This week in MoneyWeek: What the "Red Tory" manifesto means for you; play the current account circuit; and what would Jesus buy?
Plus, how to filter out the rubbish with ETFs; which party is best for SMEs; and investments that can help cut inheritance tax. Sign up now and you'll get the magazine, the smartphone and tablet app and full access to the MoneyWeek website. Why not sign up now?
What is "Mayism"?
Party manifestos tend to be publicity-grabbing wishlists than actual lists of things they are going to do, but "they are useful for at least one thing", says Merryn Somerset Webb in this week's cover story: "they tell us a huge amount about the direction of UK politics". Politicians of every flavour seem happy with our massive debt, are wary of markets and business and are "very" statist, says Merryn.
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The Labour party wants to go on a spree of nationalisation; the Lib Dems are "mad to tax and spend"; and even the Conservatives' manifesto is "full of plans for state intervention". So much so that many commentators have labelled the PM a "Red Tory". Merryn asks if that's fair, and tries to get to the bottom of what May's philosophy actually is.
Elsewhere, David Prosser looks at the manifestos from the point of view of small businesses, and finds out which party is the best for SMEs. Find out what they say with a subscription to the magazine.
Earn 3% interest with the "current account circuit"
It might sound daft, but interest rates on some current accounts are up to five times higher than the average savings account, says Ruth Jackson. So she's come up with a way of taking advantage - the "current account circuit". It takes a bit of work you'll need to set up five accounts and do a bit of juggling. But it's worth it you can get a return of 3% on up to £17,000, with instant access to your cash should you need it. Ruth explains which accounts to open and what you need to do to make it work. Find out how in MoneyWeek magazine.
What would Jesus buy?
Ethical investing gets a bad rap sometimes. You'll never get a decent return that sort of thing. But this week the Church of England proved that's not true. Its investment fund has a "very solid investment record" says John Stepek. Last year, it returned 17.1% and has averaged 9.6% over the last 30 years. John looks at the secret of its success. Find out what he discovers in MoneyWeek magazine.
Filtering out the rubbish
Fund managers do like to talk up their own investing style, says David C Stevenson. Some are value investors, others momentum investors. By picking the right style, or "factor", you can beat the market. But styles go in and out of fashion, and you might find you're not beating the market any more. David looks at the funds that combine all the major factors into one multi-factor index. It's the start of an interesting experiment, he says. Find out more in MoneyWeek magazine.
Seven stocks that could help cut inheritance tax
Back in July 2016 Richard Beddard wrote about ways you could reduce your inheritance tax by investing in companies that qualify for business property relief (BPR). Hold these for two years, and it becomes 100% inheritance-tax free. At the time, he picked five stocks to buy that fitted the bill. This week, he revisits those stocks to see how they've performed (quite well, as it happens) and picks two more to add. Find out what they are in MoneyWeek magazine.
There's more, of course. News from the markets, politics and economics. Share tips from the rest of the UK's financial press. The best blogs and financial columnists. Pensions, property, bonds and trading, plus five pages on how to spend it. This week, Alice Grahns looks at three of the best summer mountain holidays, we've the best properties ofor sale for around £600,000 and Matthew Jukes reviews a "punk rock Beaujolais for all-day glugging".
If you'd like more of that sort of thing, then sign up to MoneyWeek magazine here.
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