Money Marketing
11 April 2007

  • April 23 for claimchaser regulation

    12 Apr 2007

    Regulation of claim management companies will start on April 23. It will become an offence to provide claim management services without authorisation or exemption.

  • Rock rolls into sub-prime sector

    12 Apr 2007

    Northern Rock has become the latest major mortgage lender to launch into the sub-prime market. Loans will be sourced and processed by the company but passed to Lehman Brothers on completion.

  • Tomorrow's world

    12 Apr 2007

    Not manana but Tomorrow. GE Life has joined Liverpool Victoria now LV= in the season of the rebrand.

  • £1.6Bn war chest as Resolution seeks more acquisitions

    12 Apr 2007

    Resolution plans to grow its protection proposition and may set up a shareholder-owned annuity company in 2007 to retain vesting pension funds.

  • 5% Slump in young people taking out life insurance

    12 Apr 2007

    The number of young people buying life cover has fallen by 5 per cent in the past year, according to Lifesearch.

  • A bit of a Tif

    12 Apr 2007

    Now that treating customers fairly is embedded in most firms' compliance regime, the FSA is already progressing its principle-based regulations agenda, with yet another EU directive, Mifid, helping to drive this agenda.

  • A question oif choice from Skandia

    13 Apr 2007

    Skandia MultiFundsProtected Portfolio Investment

  • A&L brings out new specialist deals

    13 Apr 2007

    Alliance & Leicester has updated its range of specialist mortgages with the new range available from today.

  • Abbey’s steep step get the thumbs-down

    13 Apr 2007

    Abbey caused controversy this week after it launched a stepped rate mortgage at 2.99 per cent for the first year but the rate then more than doubles after 12 months.

  • Abbey's steep step shocks advisers

    12 Apr 2007

    Abbey has been accused of creating a huge payment shock for borrowers after launching a stepped-rate deal that starts at 2.99 per cent for the first year.

  • Aberdeen merges funds

    12 Apr 2007

    Aberdeen is merging three UK bond funds to create a 93m globally invested fixed interest vehicle.

  • ABI in PTA pipeline plea

    12 Apr 2007

    The Association of British Insurers is lobbying HM Revenue and Customs and the Treasury to extend the deadline for pipeline pension term assurance business to be processed.

  • ABI wants DC contracting out revenue to encourage private saving

    16 Apr 2007

    The money saved from abolishing contracting out of defined contribution schemes must be ploughed back into the industry to encourage private saving, says the Association of British Insurers.In a research paper released today, the ABI says a cash-flow benefit of £1.6bn a year will be created by the abolition of contracting-out for DC schemes.The ABI says there is still uncertainty over how it will be used but calls on the Government to channel this revenue into encouraging private ...

  • Adviser Fund Index

    12 Apr 2007

    The 18 Adviser Fund Index panellists have the opportunity to revise their portfolio recommendations from May 1. This will be the fifth rebalancing of the AFI series, with the other six-monthly rebalancing point coming on November 1.

  • Advisers may move on Hip opportunity

    12 Apr 2007

    The firm conducted a three-month-long survey on the preparations of 300 estate agents and found that 67 per cent are ill-prepared.

  • Advisers not acting on advice of consultants, says FSA

    17 Apr 2007

    Over a third of advisers are not acting on recommendations from their compliance consultants that would have improved their regulatory position, according to FSA research.

  • Advisers still unaware of new CI definitions

    12 Apr 2007

    Nearly half of advisers are unaware that protection providers' critical illness cover definitions are changing at the end of April.

  • Aegon Asset Management in bid to boost rebranded image

    12 Apr 2007

    Aegon Asset Management is revamping its image to boost brand awareness as a follow up to the wider rebranding of the Aegon group last August.

  • Aegon to hold business protection seminars

    11 Apr 2007

    Aegon Scottish Equitable is running a series of seminars aimed at providing advisers with the support and information they need to start writing business protection.

  • Aifa relaunches website

    13 Apr 2007

    Aifa has revamped its website offering members better interactivity and a greater amount of information to meet regulatory requirements and help build their business.The new site includes a consumer section, to promote the value of advice to those outside the industry, and an events calendar detailing Aifa events and those of associate and affiliate members.There is also now a graduate career section including information about entering and developing within the profession and ...

  • All clear ahead?

    12 Apr 2007

    The state pension system is too important to be so complicated.

  • Annuity options

    12 Apr 2007

    Prudential head of annuities Aston Goodey says that as inflation bites into pensioners' income, their only real alternative for making their money work for them is an investment-backed annuity and with-profits are a viable option.

  • Are the golden handcuffs turning platinum?

    11 Apr 2007

    Four months into 2007 and it appears investment houses are starting to wise up to the gameplans of a number of boutiques that are looking to spread their wings in the market.

  • Ascentric wraps up 22 firms

    12 Apr 2007

    Ascentric now has 60 advisers from 22 firms using its wrap proposition.

  • Autoenrolment into Personal Accounts has to be in the "general interest", says pensions minister

    17 Apr 2007

    Pensions minister James Purnell has conceded that personal accounts will not benefit everyone, arguing that autoenrolment should be in the general interest of UK savers.

  • Axa Framlington - Multi-Manager Reserve Fund

    13 Apr 2007

    Axa FramlingtonMulti-Manager Reserve Fund

  • Baring applies for distributor status

    12 Apr 2007

    Baring Asset Management has applied for UK distributor status for three of its offshore multi-manager funds to attract retail investors through IFAs.

  • Big firms maintain Sipp stranglehold

    12 Apr 2007

    Specialist Sipp administrators and insurance companies will continue to battle it out for the majority of self-invested personal pension business, according to research from Defaqto.

  • Big names wait for full Sipp authority

    12 Apr 2007

    Norwich Union, Winterthur, Tomorrow (formerly GE Life) and AWD Chase de Vere are just some of the big names which have not achieved full Sipp authorisation by the April 6 deadline.

  • BlackRock brand switch will be a 'big bang'

    12 Apr 2007

    The Merrill Lynch Investment Managers' brand could soon be history, with BlackRock testing the water about a sooner than expected rebrand.

  • Bouncing back to work with loan protection

    12 Apr 2007

    Fin International is creating a new campaign for Cardif Pinnacle promoting its mortgage payment protection plus products aimed at IFAs and their clients.

  • Bright Grey adds critical conditions

    12 Apr 2007

    Bright Grey will be covering an additional four conditions under its critical-illness cover and implementing the new Association of British Insurers' critical-illness insurance definitions from the start of next week.

  • Broker Talkback

    12 Apr 2007

    Has your firm seen an increase in Isa business this year compared with last year?

  • Brown claims move was the right decision

    12 Apr 2007

    Chancellor Gordon Brown claims that changing the pension tax rules was the right decision in terms of long-term investment in the economy.

  • Brown's tax raid is 'drop in ocean next to DWP proposals'

    12 Apr 2007

    The Chancellor's 5bn a year raid on pensions will be dwarfed by potential losses to pensioners if inflation protection is reduced in defined-benefit schemes, warns Standard Life head of pensions policy John Lawson.

  • Bupa in the eye of a storm after BMA slams network

    12 Apr 2007

    Bupa has provoked the ire of the British Medical Association by limiting the choice and independence of its private medical healthcare customers.

  • Canny nanny

    12 Apr 2007

    Why the Government is encouraging a dependency culture in the UK.

  • Catholic Building Society - One-Year Fix - Issue 1

    13 Apr 2007

    Catholic Building SocietyOne-Year Fix - Issue 1

  • Causes for concern

    12 Apr 2007

    It is difficult to find anyone whose optimism remains completely untrammeled at present.

  • Chamberlain says mortgages must be part of holistic service

    12 Apr 2007

    Thinc Group chief executive Simon Chamberlain is calling on advisers to ensure that mortgage advice is given as part of an holistic financial planning service.

  • Chris Phillips dies after mountain trek

    12 Apr 2007

    Chris Phillips, the former head of Scottish Widows' Investment Partnership has died after becoming trapped on a mountain in freezing conditions while walking the route of a historic Spanish pilgrimage.

  • CII creates new board structure

    12 Apr 2007

    Chartered Insurance Institute members have voted in proposals to modernise the organisation with a new governing board replacing its existing council.

  • Commodity frenzy brings FSA warning

    12 Apr 2007

    The FSA is warning that in the clamour to jump on the commodities bandwagon, some investment firms are appointing inexperienced staff.

  • Compensation scheme levy falls by 10m

    12 Apr 2007

    The Financial Services Compensation Scheme's initial levy for 2007/08 will be 94.5m, which is 10m lower than it predicted in January.

  • Competition Commission identifies PPI probe areas

    12 Apr 2007

    The Competition Commission has today published an issues statement as part of its investigation into the market for the supply of payment protection insurance.

  • Compromise is wise way for the FSA

    12 Apr 2007

    The FSA has changed its mind about plans to regulate investment trusts which might have seen a repeat of the split-cap debacle.

  • Conservatives call for pension Lifeboat Fund

    16 Apr 2007

    The Conservatives have put forward an amendment to the current Pensions Bill calling for a Lifeboat Fund to top up the pension incomes of those who have lost out after their pension schemes collapsed.The amendment to the Bill, which returns to the Commons on Wednesday, would set up a lifeboat fund paid for through Treasury loans in the short term and unclaimed assets within the pensions system in the long term.Conservative Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Philip Hammond says ...

  • Correspondent's Week

    12 Apr 2007

    This week by ex-Daily Mail personal finance reporter James Coney, now deputy business editor at the Daily Mirror.

  • Credit act offers challenge powers

    12 Apr 2007

    The Consumer Credit Act 2006 came into force last Friday and allows consumers to take complaints about lenders to the Financial Ombudsman Service and to challenge unfair credit agreements in court.

  • Cry freedom

    12 Apr 2007

    Why recent revelations on tax credits must not lead to Brown closing up sources of information.

  • Dalton replicates UK fund

    13 Apr 2007

    Dalton Strategic Partnership has launched the Melchior selected trust UK opportunities fund. This is a Luxemburg based Sicav which replicates the investment strategy of the onshore Melchior UK opportunities fund.

  • Dawnay turbo charges unusual concept

    13 Apr 2007

    Dawnay Day QuantumProtected Commodities Turbo IV

  • Duffy quits Hamptons after six-year spell

    16 Apr 2007

    Hamptons Mortgages managing director Kevin Duffy has quit the broker and is on gardening leave for the next six months. It is not clear what his next move will be but it is thought he will remain in the intermediary market.Duffy says: “I will take some time off and spend some more time with my family. I have been there for six and a half years and there are some exciting challenges out there.”

  • Edward Jones attacked over door-to-door sales

    12 Apr 2007

    Firm defends approach as doorstepped advisers call for end to 'prehistoric practices'

  • Edward Jones door-knocking tactics attacked

    12 Apr 2007

    This week Money Marketing highlighted worries over the selling strategies of a certain American adviser firm and stockbroker.

  • EMXCo and Euroclear set up fund liaison group

    17 Apr 2007

    Euroclear and EMXCo have formed a funds liaison group made up of senior executives from the industry.

  • Ethical first from Seven

    13 Apr 2007

    Seven Investment Management has introduced its first ethical fund in response to the growing demand for funds that do not compromise an investor’s principles.

  • Euro Equitable row escalates

    11 Apr 2007

    The row between members of the European Parliament Equitable Life committee has escalated with Conservative MEP Sir Robert Atkins accusing Labour MEPs of trying to wreck the report for political gain.

  • Euro stars

    12 Apr 2007

    With most of the European economies improving, European shares should also improve, particularly smaller company shares where there is a large amount of takeover and merger activity and a lot of undervalued niche firms.

  • Exchange links with IntelliFlo for two-way quote services

    12 Apr 2007

    The Exchange's quotation and new business service, Exweb, will now deliver further integration with Intelligent Office, the back office system from IntelliFlo.

  • Fidelity appoints new director of UK real estate

    13 Apr 2007

    Fidelity has appointed Alison Puhar to join its real estate senior management team as director of UK real estate.

  • Fortune favours Mom structure

    12 Apr 2007

    Hedge fund multi-manager Fortune Asset Management expects its closed-ended market wizards fund to list on the London Stock Exchange within four weeks.

  • FSA bans broker for PPI and and GAP failings

    11 Apr 2007

    The Financial Services Authority has banned a broker from carrying out regulated activities for management failures and a lack of skill, care and diligence.

  • FSA delays changes to FOS funding due to case number volatility

    11 Apr 2007

    The FSA has delayed any proposals to reform the funding of the Financial Ombudsman Service due to “significant volatility” in case numbers experienced by the FOS.

  • FSA drops plans for dual listings

    12 Apr 2007

    The FSA has scrapped its dual-listing proposals after industry and Government concerns they risked allowing a re-run of the split-cap crisis and will now consult on a new single listing regime for all UK and overseas investment companies.

  • FSA must be more decisive on single premiums

    12 Apr 2007

    I have had my fair share of abuse from people who seem to be fed up with me banging the drum about consumer protection and the raw deal that too many people get when buying payment protection insurance.

  • FSA says it is tough with errant small firms

    13 Apr 2007

    The FSA says it maintained a tough stance towards small firms that failed to meet its minimum standards in 2006/07.

  • FSA says wrong time for FOS change

    16 Apr 2007

    There was disappointing news from the FSA last week after the regulator announced it was to delay any changes to the way the Financial Ombudsman Service is funded.

  • FSA turns to sub-prime and lifetime mortgages

    12 Apr 2007

    The FSA will focus on sub-prime and lifetime loans in the second stage of its mortgage effectiveness review.

  • FSA warns senior managers after £30k fine

    12 Apr 2007

    The Financial Services Authority has fined the ex-finance director of a former ING subsidiary £30,000 for breaches of FSA principles by “failing to exercise due skill, care and diligence in carrying out his role”.

  • FSA's placement plan casts shadow on IFAs

    12 Apr 2007

    The FSA's plans to have members of its staff shadow IFAs at work has met with a mixed response from the industry.

  • FTBs hit by rising interest rates

    16 Apr 2007

    First-time buyers are shunning the housing market due to rising interest rates, according to Propertyfinder.com.

  • GE firms are turning to Tomorrow

    12 Apr 2007

    GE Life and GE Pensions have rebranded as Tomorrow following Swiss Re's takeover of the retirement specialist last October.

  • GMAC upgrades website for intermediaries

    17 Apr 2007

    GMAC-RFC has claimed it has made its on-line system even faster and easier to use.

  • GMAC-RFC offers rate/ redemption swap deal on adverse loan

    12 Apr 2007

    GMAC-RFC has set up an adverse product that it claims offers the UK's first-ever rate/ redemption swap.

  • Godiva Mortgages - Five Year Fixed Fee Free MOREgage

    13 Apr 2007

    Godiva MortgagesFive Year Fixed Fee Free MOREgage

  • Grave concerns

    12 Apr 2007

    A couple are advised to take maximum pension income rather than risk leaving it to the Chancellor in tax charges.

  • Green light for carbon-neutral schemes from HBOS and L&C

    12 Apr 2007

    The mortgage industry is stepping up its campaign to become more environmentally friendly, with HBOS and broker London & Country unveiling new initiatives.

  • G-reit expectations

    12 Apr 2007

    Gregor Watt reports on a massive potential market opening up now that Germany has brought in Reits.

  • Guide gives smoothing details on fund returns

    12 Apr 2007

    LV= is offering a guide to its with-profits funds to assist advisers when reviewing customers' investments.

  • Hargreaves to float on LSE this summer

    16 Apr 2007

    Hargreaves Lansdown has confirmed it will continue with its initial public offering of shares and will be listed on the London Stock Exchange this summer.

  • Hay divides IFA operations

    12 Apr 2007

    James Hay has restructured its IFA broker operations, with Shaun Sandiford and Damien Conway taking over the South and North respectively in a move that sees the former role of Stefano del Federico, who resigned this month, split into two.

  • Hedging the bets

    12 Apr 2007

    Hedge funds Helen Pow reports on the retailisation of funds of hedge funds.

  • Hip task

    12 Apr 2007

    Guy Anker looks at the latest changes to home information packs.

  • Homeloans website claims to cut out advice

    12 Apr 2007

    A new company claims borrowers can skip the advice process and use its price comparison website to source a mortgage.

  • Hook, lien and sinker

    12 Apr 2007

    Aegon fixed-income manager Iain Buckle says the American sub-prime crisis is bringing problems in the fixed-income sector as borrowers are defaulting and leaving second-lien mortgages which have been sold on by the lenders and packaged to investors as asset-backed securities.

  • HSBC’s Bric freestyle fund re-opened

    13 Apr 2007

    HSBC Investments has reopened its GIF BRIC Freestyle fund less than a year after closing the vehicle to new investment.

  • IFAs want support for with-profits

    12 Apr 2007

    Nearly three-quarters of IFAs believe providers do not give them suitable training and information on with-profits, according to Aifa research.

  • Inflation adjusted

    12 Apr 2007

    Nick Kirwan, protection marketing manager at Scottish Widows, says advisers should assess their individual clients' personal rate of inflation when it comes to considering protection needs.

  • Interest rate held but rise forecast in May

    12 Apr 2007

    It is the third consecutive month that the rate has remained the same. The market can breathe a sigh of relief as many had feared that a rise would dampen demand for mortgages. However, commentators are suggesting that the BoE is only delaying the inevitable rise.

  • Isa lolly

    12 Apr 2007

    Our panel look at Isa demand and how investors are splitting their cash, retail hedge funds and the growth of private equity.

  • Johnson remains as CEO, says Pos Sol

    17 Apr 2007

    Positive Solutions chief executive Neil Johnson will remain at the firm despite being made a partner of executive chairman David Harrison’s new spin-off True Potential.

  • JP Morgan playing the team game

    12 Apr 2007

    Chris Salih profiles the fund firm's future after losing Ajay Ghambir.

  • Jupiter explores European income

    13 Apr 2007

    Jupiter is launching a European income fund that will enable investors looking for income to diversify across continental Europe, where dividend yields are rising to levels that are similar to the UK.

  • Kirwan quits Scottish Widows

    17 Apr 2007

    Nick Kirwan has resigned from Scottish Widows where he was protection marketing director for just under three years.

  • KPMG alters web report in dispute over 'IFA' definition

    12 Apr 2007

    KPMG has responded to industry pressure by amending the wording of a report published on the FSA's website to avoid confusing consumers with its use of the term "IFA".

  • Lighthouse arm receives Sipp authorisation

    13 Apr 2007

    Lighthouse Group's City Trustees division has received authorisation from the FSA to establish and operate personal pension schemes including Sipps with effect from April 6.

  • LV= and Bright Grey revamp CI cover

    11 Apr 2007

    LV= and Bright Grey have revamped their critical illness cover in light of the Association of British Insurers new definitions for CI.

  • Martin Currie - GF Asia Pacific Fund

    13 Apr 2007

    Martin CurrieGF Asia Pacific Fund

  • May surgeries for FSA on south coast

    12 Apr 2007

    The FSA is offering financial advisers, mortgage intermediaries and general insurance brokers in Bournemouth, Portsmouth and Southampton free surgeries. The regulator visits Bournemouth on May 15, Portsmouth on May 16 and Southampton on May 17.

  • Merricks says 20 per cent of CI policies are invalid

    12 Apr 2007

    Financial Ombudsman Service chief ombudsman Walter Merricks says one in five people with critical illness policies may have policies that are actually invalid.

  • Midas joins forces with Legal & General

    12 Apr 2007

    Midas Capital's balanced income and balanced growth funds are now available through Legal & General's life and pensions products, following the completion of a distribution link between the two companies.

  • Moneyfacts retreats in row over societies' merger

    12 Apr 2007

    Moneyfacts has been forced into an embarrassing apology to Portman Building Society after criticising the documentation for its proposed merger with Nationwide.

  • Mortgage debt rises for pensioners

    12 Apr 2007

    UK pensioners are carrying £98bn of mortgage debt into retirement which could be storing up a future timebomb, according to research from Key Retirement Solutions.

  • MP calls for debate on Swiss banks

    12 Apr 2007

    A Labour backbencher has called for a Parliamentary debate on Swiss financial services firms operating in the UK after two of his constituents lost 2m.

  • Multiple choice

    12 Apr 2007

    A wealth of investment choice poses problems for advisers and clients. What are the solutions?

  • Name game

    12 Apr 2007

    Now I know for certain that the captains for the financial services industry have completely lost the plot.

  • Nepgen joins Threadneedle

    12 Apr 2007

    Threadneedle has recruited Pauline Nepgen from Investec Asset Management for its global equities team. She will be responsible for covering technology and telecoms, with regional responsibility for Asia.

  • Never mind Santander...

    12 Apr 2007

    Never mind Santander sponsoring the British GP, Paradigm chief executive Paul Hogarth should be fancying himself as the next Lewis Hamilton as he and team mate Darren Knutton won the 2007 Britcar Championship at Silverstone a couple of weekends ago. The pair, in their Paradigm-sponsored In2 Racing Porsche 997GT3, braved the tricky conditions for two hours to win the inaugural counter of the 2007 Britcar Championship. Hogie drove for one hour 20 minutes before handing over to Knutton, ...

  • No FSA guidance on orphaned clients

    12 Apr 2007

    The FSA has no plans to publish guidance for orphaned Sipp clients and is likely to take a reactive approach to firms operating illegally as it has no ready means of identifying them.

  • NZ brokers may see commission halved

    12 Apr 2007

    Mortgage brokers in New Zealand are facing a crisis as major lenders consider halving commission.

  • Offshore amnesty could bring in billions for Treasury

    17 Apr 2007

    Tax specialists say the offshore amnesty announced today by HM Revenue and Customs could bring billions of pounds into the Treasury.

  • Out of Context

    11 Apr 2007

    "I can be seen dragging tyres around my local park. If you drag tyres around a park, you attract a lot of attention, particularly from dogs and council workers."

  • Paine continues

    12 Apr 2007

    Simon Read, money editor of The People and acting deputy business editor of The Daily Mirror, told all and sundry via headlinemoney last week that he thought the Liverpool Vic rebrand was shoehorning luncheon vouchers into the financial services pages.He then made the link to Cynthia Paine, the St Reatham madam who accepted LVs "in return for, um, sexual favours."

  • Pensions calculator assesses Chancellor's pensions raid damage

    16 Apr 2007

    Brewin Dolphin Securities has launched Pension Tax Calculator to help people assess the damage caused by Gordon Brown's tax raid to their savings.

  • PFS asks members for views on wrap

    12 Apr 2007

    The Personal Finance Society is to consult members on their use of wrap in the form of a short questionnaire with the results to be used in the PFS's discussions with the FSA over wraps and platforms.

  • Positive Solutions adds to flotation points plan

    12 Apr 2007

    Positive Solutions has extended its incentive scheme to reward advisers with additional bonus points that will be converted into shares ahead of its proposed 2009 flotation.

  • Preferred Mortgages - Near Prime Extra One Year Fixed Rate

    13 Apr 2007

    Preferred MortgagesNear Prime Extra One Year Fixed Rate

  • Property Special Report: Correlation street

    12 Apr 2007

    Three key words for property investors are location, location, location. For investors who want to reduce the level of risk in a portfolio, three important words are diversification, diversification, diversification.

  • Property Special Report: Home on the range

    12 Apr 2007

    A voracious appetite for all things property has brought a surge in the number of funds specialising in what was once a niche investment.

  • Property Special Report: Continental drift

    12 Apr 2007

    COMMERCIAL PROPERTY Annie Shaw looks at whether investors should be making a move into continental Europe.

  • Property Special Report: Dial tone

    12 Apr 2007

    PROFILE: Clare Bettelley interviews Brett Robinson, chief executive of Seven Dials Consulting.

  • Property Special Report: London calling

    12 Apr 2007

    PROFILE: Samantha Downes interviews ING Real Estate Management Company chief executive Stephen Pyne.

  • Property Special Report: Making comparisons

    12 Apr 2007

    FUNDS Gregor Watt considers the difficulties of assessing comparative property fund performance.

  • Providers confused on protection signatures

    12 Apr 2007

    Protection providers are disappointed after the Association of British Insurers omitted customer signatures from its draft guidance on telephone and online applications.

  • Pru rules out compensation to annuitants

    12 Apr 2007

    Prudential has refused to compensate thousands of pensioners who face a higher tax bill this year because it gave HM Revenue & Customs the wrong tax codes.

  • PSigma fund shines in dull Isa season

    12 Apr 2007

    Bill Mott's new PSigma income fund was one of the big winners in what has been a broadly disappointing Isa season.

  • PTA pipeline deadline extended

    12 Apr 2007

    The Treasury and HM Revenue & Customs have extended the deadline for pipeline PTA business to July 31 following pressure from the ABI.

  • Raiders on the storm

    12 Apr 2007

    Last year, speaking at a series of IFA dinners held around the UK, a number of advisers were quick to slate the media. Why don't we write about things that really matter, was the common refrain.

  • Rate-rise looms as inflation hits 3.1 per cent

    17 Apr 2007

    Inflation hit 3.1 per cent in March prompting speculation of a quarter point interest rate rise next month.

  • Resolute

    12 Apr 2007

    Following your article on the "rebranding of Abbey by Santander", I wish to correct part of your statement.

  • Risk Placement claims big time savings online

    12 Apr 2007

    Risk Placement Services says it has set aggressive distribution targets for this year and extended its service to advisers through three networks, including Sesame.

  • River and Mercantil Asset Management - UK Unconstrained Fund

    13 Apr 2007

    River and Mercantil Asset ManagementUK Unconstrained Fund

  • Roberts on advisory board at SimplyBiz

    12 Apr 2007

    Former Skandia investment chief Jim Roberts has joined the advisory board at SimplyBiz. Roberts left Skandia last summer after 26 years with the firm.

  • Rooftop extends RTB range to 90% LTV

    12 Apr 2007

    Rooftop Mortgages is extending its right-to-buy product range to 90 per cent loan to value through its packagers.

  • Royal Bank of Scotland ditches packagers

    12 Apr 2007

    Royal Bank of Scotland Intermediary Partners will no longer accept business from packagers.

  • ScotLife slams Sipp providers' charges

    12 Apr 2007

    Scottish Life has hit out at rivals for being "economical with the truth" on Sipp charges, warning that advisers could soon face a wave of misselling complaints under the new regulatory regime.

  • Scottish Widows - Retirement Account

    13 Apr 2007

    Scottish WidowsRetirement Account

  • Seminars for business cover

    12 Apr 2007

    Aegon Scottish Equitable is running seminars for advisers to offer support and information on writing business protection.

  • Shredded surplus

    12 Apr 2007

    Until recently, I had always thought the Investment Management Association was a more up to date trade body and one that the ABI should considering copying.

  • Simon Chamberlain

    12 Apr 2007

    A spell of gardening leave gave this founding partner of J Rothschild Assurance time to reflect on life. So, as he sets out on the acquisition trail as chief executive of Thinc Group - now part of the Axa stable - he stresses that it is what you are, not who you are, that is important. Interview by Sam Shaw

  • Sipp mis-buying - not misselling - is the problem, says Vantis

    12 Apr 2007

    Vantis, the AIM-listed business advisory, tax and accountancy firm, is rejecting warnings from some IFAs that Sipps could be the subject of the next mis-selling scandal, claiming instead that investors have bought into them sometimes in spite of advice that they are not the right vehicle.

  • Sipp shake-up is on the way

    12 Apr 2007

    James Salmon says regulation is set to bring a fallout for firms.

  • Sipp storm brewing

    12 Apr 2007

    Sipp regulation has dominated the world of pensions this week, something Gordon Brown must be pleased about.

  • Skandia puts £20m in New Star fund

    12 Apr 2007

    Skandia Investment Management has invested over £20m into the New Star equity income fund following the recent appointment of Stephen Whittaker as manager. Whittaker is also a manager within Skandia's UK and global best ideas funds.

  • Small beginnings

    12 Apr 2007

    Child trust funds Families are embracing the CTF but advisers are being slow to take advantage of the UK's first universal savings product, now two years old. The Children's Mutual chief executive David White reveals why he thinks it is important for advisers to become involved.

  • Software firms hit back at monolithic accusation

    12 Apr 2007

    Capita and Vertex have defended their sales practices after support service provider Threesixty accused them of a monolithic approach to technology that restricts IFAs' options.

  • SPPM looks for Vietnam growth

    12 Apr 2007

    Smith & Pinching Portfolio Management's strategy of investing in funds that are not commonly supported by other multi-managers has prompted it to invest in a Vietnamese equity fund.

  • Standard is slammed for contacting adviser clients

    12 Apr 2007

    Standard Life has come under fire from advisers who feel they are being undermined because the firm is sending their clients information on with-profits directly.

  • Standard Life calling for single pension regulator

    12 Apr 2007

    Standard Life has called for one regulator to oversee all pension provision due to the convergence of trust-based and contract-based defined-contribution schemes.

  • Strength in numbers

    12 Apr 2007

    Economic data suggests the fundamentals remain supportive for the UK economy.

  • Support services firm opens

    12 Apr 2007

    National IFA 2Plan has started operations. The firm has been set up by former Positive Solutions directors Chris Smallwood and Chris Davies and is backed by Standard Life. It will provide support services to self-employed IFAs.

  • Suspicious mind

    12 Apr 2007

    More tributes come flowing into the Diary for Liverpool Victoria's terrific new rebrand. An unnamed pension guru penned this little thought: "As you are no doubt aware, the mathematical symbol = means 'equals', or more loosely, 'is'.

  • SVM Asset Management - SVM Savings Scheme For Children

    13 Apr 2007

    SVM Asset ManagementSVM Savings Scheme For Children

  • SVM plan adds up for kids

    13 Apr 2007

    SVM Asset ManagementSVM Savings Scheme For Children

  • SWIP appoints Quantrill as head of bond product

    17 Apr 2007

    SWIP has appointed Gareth Quantrill as head of bond product, a newly created role, within its global bonds and economics team.

  • Tax on overseas property scrapped from 2008

    11 Apr 2007

    British people with overseas private properties will benefit from a new tax bonus, says Assetz.

  • Taylor Young Investment Management - CF Taylor Young International Equity

    13 Apr 2007

    Taylor Young Investment ManagementCF Taylor Young International Equity

  • Taylor Young Investment Management - CF Taylor Young Opportunistic Fund

    13 Apr 2007

    Taylor Young Investment ManagementCF Taylor Young Opportunistic Fund

  • TD Waterhouse introduce multi-currency Sipp

    12 Apr 2007

    TD Waterhouse has announced the launch of an optional multi-currency facility on its Self-invested personal pension (Sipp).

  • Tech firm claims to realise True Potential

    12 Apr 2007

    Positive Solutions executive chairman David Harrison's new technology support venture will launch as True Potential LLP.

  • The FOS way

    12 Apr 2007

    Amilestone was passed recently when proposals for a fairer compensation scheme were published by the FSA. This was a matter of highest importance to Aifa members and saw us lobby vigorously to bring about change. The time is now right to address reform of the Financial Ombudsman Scheme.

  • The good Sipp

    12 Apr 2007

    Will regulation have passed like a Sipp in the night by the time you read this? The Sipp market is now regulated and providers and advisers alike will feel the scrutiny of the FSA.

  • The hard stuff

    12 Apr 2007

    The market correction in February was telling. Many factors were blamed for the sell-off but one of the main concerns is the trend in US earnings which is definitively downwards.

  • The jewel of the nil

    12 Apr 2007

    Nil-rate band planning for inheritance tax can be a very effective strategy.

  • The review from here

    12 Apr 2007

    In the second of two articles on regulation, Harry Katz of Norwest Consultants, turns his attention to the FSA's retail distribution review.

  • The spins of commission

    12 Apr 2007

    Forget all the media scare stories about up-front commission, says Lifesearch head of protection strategy Kevin Carr, as pure protection is an area of financial services where commission can serve the consumer well.

  • The tired stereotype of commission junkies

    12 Apr 2007

    As a member of eight years standing of one of the Tenet Group's AR networks, I read Simon Hudson's piece in the March 29 edition of MM headlined, Gloom Service, with absolute incredulity.

  • The transformation

    12 Apr 2007

    Wrap services are changing the industry and we believe Skandia Wrap has been at the forefront of this development.

  • Threadneedle Investments - China Opportunities Fund

    13 Apr 2007

    Threadneedle InvestmentsChina Opportunities Fund

  • Threshold rise still sees 40% in tax trap

    12 Apr 2007

    Almost four in 10 homeowners will still be caught in the inheritance tax net despite the increase in the nil-rate band, warns Scottish Widows.

  • Tilney sells off funds in private client move

    12 Apr 2007

    New Star has bought three fundsthe 34m European growth, 40m UK equity and 115m UK fixed-interest portfolios - with BlackRock taking Tilney's 10m US growth fund.

  • Tories table no confidence motion against the Chancellor

    17 Apr 2007

    The Conservatives have tabled a motion of no confidence in Gordon Brown over his handling of occupational pensions, the first time the Chancellor has faced such a charge in office.

  • Tories to quiz Brown over pension raid

    12 Apr 2007

    Opposition parties are continuing to make hay out of the revelations over advice given to the Chancellor before his raid on pension funds with the Conservatives lining up a special Parliamentary debate on the issue.

  • Towry Law sets benchmark of financial planning diploma

    12 Apr 2007

    Towry Law is aiming to raise professional standards by setting the Chartered Insurance Institute's diploma in financial planning as its minimum benchmark qualification by the end of 2008.

  • UBS creates new roles as it looks to expand its UK retail sales team

    11 Apr 2007

    UBS Global Asset Management has today announced an expansion of its retail sales team as John Shepherd and Warren Tonkinson are promoted into senior roles to help capture future growth opportunities in the distribution arena.

  • UCB Home Loans - Self Cert Three Year Flexible Fixed

    13 Apr 2007

    UCB Home LoansSelf Cert Three Year Flexible Fixed

  • 'UK sub-prime not exposed to US stresses'

    12 Apr 2007

    CML says market differences will buoy up UK lending

  • UnumProvident rebrands as Unum

    11 Apr 2007

    UnumProvident is to shorten its name to Unum and introduce a new corporate identity from today.The move follows the decision of its US parent UnumProvident Corporation to change its corporate identity to Unum Group.The roll out of the new corporate identity will be complete by the end of the year.

  • UPA launches new website

    16 Apr 2007

    The United Packagers Association has announced the launch of a new website for intermediaries.

  • US firm seeks second distribution partner

    12 Apr 2007

    US manager of managers specialist SEI Investments says it is making progress in its search for a second UK distribution partner as it looks to target high-net-worth clients.

  • Use wrap or lose business

    12 Apr 2007

    Advisers who not prepared to raise their game in the current wrap environment deserve to lose business to those companies that embrace it, says Beckett Financial Services.

  • Vava boom

    12 Apr 2007

    Money Marketing would like to express their gratitude to secret boom maestro Danny Cormack for his help with MMTV on Budget day.Danny is not only our very fabulous display advertising sales executive but is also a dab hand with a boom mic, doing a sterling job with the Cantos crew.Nice one, Danny. Same time next year? No commission on that though, we're afraid.

  • Venture scouts

    12 Apr 2007

    With another tax year now gone, I think it is worth reflecting on the state of the venture capital trust industry. After the boom years of 2004/05 and 2005/06, last tax year was always going to struggle to compete following the changes in tax benefits.

  • Websites frustrate borrowers

    12 Apr 2007

    Irrelevant and inappropriate websites are a turn-off for borrowers looking to make online mortgage applications, says online user experience consultancy Foolproof.

  • We'll meet again

    12 Apr 2007

    Spending more time with clients is probably the best way for advisers to increase their income. The problem is time is a scarce resource and travelling to meetings can take as much time as the meetings themselves.

  • What’s in a brand?

    11 Apr 2007

    Perhaps less is more when it comes to branding.

  • Winterthur ties up with Mott for PSigma fund launch

    11 Apr 2007

    Winterthur has launched the Winterthur PSigma Income Fund.

  • Won't get fooled again

    12 Apr 2007

    Investors asking 'Who are you?' when considering hedge funds should be cautious.

  • Woodford warns of slowdown

    12 Apr 2007

    Invesco Perpetual star manager says effect of recent interest rate rises is finally being felt in the UK market

  • Zurich finally unveils its A-Day range

    12 Apr 2007

    Zurich is finally introducing its new pension offering more than a year after A-Day.

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