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Too Many Manifestos: Too Little Leadership |
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20 April 2010 |
Justin Urquhart Stewart is one of the most recognisable and trusted market commentators in the media. Originally trained as a lawyer, he has observed the retail market industry for 20 years whilst at Barclays Stockbrokers and developed a unique understanding of the market's roles and benefits for the private investor.
Justin Urquhart Stewart is one of the most recognisable and trusted market commentators in the media. Originally trained as a lawyer, he has observed the retail market industry for 20 years whilst at Barclays Stockbrokers and developed a unique understanding of the market's roles and benefits for the private investor. Justin provides financial advice to clients of Kester Cunningham John Financial Planning LLP.
I normally try to restrict my comments to investment related issues, but I feel a rant coming on about the insipid publications that were presumably supposed to inspire us to vote for any of the major participants. Although the parties may have their own colours, frankly their programmes and policies seem to be coated in a bland magnolia. It appears that their spin doctors have, at least for the moment, ordered them all to be as non-controversial as possible and not to step too far out of line.
So let me give them some issues to consider. This election provides these politicians with a remarkable opportunity to show some real leadership, initiative and courage, and to come out with some 'radical common sense' (sorry, one of our own 7IM tenets) ideas to lead us out of this financial morass.
There are too many areas to cover but let me mention just a couple. Our leaders will (or should) want people to save more and take more responsibility for their own family affairs, especially with regards to retirement and old age. So why not radically reform the savings systems? Why not rationalise the Child Trust Fund, ISAs and Pensions all into a single saving scheme which is simple, transparent and flexible in terms of its use from providing security for a mortgage, through to education, health care and retirement for the family |
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