Tax year end webinar: Investment opportunities in the current economy

For professional advisers and paraplanners only. Not to be relied upon by retail investors.

This on demand webinar was recorded on 27 February 2024. All information will have been correct at the time, but some statistics and deadlines may now be out of date.

You can still submit questions, but these won't be answered in the Q&A. Instead a member of our team will get in touch with an answer.

If you missed our national event series, join this wrap up webinar to help you spot opportunities at tax year end.

With a backdrop of inflation, increased tax liabilities and high interest rates, it may feel like a tough advice landscape for 2024.

However, the outlook does exhibit optimism, as we expect to see green shoots of economic growth that can be captured by investing in UK smaller companies.

While interest rates remain elevated, clients might be tempted to keep surplus assets in cash, but this isn’t an effective long-term investment strategy.

VCT and EIS investments are a way to access unique venture capital investment opportunities in pioneering small businesses. As well as targeting higher levels of return over the long term, they offer a suite of tax reliefs which, along with increased knowledge and research on an adviser’s part, can help you demonstrate your value under Consumer Duty.

What to expect from this webinar:

• Learn how advisers can add value to clients in a changing economy.
• A broad view of the current state and future outlook of the economy and venture capital market.
• Hear from Tim Dickens, Investments Specialist at Octopus Ventures, about our investment process, the companies we’ve backed, and why now is considered an exciting opportunity to invest in UK smaller companies.
• Understand venture capital investments and how your clients can access them through VCTs and EIS.
• Spot opportunities in your client bank at tax year end.

Key investments risks:

• The value of an investment, and any income from it, can fall as well as rise. Investors may not get back the full amount they invest.
• Tax treatment will depend on individual circumstances and tax rules could change in the future.
• Tax relief depends on portfolio companies and the VCT maintaining qualifying status.
• The shares of VCTs and unquoted companies could fall or rise in value more than shares listed on the main market of the London Stock Exchange. They may also be harder to sell.