Money Marketing
13 May 2010

  • HoC advisers to be paid pipeline cash

    13 May 2010

    LSL Property Services’ £1.5m purchase of Home of Choice’s assets out of administration has left the bulk of the mortgage network’s £6m of liabilities behind.

  • Rathbones offers multi-asset funds

    13 May 2010

    Rathbones Unit Trust Management has launched two multi-asset funds which aim to produce targeted absolute returns. Both funds will be managed by David Coombs.

  • 1St-Exchange sales chief joins IntelliFlo

    13 May 2010

    IntelliFlo has appointed Jim McCaughey from 1st -The Exch-ange as sales executive.

  • A decent price for advice

    14 May 2010

    Ian McKenna asks what is the right price for advice post-RDR?

  • Addition and subtraction

    13 May 2010

    The new so-called additional tax rate of 50% could well be a tipping point for many clients to seek tax-saving strategies

  • Adviser complaints and upholds are down

    13 May 2010

    Complaints against advisers fell by 19 per cent from 17,186 in the first half of 2009 to 13,994 in the second half, with uphold rates among the lowest of any type of firm, according to FSA figures.

  • Age UK to offer annuities for small pension funds

    13 May 2010

    Age UK Enterprises is to launch an open market option annuity service next year aimed at helping savers with small pension pots.

  • Annuity sales boost for Just Retirement

    13 May 2010

    Just Retirement annuity sales rose by 87 per cent from £27.5m in Q1 2009 to £238.6m in Q1 this year.

  • Auto cue for annuity advice

    13 May 2010

    Andrew Megson, managing director for retirement at Partnership, says people with small retirement funds are poorly served but there are automated processes which can help bring advice to this sector

  • Aviva says it can't see benefit in buying IFA distribution

    13 May 2010

    Aviva says it “cannot understand” why providers are buying up IFA distribution despite increasing its share in Tenet Group last month.

  • Beale urges progress on FSCS levy reform

    13 May 2010

    Building Societies Association outgoing chairman Graham Beale has slammed the lack of progress on reforms of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme levy, describing it as “a moral hazard that must be corrected”.

  • Brokers were holding lenders hostage before crunch'

    13 May 2010

    Turner: ‘Power that intermediaries held was probably in excess of where it should have been’

  • BSA and FSA split on Pibs

    13 May 2010

    The Building Societies Association and the FSA are at loggerheads over the mutuals’ use of permanent interest-bearing shares to meet the regulator’s proposed capital requirements.

  • Building perspective

    13 May 2010

    The ability to predict long-term trends is vital in considering investing in the UK housebuilding sector

  • Call a kitchen cabinet meeting

    13 May 2010

    Take an opportunity for a wide review of family finances

  • Can Brazil stand alone?

    13 May 2010

    Chris Salih considers the potential for the first fund focusing solely on Brazil being launched in the UK

  • CarVal deal on Lifemark could mean 14-year wait to recover investments

    13 May 2010

    PricewaterhouseCoopers partner and Keydata administrator Dan Schwarzmann confirmed a structure has been agreed but would not confirm if it was the CarVal proposal.

  • Cash for questions

    13 May 2010

    In its first Budget following the landslide general election victory in 1997, New Labour changed the structure of tax-protected savings from Peps to Isas.The Investment Management Association’s figures show that in the first full tax year of Isas, 1999-2000, £8.8bn net of people’s savings went into tax-wrapped unit trusts and Oeics.

  • Click says it owes Fortis £900k in clawback

    13 May 2010

    Non-advised protection firm Click says it owes Fortis £900,000 in clawback after commencing a payment plan to repay £1.2m of indemnity commission on lapsed policies.

  • Close widens reach of Guernsey Qrops

    13 May 2010

    Close Brothers Asset Management has widened the distribution of its Guernsey qualifying recognised overseas pension scheme to offer it through Royal London 360º Friends Provident International, Skandia International and Generali International bonds.

  • Club Debt

    13 May 2010

    Jupiter’s John Chatfeild-Roberts says that if the 750bn euro package does not work, we could see countries leaving the Euro.

  • Coalition agenda

    13 May 2010

    A political pact will see tax changes

  • Cons is appointed Parmenion partner

    13 May 2010

    Mik Cons, co-founder of 1st Software, now 1stThe Exchange, has been appointed partner of Parmenion. Cons acquired a minority stake for an undisclosed sum.

  • Davy backs FSCS levy over Keydata

    13 May 2010

    SimplyBiz chairman Ken Davy has insisted that the Financial Services Compensation Scheme interim levy over Keydata must be challenged and supports Regulatory Legal’s decision to pursue a judicial review.

  • De Blonay cutting euro exposure on financial opps fund

    13 May 2010

    Jupiter fund manager Guy de Blonay is planning to lower the European exposure of the £1.4bn financial opportunities fund after highlighting the eurozone as the biggest concern to the continuing economic recovery.

  • Euro Prip rules may pose problems for UK firms

    13 May 2010

    Experts have warned that the UK retail investment industry may incur additional costs once the European Commission outlines its measures on packaged retail investment products.

  • Event-driven strategy grows 3A Altin fund

    13 May 2010

    Fund of hedge funds manager 3A says its Altin portfolio has had a good start to the year, with its net asset value up by 3.75 per cent at April 26.

  • Forewarned is forestalled

    13 May 2010

    Advisers need to be aware of the complexities of the transitional arrangements in the anti-forestalling measures.

  • Four more quit Swip to join Currie emerging team

    13 May 2010

    Martin Currie has recruited four more members of Scottish Widows Investment Partnership’s global emerging markets desk.

  • From major to minor

    13 May 2010

    How to invest tax-efficiently for adults and children

  • FSA delays transfer of Home of Choice ARs

    13 May 2010

    The FSA has delayed the transfer of 23 Home of Choice ARs to First Complete as the network confirms that any adviser not joining will not be paid any pipeline commission.

  • FSA flaw sees commission push on group pensions

    13 May 2010

    Friends Provident has criticised the FSA for allowing commission to continue for existing group pension business after the retail distribution review.

  • FSA to clarify rules on trail amid concerns

    13 May 2010

    The FSA has confirmed that it will issue a clarification of its position on trail commission under the retail distribution review following industry concern.

  • Get pension contributions in before 40% relief is axed

    13 May 2010

    Advisers should be urging higher-rate taxpaying clients to rush through pension contributions as a Liberal Democrat coalition or pact with either of the main parties is likely to see 40 per cent tax relief scrapped, according to pension experts.

  • Get to grips with debt to cut lending cost, says AMI

    13 May 2010

    The Association of Mortgage Intermediaries has warned that the budget deficit is driving up the cost of lending and is demanding that the incoming Government puts in place “real” debt reduction plans.

  • Global warrior

    13 May 2010

    Baillie Gifford converted its UK-focused income fund into a global mandate earlier this year, allowing manager Dominic Neary to access dividend growth across the world.

  • Go away

    13 May 2010

    Might this actually have been a year to go away after selling in May - or, with the election and Greece and so forth, even better though less rhymingly in April? Certainly I have good reason to believe so although what that really means is, for the first time in my so-called journalistic career, I did not get a single press release discussing the merits of this most beloved of investment cliches.

  • Go with the low

    13 May 2010

    The influence of RDR appears to pervade all areas of the investment arena and, based on the workshops conducted with advisers around our 2010 Growing Pensions research, pension products are no exception. It is perhaps ironic that the activity designed to reorganise distribution appears in many ways to be having a far greater effect than the Government’s primary legislation to achieve pension simplification.

  • Gold and sleepers boost Vanbrugh

    13 May 2010

    Multi-manager Hawksmoor Investment Management says the performance of two gold funds and some sleeping investment trust holdings were behind the Vanbrugh fund’s positive performance in April.

  • Gordon Morris

    13 May 2010

    Age UK Enterprises managing director identified an untapped demand for financial advice among the elderly and set about plugging the gap with a range of tailored products.

  • Greece hasn't scared panellists off Europe

    13 May 2010

    The Greek debt crisis appears unlikely to have triggered a significant move away from continental European equities during this month’s Adviser Fund Index rebalancing, according to the views of some panellists.

  • Group mind

    13 May 2010

    Workplace pensions are attracting a string of new providers

  • Hanley chief Webster elected BSA chairman

    13 May 2010

    Hanley Economic Building Society chief executive David Webster has been elected chairman of the Building Societies Association for 2010/11.

  • Hilltop favours Gibraltar for all weather fund

    13 May 2010

    Hilltop Fund Management says the group opted for its all weather fund to be Gibraltar-domiciled, claiming that Luxemburg has become a “victim of its own success” and Dublin is too expensive.

  • IFP set to offer level four qualification

    13 May 2010

    The Institute of Financial Planning says it plans to offer a QCF level four qualification for advisers, available later this year. Chief executive Nick Cann says it is impor-tant members can “access all aspects of their career development from their professional body”.

  • In the Qrops zone

    13 May 2010

    Skandia International head of product law and financial planning Rachael Griffin says Qrops can give people who live abroad an easy way to consolidate their UK pension assets but warns that the plans will not suit everyone

  • India accumulates advice

    13 May 2010

    In the first in a four-part series looking at the business of independent financial advice around the world, Lee Jones reports on the fast-growing Indian market.

  • Institutional inflows bring record for Schroders

    13 May 2010

    Schroders had a record quarter of net inflows into its funds in the first three months of this year despite a small slowdown in retail sales.

  • Insurers are ill prepared for Solvency II

    13 May 2010

    One-third of insurers are not confident the industry will be ready for Solvency II by 2013 while 11 per cent say they are considering relocating away from the European Union.

  • Integrity Financial Solutions classed as an intermediary for FSCS purposes

    13 May 2010

    Freedom of Information request reveals full range of firms classified as intermediaries by the FSCS.

  • Invesco plans second AIC Latin America play

    13 May 2010

    Invesco Perpetual is considering the launch of a Latin American investment trust.

  • Ions takes over from Legge at Liontrust

    13 May 2010

    Liontrust chief executive Nigel Legge is leaving the company he co-founded.

  • Just Retirement buys More To Life equity release book

    13 May 2010

    Just Retirement has bought a book of equity release business from Key Retirement Solution’s provider arm More To Life which is valued at around £25m, Money Marketing understands.

  • Lazard adds emerging markets small-cap fund

    13 May 2010

    Lazard Asset Management is planning to appoint a manager to run an emerging markets smaller companies fund.

  • MM Leader: Fundamental reform of FSCS must be a priority

    13 May 2010

    A quick skim through the 187 pages listing all firms in the investment intermediation sub-class for paying Financial Services Compensation Scheme levies emphasises again the need for reform.

  • More To Life in equity release link-up with Partnership

    13 May 2010

    Partnership is working on an equity release proposition with Key Retirement Solution’s provider arm More To Life.

  • Nationwide chief says mergers have added strength

    13 May 2010

    Outgoing Building Societies Association chairman Graham Beale fought back against claims the mutual sector is “dwindling”.

  • Network choice is getting more difficult

    14 May 2010

    Jonathan Cornell says the recent troubles of Home of Choice shows it is getting harder for smaller directly authorised firms to trade.

  • New chairman defends success of small societies

    13 May 2010

    Hanley Economic Building Society chief executive David Webster hit out at criticism of smaller mutuals as he took over as chairman of the Building Societies Association.

  • New MPs from finance sector double

    13 May 2010

    The proportion of new MPs from the financial services sector has doubled since Tony Blair’s Government came to power in 1997.

  • Novia takes over the top spot in Platforum poll

    13 May 2010

    Novia has been rated the top platform by advisers using The Platforum.

  • Only 2% of FOS complaints against IFAs

    19 May 2010

    FOS highlights upheld complaints against high street bank targeting older customers with investment bonds.

  • Over 600,000 advisers face losing voice in regulatory shake-up

    13 May 2010

    Fecif, the federation representing European financial advisers, has warned that intermediaries risk losing their voice on the way they are regulated under the new framework being proposed by the European Commission.

  • Overseas-based fund sales soar

    13 May 2010

    Overseas-domiciled funds saw £290m net retail sales in March, more than five times the £51m reported a month earlier, according to the latest Investment Management Association statistics.

  • Passive funds fail to ignite

    14 May 2010

    Less than a third of advisers believe investors will increase their exposure to passive funds as the core of their portfolio, according to research from Ignis Asset Management.

  • Pensions Regulator spent £800,000 on consultants

    13 May 2010

    The Pensions Regulator spent £852,850 on external consultancy in 2009/10, a Freedom of Information request by Money Marketing has revealed.

  • Poor advice row over drawdown

    13 May 2010

    FSA suggests advisers to blame if clients are stuck in drawdown due to increase in the minimum retirement age from 50 to 55.

  • Pru consolidates business development

    13 May 2010

    Prudential is consolidating the UK and international business development teams of its life business.

  • Pru looks to raise £1bn to put AIA deal back on table

    13 May 2010

    Prudential may be close to salvaging its £23.5bn takeover of AIG’s Asian arm by negotiating a deal to placate FSA concerns over capital adequacy.

  • Pru's deal for AIG arm will weigh on life firms

    13 May 2010

    Aviva group chief executive Andrew Moss says that Prudential’s embattled £23.5bn acqu-isition of AIG’s Asian arm AIA will “weigh” on the life insurance sector.

  • Put a stop to false online advice

    14 May 2010

    Tom Baigrie warns of a new destructive bout of misselling set to hit the protection market.

  • Q&A Switch pickings

    13 May 2010

    Our experts give their views on changes in the pension switching process, the effects of Origo Options, Integrating with client management systems and main barriers to online submissions

  • Quality quest

    13 May 2010

    The drawbacks of property became all too apparent as funds suspended redemptions to cope with a market in which selling was all but impossible.

  • RBS set to axe 2,600 jobs

    13 May 2010

    The Royal Bank of Scotland has revealed it plans to cut 2,600 jobs across the group, 2,000 of which will be from its insurance division. The news comes after RBS reported an oper-ating loss of £21m for the first quarter of 2010.

  • Rediscovering wraps

    13 May 2010

    A resurgence in investment bonds is expected as the life industry migrates its product structures to conform with the FSA’s retail distribution review. While sales of investment bonds, both on and offshore, still look flat relative to their 2007 levels, greater interest in the wrappers is becoming evident. Tax and pension changes implemented in April also appear to be bolstering the product that a year ago many were calling outdated.

  • Review bid faces failure

    13 May 2010

    I frequently get pulled up by people who tell me that I should spend my time more wisely, that I should only comment or moan about industry matters when they have an impact on me personally.

  • RoyLon 360º and Standard see boost in offshore sales

    13 May 2010

    Royal London 360º is reporting early signs of a recovery in offshore markets while Standard Life says it has seen its best month on record for international business.

  • Sants emailed FSA's staff on Tory policy

    13 May 2010

    FSA chief executive Hector Sants emailed all 3,300 members of FSA staff on election day reminding them that if the Conservatives won they would scrap the regulator.

  • Social climber

    13 May 2010

    Networking sites are changing the face of financial advice

  • Societies fear capital rules

    13 May 2010

    Proposed changes to capital requirements sparked concern at the BSA conference, reports Paul Thomas

  • Societies voice concerns over dangers from MMR

    13 May 2010

    Building society chiefs expect to see a prolonged period of house prices showing little growth or slight falls, according to a Building Societies Association survey.

  • Standard sells its health arm to Discovery for £138m

    13 May 2010

    Standard Life has sold its healthcare arm to Discovery for £138m and the business is set to rebrand as PruHealth, which currently has a joint venture with the South African insurer.

  • Sterling potential for currency mortgages

    13 May 2010

    3D Currency Management, which runs multi-currency mortgages, says it is looking at opportunities to profit from “undervalued” sterling to help borrowers reduce their outstanding debts.

  • Stevens quits F&C after five years

    14 May 2010

    F&C head of marketing and global wholesale Scott Stevens has resigned from the firm.

  • Tax plea on life policies in trust for charities

    13 May 2010

    The Charities Assurance Brokerage is calling on HM Revenue & Customs to offer tax relief on life assurance policies written in trust for charities.

  • Thames pair seeds Asian income fund

    14 May 2010

    Thames River multi-manager duo Gary Potter and Robert Burdett are to seed the Schroder Asian income maximiser once it launches next month.

  • The CI challenge

    18 May 2010

    Lifesearch head of sales Duncan McMillan says insurers must make their CI product relevant to a 21st century audience.

  • The goal machine

    13 May 2010

    Life Financial’s Joel Adams says platforms are now a business tool rather than just a suite of products.

  • Toscafund makes remortgage deal

    13 May 2010

    City hedge fund Toscafund, which last year acquired a number of mortgage books, is offering to write off up to 20 per cent of mort-gage holders’ borrowings if they remortgage with a new lender.

  • Tracker funds see £196m in outflows

    13 May 2010

    Tracker funds saw outflows of £196m in the first quarter, according to the Investment Management Association. This time last year, outflows were only £32m.

  • Venture scouts

    13 May 2010

    VCTs offer a range of tax attractions but careful consideration is needed to make the best use of an investment

  • Warning to prepare for reform as Labour backs out of LibDem talks

    13 May 2010

    Industry experts have warned that the financial services industry should gear up for major reform following last week’s hung Parliament result.

  • Warren slams CML stance on APs

    13 May 2010

    Compliance expert Bill Warren has hit out at the Council of Mortgage Lenders, claiming its calls for lenders to be excluded from increased FSA regulation are “appalling.”

  • 'When the world is against you, you defend your corner'

    13 May 2010

    Cummings: ‘The FSA should not have authorised Keydata in the way it did’

  • Winners' enclosure

    13 May 2010

    “Given the problems that we are seeing in Greece at the moment, you might be forgiven for thinking I have lost my mind in highlighting a European fund.”

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