Welcome to the Summer edition of the Bluesky Bulletin.
In this edition, we recap 2025 so far, welcome the newest member of the team, and reflect on other events coming up this year.
2025 so far – a turbulent time for markets
Some of our clients have contacted us in recent weeks expressing their concern and dismay at the impact on the markets that the economic decisions of President Trump are having. This has led to a fall in global stock markets, which, naturally, has led to a feeling of uncertainty.
Jeremy, head of our Investment Committee, is a ‘wise owl’ and his position remains that markets frequently fall in the short term but, over significant periods (10 years and more), the trend has always been up.
In the second half of May, we have seen the markets rebound as Trump had to wind-in some of his more extreme rhetoric. It has also been reassuring to see that the Bluesky portfolios did not decrease nearly as much as the global markets (especially the US stock market), and this has been a good example of why Bluesky will always favour diversified portfolios that spread risk.
For instance, the global stock market fell 18% from its high to low point while the Bluesky medium risk portfolio only fell by 7%. Both investments have now rallied back to where they started in 2025.
Who knows what will happen next, but one thing is for sure: volatility will always be a feature of investing in markets, but the long-term trend is one of steady growth.
This is why, ultimately, the returns are better than staying in cash – no uncertainty equals no “out-performance”. Moreover, recent decreases in the Bank of England (BoE) base rate mean that cash is highly unlikely to retain purchasing power over time.
A welcome burst of spring sunshine
Summer feels like it has arrived early with all the glorious sunshine enjoyed in recent weeks. In fact, England enjoyed its sunniest March and April on record.
It’s nice to arrive and leave the office in daylight. The lawns, shrubs, and flowers are looking great, and the Barn is proving to be a very pleasant place for the staff to work and to welcome clients to.
When markets are fluctuating, it’s tempting to frequently look at your investments, but this can lead to a deep sense of anxiety. If you are tempted to do this over the summer months, this editor remembers a line from the series of books he grew up with (the Famous Five by Enid Blyton):
‘“I do love the beginning of the summer hols”, said Julian. “They always seem to stretch out ahead for ages and ages.”
“They go so nice and slowly at first”, said Anne, his little sister. “Then they start to gallop.”’
This is a reminder to focus on the good things over the summer months and not waste precious hours poring over investment portals and financial websites.
Spend time with your loved ones doing the things you love to do. The markets will still be here when summer has left us so don’t fritter away valuable time focusing on investments and fund performance, Bluesky will be doing this on your behalf.
Our annual reviews and cashflow modelling software are designed to draw your attention to the long term and to provide reassurance at times of market turbulence. As always, let Neil know if you want to talk through anything with your adviser.
Bluesky company days
As previous staff bulletins have mentioned, each quarter, we hold an off-site day where all the staff get together for a day of company updates and training. We believe these days are invaluable to ensure we take time to reflect on what went well over the previous quarter and consider areas where we can improve.
The day is not all work, and this time Liz devised an excellent scavenger hunt that had the aim of each team needing to find items starting with each letter of the alphabet.
After lunch, Mike organised a game of “Kubb”, an old Swedish throwing game played with wooden skittles.
Bluesky continuous training
As an FCA-regulated firm, all our staff undergo monthly continuing professional development (CPD) sessions, and many of our staff members are in the process of taking exams to gain qualifications and knowledge that will assist in delivering excellent customer service to our clients.
The latest to gain an exam pass is Julie who recently gained her RO5 (protection) certificate from the CII (Chartered Insurance Institute, our governing body).
Congratulations to Julie!
We welcomed our newest team member, Vicki
We’d all like to offer a hearty welcome to Vicki, who joined our client services team at the end of April.
Originally from Shinfield, Vicki is a highly experienced financial administrator with over 20 years in the financial services industry. She brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her role, ensuring efficiency and accuracy in her work.
Outside of work, Vicki enjoys exploring history and nature and is a proud National Trust member. She loves visiting the cinema, spending quality time with family, and embracing the challenge of escape rooms.
Since joining Bluesky, Vicki has been impressed by the welcoming atmosphere, the team’s dedication, and the company’s commitment to excellence. She is looking forward to growing within the organisation and making a valuable contribution to its ongoing success.
We hope you have enjoyed reading this quarter’s Bluesky Bulletin, and look out for our next update in September 2025.