In this edition of Investment Perspectives, we take a wide-angle view of the forces shaping global markets and long-term investment strategy. From August’s market performance to the evolving role of capital market assumptions, the collection offers timely insights for navigating volatility and maintaining focus on long-term goals. We also explore how forward-looking climate metrics are being embedded into investment strategy, reinforcing the importance of sustainability in portfolio construction.
Beyond the macro lens, we spotlight key regional developments - from India’s rapid economic ascent to Europe’s blueprint for post-war Ukraine—and reassess the changing risk landscape in emerging market debt. Whether you're interested in global trends, climate alignment, or strategic asset allocation, this edition brings together perspectives designed to inform and inspire confident decision-making.
Discover how global markets performed in August 2025. This review covers key data across equities,...
Capital market assumptions help investors stay focused on long-term strategy, offering stability and insight amid...
Scottish Widows adopts forward-looking climate metrics to align investments with net zero goals, enhancing portfolio...
India is now the world’s 4th-largest economy, growing at 6.4% annually. Strong markets, manufacturing growth,...
Transitioning from saving to spending requires careful planning for your clients. Avoid pitfalls like pound-cost...
Is momentum the key to successful income investing? Multi Asset Fund Manager David Jane questions...
Transitioning from saving to spending requires careful planning for your clients. Avoid pitfalls like pound-cost...
In this edition, we explore a range of timely investment themes - from market movements and inflation hedging strategies to stewardship, societal shifts, and the evolving risks facing retirees - offering fresh perspectives to help navigate today’s financial landscape.
In July 2025, the MSCI All Country World Index, a representative measure of global equities,...
Women are becoming an ever-increasing force to be reckoned with when it comes to controlling...
In the UK, we’ve had a step up in inflation in recent months and there...
As a proud signatory of the UK Stewardship Code, we recently published our 2024 Responsible Investment...
The prevailing narrative in the so-called ‘ageing crisis’ has been one linked to overburdened pension...
One of the precious few joys of perusing European Commission documents lies in the challenge...
Transitioning from saving to spending requires careful planning for your clients. Avoid pitfalls like pound-cost...
In this edition, we examine global market performance and outlooks, unpack key systemic risks, and explore how investor strategies are evolving in response to geopolitical tensions, policy shifts, and the growing importance of social frameworks like decent work.
In the second quarter of 2025, the MSCI All Country World Index, a representative measure...
Despite equity market weakness following news of wide-ranging US trade tariffs in April, subsequent delays...
Systemic risks can have wide-ranging impacts across markets and economies. Their interactions can spark a...
Scott Bessent, US Treasury Secretary and former hedge fund manager, has touted a “3-3-3” plan...
The United Nations unveiled its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015. These included SDG...
Israel’s attack on Iran’s nuclear programme and military leadership on Friday 13 June marked a...
Traditional investment strategies can fall short in navigating the complexities and volatility of today’s financial...
This edition explores key developments shaping global investment thinking - from May’s market movements and the evolving AI landscape to China’s contrasting economic narratives and the resilience of infrastructure amid equity volatility.
In May 2025, the MSCI All Country World Index, a representative measure of global equities,...
AI is fast becoming an essential part of our daily lives and often in surprising...
Investing in China has been challenging in recent years. If you open any major Western...
ClearBridge Investments: Despite recent strong performance for listed infrastructure versus equities, infrastructure valuations are still...
A Multi-Asset special of Investment Perspectives. In this special edition, we take a closer look at multi-asset investing – exploring our asset allocation philosophy, the distinctions between multi-asset funds and model portfolios, and how diversification continues to offer resilience in today’s uncertain markets.
Learn how Scottish Widows’ Asset Allocation Team builds resilient, customer-focused portfolios using data-driven insights, diversification,...
‘Active versus passive’ and ‘growth versus value’ are common debates within the investment industry. However,...
In a world where headlines can now shift markets overnight, we are reminded of the...
In this edition, we review Q1 market performance and look ahead to Q2 trends, while exploring inflation’s impact on central bank policy, shifting global value opportunities, and the growing relevance of systemic risks in shaping investor decisions.
Global markets saw mixed performance in April 2025 amid trade tensions, with Japan and Europe...
China’s economy rebounds with stimulus and trade easing, yet property concerns and tariff uncertainty mean...
Despite recent challenges, emerging markets offer strong long-term growth, favourable demographics, and diversification potential for...
Government debt is rising globally. What does it mean for investors, and how can sovereign...
In this edition, we review Q1 market performance and look ahead to Q2 trends, while exploring inflation’s impact on central bank policy, shifting global value opportunities, and the growing relevance of systemic risks in shaping investor decisions.
Discover how global markets performed in Q1 2025. This review covers key trends across equities,...
Our Q2 2025 outlook covers global market trends, investment risks, and opportunities across equities, bonds,...
Inflation has moved back into the spotlight following the wide-ranging trade tariffs from Donald Trump’s...
In recent years, US equities have consistently outperformed other markets, fostering the notion of American...
Drawing on feedback from more than 1,500 participants, the Scottish Widows Investor Confidence Barometer offers a fresh perspective on current trends shaping the investment landscape. This comprehensive study captures the sentiments of financial advisers, advised investors and non-advised investors.
The latest edition highlights growing unease around the financial resilience of investment platforms, evolving perceptions of advice in the wake of Consumer Duty regulations, and a noticeable gap in confidence levels between advisers and investors. Scottish Widows continues to work closely with advisers to tackle these challenges head-on, reinforcing the critical role they play in guiding clients through an increasingly complex investment environment.
The latest Scottish Widows Confidence Barometer (SWICB) compares the views of financial advisers with those...
With trillions of pounds set to pass between generations in the coming years, intergenerational planning...
The advice gap remains a significant, unsolved industry issue. Our research suggests the advice gap...
Our latest data reveals that a sizeable and persistent gap has opened up between adviser...
Read a round up of interesting results from our survey of advisers, advised and non-advised...
The Scottish Widows Paraplanner Survey offers an annual snapshot of the paraplanning profession, capturing the evolving roles, challenges, and aspirations of today’s paraplanners. Based on insights from 200 professionals, the survey explores key issues such as platform preferences, adviser collaboration, the impact of Lifetime Allowance (LTA) changes, and the effects of Consumer Duty regulations.
Findings are presented across three core themes:
Paraplanning in the Regulatory Age – how shifting rules are reshaping the role.
Paraplanning: Myths and Misconceptions – challenging outdated perceptions.
Paraplanning and Technology – exploring the complex relationship between tech and the profession.
Our survey of paraplanners reveals how they feel about their role, the impact of regulation,...
Discover how frequent regulatory changes, including the removal of the Lifetime Allowance and Consumer Duty...
Explore common myths about paraplanning and discover how the role has evolved into a distinct,...
See how paraplanners feel about how the technology they use is evolving and the potential...
Three quarters of our paraplanners are under 50, with a 91% majority employed directly by...
Rob Kingsbury, editor of Professional Paraplanner, leads a panel discussion on the results of our...
Our survey of over 1500 individuals - advisers, advised investors and non-advised investors - provides a differentiated insight into key UK advice industry issues. In this issue, we highlight that advisers are not always walking the talk on intergenerational planning and more can be done to engage with younger generations; the differences in adviser and investor perceptions about advice and its value; and how a gap has opened up between adviser and investor confidence that may be rooted in investor psychology.
Welcome to the Scottish Widows Investor Confidence Barometer, which builds on the legacy that we’ve...
With trillions of pounds set to pass between generations in the coming years, intergenerational planning...
The advice gap remains a significant, unsolved industry issue. While cost is inevitably an issue...
Our latest data reveals that a sizeable and persistent gap has opened up between adviser...
Our Scottish Widows Investor Confidence Barometer is in its sixth iteration. This gives us the...
