Money Marketing
10 February 1999

  • Autif releases ISA training guide for IFAs

    16 Feb 1999

    Autif is planning to release its Isa training package to IFAs next week. The disc-based package was originally developed for Autif customer service and administration staff. Director of training and education Victoria Nye says Autif is in negotiation with the LIA to organise distribution of the product.

  • Autif shows unit trust habit spreading to women and lower income groups

    10 Feb 1999

    Unit trust investors increasingly come from all income groups with rising numbers of women investing, according to research by the Association of Unit Trusts and Investment Funds.

  • Bacon & Woodrow calls for radical redesign of benefits

    10 Feb 1999

    Bacon & Woodrow is warning the financial services industry it needs to radically rethink the design and distribution of financial products to survive the changing demands made by clients in the 21st Century. A study it carried out has found there will be further growth in self-employment which will change the role of employers, more demand for 20-year phased retirement plans, and that consumers will have more power to dictate how the industry is run.

  • Bacon & Woodrow calls for radical redesign of benefits

    10 Feb 1999

    Bacon & Woodrow is warning the financial services industry it needs to radically rethink the design and distribution of financial products to survive the changing demands made by clients in the 21st Century. A study it carried out has found there will be further growth in self-employment which will change the role of employers, more demand for 20-year phased retirement plans, and that consumers will have more power to dictate how the industry is run.

  • Barclays launches 4 euro denominated investment funds

    15 Feb 1999

    Barclays is launching four euro-denominated investment funds for individual investors.

  • CIS makes ethical fund available as ISA

    11 Feb 1999

    CIS says that it is making its Environ ethical and ecological fund available as an ISA from the April 6 start date this year.The ISA will be available to investors who contribute a lump sum of £500 or £50 a month.The life office believes it is among the first to announce an ethical ISA prodcut.

  • Darlington Building Society takes £207m of new business

    16 Feb 1999

    Darlington Building Society too a record £207m from savers and borrowers in 1998.The number of savings and borrowers account holders increased by 6 per cent to 103,280 and total assets under management grew by 8.5 per cent to £367m.Pre-tax profit was up 11.3 per cent to £3.1m.

  • DBS warns members to guard against misselling stakeholder

    10 Feb 1999

    DBS is warning members to safeguard against future claims of pension misselling in the run up to stakeholder pensions.

  • Edinburgh announces tie up with Clerical Medical and Albany

    11 Feb 1999

    Edinburgh Fund Managers has announced further ties with Clerical Medical International and Albany International.This is the latest in a series of tie ups, giving the manager access to the IFA market.CMI will offer the Edinburgh 'Safety First' protected fund.Albany has added the Albany International Managed Growth Portfolio, managed by Edinburgh, to its range. The fund manager already manages the Albany International Safety First fund.

  • EFM hires Polhill Communications

    15 Feb 1999

    Edinburgh Fund Managers has hired Polhill Communications to improve its business profile.

  • Equitable Life announces CAT standard ISA plans

    10 Feb 1999

    Equitable Life has announced plans to launch a Cat-marked equity tracker ISA in April.

  • Financial Options Group launches growth bond

    15 Feb 1999

    Financial Options Group is launching a high growth bond which guarantees to pay 125 per cent of the average growth of Europe's major stockmarket indices.

  • Finops reorganises board in wake of Kestrel takeover

    10 Feb 1999

    Financial Options Group has appointed three new directors to its board following the recent acquisition of the Kestrel network.

  • FSA roadshow comes to Scotland

    12 Feb 1999

    The Financial Services Authority roadshow is coming to Scotland.

  • GFS warns on mortgage protection

    15 Feb 1999

    Guardian Financial Services is calling on IFAs to alert consumers to the potential problems of not having extra mortgage protection.

  • Hewitt warns mutuals that rules will not change

    16 Feb 1999

    Economic Secretary to the Treasury Patricia Hewitt has warned mutuals that the Government is unlikely to change building society rules.Speaking at The New Statesman's mutuality conference in London, Hewitt said that mutuals cannot rely upon the Government to protect them from their members.She said that current building society rules provide adequate protection from carpetbaggers because only the board of a building society can seek members authority to convert.

  • IFAA appoints Borwick to head LTC working party

    10 Feb 1999

    The IFA Association has announced that Margaret Borwick is to become chairwoman of its long-term care working party.Borwick has been an IFA since 1994. She runs Durkadale Professional Financial Planning based in Haslemere in Surrey. She will replace Martin Telling who is to devote more time to his other business interests.

  • Invesco launches ISA range

    11 Feb 1999

    Invesco is launching both mini and maxi ISAs in April that will include cash and stocks and shares components.The GT Money Fund which has a cash component will not be Cat-marked and has a maximum investment of £3,000.It has an initial charge of 5.25 per cent. IFA commission is 3 per cent and renewal commission is 0.5 per cent.The Invesco ISA, which has equity and cash components has the same charges.

  • Investec Guinness Flight offers monthly income Pep split between equities and bonds

    11 Feb 1999

    Investec Guinness Flight is launching a monthly income Pep which splits its investment between bonds and equities.

  • L&G launches housebuying pilot scheme

    11 Feb 1999

    Legal & General is providing 500 homebuyers with seller packs to help prevent them from being gazumped in the house buying process.

  • Lazard Asset Management appoints new head of equities

    16 Feb 1999

    Lazard Asset Management has appointed Simon Roberts as a director and head of UK equities.Roberts joins from Fidelity, where he was head of research and, more recently, a senior UK fund manager.Lazard Unit Trust Managers managing director Rupert Tyer says Roberts will play an integral part in developing Lazard's presence in the UK financial services.

  • Leeds & Holbeck announces record business figures

    16 Feb 1999

    Leeds & Holbeck Building Society's mortgage lending increased by a record 36 per cent to £538m in 1998.Its savings balance rose £278m to £2.46bn and its total assets increased by 9.8 per cent to £3.12bn.Pre-tax profit increased by 26 per cent to £24.1m

  • Legal & General urges borrowers to remortgage

    16 Feb 1999

    Legal & General is urging borrowers to consider re mortgaging because it could save them £800 a year.

  • Manchester cuts rate to 6.95 per cent

    11 Feb 1999

    Manchester Building Society is reducing its lending rate to 6.95 per cent from 7.69 per cent with effect from 23 March 1999.

  • Market Harborough Building Society launches long term care product

    15 Feb 1999

    Market Harborough Building Society is launching a long term care product that will pay directly for the help and services policyholders need.

  • NAPF appoints new benefits technical manager

    10 Feb 1999

    The National Association of Pension Funds has appointed David Astley as benefits technical manager.Astley was Canada Life's benefits technical manager for the last four years.In his new role he will provide assistance to the benefits committee and standing groups and liaise with the DSS and other Government departments.

  • Norwich Union launches investment services desk

    12 Feb 1999

    Fund management boutique Scottish Value Management is expanding its retail business in its first link up with a life office.

  • NPI launches three pronged discount offer

    12 Feb 1999

    NPI is celebrating its buy-out by AMP Group by launching a three-pronged discount offer on its pension products for clients and IFAs.It is adding 3 per cent to the allocation rate on 9 of its single premium pension contracts.It is simplifying underwriting requirements and for regular premiums with waiver benefit, waiver of premium contributions will be reinvested free for a period of five years.

  • NPI launches with-profit investment bond

    15 Feb 1999

    NPI is launching a unitised with-profit investment bond that will provide a total bonus rate of 9 per cent for at least one year.

  • Paragon aiming to revive shared ownership schemes

    12 Feb 1999

    Paragon Mortgages is aiming to breathe new life into the shared ownership market by launching a range of fixed rate mortgages.

  • Paragon targets shared ownership market

    12 Feb 1999

    Paragon Mortgages is aiming to breathe new life into the shared ownership market with the launch of a specialist fixed-rate mortgage range.

  • Pearl Assurance snubs Government's ISA Cat-standards

    16 Feb 1999

    Pearl Assurance is snubbing the Government's Cat standard Isa plans because restriction on charges prevent it from factoring in the cost of advice.It does not plan to offer a cash Isa when its launches its mini and maxi savings products in April. It will offer an equity Isa called the Isa share account and a life Isa called the Isa bonus account.

  • Portman plays fair by borrowers and lenders

    15 Feb 1999

    Portman Building Society is cutting its standard rate for mortgages to 6.85 per cent and launching a range of fixed-rate and discount products.

  • Royal & Sun Alliance targets high net worth investors

    15 Feb 1999

    Royal & Sun Alliance International Financial Services is launching a single premium investment plan aimed at high net worth investors.

  • Scot Prov International sees new business rise 11 per cent

    11 Feb 1999

    Isle of Man-based Scottish Provident International had a record year in 1998 with a rise in new business of 11 per cent. Funds under management grew to £882m up over £156m.Scot Prov International managing director Stuart Fairclough says: "Our figures for 1998 show another successful year for us. During 1998 we introduced two new products, Select and Stratum which positions us strongly in the strategically important personalised bond and protection markets."

  • Skandia extends sponsorship of Cowes Week

    12 Feb 1999

    Skandia Life is extending its sponsorship of Cowes Week in a deal worth £1m over the next two years.

  • SLOC appoints Lockyer as sales director

    10 Feb 1999

    Sun Life of Canada has appointed former Allied Dunbar area sales director Phil Lockyer as vice president and sales director. Lockyer will be responsible for sales and sales management of all insurance business. He will manage all distribution channels including its new IFA division. Lockyer will be replaced at Allied Dunbar by Dunbar's current regional sales management director Richard Freeman.

  • Solicitor/investment managers in threat to IFAs' market share

    11 Feb 1999

    IFAs face a threat to their share of high net worth business from a new breed of solicitor investment manager with access to unlimited compensation.

  • Sun Bank aims to meet Government target on mortgage protection

    12 Feb 1999

    Sun Bank is launching a range of flexible mortgage protection insurance plans in line with the Government's proposals on sustainable home ownership.

  • Sun Bank offers guaranteed interest rate for pre-ISA customers

    16 Feb 1999

    Sun Bank is offering customers a guaranteed interest-rate to customers who invest £3,000 in its pre-ISA account.

  • SVM links with Albany International

    12 Feb 1999

    Fund management boutique Scottish Value Management is expanding its retail business in its first link up with a life office.

  • The Mortgage Operation targets first time buyers

    12 Feb 1999

    The Mortgage Operation is launching a discount mortgage at 4.2 per cent until September 2000 to attract first time buyers.

  • UNUM announces 38 per cent increase in new business

    15 Feb 1999

    UNUM's new business figures increased by 38 per cent to £20.5m in 1998.The disability insurer says its Essential Ability Cover which is aimed at manual workers and the self employed now accounts for 20 per cent of individual sales.Its Accident & Health Division doubled its business to £3.7m.Earned premiums increased by 16 per cent to exceed £100m for the first time.

  • Wesleyan offers discount on Peps

    11 Feb 1999

    Wesleyan Assurance Company is offering a 1 per cent discount on all Pep applications it receives before April 1.It is also allowing customers to switch their Peps to ISAs with no transfer charges.Investment director Mike Lewis says: "Our Peps and growth trusts have already achieved outstanding growth since launch and the discount promotion on our quoted offer price will boost their value even further."

  • Woolwich rapped by advertising watchdog

    11 Feb 1999

    Woolwich Building Society has been rapped by the Advertising Standards Authority for misleading customers about the benefits of switching to a fixed rate from a variable rate loan.

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