Opinion

Jonathan Young, a member of Johnston Carmichael's financial planner support team, discusses why investors shouldn't run from negative returns during the coronavirus outbreak.  Whilst the impact of the coronavirus crisis (COVID-19) is still being measured around the world, and in some ways is im

You might recall headlines a few years ago, amid political jostling, of £1 million free of inheritance tax? Well, as of 6 April this year, this became true – for a limited number of people in particular circumstances. So, asks Catriona Torrance, who falls into this 'magic million' c

Robin Dandie, partner and head of rural at Johnston Carmichael, discusses the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on farming and rural businesses. At the beginning of the lockdown it seemed like much of the agricultural sector would be relatively unaffected, but within a couple of weeks it has now be

Andrew Dines, chartered financial planner at AAB Wealth, discusses why the impact of coronavirus on the stock market need not alter your long-term goals. With the UK in lockdown and pressure on the NHS mounting, COVID-19 is set to exert an enormous influence on our lives over the coming months.

Lyn Calder, Anderson Anderson & Brown's (AAB) corporate finance manager and managing partner, has offered some practical advice to firms during the current coronavirus crisis. The UK and Scottish Governments are acutely aware the financial impact of the lockdown on businesses and the economy as

Eric Curran, managing partner of DM Hall Chartered Surveyors, has assured that this housing market will return at some point, as it always does. Property professionals who have been in the front line for a long period of time tend to become slightly battle-hardened and take the view that, whatever c

Gordon Deane, a partner with legal firm Balfour+Manson, discusses the Financial Conduct Authority's (FCA) guidance on temporary consumer protection in the face of the current coronavirus crisis. The Financial Conduct Authority has implemented temporary measures to offer support to consumers imp

Steven McKay, head of employee benefits at Edinburgh-based Mearns & Company, details the changes to the Tapered Annual Allowance in 2020/21. In the past few years, there have been significant restrictions on the level of contributions that high earners can pay to their pension without incur

Johan Belfrage, technical development manager at the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC), discusses building and growing Scotland's bioeconomy. The Nordic countries demonstrate a strong model for sustainable growth in the integrated processing of renewable feedstocks into a

Professor Peter Watson, legal adviser to the COVID-19 panel of scientific and medical experts convened by the Scottish Police Federation, details why the UK needs an exit strategy for the COVID-19 lockdown measures. A journey of a thousand miles is said to begin with a single step. I suggest a journ

MBM, the Edinburgh-based commercial law firm which aids entrepreneurial businesses, has discussed the process of online fraud of which there is an increased threat of during the current coronavirus crisis.

Alan Meek, partner and head of corporate insolvency and restructuring at Morton Fraser, discusses the UK Government's changes to UK insolvency law. A press release from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy ("BEIS") on March 29 2020, has indicated that the Government intends to

Mark Brown, audit, accounts and business assurance partner at Meston Reid & Co, details the options available for businesses during the current coronavirus pandemic.  We know things can change quickly in the world of business, but this is altogether new territory for companies across Scotla

Allana Sweeney, senior associate in Shepherd and Wedderburn’s restructuring and business advisory team, discusses how the measures of support implemented to help businesses during the coronavirus pandemic are a spark of hope for firms. Each day brings fresh challenges as a consequence of the C

Chris Dunn, partner at Brodies LLP, details the current issues facing Scottish housing associations in terms of banking and finance in the current COVID-19 climate. Amongst the multitude of issues currently facing housing associations during the COVID-19 pandemic, one focus of FDs and boards ne