Inevitably, this week the focus is on Europe. The PM came back from Brussels waving his piece of paper like a latter-day Chamberlain and revealed the substance of his deal with the EU. Few were impressed. Least of all, London’s mayor, Boris Johnson, who decamped to the “Leave” campaign with indecent haste.
If you’re wondering what Dave’s Big Deal actually entails, Matthew Partridge gives a comprehensive rundown in this week’s cover story. If you want to see his take, sign up now.
Well-intentioned blundering – there’s a word for that…
Meanwhile, MoneyWeek continues to make the case for leaving the EU. Merryn, our editor-in-chief, calls it “the cure that kills”, comparing its good intentions with those of America’s doctors.
Unfortunately for the hospital patients of the US, medical side-effects, blunders and plain old incompetence together comprise the country’s third most common cause of death. “Iatrogenic” is the word she uses. It’s the same in the EU, she says. However well-intentioned it may be, it’s messing up the continent in a big way. And its core aim – closer integration – could be the thing that eventually kills it.
It’s a big story, and it’s going to cause a fair few ructions in the short term whatever the outcome. But John Stepek urges investors to look beyond the short term – investing’s a long-term game after all. And John thinks it’s a genuine “once in a lifetime opportunity” for Britain to forge its own way in the world.
Elsewhere on the subject, we have Charlie Morris of the Fleet Street Letter looking at the real reasons for sterling’s slide – there’s a lot more to it than just Boris Johnson plumping for Brexit.
In the second of our series of investment briefings on the referendum, Simon Wilson looks at how leaving the EU would affect our trade with the rest of the world.
And Alexander Rankine thinks the consequences of a Brexit could reach far and wide. In fact, he thinks it could lead to the break-up of the EU. sign up now.
Building up a nest egg with investment trusts
Keeping the long term very much in mind, our funds expert David Stevenson begins the first in a series of articles explaining the best way to set up a regular savings plan. One of the easiest ways to do this, he says, is via investment trusts. These types of savings plans, which are often run by the trusts themselves, are usually free or very low cost – some can even be held in an Isa.
Alex Williams looks at what we can learn from Charlie Munger, the man who taught Warren Buffett about picking top quality stocks. Munger relies on what is probably the most important yardstick for measuring a company’s health – return on capital employed. Alex explains how you can use it to your advantage, too.
And Matthew Lynn looks ahead to the Budget. He urges George Osborne to be bold, and outlines three places he should start if he wants to “bolster our economy against crisis”.
Some wise words of warning
Sarah Moore sounds a couple of notes of caution this week. First, she reminds readers that “smart beta” isn’t the miracle investment the City wants us to think it is.
And on the personal finance pages, she warns against “gimmicky” home loans such as a “rent a room” or “family” mortgages. They might sound like a good idea, but if you find you have to rely one, you should probably think again, she says.
Matthew Partridge, meanwhile, recounts the sad tale of a dentist who died intestate and the mess he left behind him. It’s a sobering lesson in why you should keep make a will – and keep it up to date. Even if you have a will, writes Sarah, bereaved relatives could soon be hit with a punishing new “death tax”. Find out what that entails by sign up now.
There’s plenty more, of course. Chris Carter looks at five unmissable journeys, including Japan by rail, Germany by boat and Norway by dog sled. We take a look at the best electric cars, some of the best houses you can buy for £600,000, and wine expert Matthew Jukes picks “the classiest aperitif I can think of” – available at Oddbins for just £12.
If that’s the sort of thing that you like, sign up now?