Money Marketing
11 May 2005

  • A financial planner's view - Barry Laymond

    12 May 2005

    Do we need multi-manager funds and are they really the panacea for those wishing to entrust their monies to investment houses?

  • Abbey made FSA threat after fee error

    12 May 2005

    Abbey has been forced to apologise to Abacus Assurance Financial for threatening FSA action against the broker for the return of money that it had incorrectly paid to another company.

  • Aberdeen appoints new emerging markets head

    13 May 2005

    Aberdeen Asset Managers has appointed Devan Kaloo as head of global emerging market equities based in London.

  • ABI appoints McCarthy to head up pensions

    17 May 2005

    Helen McCarthy has been promoted to head of pensions and savings at the ABI.McCarthy takes over from Joanne Segars, who has since left to join the NAPF. McCarthy is an internal appointment and she was previously a pensions policy adviser to the ABI.Prior to the ABI, she worked for both the Treasury and the DWP.

  • ABI working on anti-fraud network

    11 May 2005

    The Association of British Insurers is developing a fraud detection system enabling insurers to access information on previous claims made under a particular name by linking up to other fraud detection networks. The ABI hopes to bring together in one place information held by a number of databases holding claims and fraud information. The new system, due to be completed by the end of 2005 aims at reducing the estimated 1bn a year made by fraudsters in insurance scams.

  • Absolute move for Merrill

    12 May 2005

    Merrill Lynch is introducing what it claims is the first long/short fund with hedge fund characteristics.

  • Advisers alerted to expat business as overseas move grows

    12 May 2005

    IFAs have a growing opportunity to advise clients living abroad as increasing numbers of Britons are deciding to live overseas, says the Association of International Life Offices.

  • Aifa's view - David Severn

    12 May 2005

    Looking back at the 1999 report establishing Aifa, it is interesting to note the enthusiasm and optimism about the extent to which technological developments were thought likely to revolutionise the way that people do business.

  • All or nothing

    12 May 2005

    Philip Scott looks at rise and fall of the giant UK All Companies sector.

  • Back book to the future

    12 May 2005

    Borrowers have been encouraged to move between mortgage deals but now lenders face the problem of encouraging them to stay. Mortgage Intelligence managing director Sally Laker looks at how lenders are approaching the challenge of client retention

  • Bankhall says it's business as usual, despite Old Mutual talks with parent

    13 May 2005

    Old Mutuals early stage discussions with Skandia looking at a total buyout of the firm will have no immediate effect on Bankhall, Skandias UK-based IFA support business.

  • Barings brings long-short fund to UK

    11 May 2005

    Barings Asset Management is launching a new long and short equities hedge fund, managed out of Tokyo. The hedge fund will launch this summer and will be managed by Joji Maki, with full details to be announced in four to six weeks. This will be Barings second hedge fund to be set up in Asia, following the first single strategy hedge fund established in China last year.

  • Big profits from protection on the high street

    12 May 2005

    Banks and lenders are making huge profits from payment protection insurance and mortgage payment protection des-pite the plans being flagged up as areas of concern by the FSA.

  • Bonds on the run

    12 May 2005

    In 1999, I invested 100,000 in with- profits bonds because I wanted a regular flow of income and the prospect of some capital growth without too much investment risk. I already had some with-profits endowment policies which seemed to have done well. I thought I had done the right thing at the time but now I am not so sure. Should I cash them in and invest elsewhere?

  • Brodie wants networks to tailor menus for IFAs

    12 May 2005

    Network IFAs should demand a bespoke payment menu if they want to make it clear that their firm is cheaper than their network's average rates, says Master Adviser chief executive Doug Brodie.

  • Charity begins at Calais

    12 May 2005

    Aegon head of business media Adrian Camm-idge is undertaking a gruelling 1,300-mile bike ride across France to raise money for a local cancer charity.

  • Chilton on Mortgages

    12 May 2005

    Topically, I should be reviewing the first six months of FSA regulation which passed over the bank holiday. Instead, I am going to focus on the cost impact of the Victorian approach that the majority of lenders are burdening the industry with, perhaps appropriate at a time when MG Rover collapses due to years of failing to move with the times.

  • Compulsion could be back on agenda

    12 May 2005

    The appointment of David Blunkett as Work and Pensions Secretary has increased the likelihood of compulsion, according to leading figures in the industry.

  • Concert to boost tsunami appeal

    12 May 2005

    The Bournemouth Philharmonic will play Prokofiev's Peter and The Wolf in May to support the Financial Services Charitable Foundation/Money Marketing tsunami appeal.

  • Correspondent's Week - Harvey Jones

    12 May 2005

    I am typing this while gazing across green fields dotted with sheep and hares. Yes, I am one of those irritating freelancers who's fled the rat race for the slower pace of life in the farmers' belt in Suffolk. And, to be quite frank, I miss you all.

  • Cummings confident over fee instalments for loan firms

    12 May 2005

    Association of Mortgage Intermediaries director Chris Cummings says he is confident that an announcement will be made "very soon" by the FSA on mortgage intermediaries pay- ing their regulatory fees by instalments.

  • Dalton Strategic Partnership launches Greater China opps fund

    16 May 2005

    DSP is launching the Melchior Greater China opps fund, to be managed by Henrietta Luk.

  • Did projections put policies out of focus?

    12 May 2005

    The thorny issue of endowment misselling has been stirred up again after IFA Defence Union chief Evan Owen called for a suspension of all misselling cases against IFAs while the confusion caused by Lautro projections is resolved.

  • Doubt removed on Hips but FTBs face problems

    12 May 2005

    A smaller majority may dent Labour's plans to expand the nation's housing stock but the market's focus remains firmly fixed on first-time buyers, the economy and home information packs.

  • Drawdown drawbacks

    12 May 2005

    Client fund size is the main barrier to recommending drawdown to clients, according to a GE Life survey conducted in association with Money Marketing.

  • Editorial: A hard road for Blunkett

    12 May 2005

    It almost seems like a case of another day another pensions minister under Tony Blair's Government. Former Home Sec-retary and Education Secretary David Blunkett is the new Work and Pensions Secre-tary. He replaces Alan Johnson, who had been making the right noises about pension reform although admittedly without completing any major initiatives.

  • Elderly use equity to boost pensions

    12 May 2005

    Homeowners released 1.5bn of equity out of their homes to boost their pensions last year, and more would consider doing so if the process were less complicated.

  • Ellis is out of line with members

    12 May 2005

    I entirely agree with the comments of Harry Katz and Alan Parkinson regarding John Ellis and the Personal Finance Society.

  • Equities equable as gap fears grow

    12 May 2005

    The investment industry says the re-election of Labour will not make much difference to equity markets but is encouraging the Government to address the savings gap.

  • Equity-release risk is too high for Nationwide

    12 May 2005

    Equity release still threatens to become a misselling scandal, according to Nationwide chief executive Philip Williamson, who is ruling out a launch of a release product by the society in the short term.

  • Executive stress

    12 May 2005

    Standard Life marketing technical manager John Lawson shows how taking out an executive pension plan before A-Day can bring big knock-on benefits.

  • Experience counts as much as exams

    12 May 2005

    As one of the people referred to by Filip Slipaczek in his letter last week, I find his comments are typical of the pomposity and portentousness shown by some ex-Sofa members about lesser-qualified advisers.

  • FARROW's VIEW

    12 May 2005

    I have an abiding memory of Ian Botham marching up the pavilion steps at Lords after bagging a pair in the famous 1981 Ashes series. You could hear a pin drop as, in a show of disgust, the MCC members turned up their noses and blanked him. It was as though they were saying: "Look here, Botham, your maverick manner and cavalier ways aren't cricket, old boy."

  • Fed aims to cool inflation

    12 May 2005

    Schroders chief economist Keith Wade analyses the implications of the latest rate rise in the US and looks at investment opportunities around the globe.

  • Fee fie

    12 May 2005

    Our panel discuss whether recent hikes in fund charges can be justified and predict where value will come from in the next 12 months.

  • Freedom offers rate cuts for punctual payments

    12 May 2005

    Freedom Lending is setting up a sub-prime mortgage range that rewards adverse-credit borrowers with records with lower rates for making payments on time.

  • FSA calls for reduction in KFI length

    17 May 2005

    The FSA is calling for a reduction in the length of KFIs in a letter sent to mortgage lenders this week.The move coincides with a factsheet the regulator will also send out to brokers covering concerns about the accuracy of initial disclosure documents.FSA spokesman Robin Gordon Walker says some KFIs are longer than they need to be with many lenders including extra information that does not have to appear.Gordon Walker says guidelines for the documents are very specific and ...

  • FSA pledges crackdown on phoenix companies

    12 May 2005

    The FSA is to clamp down on phoenix firms amid pressure from IFAs and trade bodies angered by increased Financial Services Compensation Scheme levies.

  • FSA says IFAs are still failing fairness test

    12 May 2005

    The FSA is still finding widespread evidence of poor advice in the IFA market, according to managing director retail markets Clive Briault.

  • FSA set for FSCS rethink

    12 May 2005

    The FSA is understood to be looking at restructuring funding blocks for FSCS fees following criticism that some sectors have been paying too much.

  • FSA warns on India outsourcing

    11 May 2005

    The FSA is warning the industry that outsourcing services to India carries risks and cautions that high staff turnover blights many operations.The regulator, in a guidance brief, acknowledges comparatively cheap well-educated staff are plentiful and the country has strong IT, but also warns of the political backlash back in the UK from such arrangements which anger local workers.

  • FSCS steps in to assist Whiteley customers

    11 May 2005

    The FSCS is stepping in to assist customers of Whiteley Insurance Consultants.

  • Gartmore - Gartmore Fledgling Trust

    16 May 2005

    GartmoreGartmore Fledgling Trust

  • Gartmore is adding M&G fund to boost large-cap exposure

    12 May 2005

    Gartmore has added the M&G capital fund to four multi-manager funds to increase UK large-cap exposure through a fund which it describes as "benchmark-aware but not benchmark-constrained".

  • Hanging on the telephone

    12 May 2005

    The impact of Marconi's share price collapse highlights the effect that a single stock can have on a fund manager's performance.

  • Hard choices on software

    12 May 2005

    Increasing numbers of life companies are reporting that as much as 70 per cent of their new business for certain products is being originated electronically.

  • Hedge probe to report in June

    11 May 2005

    The FSA says its investigation into the hedge fund industry will report at the end of the second quarter. The probe, launched in January, has involved visits to hedge fund firms, checking dealing data and taking written submissions from fund managers.

  • High cost of the high street

    12 May 2005

    The FSA is sweeping into the MPPI market to look at lenders' prices and practices.

  • Home reversion to be regulated within 18 months

    17 May 2005

    Todays Queens speech will include plans to regulate the home reversion side of the equity release market.

  • Hornbuckle switches to plc and plans float

    12 May 2005

    Hornbuckle Mitchell is set to become a public limited company by the end of the month, with a view to listing on Aim next year.

  • Idol threat?

    12 May 2005

    Sounds like fun in store at the Jersey-based Active Asset Management property investment fund AGMs.

  • IFAs react to Old Mutual plans to buy Skandia

    13 May 2005

    IFAs have been reacting to news that Old Mutual is in talks to stage a total buyout of Skandia.

  • Inappropriate for PFS members to air concerns in public

    12 May 2005

    As a member of the Personal Finance Society and one of its regional volunteers, I am very concerned that some members of the society seem to think it a good idea to conduct a discussion with the society through the pages of Money Marketing.

  • Independent view - Tom Warwick

    12 May 2005

    The general election is over and soon the daily ritual of clearing a path through the numerous election publicat- ions which seem to fall through the letterbox every time you are not looking will seem like a dim and distant memory.

  • Inflation figures to hit seven year high, says MPC

    16 May 2005

    Inflation figures are set to hit a seven-year high this week, boosted by higher petrol prices and Budget tax rises.

  • Invesco Perpetual chief warns of further rate rise

    12 May 2005

    The UK market faces another interest rate rise before the rate cycle hits its peak, stifling equity returns, warns Invesco Perpetual head of investment trusts Andrew Watkins.

  • Investment view - Brian Tora

    12 May 2005

    Getting the asset allocation right is far more important to investment performance than stockpicking.

  • James buys CW for 1.2m

    12 May 2005

    IFA Timothy James & Partners has bought CW Financial Consultants, the financial services arm of Citroen Wells Chartered Accountants, for 1.2m.

  • JO Hambro closes Japan Fund

    12 May 2005

    JO Hambro has closed its Japan fund, managed by Scott McGlashan, at the pre-agreed level of 200m.

  • Julian Gibbs

    12 May 2005

    Since 2003, when New Star took over the running of its property trust, it has grown from around 135m to well over 480m, despite not being eligible for Isas.

  • Keydata launches residential property fund

    12 May 2005

    Keydata has launched its residential property fund limited partnership. The fund will give investors access to potential income tax relief of 40 per cent through a government incentive to develop the upper floors of retail and business units.

  • L&G goes beyond bare minimum

    11 May 2005

    Legal & General has established a fourth issue of the protected capital and growth plan 2, a FTSE 100 linked guaranteed equity bond that provides a full capital return plus a minimum level of growth after six years.

  • L&G races off

    12 May 2005

    The Legal & General accelerated growth investment plan 2 is a guaranteed equity bond which offers geared exposure to the FTSE 100 index over a six-year term.

  • 'Leave IT to the experts'

    12 May 2005

    Technology has become too complex for IFAs and they should leave it to specialist firms, Positive Solutions marketing manager Daniel Harrison told delegates at Money Marketing Live.

  • Leeds & Holbeck launches new fixed rate mortgage

    16 May 2005

    Leeds & Holbeck Building Society is launching a new 10-year fixed rate mortgage offering a rate of 4.99 per cent from March 17.

  • Legal & General - Protected Capital & Growth Plan 4

    13 May 2005

    Legal & GeneralProtected Capital & Growth Plan 4

  • Lenders move quickly to boost first-time sellers

    12 May 2005

    First-time sellers are set to be targeted with products from Halifax, Birmingham Midshires and Abbey through deals with Premier Mortgage Services.

  • Lifetime's experience

    12 May 2005

    The FSA's regulations have undoubtedly been a major burden on those operating in the lifetime mortgage sector. This is endorsed by many product providers as well as our own experience.

  • Lime launches GI introducer facility

    13 May 2005

    Lime, the Tenet Groups insurance and mortgage specialist arm is improving its general insurance proposition by introducing a GI introducer facility.

  • M&G appoints new marketing services director

    17 May 2005

    M&G has appointed Jacqui Haskins as its new marketing services director with effect from May 31.

  • Malone claims profit slump shows need to focus on FTS

    12 May 2005

    The tumbling profits of estate agents and housebuilders are a warning that the mortgage industry should change the way it targets the market, according to Premier Mortgage Management managing director John Malone.

  • Man Investments - MGS Diversified Opportunities

    12 May 2005

    Man InvestmentsMGS Diversified Opportunities

  • Market clarity will see profits soar, says Millfield chief

    12 May 2005

    Advisers could quadruple their profits after depolarisation if they make clear what part of the advice market they are in, but they risk misselling if they do not make it clear, says Millfield chief executive Paul Tebbutt.

  • McQuaker to lead Fof revamp with Husselbee set to leave Henderson

    12 May 2005

    Henderson Global Investors director of multi-manager John Husselbee is to leave the group in June as the firm sets out plans to revamp its fund of fund business significantly.

  • Mellon emerges with debt portfolio

    16 May 2005

    Mellon Global Investments has added the Mellon emerging markets debt portfolio to its Dublin-domiciled Mellon Global Funds range.

  • 'Menu means independent advice can only be offered face to face'

    12 May 2005

    Origen chief executive Gareth Marr is warning that the new payment menu system means that independent advice can only be offered face to face rather than over the phone or electronically.

  • Merrill Lynch Investment Managers - Merrill Lynch UK absolute Alpha Fund

    11 May 2005

    Merrill Lynch Investment ManagersMerrill Lynch UK Absolute Alpha Fund

  • Millfield sets up mortgage club

    12 May 2005

    Millfield Group is setting up a mortgage club this week, with development director Steve Cox leading the new venture.

  • Mortgage Express - 4.99% Fixed Rate Buy-to-Let

    11 May 2005

    Mortgage Express4.99% Fixed Rate Buy-to-Let

  • Muslim money

    12 May 2005

    A few financial services firms are finally turning to offering products suitable for Muslims.

  • N&P offers BTL mortgages to first time landlords

    17 May 2005

    Norwich & Peterborough is now offering a buy to let mortgage for first time landlords, with immediate effect. The provider has reassessed its lending criteria to now consider first time landlords to its BTL mortgages.

  • Newton chief slams 'rip-off' fund charges

    12 May 2005

    Many investment funds are a rip-off, with hidden charges often bringing the total expense ratio to double the stated annual management fee, claims Newton private client director Harry Morgan.

  • Nic Cicutti

    12 May 2005

    An editor whose professional opinions I have always respected once advised me that, when writing a column, one should never return to the same subject three times in a row.

  • Nigel Hopwood

    12 May 2005

    Assureweb's new managing director is a soul music DJ who has been through the financial services grapevine and is now hoping to make sweet wrap music.

  • Northern Rock - 2 Year Stepped Flexi Fixed (With Fee)

    12 May 2005

    Northern Rock - 2 Year Stepped Flexi Fixed (With Fee)

  • Norwich Union - Norwich Manager of Manager Cautious Fund

    17 May 2005

    Type: Oeic

  • Norwich Union - Norwich Manager of Manager Income Fund

    17 May 2005

    Norwich UnionNorwich Manager of Manager Income Fund

  • Norwich Union launches Manager of Managers funds with Aon

    16 May 2005

    Norwich Union has appointed Aon Asset Management to select managers for its new range of manager of manager funds.

  • OFT says no decision on averages appeal by Aifa until menu starts

    12 May 2005

    The Office of Fair Trading says it will not decide on Aifa's appeal against market averages in the payment menu until after the June deadline.

  • Old Mutual Asset Managers - UK Mid and Small Cap Hedge Fund

    13 May 2005

    Old Mutual Asset ManagersUK Mid and Small Cap Hedge Fund

  • Old Mutual in talks to buy Skandia's UK business

    13 May 2005

    Old Mutual is in early stage talks with Skandia about buying its UK business.

  • Osborne becomes Shadow Chancellor

    11 May 2005

    George Osborne has taken over from Oliver Letwin as shadow chancellor as part of Michael Howards cabinet reshuffle. Osborne, aged 33, was previously shadow chief secretary to the Treasury. Other moves include Malcolm Rifkind taking over from David Willetts as shadow work & pensions secretary with Willetts moving to shadow Alan Johnson at the Department for Productivity, Energy and Industry.

  • Out of context

    12 May 2005

    "Divorce is a huge opportunity." - Skipton CEO John Goodfellow.Did he cut it himself? Lifesearchs Linda Tyson raises the question on everyones mind with regard to MM editors latest haircut."Oh, I've forgotten his name." West Brom's Roger Smith getting his presentation off to a flying start."I would like to open up a chain of brothels but wouldn't because it's not legal." Skipton CEO John Goodfellow."Excuse me, do you have anything with which I can tie myself to my friend?" ...

  • Parvest funds come onshore

    11 May 2005

    BNP Paribas Asset Management is to enter the UK retail market, having registered 60 of its Parvest sub-funds in the UK since the relaxation of registration laws for offshore funds. UK investors will now have access to Parvest, a Luxembourg-based fund which conforms to Ucits regulations. It has 11bn in assets and is distributed in 23 countries largely through third party distributors. The umbrella fund offers a range of specialised sub-funds in all asset classes.

  • Paul Johnston joins Punter Southall Financial Management

    16 May 2005

    Former Chase de Vere managing director of private client business Paul Johnston has joined Punter Southall Financial Management as managing director.Johnston’s other previous roles include managing director of Momentum Financial Services, leading the sale of the business to Aegon in 2002. He was also managing director of Aon Consulting Financial Services & Healthcare.PSFM director Geoff Tresman has also been promoted to chairman.Sanlam Financial Services, PSFM’s parent company, ...

  • PI costs 'could kill off networks within a year'

    12 May 2005

    Skipton Building Society chief executive John Goodfellow forecasts that the cost of PI insurance could lead to the extinction of mortgage networks within the next 12 months.

  • Pigit blames shareholder apathy for failed STS bid

    12 May 2005

    The failure of Perpetual income and growth investment trust's bid for Securities Trust of Scotland was mainly due to the apathy of elderly and entrenched shareholders, says Invesco Perpetual.

  • Prepare for probe into MPPI sales, warns AMI

    12 May 2005

    The FSA is set to investigate the way that mortgage payment protection insurance is sold.

  • Priority planning

    12 May 2005

    Dean Mirfin Business development director, Key Retirement Solutions.

  • Product matters

    12 May 2005

    Borrowing in euro looks cheap at the moment so Charcol's decision to launch a euro mortgage is a timely one.

  • 'Property in Sipps could be the next misselling debacle'

    12 May 2005

    Property in pensions is likely to be the next big industry misselling scandal as Sipps hit the mainstream, warns Informed Choice managing director Nick Bamford.

  • Pru could start claim fightback

    12 May 2005

    The article on endowment-chasers in the April 28 issue of Money Marketing must have brought much satisfaction to honest and reputable IFAs who have had the misfortune to have dealt with claims' companies.

  • PYV chief says multi-tie PI fears are vanishing

    12 May 2005

    The PI market is softening and fears that multi-tied advisers will struggle to get cover are evaporating, says PYV chief executive Neil Pointon.

  • 'Regulation is pushing products off the shelf'

    12 May 2005

    Mortgage regulation has done a disservice to consumers by restricting innovation and leading to the withdrawal of some mortgage products, says new Building Societies Association chairman and Nationwide chief executive Philip Williamson.

  • Regulator fines Courtover 20,000

    11 May 2005

    The FSA has fined Courtover Investment Management 20,000 for approving a misleading financial promotion with the headline, Invest abroad and receive a 20 per cent return. The promotion was for a the issue of unlisted shares in a separate property investment company, Overseas Property Investments.

  • Regulator should declare who the Freemasons are

    12 May 2005

    There is no doubt in my mind that the FSA should declare who on its staff are members of the Freemasonry.

  • Release your potential

    12 May 2005

    The equity-release market is awash with new products, players and speculation about the huge potential for growth, with recent entries from Norwich Union and future moves from the likes of Bristol & West and Prudential.

  • Reshuffle sets up two camps

    12 May 2005

    Prime Minister Tony Blair's post-election reshuffle has seen a consolidation of Brownites at the Treasury with the top Department for Work and Pensions posts filled by Blair supporters.

  • Resolution links with Origen to aid Phoenix clients

    12 May 2005

    Resolution Life is teaming up with Aegon-owned Origen to provide independent advice to the three million customers within its Phoenix Life closed book portfolio.

  • Richard Verdin on insurance

    12 May 2005

    At Direct Life we measure everything, not just because we can but because it helps us to run our business using hard facts. We capture application progress timings for every event that can occur during the progress of a customer's application, from the point when the quote was first performed to the policy being issued and beyond.

  • Robert Reid

    12 May 2005

    Last week, I reverted to my childhood by buying a spanking new drum kit. For stress release, the drums have no equal and, with the potential bonus of forming a rhythm section with Lucian Camp, this was a purchase with no regrets. I had forgotten how good it felt to play the drums. I wish the clock could be turned back in this sector, too.

  • RSA sees 95 per cent increase in Q1 profits

    13 May 2005

    Royal & SunAlliance has reported a 95 per cent increase in operating profits to 160m in the first quarter 2005.

  • Santander slashes more Abbey jobs

    11 May 2005

    Banco Santander confirms it will be cutting 1,000 more jobs at Abbey than it originally expected taking the total number of job losses since the take-over to 4,000. When the bank acquired Abbey in November last year, it forecast the removal of 3,000 jobs in its cost-cutting programme. Around 2,400 posts have been identified to go and 1,000 jobs have already been cut. Back office roles will primarily be affected.

  • Schroders Head of Investment to Leave

    17 May 2005

    Schroders head of investment Richard Horlick has decided to step down from the board as of May 25th, and will leave the company later this year.

  • Schroders takes smid path

    12 May 2005

    SchrodersSchroder US Small & Mid Cap Fund

  • ScotEq in distribution first with Lighthouse

    12 May 2005

    Scottish Equitable is the first provider to sign a distribution agreement with Lighthouse Group's retirement division.

  • ScotEq sets up range of Sandler pensions

    12 May 2005

    Scottish Equitable is introducing a range of group and individual Sandler and Sandler-friendly pension products next month.

  • Scottish Widows unveils five year plan

    17 May 2005

    The Scottish Widows guaranteed investment bond is a five-year FTSE 100-linked guaranteed equity bond.

  • Service is a two-way street, L&G tells IFAs

    12 May 2005

    Service is a two-way street and advisers need to focus on improving their communications with providers, says Legal & General group product and corporate director John Pollock.

  • Ship to sure

    12 May 2005

    With the FSA regulating lifetime mortgages, brokers might wonder where that leaves Ship, which has acted as a self-regulating body since formation in 1991.

  • Skandia - Protected Portfolio Investment

    16 May 2005

    SkandiaProtecetd Portfolio Invsetment

  • Something's gotta give - Tony Wickenden

    12 May 2005

    Lifetime giving can reduce inheritance tax. But most people do not want to give, cannot give or, if they want to give, have to contend with three possible barriers - capital gains tax, the gift with reservation provisions and pre-owned assets tax. CGT rarely gets a mention but is an important factor for planners.

  • St.James's Place Capital adds to board

    16 May 2005

    St.James's Place Capital has bolstered its board with the appointment of two independent non-executive directors.Simon Gulliford, chief executive of marketing consultancy Simon Gullliford Limited, and Mike Power, professor of accounting and director of ESRC centre for analysis risk and regulation at the London School of Economics and Political Science, join following the retirement of Lord Weir and Anthony Loehnis.Gulliford was previously group marketing director of Barclays and ...

  • Sterling efffort from Merrill Lynch

    16 May 2005

    Merrill Lynch Investment ManagersMerrill Lynch UK Absolute Alpha Fund

  • Stick of rock

    12 May 2005

    Carl Stick tells Philip Scott how long-term thinking is the secret to the success of the 476m Rathbone income fund.

  • Sunny side

    12 May 2005

    Not content with enlightening us about the delights of the Hainault Sunrise, a new cocktail based on the unique and beautiful colouring of the Essex dawn, those kindly folk at Polhill have sent the Diary all the ingredients to make said tipple - vodka, bacardi, grenadine, orange juice, a dash of sugar and a twist of lemon.

  • Take out EPP now to beat lifetime limit, says Lawson

    12 May 2005

    Investors can effectively insure against breaking the lifetime allowance by taking out an executive pension plan ahead of A-Day, according to Standard Life marketing technical manager John Lawson.

  • Taxing questions for charitable trustees

    12 May 2005

    Following the introduction of the Trustee Act 2000 in England and Wales on February 1, 2001, trustees of charitable trusts who did not have wide investment abilities were granted increased statutory powers.

  • TCF is turning its sights on smaller firms

    12 May 2005

    The FSA has warned that its treating customers fairly initiative will target small firms and IFAs from next month.

  • The holistic trail

    12 May 2005

    Lifetime Group managing director Derek Noone shows how to maximise the value of an IFA's business.

  • The simple truth about IP

    12 May 2005

    There is agreement among both providers and advisers that real consumer needs revolve around protecting themselves and their dependants from the consequences of death, involuntary unemployment or long-term inability to earn an income.

  • The tower of babbleThe tower of babble

    12 May 2005

    Technology providers need to cut out the geekspeak and help reluctant users.

  • Three-year records set to increase interest in Midas

    12 May 2005

    Liverpool-based fund company Midas Capital expects increased IFA interest in its funds since they attained three-year track records.

  • Trillion pound baby

    12 May 2005

    The equity-release market is now 25 times its size a decade ago, with a total value of just under 4bn and over 83,000 lifetime mortgages. More than 15,000 lifetime mortgages - equity-release loans for older homeowners - worth 693m were advanced in the second half of 2004, according to research by the Council of Mortgage Lenders.

  • UK business the "jewel in Skandia's crown", says Cazalet

    13 May 2005

    Skandia's UK life business is the jewel in the group's Nordic crown, says Cazalet Consulting supremo Ned Cazalet.The South African financial services group has confirmed it is in talks with Skandia about acquiring the business but has not yet made a formal offer.

  • Under the influence

    12 May 2005

    Education and public awareness are vital to dispel disillusion over pensions.

  • Vertex completes Exchange purchase

    12 May 2005

    Vertex has completed the 95.3m acquisition of Marlborough Stirling, owner of The Exchange.Andy Hunt has been appointed managing director of Marlborough Stirling, replacing the old chief executive Mike OLeary who has left the company. Hunt was previously sales and marketing director of Vertex.Non-executive chairman Geoffrey Harrison-Dees has also left the company along with non-executive directors Paul Fullagar, Colin Hayfield and Paul Seymour.Marlborough Stirling becomes the ...

  • Watson Wyatt settles out of court with Credit Lyonnais

    17 May 2005

    Watson Wyatt Partners has settled its alleged negligence case, called by Credit Lyonnais pensions cases. Credit Lyonnais has agreed to their claim being dismissed and settled out of court, under confidential terms, with no payment made before the court on either side.The allegation relates to work done during 1996 to 1999, with the trial commencing May 12.

  • Webline announces deal with Avail

    16 May 2005

    Webline has announced an agreement with Avail, the specialist suitability software provider to launch an integrated service for the portals users.Advisers will now be able to generate client specific suitability letters, demands and needs statements and mortgage confirmation letters, all personalised for the client within the portal.The facility is available on a 30 day free trial to all Weblines current users.Avail director Joe Hill says: "The two systems complement each other ...

  • Weight of demand could collapse annuity market

    12 May 2005

    The annuity market could collapse within 10 years because providers will not be able to meet demand, independent pensions adviser to the Government Ros Altmann warned adv- isers at Money Marketing Live last week.

  • Which? finds varying valuations

    11 May 2005

    Which? reveals property valuations can vary by as much as 125,000 in an expose inviting 56 estate agents to value 14 properties across England last December.In six of the 14 homes, the difference between the highest and lowest value given was 25 per cent. Both undervaluing and overvaluing were rife problems, with agents attempting to lock in customers before offering more realistic values, or undervaluing to make a quick sale, resulting in the customer losing out.

  • Woolwich offers fixed and stepped loans for FTBs

    12 May 2005

    The Woolwich is offering a range of new mortgages tailored to first-time buyers.

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