Laith Khalaf is AJ Bell's Head of Investment Analysis. He joined the company in 2020 and continues to explore the world of personal investing, providing research and analysis to both AJ Bell customers and the media. He has a degree in Philosophy from the University of Cambridge.
Laith is a leading industry commentator with over 20 years’ experience. As well as being a regular contributor to the financial pages of the national press, he’s a frequent guest on TV and radio, and for several years provided daily business bulletins on LBC.
He started his career in 2001 on the customer helpdesk of Hargreaves Lansdown, where he gained invaluable experience understanding what DIY investors wanted, and the range of investments and tax shelters they held. This was in the early days of DIY SIPPs and ISAs, and coincided with the tech crash, the split cap investment trust scandal and the aftermath of the Equitable Life collapse. Suffice to say there was no shortage of drama!
In 2007, Laith began to focus on research and analysis, initially within the pensions market, and quickly built a reputation for providing commentary and data for everyday investors and financial journalists. He then moved on to investment analysis, looking particularly at multi-asset funds, and selecting default funds for group pension schemes. You can find his comments in the national papers most weekends, and he is a frequent guest on AJ Bell’s Money & Markets podcast.
Outside of work, he likes to eat pistachio nuts and has become addicted to padel tennis.
24 February 2022
How to inflation-proof your ISAInflation is now forecast to peak at over 7% in April, which naturally has many people worried about how that will affect their savings and investments, and as we head towards the end of the tax year, that concern will no doubt affect how savers allocate their ISA allowance. Current high rates of inflation mostly reflect price rises that have...
16 February 2022
The Cash ISA paradox – rates are rising, but things are getting tougher for saversCash savings have suffered death by a thousand rate cuts over the last decade, but the cash paradox is that even though rates are now on the up, things look like they will get even tougher for savers. That’s because elevated inflation is going to eat up any gains from higher interest rates on cash and will take an extra pound of flesh for its...
22 December 2021
From cash to crypto - asset class outlook for 2022Laith Khalaf, head of investment analysis at AJ Bell looks at some of the key factors which could influence asset prices in 2022.
SharesThe Omicron variant has raised the prospect of a stagflationary start to the new year. covid vaccines and treatments will take some of the edge off any social disruption we may face, and while many businesses...
16 December 2021
Covid trumps inflation at the top of investor concern for 2022DIY investors are entering 2022 in a mood of constructive realism, recognising market risks, but also largely confident in their investments. Six in ten expect further covid restrictions in 2022, and a resurgence in the pandemic is the number one worry for investors as we head into the new year. Indeed, covid is seen as a greater risk than...
12 November 2021
Britcoin could spell higher mortgage rates and a bank runBritcoin could cause widespread disruption in the banking sector if it is introduced, as well as increasing the chance of a run on commercial banks in times of financial stress. The Treasury and the Bank of England need to think long and hard before embarking on this digital mission, because the risks look high, and the benefits marginal.
Britcoin...
12 November 2021
Unilever’s share price weakness presents Marmite Moment for investorsAs Unilever shares wallow at a historically low valuation, AJ Bell’s Head of Investment Analysis, Laith Khalaf, examines the bull and bear case for the stock:
“Several lifetimes ago, in 2018, Unilever tried to move its headquarters from the UK to the Netherlands, prepared to forfeit its place in the prestigious FTSE 100 as a result. British...
1 November 2021
How to beat Sunak’s £47 billion stealth tax raid“A growing economy and inflationary pressures have turbo charged the tax revenues the Chancellor is now expecting to harvest from freezing tax thresholds, which he announced in the March Budget. While this is good news for the Exchequer, it means income taxpayers are going to suffer the consequences of Sunak’s stealth tax raid, to the tune of £47...
20 October 2021
Are we getting an interest rate rise for Christmas?The market is now expecting an interest rate hike by Christmas, largely thanks to the inflationary pressures which will inevitably follow the energy crisis, and some markedly hawkish rhetoric from the governor of the Bank of England. According to interest rate markets, there is now an 85% chance of a rate rise this year, and a 60% chance of a hike...
11 October 2021
Sustainable investment trends - performance, flows and greenwashingThere’s no doubting the strength of the sustainable investment tide, as last year responsible funds accounted for around a third of overall industry sales. This year looks set to be even bigger, and on current trends will eclipse 2020 to post a new record for ethical fund sales. These funds still only make up around 5% of total assets, so there’s...
5 July 2021
Most popular and best performing investments of H1 2021So far 2021 has been a positive year for equity markets, but the Footsie is still playing second fiddle to the US stock market despite the rally in value stocks which make up such a big slug of UK plc. However the real stand out winner of the year to date has been the UK Smaller Companies market, which has enjoyed an incredibly hot streak of...
