission. Continue reading… [Read More...]
VA Loan Down Payment: Should You Make One?
The post VA Loan Down Payment: Should You Make One? appeared first on The Simple Dollar. [Read More...]
Should You Bank on Student Loan Forgiveness in 2021?
The post Should You Bank on Student Loan Forgiveness in 2021? appeared first on The Simple Dollar. [Read More...]
What Is No Deposit Car Insurance?
The post What Is No Deposit Car Insurance? appeared first on The Simple Dollar. [Read More...]
10 Homemade Holiday Gifts You Can Start Making Now
The post 10 Homemade Holiday Gifts You Can Start Making Now appeared first on The Simple Dollar. [Read More...]
4 Ways to Better Understand Risk in Your Personal Finances
The post 4 Ways to Better Understand Risk in Your Personal Finances appeared first on The Simple Dollar. [Read More...]
The Simple Dollar Guide to the 2020 Presidential Election
On November 3, American voters will decide who sits in the oval office for the next four years. While things will certainly change between now and then, a recent poll from Reuters has former VP Joe Biden at 47% and President Donald Trump at 40% among registered voters. It also showed that voters rank the economy and healthcare as two of the most critical topics in the upcoming election. As with any election, it’s sometimes hard to pin down the candidates’ views on all the topics that could affect your wallet. So, here’s a look at what Biden and Trump are saying about seven economic issues. I. Affordable housing A growing number of Americans are finding it harder to cope with rising costs of rental housing in the … [Read More...]
What Does the Fed’s 2% Policy Mean for Loans and Mortgages?
It may seem like a small change, but a shift in policy by the Federal Reserve could impact everything from how much you pay for goods and services to your loan’s interest rate. Recently, the Fed announced it would aim for an average 2% rate of inflation. In year’s past, the Fed tried to keep inflation as close to 2% as possible. Why the change? The Fed’s decision to be more flexible regarding interest rates stems from a concern about the economy. Historically, the Fed has focused on the “stable prices of goods and services” portion of its two main objectives (the other objective is promoting maximum employment). The 180-degree change suggests the agency has signaled a willingness to engage in a balancing act. [Read: … [Read More...]
Eco-Friendly Home Modifications That Impact Your Home Insurance
Table of Contents Introduction Solar energy Geothermal heating and cooling Rain harvesting ENERGY STAR products Final thoughts As the green revolution continues to gain popularity, homeowners are discovering practical ways to reduce their carbon footprint. One of the most meaningful ways is by making eco-friendly modifications to your home and making sure your homeowners insurance takes them into account. Benefits of eco-friendly home modifications: Lower utility costs Reduced carbon footprint Save money on energy costs Potential tax credits Whether you’re on the market for a new energy-efficient home or interested in upgrading your current space, you must make sure your policy is ready to accommodate those changes. While many insurers are extending their coverage to include green renovations, not all offer this additional coverage. … [Read More...]
Neil Woodford investors take hefty loss as payouts begin
Savers to receive initial payout of 46p to 57p per share compared with 100p launch priceThe administrators of the failed Woodford funds have told the 300,000 investors locked in since last June that they will receive an initial payout of just 48p to 58p per share – compared with the 100p price at launch five years ago.The payout is the first distribution of investments liquidated by the administrators, Link Asset Solutions, since the suspension in June, with about £2.1bn being handed back to investors. Continue reading… [Read More...]
Former Neil Woodford fund to reopen ‘no later than February’
Smaller LF Woodford Income Focus Fund worth £268m was frozen as crisis deepenedOne of the smaller investment funds formerly run by star stock picker Neil Woodford will reopen no later than February this year, according to Link Fund Solutions, the administrator of the fund.The LF Woodford Income Focus Fund was caught in the crossfire as Woodford’s empire collapsed last year. Continue reading… [Read More...]
Dividend income for holders of UK shares jumps to record £19.7bn
Huge first-quarter rise driven by special payment from miner BHP Dividends paid to holders of UK shares jumped to a record high in the first three months of the year, putting investors on track for £100bn in payouts this year.The payments rose 15.7% to £19.7bn, easily a first-quarter record, according to data tracked by Link Asset Services. Related: FCA plans to ban or cap investment platform exit fees Continue reading… [Read More...]
Should frustrated savers gamble on the stock market or play it safe?
Hopes of seeing an interest rate rise have been dashed this week – so what should you do next? We look at the best strategyFor savers it has become known as the lost decade. While there had been some prospect of the Bank of England raising interest rates in the near future, the hope was dashed this week when inflation figures fell unexpectedly for June.Also dashed were the hopes of savers that they would get something approaching a healthy return from their cash reserves. It was in July 2007 when the Bank of England last raised rates – they now languish at an all-time low of 0.25%. Related: Peer-to-peer lending promised 6%, but I’ve been left red-faced and in the red Related: Should … [Read More...]
Does Peter Hargreaves have a whale of an opportunity for UK investors?
The billionaire co-founder of Hargreaves Lansdown explains why he is putting £25m into his new Blue Whale fundThe man who co-founded the investment company Hargreaves Lansdown above a firm of estate agents in 1981, and is now worth £2bn after floating it on the stock exchange, is launching a fund management group called Blue Whale.Peter Hargreaves is backing the new fund group with £25m of his own money, and opening the doors to anyone with at least £1,000 to invest as a lump sum, or less if investing on a regular monthly basis. Continue reading… [Read More...]
You don’t need bankers to invest your pension. There’s a DIY ethical route | Aditya Chakrabortty
One pioneering service shows that savers can bypass the City, and invest in social and environmental causes insteadRight on the doorstep of the world’s greatest financial centre sits one of Britain’s oldest council estates. Built in the 1890s, the Boundary is a beauty: Grade II-listed red-brick blocks radiating out from a circular garden complete with bandstand. Yet for the City of London, the estate’s tenants are as visible as the crofters of the Outer Hebrides.The Square Mile’s financiers raise billions for big companies, but not a penny in loose change reaches the Boundary. Still, the estate’s residents are as enterprising as any of Lord Sugar’s apprentices. Visiting a fortnight ago for a fundraiser, I chatted to a resident with a first-class degree who’d … [Read More...]
Neil Woodford is top equity income performer with 20% return
Former Invesco Perpetual star manager’s new fund, Woodford Equity Income, has in less than a year produced a return of £11,960 per £10,000 investedNeil Woodford, one of Britain’s most successful fund managers, has been named as the best performer in the UK equity income sector after his new fund delivered an investment return of nearly 20% in less than a year.Woodford Equity Income, which he set up after quitting Invesco Perpetual, has returned 19.6% to investors since 19 June 2014, which means £10,000 invested at launch is now worth around £11,960. Related: Neil Woodford quits Invesco Perpetual in shock departure Continue reading… [Read More...]