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Top Fixed Rate Bonds to Check Out

Fixed-rate bonds are one of the popular forms of investment as they offer investors a secure and reliable way of earning extra income on top of their savings. Fixed rate bonds are debt instruments that the government, corporations, and other institutes offer to raise capital. These bonds are a type of fixed-income security often used by investors keen on seeking predictable returns.

Top Fixed Rate Bonds to Check Out
This form of investment is usually suggested to investors looking to avoid risks.

Predictable returns
One of the biggest reasons to invest in fixed rate bonds is that they are the best way to have a stable income despite low-interest rates. The interest rate on these bonds is set at the time of purchase and remains fixed for the life period of the bond. It means that investors can rely on this stream of steady income despite the multiple fluctuations in market conditions and changing interest rates. This stability makes fixed rate bonds an exciting investment option, especially for those approaching retirement or retirees. The interest earned from these bonds can also serve as a source for meeting financial obligations such as rent, recurring expenses, and mortgage payments.

Diversification
Investing in fixed rate bonds is also a great way of diversifying your investment portfolio. Diversification can pay off as a wise investment strategy that spreads investment funds across different categories. It could include cash, stocks, and fixed rate bonds with low-interest rates but safety assurance. It helps in risk management and assures the investors of returns. Fixed rate bonds offer a source of interest income that is not correlated with the stock market. Moreover, it safeguards the investors from losing their money even if the stock market downturns at some point. As a result, investors still earn a fixed income from their fixed rate bonds despite an unstable stock market.

Tax efficiency
For investors in the UK, fixed rate bonds are also tax efficient. The interest they earn from investing in these bonds is subject to income tax. However, investors can use their annual tax-free personal savings allowance, which helps reduce the tax they pay for the interest income. Consider this, for the tax year 2021-22, the personal savings allowance for basic rate taxpayers was £1000. It means investors could make up to £1000 in interest without it being taxable income. For higher-rate taxpayers, the cut-off was £500.

Low-risk investment
A key advantage of investing in fixed rate bonds is that they are generally considered low-risk investments. The government, corporations, and other institutions with strong credit rankings usually issue fixed rate bonds. It means that any of the institutions that are considered highly creditworthy and are the ones that have a very low likelihood of defaulting on their debt can offer this investment option to the general public. Additionally, fixed rate bonds come with a predetermined maturity date. It means investors know when they will receive their principal investment back, making them a relatively safer option than stocks.

Top fixed rate bonds
In the UK, a wide range of institutions offers fixed rate bonds. You can find online banks, traditional banks, and building societies that offer this service. Each institution has its terms and conditions; it is important to read these carefully before investing. Some of the UK’s top annual fixed rate bonds are listed below.

SmartSave 1 Year Fixed Rate Saver
The SmartSave 1 Year FixedSaver fixed rate account offers a 4.33% AER (annual equivalent rate) on your investment. The minimum amount you can deposit in the account is £10,000 and can go up to £85,000. The account acquires a profit deposited into the account the day after the fixed term ends. However, the amount must be deposited within 14 days of opening the account.

Ahli United Bank (AUB) 1 Year Fixed Term Deposit
You can open this savings account online with Raisin UK. The minimum deposit amount required to activate this account is £1000, while the maximum you can deposit is £85,000. The interest is paid on the term maturity. However, investors are allowed to withdraw money under certain specific circumstances only.

Al Ryan Bank 12 Month Fixed Term Deposit
This account requires a minimum deposit of £5000. It also allows a maximum deposit of £1,000,000. You can open this account online and choose to receive the interest amount either on the bond’s maturity or every quarter.

Atom Bank 1 Year Fixed Saver
It is an excellent option for people that are looking to start small. With an AER of 4.30%, this account allows you to put aside as little as £50 and goes up to £100,000. You can also manage the account online via the bank’s smartphone application.

Tandem Bank 1 Year Fixed Savings Account
This Tandem fixed interest account can be opened via Raisin for £1. The account offers 4.25% AER making it one of the most preferred options by people starting slow. You can deposit up to £2,500,000 in this account.

Alicia Bank 12 month Fixed Term Savings Account
Here investors need a minimum of £10,000 and a maximum of £250,000 to start their savings journey. Also, there can be no withdrawals with this account, meaning your amount is locked in till the maturity date right from day 1.

Investec Bank 1 Year Fixed Saver
With a maximum amount of £250,000, investors can make multiple deposits within seven days of initiating the account. The repayment will be made at the end of the term with 4.15% AER.

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A habitual process, mediation helps to train the mind to be more focussed by redirecting thoughts. Many people use meditation techniques to increase self-awareness. Some people use mediation as a way to alleviate stress and increase concentration levels. Whatever be the purpose of mediation, the process comes with a lot of benefits. Here are some of the well-known benefits of mediation and how it affects the brain. Improves sleep cycle Nearly everyone suffers from insomnia once in a while. Some experience a persistent lack of sleep. The reasons for a disrupted sleep cycle can be severe stress, anxiety, and worrying. Often racing thoughts and severe emotional distress can also cause insomnia. Medication helps in dealing with insomnia. However, by focusing all thoughts, meditation can be beneficial in controlling racing and runaway thoughts. Moreover, it will release the tension and help the mind and body relax, leading to improved sleep quality. Those who meditate often have better REM sleep and tend to fall asleep in a shorter time. Reduced perception of pain Everyone’s brain perceives pain with different intensities. However, when one is extremely stressed out or anxious, one’s perception of pain may be higher than usual. Pain receptors are directly linked to the emotional state of mind. When one incorporates regular meditation in their everyday routines, it can be effective in controlling pain sensations. With mindfulness meditation, pain can be alleviated. Moreover, the quality of life also improves. Those who suffer from chronic pain may find meditation useful as it lowers the risk of depression. Those who meditate have been known to develop higher tolerance towards physical pain. Improved concentration levels Mindfulness meditation increases the ability to focus on the present. It is similar to weight-lifting, but for the brain. This can improve concentration levels required for the other tasks in everyday life. According to research, mindfulness is linked to one’s ability to process new information. It gives a boost to emotional regulation, memory, and learning ability. Moreover, this can help in reversing patterns of worrying and wandering minds. All of this can give more clarity, allowing greater decision-making capability. Meta-awareness and attention can be trained through mindfulness meditation and focused-attention meditation. Lower risk of age-associated memory loss With meditation, there is improvement in attention. In addition, there is improved clarity of thought. A form of meditation that involves repeating a chant or mantra has been known to improve neuropsychological performance. Along with chanting, the meditating process also involves repetitive motions of the fingers. This helps to focus thoughts. Moreover, different forms of meditation have been known to boost memory, attention, and mental agility, especially in older adults. Along with slowing down age-related memory loss, meditating can help to control stress that is often a major contributor to memory loss. Better management of depression and anxiety Dwelling on anxious thoughts is one of the major factors contributing to depression. With mindfulness meditation, the mind can be trained to focus on the present. Practicing mindfulness over a longer duration can alleviate anxiety. It also helps in easing symptoms of depression. In many cases, meditation is often a part of comprehensive mental health treatment plans. From correcting troubled sleeping patterns, appetite loss, and moodiness, mindfulness-based mediation can go a long way in making it easier to manage anxiety and depression. Better self-esteem Mindfulness and meditation encourage a person to slow down. These practices help to follow deeper self-reflection. Along the way, a person gains the ability to discover positive attributes about themselves. A person is able to examine their feelings, emotions, and thoughts without any judgment. This boosts self-awareness. It also helps in improving social anxiety symptoms. All of these help in gaining a better sense of self-esteem.
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Natural Remedies for Depression

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