Dowes Wealth

📸 Behind the scenes at Dowes Wealth…

A huge thank you to Vivienne Edge Photography for capturing some fantastic new images for our website.

Here’s a little sneak peek of Dowes Wealth Director, Ewan during the shoot! 👀 We can’t wait to share the full set of team and individual photos with you very soon.

Watch this space…

SpaceX and the billion-dollar indexing dilemma

The SpaceX listing presents a dilemma for stock index providers

Why SpaceX isn’t eligible for the flagship S&P 500 index

Consistency or realism? How index providers will deal with mega cap IPOs

What happens when one of the world’s most valuable companies isn’t allowed into the S&P 500?

SpaceX has become one of the largest companies on the planet. Yet despite its size, it currently doesn’t qualify for inclusion in the US’s flagship stock market index, the S&P 500. Why?

All stock market indices have eligibility criteria which companies must meet in order to be listed on them. These include the size and value of a business (the market cap of a company), as well as having a minimum number of their shares available to be traded publicly.

With a market value just under $2 trillion, SpaceX is one of the 10 most valuable businesses globally. However, only around 7.5% of its shares are publicly trading, and the company is yet to achieve profitability, so SpaceX does not meet the eligibility criteria for some stock indices.

Yet in many ways SpaceX is no ordinary company. Its scale, profile and the level of investor interest surrounding its listing make it difficult for index providers to ignore. This has created an awkward dilemma for stock index providers. Should they stick rigidly to their rules, or change them to reflect the reality of today’s market?

If SpaceX entered the S&P 500 at roughly a 4% weighting, funds tracking the index could be forced to buy billions of dollars’ worth of SpaceX shares almost overnight. That buying pressure could push the share price higher still.

What are the benefits of index membership?
Getting into a major stock market index can be a game changer for a company. It is not just a badge of honour – it can attract new investors, increase demand for a company’s shares and even help boost its market value.

Stock market indices come in all shapes and sizes. Some track entire markets, such as the S&P 500 in the US or the FTSE 100 in the UK, while others focus on specific industries, countries or investment themes.

A handful of indices have become particularly important because they are used as benchmarks by fund managers and investors. These include the FTSE 100, the S&P 500 and the MSCI All Country World Index. When a company joins one of these high-profile indices, it can suddenly find itself exposed to billions of pounds of investor money.

Why does it matter to investors if indexes bend the rules?

To read more click on the link below:

SpaceX and the billion-dollar indexing dilemma SpaceX has become one of the largest companies on the planet. Yet despite its size, it currently doesn’t qualify for inclusion in the US’s flagship stock market index, the S&P 500. Why?

Coming home to retire? Tax implications for returning expats

The tax treatment of your income and gains depends on how long you lived overseas.

Qualifying UK residents receive four years of tax relief on certain worldwide income and gains, under the foreign income and gains regime.

The complex and changing tax landscape highlights the value of professional advice for anyone considering returning to the UK.

If you live abroad, there may be many appealing reasons to return to the UK for your later years. But the emotional pull – such as wanting to be closer to family or return to a familiar place – should be balanced against the costs of returning home. You will need to weigh up the relative cost of living in the UK and your overall financial position, including the tax rules that apply to returning expats.

If your retirement plans involve sunshine and sandals, moving back to the UK is unlikely to be at the top of your bucket list. But for many, the UK does offer significant advantages. These include the National Health Service, which may be especially valuable to older expats.

Meanwhile, UK savers and investors also benefit from strong consumer protection laws and transparent financial regulation.

And indeed, many people have already been persuaded. In the 2025/26 tax year, 143,000 UK British nationals returned to the UK. Of this group, 12,000 were over-65s, according to the Office for National Statistics1.

If you are considering moving back to the UK, considering a number of different aspects and how they compare in different countries could help clarify your decision. These include:

Quality of the healthcare system
Political stability of both countries
Cost of living and housing affordability
Your lifestyle preferences (for instance, weather, hobbies, community)
Any changes in UK allowances after living abroad
The tax regimes.

To read more click on the link below:

Coming home to retire? Tax implications for returning expats If you live abroad, there may be many appealing reasons to return to the UK for your later years. But the emotional pull – such as wanting to be closer to family or return to a familiar place – should be balanced against the costs of returning home. You will need to weigh up the relative cost of...

Blue skies and beautiful views. We are lucky to work in such a picturesque place. A lovely view from the office this week 😀 Have a great weekend everyone!

Managing finances in bereavement

The executor is the person responsible for carrying out the wishes set out in the Will.

Probate is the legal process of distributing someone’s estate (their cash, property, assets and possessions) after they die.

If inheritance tax (IHT) is due on an estate, this must be paid to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) by the end of the sixth month after the person died (interest accrues on an unpaid bill after this deadline).

After losing someone close to you even simple tasks can feel overwhelming – and dealing with finances can be hardest.

But you don’t have to tackle everything at once. When you feel ready ask a family member or friend to help you.

There are some practical and legal steps to go through. While these can feel daunting, taking it one step at a time can make things more manageable.

What is an executor?
Being named as an executor is an important role, and it can feel like a big responsibility — especially at an already difficult time.

It involves tasks such as organising the funeral, managing assets, settling any debts, paying any inheritance tax due and distributing what’s left to beneficiaries.

Many people choose to get support from a solicitor, accountant or financial adviser, particularly if the estate is complex. You don’t have to do everything on your own.

If someone dies without a Will (known as dying intestate) an administrator will need to be appointed. This will usually fall to the closest living relative.

Here are the steps involved when dealing with an estate:

To read more click on the link below:

Managing finances in bereavement There are some practical and legal steps to go through. While these can feel daunting, taking it one step at a time can make things more manageable.

Women and wealth: A growing frontier

The great wealth transfer is one of the biggest factors behind the substantial growth in female-held wealth.

Many women face financial challenges, such as the gender pay gap, which in turn contributes to the pensions and investment gap.

Accessing financial advice can boost confidence about managing money, while more than one in ten women prefer a female adviser.

Women own more wealth than at any time in history. Money is being earned, created through entrepreneurship, and inherited by women through wealth transfer at a rapidly growing rate.

But for many women there are still significant barriers to growing their wealth and gaining financial security. This is because they must navigate a financial and economic system designed predominantly by men, which often doesn’t reflect their lives.

However, a quiet revolution is happening. With women holding more wealth in their own right, they are beginning to demand a different approach from financial services providers – and from financial advice. While the pace of change is likely to be slow, a shift is on the horizon.

The trillion pound wealth transfer
The ‘great wealth transfer’ as it is known, refers to the large-scale movement of assets between generations. Widely reported research suggests trillions of pounds will be passed between spouses and down the generations through inheritance over the next 20 years.

It will lead to the majority of the UK’s wealth being in female hands within decades, which has significant implications for the financial services industry.

It will also present new and growing opportunities for financial advisers, not least for female advisers.

Alexandra Loydon, Group Advice Director at St. James's Place (SJP), says: “We know a huge transfer of wealth is set to happen in the coming decades as the estates of the baby boomer generation pass on significant wealth to beneficiaries. But there can be a stark difference in approach to finances and investment between the genders, and between generations.

“Our research shows that women, in particular, respond best to investing messages that are clear, concrete and tangible . They are also likely to want advice from someone who understands and can relate to their experiences. Financial advisers who appreciate and respond to this are likely to form the best long-term relationships with female clients.”

To read more click on the link below:

Women and wealth: A growing frontier Women own more wealth than at any time in history. Money is being earned, created through entrepreneurship, and inherited by women through wealth transfer at a rapidly growing rate.

We have world cup fever here in the office and can't wait to cheer England on at Saturdays match against Norway 🙂👏

Share with us your score predictions 👇🏻

FIFA World Cup 2026: Quarter-Final 3 - sporting-events.org FIFA World Cup 2026: Quarter-Final 3 on 11 July 2026. Get the full guide including date, schedule, how to watch, tickets and key contenders.

We would like to wish Georgia, a big Happy Birthday for today! Have a lovely day from all the team at Dowes Wealth 🙂

Five trends defining the UK SME market in 2026

Even in turbulent times, businesses that plan early, invest in value creation and approach growth strategically achieve stronger outcomes.
SME owners are still keen to progress succession planning, management buyouts, employee ownership structures and growth-to-exit strategies.

Martin Brown, CEO of business advisory firm Elephants Child, discusses the trends they are seeing in the SME market this year.

Sir Keir Starmer’s recent resignation as prime minister has put the spotlight back on economic growth. Political leadership has been extremely changeable
in recent years. For UK businesses, the challenge remains consistent: how do we create sustainable growth in an environment that continues to test confidence and resilience? For SME leaders, this question is more important than ever.

The UK economy is still grappling with the long-term effects of the 2008 financial crisis and the pandemic. Business confidence has remained fragile. Tax burdens have increased. Regulation has become more complex, and decision-making across many sectors has slowed.

Despite the challenges businesses are facing, we have seen continued demand for growth, funding and exit advice. While decision-making across the market has become noticeably slower since the beginning of the year, activity has remained resilient. We have been particularly encouraged by the appetite among business owners to explore succession planning, management buyouts, employee ownership structures, and growth-to-exit strategies.

To read more click on the link below:

Five trends defining the UK SME market in 2026 Martin Brown, CEO of business advisory firm Elephants Child, discusses the trends they are seeing in the SME market this year.

https://www.awarenessdays.com/awareness-days-calendar/international-plastic-bag-free-day/

International Plastic Bag Free Day 2026: 3 July 2026 | Awareness Days International Plastic Bag Free Day 2026 falls on Friday 3 July 2026. Discover the history, meaning, and ways to celebrate. Full guide.