Let's imagine the chips fall differently on the 7th May, and David Cameron finds himself back in Number 10... with Nigel Farage as a neighbour.
Immediately, the 'In-Out' referendum on Europe is brought forward, putting the markets on tenterhooks. Radical new plans for the NHS are put on the table. New welfare cuts are introduced...
In response, public sector unions call for a wave of strikes.
Some of our biggest firms threaten to move their headquarters to Ireland if Britain leaves the EU.
Government bonds go haywire, the markets tumble...
And the value of your investments takes a nosedive right along with them.
Look, this isn't speculation.
At times of great uncertainty, anticipating and preparing for doomsday scenarios like this is absolutely vital.
It's prudence.
Because every single possible result of this election is almost guaranteed to have a major impact on your finances.
For instance, did you know that one party plans to impose price controls on some areas of the private sector? You need to know which sectors these are and whether you're invested in them. Otherwise your profits could end up being capped too.
Did you know that another party plans to essentially abolish inheritance tax for the vast majority of UK investors? Taking advantage of this will be easy – but only if you know how.
And one mainstream party wants to raise the tax on dividends. Just think about that for a second... how much of the money in your portfolio comes from income stocks... and how much this tax increase could eat into your returns.
Do you know how best to manage it?
If you find all this worrying, frankly that's a good thing. This level of uncertainty is downright frightening.
It has the potential to seriously derail your plans for a comfortable retirement.
But the key here is not to panic, or to let your political beliefs get in the way of making the right investment decisions. In a situation as unstable as this, that's one of the the fastest ways to lose money. Make no mistake, there WILL be a lot of panic, confusion and chaos while investors scrabble around trying to understand what the new government plans for their money.
We're not here to debate the rights and wrongs of any political party.
As professional investors and analysts, our only concern is to show you how to protect your money and profit – regardless of who gets the keys to Downing Street.
But you must act before the polls close at 10pm next Thursday. Otherwise it could be too late.
We've created this presentation because we believe there are some specific actions you will need to take in the immediate aftermath of the election, no matter who wins.
Chances are, you will need to act quickly to put them in place.
Our guess is, you'll have around 8 hours to position yourself if you want move before the investment herd.
You see, this is not the first time that election uncertainty has spooked the markets. We've been in this position before.
"Will the last person to leave Britain please turn out the lights"
Let's go back to 1992.
The Tories had been in power for thirteen years. Despite two previous landslide election victories, their popularity seemed to be dwindling.
By the early 90s the country was back in recession. House prices had fallen. The infamous poll tax had caused riots in the streets.
And, to top it all off, the Conservatives had deposed Margaret Thatcher in a leadership contest that split the party into warring factions who could barely even work together.
Opinion polls showed a consistent lead for Labour under Neil Kinnock, and the FTSE 100 fell by 4% in the year running up to the election. On polling day the Sun newspaper was so spooked by the prospect of a Labour victory that it ran the now notorious headline:
"If Kinnock wins today will the last person to leave Britain please turn out the lights."
But then the unexpected happened.
The Tories won. By a small majority, it's true. But the market responded right away. The FTSE rose 5% in eight and a half hours. Government bonds went up too, and the pound soared.
All of that happened in just one day after the results were in.
This is how fast the market can turn after an election. But I'm not just here to talk about preparing for short term volatility over the next week. The polls are so close that's pretty much guaranteed.
I'm talking about the very serious long term effects the vote is going to have on your wealth. That's why it's so crucial you start on the right foot.
It's imperative that you act to protect yourself before you go out to vote on Thursday 7th.
In a moment, I'll show you exactly how you can do that.
But first, I want you to really see why this is so important. The fact is, there are strong and worrying parallels between today and one of the darkest times in Britain's political and economic history...
'The Sick Man of Europe'
I'm talking, of course, about the 1970s. An extremely unstable time of weak governments... strange coalitions... and utter chaos.
By the end of the decade Labour Prime Minister Jim Callaghan even had to agree to referendums on devolution in Wales and Scotland in return for the support of Welsh and Scottish Nationalists.
Inconclusive elections? Weak governments with no clear majority? Back-room deals with smaller parties to stay in power? Referendums on devolution?
If you're thinking this is starting to sound all too familiar, you're right.
But what's even worse is the economic impact.
Miners' strikes led to massive coal shortages. Then the oil crisis hit. Britain couldn't produce enough energy to keep the lights on – leading to the 'three day week'.
By 1979 the 'winter of discontent' saw corpses going unburied in London and Liverpool, and piles of rotting rubbish in the streets all across Britain...
For investors, the whole decade was a time of despair as the FT 30 went on an unpredictable rollercoaster ride. It fell by 73% between 1973 and 1974 alone, for example – the worst bear market in its history.
Interest rates went sky-high.
The top rate of income tax peaked at 83% in 1974.
Foreign investment dried up.
But the real nadir was reached in 1976, when Callaghan had to go 'cap in hand' to the International Monetary Fund for a bailout – the largest in the history of the IMF at that point.
In return for that bailout, the IMF demanded huge cuts in public spending. It was humiliating, and Britain was dubbed the 'Sick Man of Europe'.
Many people did nothing, frozen like rabbits caught in the headlights. They didn't know what to do – how to respond to all this chaos. And who could blame them?
The scary fact is that you're facing the exact same conditions today.
Unsustainable levels of public spending... Huge levels of government debt... Party leaders who seem outright hostile to the very notion of investing...
It doesn't matter whether you have a small share portfolio, a bit of cash in an ISA, a pension, or a house. If your money is in the wrong place next week, it could have some pretty nasty consequences.
But there is one key difference between now and the 1970s.
With our help, you CAN avoid the worst of the pain ahead – and even take advantage of the situation. As long as you have the information you need, when you need it.
To protect yourself, you'll have to take action before the polls close on election day. After that, the markets will start to respond and it may be too late.
Because regardless of who gets into Number 10 next week, you face...
More regulation, more public spending, more government interference AND more financial uncertainty
Not since the 1970s have our politicians had so much potential to cause havoc with the markets and your money.
Whoever wins, parts of the economy are almost sure to lose. Let me show you...
- The 7 deadly sectors you must dump... You've no doubt heard that Labour has got it in for energy suppliers and bankers' bonuses. But did you know there are seven economic sectors likely to suffer if Miliband gets into Downing Street? All told, these make up more than 25% of the value of the FTSE 100. So there's a very good chance you own shares in one or more of them.
But do you know exactly which sectors they are? Or how you should respond?
- Revenge of the Greens... Do you know which of the parties is committed to "fighting climate change with five Green Laws"? Hint: it'snot the Green party. Unlike the Greens, this party has an excellent chance of being in government after the 7th May.
Which sectors or companies are most likely to bear the brunt of these laws? We can show you.
- The end of buy-to-let... No less than three of the parties want to impose rent controls on private landlords. These aren't just the fringe parties either: one of them could well end up governing after 7th May. Do you have any interest in buy-to-let? Or maybe you're wondering whether now's the time to buy a new home – or you were simply thinking of moving house...
Do you know how these new rent controls could affect your plans? We do and we'll share with you precisely how you can deal with them.
- A return to nationalisation... Recent events suggest that Labour is in favour of re-nationalising some parts of the economy.
Do you know which private companies could be taken back into public ownership? Are you invested in any of them?
On the left, there's the mansion tax... the increased top rate of income tax... the abolition of tax breaks for non-domiciles... the possibility of yet another Scottish referendum...
On the right, we face the upheaval of an EU referendum by 2017 – or possibly even earlier... and political infighting as key figures within the Tory party position themselves to take over when Cameron steps down...
Any and all of these events could rattle the markets and threaten your hard-earned wealth. But do you know how to respond?
Make no mistake – a response IS required from you. Sit back and just let these changes happen around you... and you risk losing out.
Even now – with just days to go till polling day – it's impossible to predict exactly what will happen. The one thing we can say with any certainty is that once the outcome does become clear you'll need to act.
You see, it's not just about protecting the money you already have. It's also about how you can take advantage and profit from the disruption ahead.
Because unless you're prepared, you could also miss out on a number of lucrative investments.
And that's precisely why...
At times like this you need an action plan
Maybe we should introduce ourselves.
At MoneyWeek magazine, we exist to arm you with the know-how to protect and grow your wealth no matter what.
And we have a great history of getting the big calls right.
Throughout 2007 we repeatedly warned our readers to ditch the FTSE while mainstream commentators wrongly claimed there was nothing to worry about.
And right before the crash of 2008 we issued a stark warning: "The credit carnage is far from over."
In 2010 we advised readers to "SELL EUROPE". This was before the Eurozone crisis went on to devastate stock markets across the continent.
Our readers had the time to get out and avoid the pain felt by thousands of investors.
So when we tell you that we're extremely worried about this election and its potential impact on your wealth, please take that warning seriously.
Of course, it's not like we have a crystal ball. We can't say who's going to win this election. Just like everyone else, frankly, we have no idea.
And speculating too much before the result is known is not only a waste of time – it could even lose you money.
So... we're not releasing our investment response today.
With the result still so unclear, that would be dangerous.
Because the fact is, the things you'll need to do if the Tories win are totally different to what you'll need to do if Labour win. Once you start throwing UKIP and the SNP into the mix, things get even more unclear.
Put simply, moving BEFORE a government is declared could be a real disaster.
The question is, how DO you respond?
Here at MoneyWeek we believe we have the answer.
To explain, let's skip forward a few days in time... to the Friday after the election.
Miliband and Sturgeon are holding coalition talks behind closed doors. Or perhaps it's Cameron and Clegg again. Or Cameron and Farage. The exact combination doesn't matter. What does matter is this...
The internet is going crazy with rumours and speculation. Your phone's ringing off the hook – family members asking what they should do. Do you know the answer?
While the rest of the world is panicking, unprepared for what's just happened, here's what you can do...
Mute BBC News and let the talking heads carry on being flustered.
Instead, you go online.
You head to our private election website and log in, using the personal password we'll send you in a second.
Even though it's only hours since the result was declared, once there... you find out exactly what you need to do to with your money.
First you'll hear the voice of our editor-in-chief, Merryn Somerset Webb.
Then you'll hear her in conversation with our editor, John Stepek, as we take you through precisely what you need to do. We've been analysing major economic trends for well over a decade. Not to mention turning that analysis into clear, easy-to-follow investment tips.
And you listen closely as we inform you – calmly and reassuringly – what to do with your investments now the results are clear.
So you can sit back and relax as we lay out our Emergency Election Plan.
The key, of course, is our analysis won't be available until immediately after a government has been declared.
But that's the whole point.
With the polls so uncertain, how can ANYONE give you any useful insight before that happens?
Instead, we'll wait until we understand the landscape... and THEN respond. We'll show you how to protect yourself from dangerous developments... and take advantage of positive ones.
Once a government is declared, we believe you'll have a very short window of opportunity in which to move – certainly if you want to be an early mover.
Around one trading day – or eight hours – is our guess.
We'll make sure that by the time the markets open on the Monday after the election – you know EXACTLY what you need to do.
While everyone else scrabbles around in panic wondering if their retirement plans are still intact... in the dark about how much money they'll be able to build over the next five years...
You'll be putting in place a few simple investments to keep your financial ambitions on track.
But you must act BEFORE 10pm on polling day or you'll lose out
To be absolutely clear, we won't be releasing this Emergency Election Action Plan to anyone but MoneyWeek readers.
So you'll have to take up a no-obligation trial to the magazine to receive this plan. Whether you decide to carry on beyond your trial is up to you. Either way, you must be on our books to receive the Action Plan.
But your chance to get your hands on this plan must end when the polls close.
That means you only have until 10pm on Thursday 7th.
After that, it will be too late.
And I really can't stress enough just how transformative this election could be for the investment landscape in this country. I can guarantee at least some of those changes will affect you and your money.
This is why the one thing you must do before you vote on Thursday is make sure you've signed up to receive our Emergency Election Action Plan.
As soon as you sign up for a no-obligation 4-week trial, we'll rush you your own unique password to access our online election hub.
Over the next few days as the election race heats up, you'll receive our insight and analysis directly to your inbox, to inform you of any significant new developments for your investments – as soon as they happen.
Then, the morning after the election, you'll be able to log in and listen to our immediate response.
If there's no clear result yet, no worries. You'll still get the benefit of Merryn and John's initial views on what it could all mean, while we wait for Britain's next government to be formed.
And as soon as it is, you'll get immediate access to the full Emergency Election Plan.
The biggest threats you must avoid... The profit opportunities to take advantage of... Your full step-by-step guide to protect and grow your money – whoever ends up in power...
So when the markets open on Monday 11th May, you'll be armed with all the knowledge you need not just to survive, but to prosper.
These initial moves are simply what you need to do right away. They will be your immediate response to the new government.
As the situation unfolds over the coming weeks and months, we'll continue to inform MoneyWeek readers how they can best respond to the changing financial landscape.
Take us up on this great value offer, and starting next week you'll ALSOreceive four free issues of MoneyWeek.
So you'll be able to follow up on the longer-term impact of the election and our new government in the pages of the magazine, as well as on our subscribers'-only website.
You can read each issue of MoneyWeek in print and online – whatever suits you best. So you get the benefit of our insight and analysis wherever you are, including...
Your most profitable portfolio ever
You see, there's a reason MoneyWeek is Britain's bestselling financial magazine.
Our experts come to you with a diverse range of interests and experiences...
- Like our award-winning defensive investor nominated as Asset Manager of the Year. During the financial crisis in 2008, the portfolio he helped manage didn't just hold firm – it went up!
- A multi-millionaire financial newsletter publisher and New York Times bestselling author.
- Our editor-in-chief, Merryn Somerset Webb, who is also a regular commentator in The Financial Times, on Radio 4 and BBC News, and is also a non-executive director of two investment trusts.
And of course this is just a small sample of the expert opinion we'll bring you. Each of our writers is an experienced fund manager, trader, broker or financial journalist. So you'll be getting the most insightful commentary around week in, week out.
We're not just here to protect your wealth. We want to help you ground your portfolio so that it keeps your money safe during rough patches andgrowing in the good times.
This is something MoneyWeek has an outstanding track record of doing.
For example, you could have just followed our lower-risk, low-cost investment trust recommendations. And if you'd bought in on 1st January last year, you'd have been up 16% by the end of the year...
That's phenomenally better than the FTSE 100, which was up by just 1% over the same period. And higher than the FTSE All-Share Index, which went up only 1.45%.
Or take the recommendations of our expert panel we published at the end of 2013...
Had you taken their advice to invest in the premium food company Cranswick, you'd have been sitting on gains of 17% by the end of 2014.
Or Imagination Tech – which went up 42% in the same period...
Or Eurotunnel – up 44%...
If you'd followed our tip to buy AstraZeneca in January 2014, you'd have been up 28% by the end of the year.
Likewise, you could have pocketed gains of 43% by the end of 2014 if you'd bought into pharmaceuticals firm TEVA when we tipped it.
Many readers have written to us to say how well they've done from following our advice.
Like John Stringer from Salisbury, who told us:
"Over the past four years I've invested in the markets and commodities you have recommended and have returned an average of 35% a year."
Or Adam Fleming, the Chairman of Wits Gold, who says:
MoneyWeek is the business – I couldn't do without it.
As part of your trial you'll get four full weeks of investment tips like this. And an eye on the wider trends most likely to affect your wealth... from the global economy to political issues to interest rates... and all the new policies, regulations and taxes that are sure to flow from our new government.
So the sooner you check out this offer, the sooner you can join the list of subscribers who've benefited from our insight.
Like Simon Bradley, from Bourneville, Birmingham, who said:
This is simply a note of thanks to you and your staff in providing a publication that has personally guided me into safer financial waters during this time of uncertainty.
Or Hugh Hendry, the CEO and founder of Eclectica Asset Management, who says:
I recommend MoneyWeek to anyone who wants to make the most of their money.
Then there's Paul Miller from Staffordshire, who wrote to tell us:
Firstly can I say that the magazine is awesome. I've made a bit and keep quite a lot of it due directly to MoneyWeek... Keep up the good work.
For your chance to sail into safer financial waters in this time of great political uncertainty, the one thing you need to do before you vote on Thursday is this...
Firstly, you get your four trial issues of MoneyWeek absolutely FREE.
Choose the print and digital option, and you'll also get full access to our website for that whole month. Browse years of archived material, share tips, analysis and more – all for FREE in your first four weeks.
And of course you'll get your link to our Emergency Election Plan sent straight to your inbox before the markets open on Monday 11th May.
You're under no obligation at all to continue after these four weeks.
If you decide MoneyWeek isn't for you once your trial is over, you can keep your Emergency Election Plan AND your 4 free issues with our compliments – and none of it will have cost you a penny.
That essentially means you can access our work even if you never go beyond your free trial. And it's hard to think of a fairer offer than that.
What's most important is that you can see what we have to say and have a sensible, prudent plan for your finances after the election.
We could go on at great length about how great we are and how much you stand to gain by becoming a subscriber to MoneyWeek.
But why not put us to the test yourself and make up your own mind – without risking a single penny on your subscription.
So the one thing you must do before you vote on Thursday is...
Yours sincerely,
The MoneyWeek Team
P.S. Let's talk briefly about Inheritance Tax.
Some have called it "the most hated tax in Britain".
Even Tony Benn – that firm stalwart of the Labour left – did everything he could to wriggle out of it.
It's a tax that most of us don't even like to think about.
If you're anything like us, that's because the thought of paying it leaves a bad taste in your mouth...
But the truth is, it's only right to think about this now – before it's too late. Especially because the cost of not doing so could be severe.
It could leave your family with big financial problems. And lead to your assets being sold off...
But what if I told you there's a way you can turn this whole situation on its head?
A way for you to use the tax man's own rules against him... to make up to £2m of your wealth effectively 'disappear' off the radar.
Perhaps best of all, this strategy is 100% legal and ethical.
It's simple and it's hiding in plain sight – yet most people still don't know about it.
Well now you can claim your very own copy of our new comprehensive guide that outlines everything you need to do to make sure your money goes to the people you want it to – and not the taxman.
It's called: "How to escape the most hated tax in Britain".
And it's yours absolutely FREE as a thank you for taking up your free trial toMoneyWeek today...
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