Happy new year from all at Lyndhurst, we hope you had an enjoyable time over the festive period and, like us, are raring to make 2024 a memorable year.

Before looking forward to the year ahead let’s reflect on 2023 and some of the good news that often doesn’t get much media coverage.

China’s carbon emissions are likely to start falling in 2024 a full six years ahead of when emissions were originally predicted to peak. The reason for this epochal shift? The country’s unprecedented buildout of 300 GW of solar and wind in 2023, almost double that of 2022. It’s the largest ever single deployment of energy in our species’ history!

In March of last year, 193 countries reached a landmark deal to protect the world’s oceans in what Greenpeace called “the greatest conservation victory of all time”.

So, despite the tragic wars that continue to blight our planet there are some really good news stories out there. (I have another sixty four of them!).

At Lyndhurst we have been helping our clients make a difference through fund managers that invest their money in a range of private and public enterprises that develop renewable energy, lease new ambulances to the NHS and many other sustainable strategies.

So, what of 2024?

Well, it’s the time of the year for making resolutions although at my age the best I can do is “don’t buy green bananas!”.  Many of our clients take the time to review their personal and financial objectives with their Lyndhurst consultant and make any changes needed based on their personal circumstances.

In terms for the financial world one major change will come on the 6th April when the pension Lifetime Allowance is abolished, as ever the legislation is more complex than the simple headline and we recommend that you review the impact on your financial plans with your financial adviser. (The Finance Bill has a hundred pages dealing with the subject!).

Another major discussion point is the direction of interest rates and the impact on those with mortgages. I’m not in the business of crystal ball gazing but we are already seeing some of the big mortgage providers reducing their rates on certain products in an attempt to gain market share, I expect that will continue throughout the year.

And finally, good news story for 2024 is that malaria vaccines have arrived in Africa, the holy grail of global health, and UNICEF will start distributing to millions of kids during the year.

From all at Lyndhurst we wish you a very happy new year!

Geoff Newman

Director

https://lyndhurstfm.co.uk/

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