Investments News & Insights

In recent years Portugal has become a very attractive prospect for anyone looking to move to sunnier climes. A number of initiatives by the Portuguese government have made it easier for non-European citizens to apply for special visas, which allow them to both live and work in the country. The most famous of these is the so-called Golden Visa, which permits people to become resident based on their making a significant investment in the country, purchasing property, or setting up a business. Whatever your reason for wanting to move, and there are many, getting a mortgage in Portugal is going to be high on your agenda.

Manuela Robinson – Joint Country Manager, was interviewed by the magazine “Revista Pontos de Vista” for their 21^st November edition.

Blacktower Financial Management (International) Ltd (BFMI) is made up of experienced consultants who offer an excellent service in wealth management and tax planning. With more than 30 years’ experience in the market and with offices on both sides of the Atlantic, whose differentiating aspects have marked the company’s path, making it a leader in the financial sector?

All aspects are summarized in the ability to respond, with pragmatism, rationality and professionalism to the demands of the sector and customers’ expectations. BFMI is a leader in the financial sector due to the whole team being interconnected and ponders on the challenges and risks faced when operating in a complex context, within an international dimension. BFMI services differentiate itself from the others, by striving to guarantee investor confidence and not considering separately the national and international dimension; on the contrary, there are two sides to the same coin in a globalized world – take for instance the effects that the North American elections have on the global markets.

We have all had different experiences in the past years, but 2020 will forever be the year that this generation will never forget.

From the extremely eventful year for stock markets to the US Election, I think it would be helpful to have a look at what happened throughout the year, as we finally turn the page and face 2021 with renewed hope.

Originally launched by the UK Government as the Post Office Savings Bank in 1861, the NS&I provided the opportunity for both the public to save and as the government to fund the deficit. To encourage post war saving in 1956, Premium Savings Bonds were introduced – but not without some political and religious opposition. Despite the resistance, NS&I has since evolved into one the largest savings organisations in the UK and has approximately 25 million customers and more than £179 billion invested.

Throughout history, the month of August has usually been one where investors take a break and the financial markets lose some steam. However, 2020 is far from being an “usual” period in time, and the month of August recorded one of the most aggressive upward trends in some of the global stock markets indices.

Looking back to July, the S&P500 and the NASDAQ continued to shine when compared to its peers, registering some substantial gains in the month. Following this, August continued on this same path and we saw the S&P500 record a 7% gain in the month, while the NASDAQ soared 11%, in this period of usual calmness in the markets.

An interview given to Portuguese newspaper Público’s Pontos de Vista magazine, takes us to meet Manuela Robinson, Joint Country Manager of Blacktower Financial Management (International) Ltd, in the Algarve – Portugal. A woman in the financial industry, which is still very much male dominated, but she feels is changing. Meet our interviewee, a Leader who is determined and does not like to be a mere spectator, but likes to lead by example.