The outbreak of conflict in the Middle East is troubling – we know that many of our clients have connections or travel plans in the region, so first and foremost we hope you are all safe. Some may also wonder about the possible impact of these events on portfolios: we do not believe that there will be a prolonged downturn as a result of the conflict. While we continue to monitor the impact on markets on a daily basis, our overriding message is to continue to take a long-term view when it comes to investing and to avoid decision-making based on short-term market movements.
Growing older is a privilege, as they say – but with one in five of the UK population now aged 65 and over, there will be an increasing demand for long-term care provision in the future. It is no secret that the cost of long-term care can be astronomical – here, Tom Cheesman explains why care fees have been significantly higher than inflation in recent years, with the gap set to widen further. A particular challenge can be when care is needed over a sustained period, presenting cashflow challenges. Fortunately, JM Finn’s Wealth Planning team are able to help our clients with long-term care planning, including stress testing different scenarios to manage liquidity. Additionally, Michael Maslinski brings a unique perspective to our guest editorial from the nine years he spent living in a care home to look after his wife Maggie, after she developed dementia in her fifties. From the importance of seeking early diagnosis to putting powers of attorney in place, Michael shares the lessons from his experience.
Also on the topic of sharing, we had an overwhelming response to our 2025 client survey to tell us your thoughts about JM Finn and the services we provide; we’re pleased to be able to bring you a snapshot of the results. Thank you very much to everyone who completed the survey – your feedback shapes the future direction of the firm and is vital for us to check that we continue to meet our clients’ needs.
Keeping on track with changing legislation has long been part and parcel of being a sole trader or landlord – but new HMRC regulations are set to come into force from this April that will require quarterly reporting if your gross turnover or rental income exceeds £50,000 per year – more on this in the Independent View. If you are an affected landlord and are considering selling some of your property portfolio, please speak to your JM Finn investment manager if you would like to discuss alternative investments.
Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to cause a seismic shift in many areas of life. It has already wiped share value from some global service equities, including this issue’s stock in focus, RELX. Whether this marks a short-term blip in share performance or a longer-term trend of AI usurping vast swathes of the service sector remains to be seen. With its influence also seeping into creative industries, and Sweden already moving to remove AI-produced music from its national charts, Research Analyst Henry Birt considers whether AI has the capacity to match or even surpass human levels of creativity.
Lastly, JM Finn’s newest office has opened in the heart of Cheltenham with an experienced team at the helm – including Investment Director Mark Burnett who is featured in our Meet the Manager column. The team are up and running and ready to meet clients in the Gloucestershire area.
