Articles by James Mackreides

James Mackreides

James Mackreides

'Mac' is a short tempered former helicopter pilot, now a writer based in Sofia, Bulgaria. Loves dogs, the outdoors and staying far away from the ocean.

Quantum computing is a strange world
Investment Advice

Quantum computing is a strange world

Developing a highly accurate model of the airflow through a jet engine should be relatively simple, right? It is really challenging. Beca...

How to locate misplaced investments, savings, or pensions
Personal Finance

How to locate misplaced investments, savings, or pensions

In the UK, more than 28 million accounts totaling an astounding 88.5 billion are lost, including pensions, investments, savings accounts,...

A Child Trust Fund: What Is It?
Personal Finance

A Child Trust Fund: What Is It?

Here's what you need to know to keep track of your child's money. In the noughties, parents of children were lucky to receive fre...

Greg Abel: The successor to Warren Buffett's position
Investment Advice

Greg Abel: The successor to Warren Buffett's position

However, he comes after one of the most difficult investors in history, Warren Buffett. Will he be able to prosper? Ice hockey pl...

To fund their retirement, half of UK homeowners will have to draw from their home equity
Personal Finance

To fund their retirement, half of UK homeowners will have to draw from their home equity

There are billions of pounds waiting for them if they do, but a recent study predicts that millions of UK households will need to use the...

When will online orders be accepted by MandS again?
Personal Finance

When will online orders be accepted by MandS again?

When will normalcy return? Customers are still unable to place orders on the Marks & Spencer website, and the retailer has disclo...

Labour maintains that the Winter Fuel Payment policy will not be altered
Personal Finance

Labour maintains that the Winter Fuel Payment policy will not be altered

Even though there have been repeated calls for a review of the Winter Fuel Payment, Labour has maintained that it will not undo the cuts....

Would May 2025 be a good time to sell?
Investments

Would May 2025 be a good time to sell?

Does this still hold true? Selling in May and moving on is an old investment adage. Don't return until September, when St. Legers...

Are you among the 15 million people who could end up in poverty in retirement?
Personal Finance

Are you among the 15 million people who could end up in poverty in retirement?

Are there any actions you can take to increase your pension? The number of people in the UK at risk of retirement poverty has inc...

Lower interest rate investment trusts
Investment Advice

Lower interest rate investment trusts

Is now the right time to invest in one of these abandoned industries, given that interest rates are predicted to decline by the end of th...

Landlords are required to improve the energy efficiency of rental properties by 2030
Investments

Landlords are required to improve the energy efficiency of rental properties by 2030

We outline the costs for landlords looking to expand their buy-to-let holdings. The government's plans to make rental properties ...

Here are five things I've learned since installing a heat pump in my house
Investments

Here are five things I've learned since installing a heat pump in my house

We welcomed a new member into our home six months ago, along with my spouse. That is, to our garden specifically. A small brick outhouse ...