This week in MoneyWeek magazine: how to invest for Donald Trump's expected splurge on defence, can Jeremy Corbyn do a Donald, and how to prepare for death.
It's another bumper 48-page issue this week, so I won't be able to cover everything we've got for our readers. There are all the old favourites, of course, plus a few new features, including a look at "innovative finance" new directions in finance, new technology and new products available to investors. Find out what's new by signing up to the magazine. It's terribly good value sign up nowand you'll get the magazine hand-delivered through your very own letterbox, plus full access to the website, the online version and the smartphone app.
Tap in to Trump's spending on security
Donald Trump wants to "make America safe again", he says. Whether he'll actually achieve that is up for long and tedious debate. But what's almost certain is that he's going to throw lots and lots of money at the perceived problem.
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That means America's infamous Department of Homeland Security (DHS), says Jonathan Compton in this week's cover story. It's fair to say Jonathan has a dim view of the DHS. "Almost from its creation, the DHS has demonstrated incompetence on a heroic scale in terms of carrying out its mandates or improving national security", he says, not mincing his words. It has very little effective oversight, and its 55,000 armed officers make it "essentially a nascent paramilitary at the disposal of the president". It already has a budget of $64bn a year and it doesn't spend that particularly wisely. Its "profligacy and incompetence is striking, even by government standards".
But regardless of what Trump does with the DHS, "one area that's likely to benefit is the need to fight cybercrime, be it terrorist-related or simple online banditry", says Jonathan. He picks out the cybersecurity stocks most likely to benefit. Find out what they are with a subscription to the magazine.
Can Corbyn possibly make it three?
So, we had Brexit, and America had Trump. Leaving aside the little matter of the Continent (the odds on Marine LePen becoming France's next president are terrifying. My colleague Matthew Partridge assesses her chances in his betting on politics column) Could Labour's Jeremy Corbyn could pull off the unthinkable and somehow get himself installed in number 10?
"Regardless of whether Corbyn can repeat the trick", says Stuart Watkins, "Labour is the official opposition and its economic plans deserve scrutiny". The Centre for Policy Studies admittedly a right-wing think tank has costed the party's proposals at £471bn, or £17,444 per UK household. Stuart looks at what Labour is actually proposing, and whether those figures stand up to closer scrutiny. Find out what Stuart thinks in MoneyWeek magazine.
Death, property and foreign exchange
"It's a topic most of us would like to avoid", says Ruth Jackson, "but failing to prepare your finances for death" could leave your relatives not only out of pocket, but a lot more distressed than they might otherwise be. There's a lot to think about, and it's better off for everyone if it's all been straightened out beforehand. Ruth walks us through what you need to consider.
Emily Hohler looks at the latest regulations in the government's continuing clampdown on buy-to-let landlords. Anyone who already owns four or more properties that they rent out is going to find it more difficult to get a mortgage, and more expensive to boot.
And I get to grips with transferring money abroad. If you've ever had to do it via your bank, you've probably found it (a) a bit of a rigmarole and (b) a right royal ripoff. These days, however, there are plenty of alternative finance ("fintech") companies who can do it more quickly, more easily and a whole lot more cheaply. I look at a few of the best known. Find out what they are and how much you could save with a subscription to MoneyWeek magazine.
Pensions, Japan, share tips and Europe's "Capital of Christmas"
There's much more for subscribers to read that I could possibly fit into this short email. If you're an expatriate, you can find out how to avoid costly pension transfers. Max King looks at investing in Japan, we have our usual roundup of the week's best share tips from around the UK's financial press, and Chris Carter takes a visit to the "Capital of Christmas" not Bethlehem, but Hamburg.
All that and lots, lots more. Sign up now.
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What is bitcoin halving and what does it mean for crypto investors?Bitcoin halving is likely to take place this week, according to experts. Historically, this practice has caused the cryptocurrency to soar in value. But will this time be different?
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British Airways revamps Avios scheme bringing down flight prices to £1With the new Avios part-payments scheme you can now bag a British Airways flight for as little as £1
