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InsightsNewsUncategorised
9th January 2024

2024 – Looking Backwards and Forwards

Over the longer term, investors expect a positive, after inflation return from investing in company shares and lending money to governments and companies by owning bonds.  Unfortunately – and inescapably…
InsightsNewsUncategorised
18th December 2023

A Tribute to the Wisdom of Charlie Munger

Charlie Munger, the lifetime business partner of Warren Buffett at Berkshire Hathaway, passed away in late November at the ripe old age of 99.  He was a deep thinker about…
InsightsNewsUncategorised
26th October 2023

Investment impact of the unfolding tragedy in the Middle East

Everyone has been touched by the horrific events and unfolding human tragedy in Israel and the Gaza Strip, and many are concerned by how this might escalate into a wider…
NewsUncategorised
17th August 2023

Pacem Supports ‘Brewing Ideas & Crafting a Business’

Pacem is delighted to continue it’s efforts in supporting early-stage businesses and entrepreneurs by partnering with Belfast City Council & Innovation Factory on the upcoming ‘Brewing Ideas & Crafting a…
NewsUncategorised
22nd June 2023

Winners Crowned at Belfast Business Idea Award 2023

A busy mum of three has been crowned this year’s Belfast Business Idea winner for her innovative range of plastic-free hair and skincare products for children. Sarah McKegney pitched her…
Uncategorised
26th May 2023

Marketing, Communications and Events Executive

As one of Northern Ireland’s leading Financial Advisory Firms, Pacem is a boutique practice which offers a unique Financial Planning & Accountancy Business Advisory service. As a company we are…
InsightsNewsUncategorised
19th May 2023

Just a few stocks drive market returns

It is sometimes easy to forget that when markets rise and fall, we are looking at this through an aggregated, market-capitalisation weighted lens.  In reality, the fortunes of individual companies…
NewsUncategorised
18th May 2023

Supporting Innovation: Pacem Backing the 2023 Belfast Business Idea Award

Pacem is delighted to, once again, support the Belfast Business Idea Award 2023. The Idea Award, supported by Belfast City Council, Danske Bank, Pacem, Open University and Innovation Factory, differs…
InsightsNewsUncategorised
1st May 2023

Don’t just take our word for it!

We fundamentally believe that a systematic approach to investing provides the best chance of experiencing a successful investing journey. Sticking to some key guiding principles – which are grounded in…
InsightsNewsUncategorised
13th April 2023

FAKE NEWS!! Active outperforms passive!!

Unfortunately we now live in a world of fake news and ‘alternative facts’ where parties shamelessly push their own agenda at the cost of salient facts.  In order to be…
InsightsNewsUncategorised
30th March 2023

Anchors Aweigh

By and large, behavioral science suggests that human beings make lousy investors. Whilst we are excellent problem solvers, we suffer from a whole host of well documented biases that, on…
Uncategorised
24th March 2023

Planning Analyst / Senior Planning Analyst (Dependent on Experience)

As one of Northern Ireland’s leading Financial Advisory Firms, Pacem is a boutique practice which offers a unique Financial Planning & Accountancy Business Advisory service. As a company we are…
InsightsNewsUncategorised
15th March 2023

Lessons from Silicon Valley Bank’s demise

The spectacular work ‘Another Place’ by the British sculptor Antony Gormley, of one hundred naked men scattered along 1.5 miles of Crosby Beach in Liverpool, provides a useful twice-daily reminder…
InsightsNewsUncategorised
16th February 2023

Missing the best days in the market

Most investors – at some time – will be either tempted to time when to be in or out of equity markets – or wish they had when markets fall. …
InsightsNewsUncategorised
2nd February 2023

The error of reacting to market falls

Being an investor is never easy because, as humans, we tend to live in the moment responding to our emotions, the environment around us and the circumstances we find ourselves…
InsightsNewsUncategorised
2nd January 2023

2023 – Looking backwards and forwards

At the start of 2022 investors needed reminding that investing is not an easy game, despite having enjoyed around a decade of relatively strong – and fairly consistent - market…
InsightsNewsUncategorised
15th December 2022

Value Worth Waiting For

Sensible investing is about taking on sensible risks in your portfolio, which starts with owning equities over cash.  Historical data and logic tell us to expect a premium for doing…
InsightsNewsUncategorised
9th December 2022

Pacem Shortlisted for 3 Eastside Awards!

Pacem is delighted to announce that we have have been shortlisted in three categories for the 2022 Eastside Awards. The Eastside Awards exist to showcase the best in East Belfast…
InsightsNewsUncategorised
29th November 2022

30 Climate Leaders Under 30 Created for Northern Ireland

A cohort of 30 people under the age of 30 has been convened to lead the local response of the younger generation to the climate emergency. In the first of…
InsightsNewsUncategorised
3rd November 2022

In Defence of Democracies, Markets & the Media

Three prime ministers and three chancellors in as many months, certainly feels chaotic, possibly a bit embarrassing, as well as a little depressing.  There is no doubt that the UK…
Uncategorised
18th October 2022

Pacem Supports Prestigious International ‘30 Under 30’ Personal Development Programme for NI Climate Change Makers

Are you under 30 and passionate about the environment? Calling the class of 22/23! – young eco leaders sought for prestigious international ‘30 Under 30’ personal development programme – A…
Uncategorised
29th September 2022

An upside-down view of currencies and interest rates

Whatever your politics, one has to feel a bit of sympathy (maybe) for the new Chancellor. It has been a very tough first week in a new job; lambasted by…
NewsUncategorised
17th June 2022

Pacem Double-Winners at the 2022 Eastside Awards

The much anticipated Eastside Awards, in association with George Best Belfast City Airport, celebrating all that is good about East Belfast, returned in 2022 with a glittering awards ceremony hosted…
InsightsUncategorised
10th June 2022

Tips for unsettling times

The news today can feel a little bit unsettling.  There is no doubt that these are tough emotional times for investors.  Russia’s invasion and brutal war in Ukraine is unsettling…
Uncategorised
7th May 2022

Winners Crowned at Belfast Business Idea Award 2022

Belfast-based entrepreneurs gathered at the Belfast Business Idea Award finalists’ night on Friday May 6 at Danske Bank to hear this year’s winners announced. A Belfast City Council initiative, supported…
Uncategorised
20th April 2022

Digital assets and blockchain technology

Blockchains, Web3, the metaverse, NFTs, cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin, Dogecoin, dApps and DAOs. These terms have surged into mainstream media, from nowhere over a decade ago. At time of writing the total…
Uncategorised
14th April 2022

Pacem Support Belfast Business Idea Award 2022

Pacem is delighted to, once again, support the Belfast Business Idea Award 2022. The Idea Award, supported by Belfast City Council, Danske Bank, Pacem, Enterprise NI and Innovation Factory, differs…
Uncategorised
11th April 2022

Bonds – no pain, no gain

For the past 40 years or so, bond investors have, in a sense, been spoiled by an almost continuous fall in yields from over 14% in the 1980s, which –…
Uncategorised
5th April 2022

Spare Room to Stellar: The Lusso Tan Story

Pacem is delighted to continue its support of an initiative entitled 'Spare Room to Stellar', alongside Belfast City Council and Danske Bank. Spare room to stellar is designed to inspire…
Uncategorised
25th March 2022

The Ups and Downs of Spring Statement 2022

National Insurance Contributions (NICs) Despite lobbying to delay the upcoming 1.25% increase in NICs payable by employees, employers and the self-employed, the government has decided to go ahead as planned…
Uncategorised
11th March 2022

Bonds – between a rock and a hard place

Sometimes as an investor we come face to face with a stark reality.  Today, that is the case with the bonds held in portfolios. By and large, most long-term investors…
Uncategorised
4th March 2022

Spare Room to Stellar: The OutsideIn Story

Pacem is delighted to continue its support of an initiative entitled 'Spare Room to Stellar', alongside Belfast City Council and Danske Bank. Spare room to stellar is designed to inspire…
Uncategorised
25th February 2022

Uncertainty abounds – it always does

Today, it certainly feels like the world is in a very uncertain place.  Authoritarian states are flexing their muscles, with Russia violating Ukraine’s sovereignty and China’s ongoing subjugation of Hong…
Uncategorised
25th January 2022

Unpacking Inflation

Inflation measures the general increase in the price of goods and services. Left unchecked, it can be a dangerous foe to the long-term investor, eroding the purchasing power of one’s…
Uncategorised
10th December 2021

Pacem Raise Vital Funds for Survivors of Suicide

Pacem is delighted to announce that a total of £4786.50 was handed over to Survivors of Suicide Support Group as a result of the team fundraising effort for the Belfast…
Uncategorised
7th December 2021

FOMO may be bad for your wealth

It feels at the moment that the markets have gone a little mad.  Almost everything you hear on the news or read about investing suggests that everything is going up. …
Uncategorised
18th November 2021

Bond Basics

We associate the term ‘bond’ with mutual connection, whether the subject is chemistry (between atoms, ions, or molecules), personal relationships (between human beings), or finance (between borrowers and lenders). The…
Uncategorised
7th October 2021

If, and, then, but…

For those readers interested in financial news (some might call it noise), the unfolding story of Chinese property developer Evergrande (a name which is ironic given its dire financial position)…
Uncategorised
7th September 2021

Retirement Rule 1

Don’t run out of money Of all the financial challenges and concerns that we face over our lifetimes, avoiding running out of money in retirement probably sits at the top…
Uncategorised
16th August 2021

Preferences and their tradeoffs

Investing is all about tradeoffs. Each choice made is paired with an implicit decision not to do some alternative; the ‘opportunity cost’. For example, by investing solely in a basket…
Uncategorised
10th August 2021

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) - update The CJRS has been extended until 30 September 2021. From 1 July 2021, the government will pay 70% of wages up to a…
Uncategorised
26th July 2021

Irwin-McAfee joins Pacem

We are pleased to announce that, from May 2021, we have combined our business with Irwin-McAfee. Though we will be operating as one company, our clients can rely on the…
Uncategorised
19th July 2021

All together now: ‘Costs really matter.’

The late, great Jack Bogle – the founder of Vanguard and the grandfather of index investing – left us all with a simple mantra that he repeated almost every time…
Uncategorised
5th July 2021

Pacem Support Belfast Business Idea Award 2021

Pacem was delighted to, once again, support the Belfast Business Idea Award 2021. The Idea Award, supported by Belfast City Council, Danske Bank, Pacem, Enterprise NI and Innovation Factory, differs…
Uncategorised
29th June 2021

The unhelpful noise of short-term performance

Investing is simple, but not easy.  The decision to invest in the first place requires foresight, as well as the discipline to deny oneself spending today so that you don’t…
Uncategorised
23rd June 2021

Off-Payroll Working Northern Ireland

Will HMRC accept CEST result? Since 6 April 2021 large and medium-sized organisations, based on the Companies Act criteria, have had to determine whether or not a worker supplying his…
Uncategorised
3rd June 2021

David 1, Goliath 0

It may have passed you by, but last week a little-known hedge fund called Engine No.1 (David) scored a direct hit with its shareholder slingshot to the forehead of one…
Uncategorised
24th May 2021

Crypto Craziness

We humans are never lacking in our enthusiasm for crazy ‘investment’ ideas.  Around four hundred years ago the Dutch managed to work themselves into a frenzy over tulip bulbs.  At…
Uncategorised
30th April 2021

April 2021 Tax News

New Personal Service Company Rules Start This Month The "off-payroll" working rules that apply to certain workers supplying their services to clients via their own personal service companies start from…
Uncategorised
23rd April 2021

Coconuts versus sharks

If you have ever been fortunate enough to swim in the azure tropical waters of the Caribbean, or on Bondi Beach amongst the surfers, or in the chilly waters of…