Username:
Password:
Forgotten password?
Not Registered?   
clarity INDIVIDUAL  

|HOME|GROUPS|INDIVIDUAL|TRANSACT|RESEARCH|CLARITYLAW|

INDIVIDUAL NEWSLETTER - September 2008

Introduction
This newsletter has the following subjects each of which you can jump to by pressing on the headings below.

Newsletter Library

We keep a library of previous issues which can be accessed by the link below.

Newsletter Library

Please remember that the information contained in these archives items is not subject to ongoing review or comment.

return to top
 

Capital Gains Tax Arbitrage Opportunities

We recently released a two part article looking at the new 18% flat rate capital gains tax and how this can provide an opportunity to reduce the overall tax take on a portfolio.

How? By re-weighting your portfolio to hold income-producing assets into tax sheltered wrappers (pensions/ISAs) and holding capital gains producing assets outside such tax shelters.

To read the full articles please use the following links.

Capital Gains Tax Arbitrage Opportunities – Part 1

Capital Gains Tax Arbitrage Opportunities – Part 2

return to top
 

Website Development

Over the last few months you may have noticed some changes to our online valuation service. These updates have been made as a result offeedback from our clients, we are always grateful for feedback both positive and negative and with your help we will continue to develop the website in a client-focussed way.

Our most recent updates include ISIN Code reporting as part of the Consolidated Valuation service as well as the ability to view valuations for your family members using your own individual login. Full details of these updates can be found in our news and view article published in June 2008.

Online Valuations - New Features

For further information about our website development please see our latest news and views article. A link is provided below.

Website Development

return to top
 

Online Finance Awards

In 2007 we were named the ‘Best Online IFA’ in the Online Finance Awards. In addition we were also Highly Commended in the ‘Best Financial Advice Site’ category. Nominations for the 2008 Online Finance Awards will be opening at the beginning of September and we hope to be included in the nominations for both of the categories that we were successful in last year.

We would like to thank all of our clients, your ongoing constructive feedback has helped make the website what it is today. With your continuing feedback we hope to keep developing the website in a client-focussed way. For further information about the awards please visit the official awards website detailed below.

External Site Official Website

2007 Online Finance Awards Results

return to top
 

clarity Fundraising 2008

Our chosen charity for 2008 will be The David Lewis National Epilepsy Centre, the centre provides services to 250 people with complex epilepsy and associated neurological disorders for whom every day life represents a significant challenge.

The David Lewis Centre needs to raise enough money to buy 12 new minibuses over the next 3 years. We have set ourselves the ambitious task of raising enough money to purchase one of these minibuses; this sets our fundraising target at £28,000. As this is a considerable target, we plan to match any money raised by clarity clients, contacts and friends, up to the target amount. Therefore in order to raise the money needed for a minibus we need to collect donations of at least £14,000. clarity will match £1 for £1 up to this level giving us the £28,000 we need.

For further information please see our note below.

PDF clarity Fundraising 2008

External Site David Lewis

External Site Make a Donation

return to top
 

Self Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs)

The attached link provides further information on SIPPs. Many individuals should consider the appropriateness of SIPPs in light of the Pension Regime introduced with effect from 6 April 2006 and the need to monitor their pension investment/strategy more closely. Further advice should be sought from your usual clarity adviser.

PDF Types Of Pensions

Please see the attached document which compares all three SIPP options which are now being offered by clarity, through James Hay, FundsNetwork & Cofunds. If you are thinking of utilising a Self Invested Personal Pension for managing your benefits, and would like advice on the subject, please contact one of our advisers.

PDF SIPP Product Comparison

return to top
 

James Hay SIPP Charges

At the beginning of July we sent out an E-Mail Alert reminding those clients who have a James Hay SIPP that the charges for this product will be changing.

15th September: From the 15th September those clients with SIPP values of up to £300,000 invested in non-core investments (e.g. Cofunds Investment Funds), will be subject to an additional monthly charge of 0.15%. If you appoint an Investment Manager or Stockbroker (excluding Abbey Sharedealing and Stocktrade), James Hay will no longer charge a transaction fee for individual trades, this will be replaced with an annual fee of £200.

These are significant additonal charges and those affected should consider whether this SIPP product remains the most suitable product available. Please contact you usual clarity adviser if you would like to discuss these changes.

1st January 2008: From the 1st January 2009 a transfer fee of £95 will be levied by James Hay on SIPPs that commence transfer to another pension provider on or after this date.

For full details of the new charges please see our news and views article below.

James Hay SIPP Charges News And Views Article

return to top
 

Norwich Union Reattribution

Norwich Union and the Policyholder Advocate Calare Spottiswoode have agreed that a reattribution proposal should be put to shareholders. Although there are some legal and other processes to complete, this means that a potential £1 billion ‘inherited estate’ could be shared amongst eligible policyholders in the CGNU Life and CULAC with-profits funds, should a reattribution go ahead.

Eligibility is based on membership of the above funds as at 21 November 2006, the type of policy held, and how long it has to run until maturity, with a minimum payment of £400 per policy.

Please note that this is separate from the special bonus previously announced, please use the link below for further details.

External Site View The Press Release

External Site Special Bonus Details

return to top
 

Investment Team Update

The clarity investment team regularly speaks with and meets the managers of the funds on the clarity Buy List as part of the ongoing review process. The article below covers the funds that have given cause for concern recently, and details our conclusions.

Investment Team Update News & Views Article

return to top
 

Consolidated Online Valuations

We have been providing our clients with online valuations for more than 2 years, the result of our experience in this area and more importantly feedback from our clients is the Consolidated Valuation currently available for all clients registered with the clarity website. For those clients who have never made use of our online valuation service, please see the link below for full details of our Consolidated Valuation Service.

About Online Valuations

The Consolidated valuation is available for those clients with holdings in Cofunds, FundsNetwork and also those clients with Cofunds holdings within their James Hay SIPP. Please note that we don't currently receive the cash information from James Hay. If you wish to view an online valuation of your Cash Account or other non-Cofunds holdings within your SIPP you can register directly with James Hay using the link below.

James Hay Online Valuations

If you have any difficulties setting up your online valuation we have produced a troubleshooting page to assist clients with some common problems. If you cannot find the answer on our troubleshooting page then a member of our Web team would be happy to talk things through with you on the phone (0870 242 2043) or via e-mail enquiries@clarityglobal.com.

Consolidated Valuation

return to top
 

Cofunds

We continue to suggest the Cofunds platform for all ISA and unit trust investments going forward. You can also use Cofunds to hold all your existing PEPs, ISAs and Unit Trusts/OEICs. The benefits are that you are able to access a consolidated valuation, asset allocation model and risk profile through ALL your holdings....and there is no additional annual charge! Please see the attached link for further information on Cofunds.

Cofunds Explanation

For those clients who are interested in transferring their holdings to the Cofunds platform, we are offering a FREE administration service, to assist with the completion of forms and to help the process of transferring your holdings to Cofunds run as smoothly and as quickly as possible. For further information please see the article below.

PDF  Cofunds Administration Service Details

If individuals do not wish to utilise the Cofunds platform there are other alternative routes of investment. Please contact your usual clarity adviser to discuss matters further.

As detailed above, online valuations are available via this website. In addition the link opposite shows the portfolio detail that can also be obtained by clarity for investments held in Cofunds. Please note that this cannot be accessed online by clients, but is available on request.

PDF  Example X-Ray

Online dealing in ISA, OEICs and Unit Trusts via Cofunds (no initial commission and significant discounts) is also available.

Cofunds Online Dealing

return to top
 

Market Comment

The following news article provides some details on current changes in the market, and points of interest for investors.

PDF  Market Commentary - August 2008

Please also see the graph which shows movement of the major indices from August 2007 to August 2008.

PDF  Graph Of Major Indices

return to top
 

Fund Management Updates

The attached News Articles detail some recent fund changes which you should be aware of. If as a result of these you feel that you may wish to switch fund holdings, please contact your usual clarity adviser.

Buylist Fund Changes

Invesco Perpetual Distribution Fund

return to top
 

Pension Choices

As a number of clients will now have SIPP investments, we will no longer be tracking the insured funds as we have done previously. If you wish to discuss specific insured fund choices or discuss SIPP selection, then please do get in touch. For those with Clerical Medical, Legal & General or Norwich Union policies, there are some links here to our buy notes for these funds if you wish to refresh your understanding of asset allocation.

PDF  Legal & General UK Index Tracker

PDF  Legal & General Global Equity Fixed Weights Index

PDF  Legal & General Managed Fund

PDF  Norwich Union Balanced Managed Fund

PDF  Norwich Union Sustained Global Growth Fund

PDF  Norwich Union UK Equity Fund

PDF  Norwich Union Defensive Managed Fund

For spouses / partners and children who have Stakeholder Pensions plans, or who are interested in acquiring a stakeholder policy, the link on the right will take you to the stakeholder buy list which has been researched by clarity, this includes the current suggested funds for stakeholders.

Stakeholder Buy List

Individuals with access to Group Arrangements via their employer should consider their options before proceeding further.

return to top
 

Unit Trust/OEIC/ISA Choices

Below is a link to our list of suggested funds. You should ensure that you consider utilisation of your ISA allowances. Please do not forget ISA allowances for spouses and children over the age of 16 for a cash ISA and 18 for an equity ISA.

Buy List

The clarity buy list provides further information on the specific funds & managers, together with details of the charges. The list covers both Unit Trust and ISAs.

If you would like to see some performance figures on the main managed fund options then please use the link here.

PDF Managed Fund Performance Figures

return to top
 

Unit Trust/OEIC/ISA Research

Here are some useful links to sites where you can research your fund selection. Do make sure, however, that you transact via clarity to make sure you get the nil initial commission terms.

External Site  www.lipperweb.com

External Site  www.morningstar.co.uk

External Site  www.ft.com/fundratings

Individuals should note that if they access the above links they will be leaving the clarity website.

return to top
 

Unit Trust/OEIC/ISA Transactions

All individuals are eligible to use our nil initial commission, discounted service, whether or not advice is taken from us. Forms for Unit Trust/ISAs can be downloaded through this website by selecting the link here.

Pick Up Unit Trust/ISA Forms

We suggest that all deals are placed through the "Cofunds" dealing platform. This not only allows access to the existing range of funds on similar or better terms, but also gives consolidated valuations and geographical analysis. If interested, you can deal now on this basis. Please contact us for details or ask for the "Cofunds Pack" when requesting forms. Please see Cofunds section for further information.

PDF enquiries@clarityglobal.com

PDF Unit Trust Application Form

PDF ISA Application Form

PDF Key Features - General

PDF Key Features - Fund Specific

If individuals do not wish to utilise the Cofunds platform there are other alternative routes of investment. Please contact your usual clarity adviser to discuss matters further.

return to top
 

Cash Investment

Indicative rates for those holding money in cash. Remember that long term cash has historically performed poorly relative to other asset classes.

Cash Investment Rates

return to top
 

Mortgage Rates

The linked page provides a summary of the rates currently available.

Mortgage Rates

Please note that the mortgage market is competitive and subject to change. Individuals should check that the rates are still current before proceeding further.

return to top
 

Advisers

The link provides further information on the clarity team.

Adviser Details

return to top
 

Risk Warnings/Suitability

Investments transacted by clarity as a result of this Newsletter are treated as "Direct Offer" investments. Whilst we have offered generic product details, you have personally decided whether the investment is suitable to your circumstances and is affordable. Please see the detailed note and also Terms of Business and Key Facts documents. It is important to read the full notes.

PDF Suitability

PDF Risk Warnings

PDF Terms Of Business

return to top
 

 

INDIVIDUAL Links
Online Valuations
Portfolio Management
Newsletters
Research
Investments
Pensions
Best Rates
Calculators
Literature Downloads
Software Downloads
Financial News
BBC Front Page News


ABOUT US |TEAM PROFILES |LOCATION |CONTACT US |SITE MAP | TROUBLESHOOTING  |
clarity is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority
©2009 clarity. All rights reserved