Latest news with #TrueNorthAdvisors
Daily Record
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
Reform UK could overtake Scottish Labour at 2026 Holyrood election, poll suggests
Nigel Farage's party could return more than 20 MSPs according to a survey by True North Advisors Reform UK could overtake Scottish Labour at next year's Holyrood election, according to a new poll. Nigel Farage's party are on course to return as many as 21 MSPs and become the second largest party in the Scottish Parliament, a survey for True North Advisors found. The SNP would comfortably emerge as the largest party with 58 MSPs - with Labour left languishing on just 18. Such a result would be a disaster for Anas Sarwar as he tries to position his party as a credible alternative to the Nationalists in power. The poll results were shared just hours after the Scottish Labour leader a speech in Glasgow to insist Scots faced a "stark choice" between his party and the SNP. Fergus Mutch of True North Advisors said: "Anas Sarwar continues to struggle to catch a break – with the woes of his party at a UK level reflecting on his support in Scotland – and Reform UK nibbling away at enough of his vote share to prove a problem for him. "The Conservatives, meanwhile, are being monstered by Reform and are at risk of tumbling from second to fourth place in Scottish politics." Professor John Curtice, the country's top polling expert, said: "After its success in last week's English local elections, Reform now pose a significant threat to the Conservatives' and Labour's prospects at Holyrood too. "More than one in four of those who voted Conservative in last year's Westminster election and nearly one in five of those who backed Labour have now switched to Reform. "As a result, Reform's poll rating in Scotland has risen to 20 per cent for the first time and the party is now a serious competitor for the position of principal opposition party at Holyrood. "The fracturing of the unionist vote is good news for John Swinney. Even though the party's share of the vote is now well down on May 2021, it could still win the bulk of Holyrood's first past the post seats, and as a result, be left with only a little short of its current tally of MSPs at Holyrood. "Crucially, the fragmentation of Scotland's politics could help ease the path towards another pro-independence majority at Holyrood at a time when, still, almost half of Scotland would like to leave the UK."
The Herald Scotland
25-04-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Scottish advisory firm expands into London and hires staff
It marks a 'significant milestone' for the full-service strategic communications, public affairs and marketing firm, and is backed by a series of senior appointments that 'significantly strengthen' its advisory team. The firm said establishing a permanent presence in London will allow it to offer on-the-ground support for clients navigating policy and regulatory priorities that are the responsibility of the UK Parliament. The new London operation will be led by senior advisor, Andrew Liddle, a former Labour Party advisor who has relocated from Edinburgh. Replacing him in the Scottish capital is Calum Ross, who joins True North as a senior advisor. Mr Ross spent 15 years covering Scottish and UK current affairs for the Press & Journal, including four years as a lobby journalist at Westminster, before joining the Scotsman, where he has spent the past two years as education correspondent. Also joining the firm is Geri Mulvany, who becomes a creative advisor within its content studio, based in Aberdeen. Ms Mulvany brings a wealth of experience in brand storytelling and campaign development, most recently as head of design at a North-east creative agency. The expansion coincides with the launch of the new True North Advisors website – – which it said reflects the scale, ambition and expertise of the business. True North Advisors is led by managing partners Geoff Aberdein and Fergus Mutch, alongside senior partner Ryan Crighton. Together, they bring 'decades of experience at the highest levels of business, media and politics'. The firm said it is particularly known for its work in energy, inward investment, education, financial services, food and drink, housing and the third sector, but its influence 'extends across a broad range of industries where powerful storytelling meets strategic thinking'. Mr Aberdein is a former chief of staff to the First Minister of Scotland and global head of external affairs at Aberdeen Standard Investments. Mr Mutch previously served as head of communications and research for the SNP, and Mr Crighton is an award-winning business journalist with over a decade of marketing experience. Mr Aberdein said: 'True North's approach centres around employing talented individuals who use proven expertise in their careers to date to provide our clients the very best in strategic advice. Calum and Geri bring huge experience and sharp insight that will add real value for the growing range of businesses and organisations we work with. 'Establishing a permanent presence in London is a bold and necessary step for the company. Andrew's relocation means we're now perfectly placed to serve organisations that need to be heard at both Holyrood and Westminster.' Mr Ross said: 'After nearly two decades in journalism, I'm excited to start this new chapter with True North Advisors. I've spent my career telling stories that matter and now I'm looking forward to helping clients navigate their communications priorities with clarity and purpose.' Ms Mulvany said: 'True North's mix of strategic thinking and creative energy is what drew me to join its Content Studio. I'm passionate about helping organisations find their voice and tell their story in ways that connect, persuade and inspire.' The two new appointments add to a team which includes former MP Eilidh Whiteford, energy expert and former Energy Voice editor Allister Thomas, and marketers Andrew Taylor and Cody Mowbray. True North is chaired by Martin Gilbert, one of Scotland's most respected business figures and co-founder of Aberdeen Asset Management. Airline increases transatlantic service from Edinburgh to Washington Transatlantic flights from Edinburgh to Washington DC are to become almost year-round with United Airlines extending the route. It already flies between the two cities daily during the summer season and it will become a five-time a week flight from October 26 until January 5, 2026 before resuming again on February 20 next year. The daily service will return on March 29, 2026 and it means there is a 10% increase in the number of seats available on flights between the Scottish capital and its American counterpart. It is the latest increase from United Airlines, who are also operating year-round flights from Edinburgh to New York/Newark which have doubled from once to twice daily during peak summer season, as well as a daily seasonal service between Edinburgh and Chicago O'Hare. Scotland's only Lacoste store reopens after major refit Scotland's only dedicated store for one of France's most popular designer labels has reopened after a major refurbishment. The Lacoste store at Livingston Designer Outlet opened its doors earlier this month after a significant refit. Shoppers are invited to explore the newly outfitted outlet, which boasts a wider range of clothing, accessories, and footwear. Bosses at the retail park say the new store "pays homage to the French brand's iconic heritage while blending a bold and contemporary twist".
CBS News
07-04-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Gold prices surpass $3,000: Here are the implications for investors
It finally happened: Gold prices have surged past the $3,000 mark, as many experts predicted they might over the last year. The latest price milestone comes after what's been a steady run-up in the precious metal's pricing over the past two years. Since mid-2023, gold has jumped from around $1,800 per ounce to today's nearly $3,100-per-ounce price, amounting to a jaw-dropping 72% increase. "Gold outperformed in 2024 and is doing well this year, outperforming the S&P 500," says Patti Brennan, CEO of Key Financial. But gold's price surge can't last forever, and its currently sky-high costs will have a big impact on investors. Do you own gold, or are you thinking of buying in? Here's what to take away from the yellow metal's recent pricing milestone. Find out more about the benefits of gold investing now . If you already own gold in your portfolio, the new price point might have you excited or even eyeing a sell-off , depending on how much prices have climbed since you bought in. Should you, though? "It depends completely on the investor's initial reason for purchasing the precious metal in the first place," says James Cordier, CEO and head trader at Alternative Options. If your goal was to produce some returns and use them for a specific near-term purpose, then selling right now might be smart. But if you were looking for long-term wealth protection, a hedge against inflation, a way to diversify your portfolio or some other, big-picture benefit, holding onto your gold may be best. "Most gold investors are not day trading this asset," says Steve Wilbourn, a financial advisor at True North Advisors. "This is more of a buy-and-hold investment since it is an extremely volatile holding, where pricing changes constantly." Explore your gold investing options and get started today . Gold prices may have hit record highs , but that doesn't mean that they've maxed out. In fact, many experts think the metal will continue to see price growth for the foreseeable future. "Factors driving the yellow metal to all-time highs are numerous, but the overwhelming catalyst is central bank buying," Cordier says. "For the first time in recent memory, accumulation is taking place regardless of the prices being paid, as central banks continue to accumulate gold at a record pace." According to Cordier, this could mean another 10% jump in gold prices by the end of the year — putting the price of gold at around $3,500 per ounce. "I would expect gold to rise up to a few hundred more points by the end of 2025," Wilbourn says. "Central banks are actively increasing their gold reserves, which is a strong indicator of demand." "This is a time to buy, not sell," Wilbourn says. "Gold is generally more like a collector's item that grows more valuable the longer you keep it." Keep in mind that potential price growth isn't the only benefit of holding gold. Many use it to protect against inflation or to diversify their portfolio , so you may want to buy gold right now for other reasons, too. "New investors shouldn't be afraid of the new gold high price," Wilbourn says. "Real assets like gold are becoming a reasonable investment to hedge equities and bonds. Since Bonds have struggled in the recent past, commodities and real assets are good options to supplement as a hedge on the market." Wilbourn recommends allocating about 5 to 10% of your portfolio to gold. This, he says, "is a reasonable amount to help diversify." If you're not sure if gold investments are right for your portfolio or you need help deciding how to best buy into gold, talk to a financial or investment advisor. There are many ways to invest in gold these days, including physical gold, gold individual retirement accounts (IRAs) , gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and more. A professional can help you make the right move for your goals and budget.
CBS News
27-03-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Does a HELOC for debt consolidation make sense now? Here's what to know.
The persistent inflation issues that have been looming and the rising costs of goods and services that have come with it have driven many Americans toward credit cards recently. In fact, the total credit card debt nationwide is now sitting at over $1.2 trillion — a $45 billion jump from just one year earlier. If you're a homeowner and have racked up credit card debt of your own, you might be able to tackle it by tapping your home equity . In many cases, options like home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) offer significantly lower rates than credit cards, allowing you to use your equity to pay off credit card balances with lower monthly payments and fewer long-term interest costs. Still, the strategy isn't right for everyone — or every situation. Are you thinking of using a HELOC to pay off debts right now? Here's when it might make sense (and when it wouldn't). Compare your home equity borrowing options and lock in a top HELOC rate now . From an interest rate standpoint, using a home equity line of credit to consolidate debt can be a smart choice right now, as HELOC rates tend to be quite a bit lower than most other financial products. Credit cards, for instance, are carrying average rates above 22% and personal loan interest rates are averaging over 12% . The typical HELOC, on the other hand, carried about an 8% interest rate in March 2025. "Most people are going to save a substantial amount of money," says Dre Torres, a loan officer at Cornerstone First Mortgage. There are other benefits to consolidating debts with a HELOC , too. For one, you get a longer repayment term compared to other options. For example, most personal loans have very short terms (a few years, at most), and if you don't pay off your credit cards quickly, the debt can easily snowball. "Most people at some time in their adult life end up with a pile of debt that just seems to have appeared and at some point, you have to stop the snowball effect of fighting higher interest loans or credit cards," says Steve Wilbourn, a financial advisor at True North Advisors. "If you are at the point where you are not going to be able to pay the credit card bill, a HELOC can give you more time to spread out the payments and often a much lower interest rate which equals a lower payment." Consolidating your debts will also streamline your payments. Instead of paying several debts down each month, you'll have just a single HELOC payment to make — and often, it will be interest-only payments for the first 10 years of the loan, making them even more manageable. "Any time you are going to pay off debt and roll it into a loan that has one payment, that will put you in a better financial position," Torres says. "It can help with being cash flow positive every month, being able to apply that savings to other debt to pay down, or being able to take that monthly savings and float it into the market so that it becomes an asset to you." Find out how affordable home equity borrowing could be today . Using a HELOC to consolidate debt likely wouldn't be a good idea if your credit score is particularly low, as it would likely mean you'd get a higher interest rate on your HELOC — eating into the potential savings the move would have to offer. It would also not be wise if you don't have much equity in your home. "It may be ill-advised to use a HELOC if it takes all of your home's equity off the table, especially if you haven't owned your home for very long," Wilbourn says. "There is always the chance of your home losing value and you are now upside down on your mortgage." When you're upside down on your mortgage, you owe more than the home is worth. And if you find yourself needing to sell? The proceeds won't be enough to pay off your loan, leaving you to make up the difference out of pocket. Taking out a HELOC to pay off debt is also a bad idea if you don't have the funds to actively pay down the balance, as it could result in more long-term debt. It could also mean higher rates the longer you keep the line open. "Right now, with rates still relatively high and potentially volatile, a variable-rate HELOC can be risky since your payments can rise if rates go up," says Stephan Shipe, a flat-fee financial advisor and owner of Scholar Financial Advising. "It's better suited if you plan to pay it off quickly or if you expect rates to drop. " If your spending habits aren't in check, a HELOC isn't going to be much help either. It could even mean losing your home to foreclosure if you can't make your payments. "It's a major red flag if you are consolidating debt into a HELOC without addressing the root problem that caused the initial build-up in debt," Shipe says. "Without addressing the initial issue, you risk losing your home and also freeing up credit card limits to build up the problem again, creating an endless debt cycle." Debt consolidation isn't your only option if you're dealing with debt. Debt settlement , debt negotiation and other debt relief services can help, too. And if you're not sure what the right move is, talk to a financial professional. They can walk you through all your options, as well as their benefits and costs.
