Investing Features

Tax year dates and changes - The deadline is coming..

July 31 is the deadline for the second instalment of payments due on account for 07/08 youll also get a further fine if your returns are still overdue and a further surcharge. Change is also coming with the deadline for paper returns for 07/08 brought forward to Oct 31.

Get a current account that beats the credit crunch

Karen Beavis explores the latest current accounts that could help you beat the credit crunch. Even though there are some attractively priced current accounts on the market, we needlessly throw away £8.3 billion a year on bank charges and low interest rates. Only around 6% of the UK switched current account in the past 12 months, according to the Office of Fair Trading (OFT).

SIPPS The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Martin Fagan discusses the Self-invested Personal Pensions (SIPP). At first seen like Rolex watches, Porsches, school fees and private medical cover, i.e. the province of the very affluent. Now a scheme which helps you grow your pension independent of a life company, investing in a range of assets you (rather than an actuary) have chosen and get tax relief.

Bear market - should you sell or buy?

Anxiety over the potential of the US fallout to clobber UK financial institutions has led to further plunges in the UK stock market.

How safe are your savings in the credit crunch?

It is a good time to save, provided you're confident your money will still be there when you want it back. Interest rates for savers have never been better for years, albeit hedged with restrictions on some of the highest earning accounts, as banks and building societies compete for your spare cash. Any