10 smart ways to protect your finances and safeguard your investments

From fine wine investment to ingenious new apps, these are some of the best financial solutions on offer

(Getty Images)

Making sure you and your family are provided for is at the top of many people’s list of priorities. There’s never a better time to start thinking about how to manage your money and investments – why wait?

Build a fine wine investment portfolio

(Moncharm Wine Traders)

If you're looking for a less obvious investment vehicle, then why not consider combining your love of wine with your investment portfolio. Moncharm Wine Traders was founded in 2010 as a bespoke fine wine merchant with the aim of connecting wine collectors and investors to the most sought-after brands and vintages. According to Knight Frank’s The Wealth Report 2020, fine wine had increased in value by over 120% during the previous decade, making it one of the top-performing asset classes. Other advantages of fine wine investment include it being a tax-free asset class and benefiting from a strong global secondary market. In times of uncertainty, wine hedges against inflation and low-interest rates. Investing in fine wine may cost less than you think —bespoke fine wine portfolios designed by Moncharm’s experienced wine experts start from just £10,000.

Request your free guide on investing in the fine wine market at moncharmwinetraders.co.uk

Diversify with blue-chip artwork

(JN Advisory)

The fine art market is worth over £55bn and has shown an average performance of 141% over the past 10 years. Adding fine art to your investment portfolio has never been simpler, and individual investors can get started from£10,000. Johan Nelson Advisory is an innovative British art gallery based in London that supports retail buyers and smaller-scale collectors in purchasing original-one-off artworks from a wide range of in-demand, blue-chip and well-established artists. The team works with buyers and collectors who are generally new to the market and maybe looking to acquire the first piece of collectable art in their portfolio.

Get your free guide on investing in fine art by visiting jnadvisory.co.uk

Take control of your banking

(Starling Bank)

Planning for the future becomes a lot easier when you’re able to understand your habits by seeing where, when and how you’re spending. Digital bank Starling’s Spending Insights gives you total control by showing you exactly where you’re spending most and where you could make cutbacks. You’ll be able to create a virtual piggy bank in the form of a ‘Space’ and dedicate it to a specific goal, such as ‘holiday’, while keeping an eye on how close you’re getting to your target amount. You’ll also never have to wonder if a payment has gone through or not, as you’re sent an instant alert for every transaction. Furthermore, you’ll be able to monitor other financial products through Starling’s in-app Marketplace. Whether your plans involve a new house or retiring somewhere sunny, you can link mortgages, pensions and insurance to your bank account and manage them all via the Starling app.

Apply for an account in minutes from your phone today or online at starlingbank.com/current-account

Take the hassle out of debt collection

(Access Credit Management)

Recovering outstanding debt can be a hugely stressful process. Access Credit Management takes the sting out of it, offering 20 years of experience in dealing with slow-paying debtors and having secured a reputation for securing and recovering outstanding commercial debt from around the world. In addition, the company takes the time to understand your business needs. So, whether you require assistance to develop or revise your company credit policy and procedures, a full sales ledger cleanse or a helping hand with one or two selective overdue accounts. Access Credit Management can help. Visit accesscm.co.uk

Start your whisky investment journey today

(Vintage Acquisitions)

The popularity of whisky continues to make it a healthy proposition from an investment perspective.  Rare whisky is the best performing collectable over a ten-year period, according to the Knight Frank Wealth report, gaining an average annual raise of 54% in value. Moreover, it’s capital gains tax-free and low maintenance with a high yield. Trading since 2011, the award-winning Vintage Acquisitions comprises a team of passionate whisky experts with over 30 years’ experience valuing, managing and, most of all, tasting and enjoying whisky. Clients are able to enjoy cask-drawn samples and arrange distillery visits, keeping an eye on their investments. There’s no minimum purchase/investment, and all clients automatically qualify for a year’s free membership to the Vintage Whisky Club.

More information available at vintageacquisitions.com

Holistic financial advice from a trusted source

(AFH Wealth)

AFH is an independent financial advice and investment management firm with over 30 years of experience and more than 200 accredited advisers nationwide. Clients can benefit from financial and investment planning from expert professional financial advisers. AFH also specialises in retirement and pension planning, inheritance tax advice, as well as general and more complex financial and investment needs. A range of investment management solutions is on offer, depending on clients' individual circumstances and goals, including discretionary investment management services. With over £6bn of client assets under management, AFH uses its size and expertise to drive costs down for their clients.

Book a free, no-obligation consultation with one of the company’s friendly, expert financial advisers. afhwm.co.uk

Using the latest technology to automatically build wealth

(Chip)

Chip is an app that automatically builds and grows your savings. It offers an API that automatically puts aside money based on your spending habits and goals. Chip grows your savings by bringing you market-leading savings accounts. These exclusive accounts were traditionally the preserve of the wealthy, but Chip pools users’ money to negotiate directly with private banks and open up these accounts for everyone. Finally, the Chip+1 account offers the market’s best returns on easy-access savings (1.25% variable). Chip+1 is unlocked by referring a friend or using a valid referral code.

Fees apply for some services. Download Chip and enter the code INDEP21 to unlock Chip+1. getchip.uk

Make estate planning part of your plans for the future

(JM Finn)

Sorting out your personal finances can be all too easy to put off. After all, looking at pension arrangements or trying to find the best interest-bearing bank account isn’t always the most exciting way to pass the time. But it’s never too early to plan for your loved ones. Let JM Finn help you with the tricky prospect of estate planning and accounting for what will happen to your wealth after you’ve gone. The team offers high-quality, personalised investment management services that aim to meet the demands of today’s private and professional investors.

Find out more atjmfinn.com/nevertooearly

Take the hassle out of everyday transactions

(Kroo)

The Kroo app helps you to manage your personal and social spending with ease through powerful bill splitting and tracking capabilities, and the convenience of settling instantly. You can share expenses with multiple people easily and securely, making it the perfect app to track bills for couples, a flatshare, a five-a-side football team, and day-to-day spending. Kroo does all the maths for you, so you can settle up quickly and easily with in-app money transfers. Furthermore, the Kroo debit Mastercard allows you to spend with zero fees, both home and abroad.

Download the app at kroo.com

Experienced people, exceptional service & superior investment returns

(Oakmount Partners)

The experienced team at Oakmount & Partners has a simple aim: to optimise investment performance over the medium to long term without exposing customers to unnecessary risk. Offering opportunities leading out to 2025 and beyond, the company’s goal is to achieve a greater rate of return on investment for its clients while maintaining the same high level of personal and professional service it’s delivered for over a decade. The company’s focus is on delivering premium-quality asset-backed and secured investment opportunities with a strategic focus on land acquisition and development, UK property, commodities, clean energy, tech and IPOs.

Subject to status. T&C applies. Contact the team today for more information. Tel: 01279 874 392. oakmountpartners.com

The past performance of an investment is not necessarily a guide to future performance. The value of investments or income from them may go down as well as up. You may not get back the amount you invested.