DEEP in the heart of your ISAs, investments and pensions is the pulse that creates your investment returns. One per cent a year difference can compound to have an extraordinary impact on all the choices you will be able to make in terms of meals out, future cars, ice creams for the grandchildren, or holidays. There is often apathy toward investments. After a ‘long hard day at the office', returning to scroll through numbers is hardly appetizing. However, as a recent article we wrote pointed out, £100,000 invested in the best performing pension over twenty years, as opposed to the worst, had a £469,000 difference. That number will clearly create many options for any pensioner over their retirement.Apathy to that is very expensive, so make it your priority to ask for a pension health check to see if your money is being managed effectively.One of the biggest impacts on your capital will undoubtedly come from any potential shocks to the USA, a colossal consumer of … [Read more...] about What do the US midterm elections mean for investors?
Midterm elections usa
House GOP rejects more election security funds
WASHINGTON -- House Republicans on Thursday approved a spending bill that excludes new money for election security grants to states, provoking a furious reaction from Democrats amid a national controversy over Russian election interference. The spending bill passed 217-199. Democrats' bid to add hundreds of millions more in election spending was rejected 182-232 -- as Republicans were unmoved by Democrats' floor speeches decrying the funding changes and chanting "USA! USA!" At issue is a grants program overseen by the federal Election Assistance Commission and aimed at helping states administer their elections and improve voting systems; Democrats want to continue grant funding through 2019, while Republicans say the program already has been fully funded. Republicans argued strenuously in floor debate Wednesday that states had plenty of money from prior congressional allocations to spend on election improvements. But Democrats accused the Republicans of abetting President Donald Trump … [Read more...] about House GOP rejects more election security funds
House GOP rejects increased election security funding
By The Washington Post | PUBLISHED: July 19, 2018 at 10:34 am | UPDATED: July 19, 2018 at 10:35 am By Erica Werner | Washington Post WASHINGTON – House Republicans on Thursday approved a spending bill that excludes new money for election security grants to states, provoking a furious reaction from Democrats amid a national controversy over Russian election interference. The spending bill passed 217-199. Democrats’ bid to add hundreds of millions more in election spending was rejected 182-232 – as Republicans were unmoved by Democrats floor speeches decrying the funding changes and chanting “USA! USA!” At issue is a grants program overseen by the federal Election Assistance Commission and aimed at helping states administer their elections and improve voting systems; Democrats want to continue grant funding through 2019, while Republicans say the program already has been fully funded. Republicans argued strenuously in floor debate Wednesday that states … [Read more...] about House GOP rejects increased election security funding
The seriously funny business of getting US expats in Switzerland to vote in the midterms
Seriously funny business. Screen grab: Action Together Zurich Comedy with a serious purpose: this is the aim of a group of US expats in Zurich who have produced a series of funny videos urging their compatriots to vote in midterm elections later this year. A woman sits on a park bench and studies Canadian geography so that she can pretend she isn’t American. A mother nags her daughter in bad German, reminding her daughter to take her “breasts” (Brüste) on a hike instead of her brush (Bürste). These are just two of the scenarios played out in short videos produced recently by the Zurich-based Action Together Zurich (ATZ) group which boasts 300 members including US expats, Swiss people concerned about the US political climate, and a small number of people from other countries. The videos, which feature US and Swiss volunteers, take a humorous look at the pitfalls of being an expat. All are based on real-life experiences and all have a very … [Read more...] about The seriously funny business of getting US expats in Switzerland to vote in the midterms
Priorities USA super PAC ramps up fundraising for 2018
The Democratic group raised $4.5 million in the first quarter, plus $2.2 million for an allied nonprofit. Priorities USA Action, the pro-Hillary Clinton super PAC that reinvented itself in 2017 with a broader mission and a focus on digital campaigning, raised $4.5 million in the first three months of 2018 as it prepares for the midterm elections. The super PAC’s sister nonprofit, Priorities USA, raised $2.2 million, for a combined first-quarter total of $6.7 million.Story Continued Below The super PAC’s first-quarter haul more than doubled what it brought in all of last year, when the nonprofit took the lead fighting policies put forward by President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans. The super PAC spent approximately $500,000 in two key 2018 Senate states, Indiana and Missouri, and finished the first quarter with about $4.5 million on hand, the group said. The fundraising pace slowed for the 501(c)(4) nonprofit, Priorities USA, which brought in $15.5 million in … [Read more...] about Priorities USA super PAC ramps up fundraising for 2018