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What is the Difference Between Heavy and Light Refurbishment Loans?

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Typically speaking, it is not necessary to ‘manually’ choose between heavy or light refurbishment loans. Your broker or lender will determine which of the two is more appropriate, in accordance with your requirements and the type of project you are planning.

As the two names suggest, ‘light’ refurbishment loans are suitable for projects of a smaller nature, while ‘heavy’ refurbishment loans are used to fund more advanced and expensive projects.

What Can a Light Refurbishment Loan Be Used for?

A refurbishment loan is typically considered ‘light’ when its value does not exceed 15% of the total value of the property. In addition, light refurbishments are generally classified as those that do not call for planning permission. They have a tendency to be predominantly cosmetic and/or functional in nature, rather than structural.

Typical examples of light refurbishments include the following among others:

  • Alterations to plumbing and electrical systems
  • The installation of a new kitchen or bathroom
  • Refitting or improving an existing bathroom or kitchen
  • Laying new flooring or plastering walls
  • All types of decorating and visual renovations

Repayment terms on a light refurbishment loan are flexible, but most loans are repaid within 6 to 12 months. The loan is usually secured against the property itself and depending on the requirements of the borrower can be arranged promptly (often within a few working days).

When Would You Need a Heavy Refurbishment Loan?

With heavy refurbishment loans, you are usually looking at a loan with a value in excess of 15% of that of the property itself.  In addition, heavy refurbishments usually (though not always) require planning permission. This is due to the fact that the work will often be structural in nature, rather than cosmetic or functional on a more basic level.

Any type of renovations, refurbishments, or property improvements that do not fall within the ‘light’ category are classified as heavy. Examples of these may include property extensions, some types of loft conversions, alterations that involve load-bearing wall adjustments/removals and so on.

As the loan issued may be significantly larger, a heavy refurbishment loan may have a longer repayment term – perhaps up to 24 months. The loan is secured against the property itself in the same way as a light refurbishment loan, which means that the maximum loan size available will be determined by the value of the property being refurbished.

Who is Eligible For a Refurbishment Loan?

In order to qualify for a refurbishment loan, lenders must be satisfied that the borrower is in a suitable position to fully repay the loan within the allocated period of time.

Some of the more common qualification requirements for refurbishment loans include:

  1. Credit score: Most lenders will require borrowers to have a good credit score in order to qualify for a refurbishment loan. A good credit score is generally considered to be above 700, although the specific requirements may vary depending on the lender.
  2. Equity in the property: Lenders will typically require borrowers to have a certain amount of equity in the property that they are planning to refurbish. This is to ensure that the lender has some collateral in the event that the borrower defaults on the loan.
  3. Ability to repay: Lenders will also consider the borrower’s ability to repay the loan, including their income, employment status, and other financial obligations.
  4. Property type: Some refurbishment loans may only be available for certain types of properties, such as residential homes or commercial buildings.

In addition to these requirements, borrowers may also need to provide other documentation, such as proof of ownership of the property, proof of income and a detailed plan for the refurbishment project.

However, it is worth noting that some lenders are willing to offer refurbishment loans (and similar secured loans) to applicants with poor credit and no formal proof of income. Bridging loans, for example, are issued almost entirely on the basis of equity in the property being refurbished and the borrower’s ability to repay.

Forex or Options?

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Introduction

Forex (Foreign Exchange) and Options trading are two popular forms of investing that have distinct differences and advantages. Choosing the right one will depend on an individual’s financial goals, experience, and risk tolerance. In this article, we’ll examine both Forex and Options trading, their similarities and differences, and help you determine which one is right for you. 

What is Forex Trading? 

Forex trading is the buying and selling of currencies with the aim of making a profit. The Forex market is the largest financial market in the world, with a daily trading volume of over $6 trillion. Forex traders buy and sell currency pairs, such as EUR/USD or GBP/JPY, with the aim of benefiting from fluctuations in exchange rates. To make the best out of forex trading, traders often took time to choose the best Forex brokers to make trading easy for them. 

Advantages of Forex Trading

  • Liquidity: The Forex market is extremely liquid, meaning that it is easy to buy and sell currencies at any time.
  • Accessibility: Forex trading can be done from anywhere in the world with an internet connection, and it is accessible to individuals with a small amount of capital.
  • Leverage: Forex trading offers high leverage, allowing traders to control a large amount of capital with a relatively small investment.

Disadvantages of Forex Trading

  • Risk: Forex trading is high risk due to the volatility of exchange rates.
  • Complexity: Forex trading requires a good understanding of economic, political, and market factors that can impact exchange rates.
  • Time-consuming: Forex trading is a 24/7 market, which can be demanding for traders who need to monitor their positions and make decisions at all hours.

Meaning of Options Trading

Options trading is a type of financial derivative in which an investor buys the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell an underlying asset at a predetermined price (strike price) on or before a specified date. Options trading can be used for speculative purposes, or as a hedging strategy to manage risk. Options are available on a wide range of underlying assets, including stocks, commodities, and currencies.

Advantages of Options Trading

  • Flexibility: Options trading offers a high degree of flexibility, allowing traders to tailor their positions to meet their specific financial goals.
  • Risk Management: Options trading can be used as a hedge against potential losses in other investments, such as stocks.
  • Limited Risk: Options trading has limited risk, as traders are only obligated to buy or sell the underlying asset at the predetermined price.

Disadvantages of Options Trading

  • Complexity: Options trading is complex and requires a good understanding of the market and the underlying asset.
  • Limited Profit Potential: Options trading has limited profit potential compared to other forms of investing.
  • Expensive: Options trading can be expensive, as traders must pay a premium for the option.

Forex or options: Which Should You Choose?

The choice between Forex and Options trading will depend on an individual’s financial goals, experience, and risk tolerance. 

Forex trading is ideal for those who are comfortable with high-risk investments and have a good understanding of the economic and political factors that impact exchange rates. 

Options trading, on the other hand, is best suited for traders who are seeking flexibility, risk management, and limited risk.

In conclusion, both Forex and Options trading can be profitable, but they each have their unique advantages and disadvantages. It is important to do your research and fully understand the market and the underlying asset before making a decision. As with any investment, it is important to have a well-diversified portfolio and to never invest more than you can afford to lose.

7 Ways to Revolutionise Your Shopify Store

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Starting and running an eCommerce store has become more accessible than ever before, with platforms like Shopify making the set up and management process super streamlined. But, with so many businesses vying for customers’ attention, standing out from the competition is naturally getting tougher. 

With this in mind, it’s crucial that businesses are continuously evaluating and optimising their Shopify stores to ensure that they’re providing the best possible experience for customers. So, in this blog, we’ll be discussing seven ways to revolutionise your Shopify store – helping you to stand out from the competition and grow your business. From optimising your website design to leveraging the latest technologies, we’ve got you covered.

Adopt headless commerce

One of the most exciting developments in the eCommerce industry is headless commerce which, simply put, involves separating the front-end (the customer-facing part of the website) from the back-end (the part that manages the data and processes the orders). This allows for greater flexibility and customisation, as well as faster loading times, improved performance and scalability, and a better user experience overall.

When using headless commerce, business owners can easily update and customise their site while also integrating with other systems and technologies. With its numerous benefits, it’s no surprise that headless commerce is revolutionising the Shopify and eCommerce industry as a whole. 

Prioritise speed optimisation

Speed is a critical factor when it comes to the success of your Shopify store. Not only does a slow website lead to a poor user experience, but it also affects your search engine rankings and conversion rates. Therefore, it’s essential to optimise the speed of your Shopify store to ensure that you are providing the best possible experience and staying ahead of the competition.

There are several factors that can impact the speed of your store, including the size of your images, the number of plugins and apps you are using, and the complexity of your website design. You can address these factors and implement best practices for speed optimization by using the best Shopify themes, minimizing apps, minifying CSS and JavaScript, using a CDN, or simply seeking help from a professional agency. This can significantly improve the performance of your store

Whether you are just starting out or looking to improve an existing store, speed optimisation should be a top priority.

Implement headless content management

Headless content management can bring a range of benefits, including increased flexibility and greater control over your website’s front-end design and functionality. It also allows for easier integration with other systems and technologies, such as customer relationship management (CRM) and marketing automation tools. 

A headless content management system allows you to create a fully unique customer experience that aligns with your brand and differentiates you from your competition, so what better way to revolutionise your Shopify store?

Add a product search functionality

Adding a robust product search to your Shopify store can not only help to provide a better experience for customers, but can also help to increase sales by allowing users to quickly and easily find what they’re looking for. A product search integration such as  also provides insights into customer behaviour and helps inform product and marketing decisions. Product search functionality can be enhanced by integrations with platforms such as Algolia. Overall, this is a simple and effective way to drive growth and improve the customer experience. 

Prioritising Shopify app integrations

Integrating various apps into your Shopify store, such as shipping and payment apps, marketing apps, and analytics tools, can all enhance the customer experience by providing a seamless and personalised shopping journey. With app integrations, you can streamline operations, increase accessibility and stand out from growing competition. 

Mobile optimisation

Mobile search, particularly in the eCommerce space, is becoming increasingly common. With this in mind, mobile optimisation is essential for any Shopify store looking to provide a seamless and enjoyable shopping experience. Mobile optimisation typically involves improving page load times, ensuring an easy navigation, and optimising checkout and payment processes for mobile. All of this is likely to lead to wider audience reach, increased conversions and higher customer satisfaction. 

Advanced analytics and reporting

For valuable insights into business and customer behaviour, analytics and reporting tools are key. Business owners can track website traffic, conversion rates and customer journeys, all while identifying areas for improvement. Making data-driven decisions will, in turn, help you provide a more personalised shopping experience for your customers – and give you a competitive edge.

Revolutionising your Shopify store doesn’t have to involve all of these tactics at once – even just making a few small tweaks can help you on your way to becoming a more competitive business. The key is to ensure customer satisfaction is always a top priority. Give users a streamlined, personalised journey with headless commerce and you’ll be set to overtake your competitors.

How Your Business Can Save Money This Winter

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As we currently live in financially challenging times, it’s important businesses save money where they can – especially in winter. Here, we’ve pulled together some ways you can save money in your business during winter. 

Update Your Technology

There are many ways you can save energy with technology. If you are currently using old tech, you could be using more energy than necessary as they are much less efficient. Replacing old computers, laptops and even kitchen appliances can save you money long term. Also, if you have servers onsite, consider changing to virtual servers which are more efficient. 

Laptops consume over 50% less power than an equivalent PC, so it’s worth considering replacing desktops with laptops. 

Change Your Bulbs

By changing your bulbs to LED, you could end up saving money. LED bulbs use significantly less energy than incandescent bulbs and last 10 x longer. Therefore, over the lifetime of your bulbs, you will save a lot of money. Although LED bulbs may cost you more upfront, the low amount of energy they use and their long life means you will use less energy which will cost you less money.

Switch Things Off

Although it may not seem like much, leaving computers and other technology on standby overnight can end up costing you more money. If a desktop computer is left on standby for over a year, it will cost you around £10. Now, if you have 100 computers in your company, this can quickly add up. 

Urging your employees to switch off their computers and other electricals is a great way to save some money throughout the winter. If you don’t see any change, you can invest in smart sockets that turn off the electricity to the items at a certain time.  

Review Your Outgoings

To make the most effective changes, you need to know where your business is using the most energy or where you can cut down. For example, the coffee machine that is being used multiple times a day can be switched to normal coffee. You can also look at bigger-picture outgoings too, such as agencies that might not be providing good value for money or subscriptions you no longer need. 

Turn Down Your Thermostat

During winter, it’s not really an option to turn off the heating completely to save on energy bills as your staff will be too cold to be productive. On the other hand, it’s not economical to turn your heating up to full and be left with a hefty energy bill. 

Instead, keep the working area at a consistent temperature by turning your thermostat down just 1 or 2 degrees. This is enough to save you hundreds of pounds a year but still keeps your employees happy and comfortable while they work.  

To make sure the lower temperature is enough to keep your employees warm, it’s a good idea to seal up draughts and ensure the office has good insulation.

Embrace Hybrid Working

If you are currently working conventionally in an office space, is this the most cost-effective way to house your business? Hybrid working could save you money by cutting down on the amount of office space you need and therefore the amount of energy you use. You can often find private offices and fixed desk arrangements in local coworking centres which will have amenities included in your rental agreement. 

New Ways The Automotive Industry Makes Your Vehicles

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The automotive industry is constantly looking for ways to improve vehicles, and there are some great technologies that can help with this. The more we improve the vehicle, the higher the demand for the product will be – and not just because it looks good, but because of its fantastic performance. Here are ways that the automotive industry has changed to make your vehicles. 

Precision is Everything

Precision is the key to quality. It’s the ability to produce an identical product every time by following a set of steps with strict attention to detail. To achieve precision, each step must be completed correctly. The process includes the use of high-quality materials and technology.  

Precision can also ensure all parts come out looking exactly the same which can enhance the quality of the vehicle. If a car’s interior has been built with precision, then any defects should be visible immediately. They can then be fixed before reaching the customer. 

Reducing Weight to Increase Efficiency

The automotive industry has made a shift towards lightweight materials. This means you’ll benefit from a higher fuel economy and lower emissions from a lower overall weight of your vehicle. Lightweight vehicles are more efficient as they need less energy to move them. Therefore, the lighter the parts that are used to make a vehicle are, the better the car engine will work and the lower the fuel consumption will be. 

More Accuracy, Less Waste

Ensuring more accuracy during vehicle production means there will be less waste overall. Waste has been a big issue in the automotive industry in the past, but now with technologies like plastic injection moulding, manufacturers can create parts with less material meaning less waste than ever before. Plastic injection moulding saves money on materials whilst reducing pollution at the same time.  

The Right Design Process

When starting the design process, it’s important to consider all aspects. Many companies are now adopting a holistic approach when it comes to the design process. 

Additionally to this, the design for manufacturability (DFM) approach helps designers create products that are efficient and cost-effective while maintaining quality standards. 

Better Quality Parts

Processes such as injection moulding ensure high-quality parts every time. The production of consistently great quality parts that are reliable is ensured by quality control. The role of quality control is important during vehicle manufacture as it reviews product quality intending to identify and eliminate defects. 

During prototyping, the manufacturing facility engineers each vehicle piece to a specific engineering standard. As soon as the prototype is determined complete, other exciting parts of the process can begin. 

Syndi Health Raises $2m to Personalise Digital Health Support Provided By Employers, Insurers and Healthcare Providers

  • The digital health market has been flooded with over 350,000 services that sought to lower barriers to care but have now created an overwhelming ecosystem that is hard for people to navigate
  • Syndi Health’s platform enables healthcare and insurance organisations to drive adoption and engagement of third-party wellbeing apps and telemedicine services through an AI recommendation and payment system, fully personalised to individual users.
  • The over-subscribed pre-seed round included angel investors Damien Marmion, Ex-CEO of AXA Global Health, Phil Mohr and Puli Liyanagama, Founders of DataTiger (acquired by Apple), and Baron O’Shaughnessy, one of the UK’s leading policy advisors.

Syndi Health, a startup providing a digital infrastructure to offer personalised and effective digital health support within organisations, has raised £1.65 million (USD $2 million), in equity and grant funding. The investment comes from some of the most influential names in the UK’s health, technology and insurance sectors and Innovate UK, the national innovation agency. 

Syndi Health’s mission is to make digital healthcare affordable, accessible and smarter through the use of artificial intelligence. The company has built an AI platform that enables healthcare and insurance organisations to drive adoption and engagement of third-party wellbeing apps and telemedicine services, which can be personalised to individual users. 

The digital healthcare market is flooded. There are over 350,000 wellbeing apps, telemedicine and digital therapeutics available direct to consumers and $145bn is spent annually on point-of-care digital health services. With such a large pool of online options to choose from, it’s no wonder consumers and their employers are overwhelmed with the ecosystem. 

Syndi Health offers a new complementary and expedited route to support that can guide patients earlier in their health journey and decrease extensive backlogs on healthcare waiting lists.

NHS now estimates that a staggering 1.6 million people are waiting for treatment from mental health services. For the growing numbers of people seeking mental and physical health support, even with direction from a clinician, the chances of them finding the solution that best fits their particular needs, without the stress of a trial and error process, are slim.

Syndi Health founders, Ben Lakey and Jorge Alexander, built the platform after finding themselves waiting over 10 months to access mental health support. 

Ben Lakey, the Co-founder of Syndi Health, said, “We began Syndi Health knowing that we didn’t want to add more noise in the digital health market. Instead, we wanted to help healthcare organisations and insurers offer people a way to forge their own clear and safe path to digital care. As co-founders we’ve both experienced the frustration of not being given support early enough, and wanted to make fixing this problem easier. Our passionate team is building a globally impactful product and business that will bring structure to the chaotic digital health market. So far we have had overwhelmingly positive feedback from users, have secured partnerships with over 40 digital health services, and have an extensive pipeline of licensing customers.

”Syndi Health first launched their solution with student platforms in November 2020, and successfully onboarded more than 20,000 users from over 1,300 different schools, universities and colleges in the UK and the US. The business is now targeting employers, healthcare providers and insurers and has just signed a pilot contract with one of the largest healthcare charities in the UK.

The pre-seed funds will be used to continue building the platform, grow the Syndi Health team and accelerate its B2B customer growth. Syndi Health will execute its pilots with both public and private healthcare providers and employee benefit programmes to grow its user base and capture additional clinical evidence. Professor Rohit Shankar MBE FRCPsych, Clinical Director at Cornwall Partnership NHS Trust said, “We are very excited by the research and commercial potential of the Syndi Health platform. It will help us understand how better to support the mental health needs of our people and offer them the personalised digital support they need at the earliest opportunity, which is invaluable.

”The oversubscribed pre-seed round included Plug and Play, Remus Capital, Neo Kuma Ventures, Founders Factory, and Syndicate Room’s Access Fund. A roster of leading angel investors also participated including Damien Marmion, former CEO of AXA Global Health; Phil Mohr and Puli Liyanagama, founders of DataTiger (acquired by Apple); Baron James O’Shaughnessy, former Minister at the Department for Health and Social Care; Roland Rudd, founder and chairman of public relations firm Finsbury; David Giampaolo, CEO of Pi Capital; Jacob Haddad, co-founder and CEO of AccuRx; Stephen Bourke, healthtech entrepreneur and founder of e-pharmacy Echo (acquired by McKesson).

In addition to the investment, Syndi Health have won a £400,000 ($500,000 USD) grant from Innovate UK as part of their Biomedical Catalyst programme, in collaboration with the University of Plymouth and Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. The funding from the grant will be used to validate the Syndi Health platform within the NHS over the next 18 months.

Damien Marmion, former CEO of AXA Global Health, said, “Ben, Jorge and the rest of the Syndi Health team have found a way to develop an impactful product that offers remote, immediate and effective digital care. The platform is one that employers, individuals and insurers have long looked for – a smart one-stop-shop for digital health services, that monitors real-world impact and facilitates point-of-care solutions. It is a refreshing and much-needed approach to healthcare and I am excited by the impact on populations and customers that I have spent my career serving.”

Exploring Lingerie Trends With House of Skye’s Skye Drynan

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With Valentine’s Day upon us, many couples are shopping for fresh lingerie pieces to spice things up in the bedroom. Wearing a beautiful lingerie set can make one feel especially powerful and confident. Lingerie trends come and go, as colorways and silhouette styles are ever-changing. Everyone has a different definition of sexy. For some, that means showing as much skin as possible. For others, it simply means being comfortable in one’s skin.

During the Spring/Summer 2023 fashion shows last September, Fendi, Blumarine, Tom Ford, and other designers incorporated lingerie style pieces in their runway looks. These looks featured teeny-tiny triangle bras, opaque tights as pants, underwired bras, and more creative designs.

Priya Downes, founder and CEO of Nudea, told Who What Wear what to expect. First up, color and texture. Colors such as baby blue, olive, and storm gray are especially popular, while textures such as mesh and velvet are gaining traction.

Another trend to expect, per Downes, is comfortable underwiring. With the pandemic behind us,  people are out and about, dressing in trendy clothing once again. As a result, wired bras seem to be making a comeback. Underwired bras are notoriously uncomfortable, but many brands are rethinking their design process and ensuring that each bra is as comforting to the wearer as possible. Kim Kardashian’s SKIMS brand has many underwire options ideal for everyday use.

Perhaps the most popular trend to be on the lookout for this year is underwear as outerwear. This was one of the most prevalent movements over the past year. People began wearing blazers with a simple bra underneath, thongs sticking out of their pants or skirts, and bras over the top of their blouses. Lingerie-style bodysuits are now being worn alone, as shirts.

So, with Valentine’s Day here, it is no surprise that lingerie is as popular as ever. Sitting at the intersection of technology and fashion, House of Skye is a cutting-edge brand sitting at the intersection of technology and fashion. Skye Drynan, founder of House of Skye, uses her six design patents, two utility patents, and two systems and methods patents in over 100 countries to help innovate the industry with her design.

Embodying many of the aforementioned trends is House of Skye’s BareBack Intimates, a modern underwear line for both women and men. The Sexy Back Bra features 22 tabs and 8 adjustable halter, arm, and leg straps that are designed to be comfortable while enabling women to pair it with any outfit. The Men’s Sport Brief comes in 6 nude colorways and has a hidden pocket for impromptu assistance.

The underwear market has come a long way, and so many brands offer a range of pieces depending on what the consumer is looking for.

63% of UK workers believe training is important to career development – Strike a new career bargain with employees

A new whitepaper from online training provider High Speed Training has found that 63% of UK workers agreed that training and learning new skills helped them to develop themselves and their new careers.

The survey, which asked 1,000 UK residents about their careers and relationships with their employers, formed part of High Speed Training’s Future Workplace Series, which explores the changing nature of the relationship between employees and employers.

Terms such as “The Great Resignation”, “Quiet Quitting”, and “Loud Quitting” have highlighted a disconnect between many organisations and their employees.

With the long term impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic yet to be fully realised, the shift of many organisations to a hybrid working model and a greater emphasis on digital skills will shape the workplace of the future, and influence how employers attract, engage and retain their employees.

In the whitepaper, High Speed Training explores how and why organisations often face an exhausting and costly chase for new employees, or struggle to keep their best staff members.
The paper sets out a model to empower HR, hiring, and training managers to focus their efforts on building solid development paths with their employees.

The 4P’s model details how successful training can be implemented into an organisation.

  • Training must be every employer’s passion
  • Training must have a collective purpose
  • Training must be a true partnership
  • Training must demonstrate progress

Dr Richard Anderson, Head of Learning and Development at High Speed Training, said:

“No-one could have predicted the seismic shifts in working procedures that almost all businesses have had to deal with over the last few years. Whilst this has certainly thrown up new and difficult challenges, there is also scope for opportunity – both for employees and employers.”

“Wider talent pools and increasing rates of digital skills mean that employers can reap the benefits of new hybrid working models – if they are willing to offer an attractive career bargain with prospective and existing employees.”

“The workforce is placing greater emphasis on their own personal and career development, utilising upskilling and training to ensure that their own trajectories align to their employers.”

“Through this whitepaper, we’ve explored how and why organisations must adapt to this new way of working to reap the benefits.”

New study reveals the most popular stock trading podcasts

InvestED is the most popular stock trading podcast, with the most Google searches per month.

Podcasts Animal Spirits and Mad Money are the second most popular podcasts, both receiving 1,400 searches per month worldwide.        

Invest Like The Best is the third most popular stock trading podcast.

A new study reveals the most popular stock trading podcasts, with InvestED taking the top spot as the most popular.  

The trading world has seen an ever-growing amount of interest over the past few years; worldwide searches for ‘how to get into trading’ increased 178%, and searches for ‘trading tips’ have seen a 195% increase over the past five years.   

Searches for ‘stock trading tips’ have increased by 204% worldwide over the past five years, proving how many people worldwide are interested in delving into the trading world. With the rise in popularity for podcasts skyrocketing over the past few years too, research was conducted to see which trading podcasts are the most popular.  

The research conducted by UK financial services provider CMC Markets explored Google search data by examining the average number of monthly searches for the top stock and trading podcasts, which resulted in a ranking of the most popular stock and trading podcasts.   

The most popular podcast in the rankings is InvestED, hosted by three-time New York Times best-selling author and hedge fund manager Phil Town and his daughter Danielle. The pair give advice and cast a light on the best investment strategies used by some of the most influential investors in the world.  

Stretching over 400 episodes, the father-daughter duo dominates the stock and trading podcast space, with fans worldwide tuning in to hear their advice. Searches for ‘InvestED podcast’ average at 1,600 searches per month worldwide, proving just how popular the podcast is.

The following two podcasts in the rankings receive an average of 1,400 searches per month worldwide, placing them in joint second. 

The Animal Spirits podcast explores life, markets and investing and is hosted by Michael Batnick, a managing partner at Ritholtz Wealth Management and Ben Carlson, the author of the wealth management blog A Wealth of Common Sense.  

Their goal is to share their experiences in the markets and help make finance more understandable and accessible for their listeners. There are currently 454 episodes available for streaming, and with the podcast averaging 1,400 searches per month worldwide, fans are certainly listening to what they have to share.  

The Mad Money podcast is hosted by one of Wall Street’s most successful and influential money managers, Jim Cramer. The first episode was released in March 2005, and since then, the podcast has grown into a guide for people worldwide to become better investors.    

The podcast has a huge number of episodes, so there is plenty of advice on how to dominate the stock market. Cramer helps his listeners navigate the jungle of Wall Street investing in a lightning round where he offers his buy, sell and hold options to callers keen to hear his expertise.   

The third most popular stock trading podcast in the rankings is Invest Like The Best, hosted by Patrick O’Shaughnessy. This podcast provides insight into the minds of some of the best business and investment leaders across the globe, highlighting their trial-and-error methods of success and sharing stock market secrets exclusively to the show.   

The main goal of this podcast is to guide listeners on how to spend their time and money better, resulting in successful investment outcomes. Searches for ‘Invest Like the Best podcast’ average 1,000 searches per month worldwide, which secures its third-place spot in the rankings.   The Meb Faber show is the fourth most popular stock trading podcast, averaging 400 monthly searches for the ‘Meb Faber podcast’ worldwide. The podcast aims to help listeners grow through wealth by making smarter investment decisions alongside featuring an array of top investment professionals dishing out their wisdom regarding investments.   

The podcast currently stretches to 526 episodes and is hosted by Meb Faber, a co-founder and Chief Investment Officer of Cambria Investment Management. Faber has also written numerous successful books and is a frequent speaker on investment strategies which is why fans worldwide are keen to be regular listeners of the podcast.   

The following two podcasts in the rankings receive an average of 300 searches per month worldwide, placing them in joint fifth.  

With currently over 1,000 episodes, is Motley Fool Money, a multi-viewpoint podcast hosted by investment genius Chris Hill, in which he is joined by a team of top investment analysts who explore the day’s top headlines in finance and business. The podcast is aimed at business-driven investors and helps to break down the stock market by sharing the perspectives of Hill’s special guests.   

We Study Billionaires is currently strung over 650 episodes and has gained over 95 million downloads. Hosted by Stig Broderson, Clay Finck and Trey Lockerbie, We Study Billionaires is the chief podcast of The Investor’s Podcast Network. During the show, the hosts are joined by some of the industry’s most famous financial billionaires, who guide listeners on applying the best strategies and methods in the stock market.    

The most popular stock trading podcasts

RankPodcast NameSearch TermGlobal Monthly
Search Volume
1InvestEDInvested Podcast1,600
2Animal Spirits /
Mad Money
Animal Spirits Podcast
Mad Money Podcast
1,600
3Invest Like the BestInvest Like the Best
Podcast
1,400
4The Meb Faber ShowMeb Faber Podcast400
5Motley Fool Money
We Study Billionaires
Motley Fool Money
Podcast We Study
Billionaires Podcast
300

A Thorough Roedean School Review

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Families considering the best UK secondary school and sixth form options for their daughters would do well to include Roedean School in their shortlist.

When it comes to providing an exceptional education, Roedean scores highly across many school guides. Plus, the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) awarded Roedean “Excellent” in all categories in its latest report, an achievement the School has now maintained for five years running.

Here, we’ll share a complete Roedean School review, including essential information about fees, location, and its reputation as a leading UK girls’ school.

What Is Roedean School?

Roedean School is one of the UK’s top independent day and boarding schools for girls aged 11 to 18 — and the most popular in Sussex. Founded in 1885 by the Lawrence sisters, the School’s aim is “to nurture the girls’ talents, to spark their curiosity, to develop their skills, and to let their imagination run riot.”

Roedean continues its founders’ ethos, providing girls with an excellent and “thorough physical, intellectual, and moral education.” Within a safe and supportive community and with access to the best possible facilities, girls pursue academic and personal excellence.

Beyond the classroom, students engage in a broad programme of co-curricular activities. With a choice of 14 sports, every girl can engage in and enjoy an active lifestyle. There are also plenty of outlets for creativity and self-expression, from music and dance recitals to large-scale drama productions in the School’s newly refurbished theatre.

Students at Roedean hail from 40 countries, and girls learn to appreciate the diversity of cultures represented at the School. This strong sense of community extends outside Roedean’s walls into partnerships with local schools and charities, where students engage in volunteering opportunities.

A Roedean education empowers girls to discover their unique strengths and passions while learning the value of hard work, compassion, and self-belief. As a result, students leave Roedean School as confident, curious, and happy individuals who are ready to make a difference in society.

Where Is Roedean School?

Roedean School boasts a unique location that captures the vibrancy of a seaside city and the tranquillity of the British coast.

Just 10 minutes from Brighton (The Sunday Times’ best seaside city 2022), girls can enjoy the city’s culture and buzz while soaking in the sense of calm from the School’s clifftop site. Views of natural beauty over the English Channel and the South Downs National Park inspire and invigorate in equal measure.

Roedean’s 45-acre campus, which includes a farm, lies alongside an additional 75 acres of land. There are plenty of facilities, space, and fresh air for girls to explore their interests, embark on challenging adventures, and be themselves.

The School is near local transport routes, with proximity to Brighton railway station and Heathrow and Gatwick airports. A modern minibus fleet and a chaperoned service to London Victoria mean that travel to and from Roedean School is convenient and safe.

How Much Does Roedean School Cost?

Roedean School’s termly day and boarding fees for the 2022-23 academic year are:

  • Day fees begin at £6,290 per term (Year 7) and run up to £8,220 per term (Years 10 to 13).
  • Flexi boarding fees begin at £9,040 per term (Year 7) and run up to £10,930 per term (Years 10 to 13).
  • Weekly boarding fees begin at £11,120 per term (Year 7) and run up to £12,400 per term (Years 10 to 13).
  • Full boarding fees begin at £12,180 per term (Year 7) and run up to £14,745 per term (Years 10 to 13).

All fees include textbooks and stationery for students up to GCSE level.

In addition, one-year GCSE and pre-A Level programmes cost £14,745. The Language Pathway Course requires a further fee of £1,045 per term, and an additional £1,585 per term applies to boarders who directly enter Sixth Form.

There are also separate tuition fees for girls who take extra subjects and activities.

What Is Roedean School’s Reputation?

You can find positive Roedean School reviews in Tatler Schools Guide, The Good Schools Guide, and on the Muddy Stilettos website, each of which highlights Roedean’s reputation for offering a prestigious and modern education to girls.

One Roedean School review shares how a parent felt her daughter “transformed” during her time at Roedean — “she joined the physics club just for fun.”

Academic Ethos

In 2022, Roedean came 29th in the Times league table thanks to record A Level results (71% of A Level grades were A* to A and 30.5% were A*). The impressive academic results didn’t stop there — 85% of GCSEs received grades 9 to 7 (the equivalent of A* to A).

While passing exams is important, Roedean recognises that a more holistic approach to education is necessary for girls to flourish in the modern world. Through dynamic teaching that nurtures independence, confidence, and academic curiosity, Roedean’s specialist teachers encourage students to think critically and creatively.

Sixth Form

Life at Roedean Sixth Form offers a rewarding and challenging two-year experience for girls. Whether studying or exploring beyond the academic, sixth formers have plenty of opportunities to hone their skills and knowledge and test out new responsibilities during their final years at school.

To complement their bespoke curriculum (there are 23 A Level subjects to choose from), girls can engage with a range of electives, lectures, and visits. There is also a wealth of co-curricular activities and opportunities for inspiring positive change through the community action programme. Not to mention time for socialising and having fun.

A Roedean education provides a great foundation for further studies (often at top universities), careers, and life in general. Amidst a warm, supportive environment, Roedean sixth formers grow into confident, passionate, and socially aware young women who are ready for the next stages of their educational journeys.

Families who have read the impressive Roedean School reviews can see the School’s offerings for themselves by visiting and meeting the teachers and girls. Roedean offers open days and individual virtual and in-person tours.

Visit Roedean School.

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