Money Marketing
15 November 2006

  • Axa's bid for Thinc Group gets go-ahead

    16 Nov 2006

    Axa's bid for the Thinc Group has gone through, with 96.2 per cent of shareholders agreeing to the cash offer. The £100m deal is being made through Axa subsidiary Advisory Services Limited.

  • Investment trust duo for R&M

    16 Nov 2006

    River and Mercantile is launching its first investment funds this month. UK equity high alpha will be run by Hugh Sergeant and UK smaller companies fund by Dan Hanbury.

  • 1Bn business for Scottish Life

    16 Nov 2006

    Scottish Life has pulled in 1bn of new business in the first nine months of the year.

  • 2008 For Selestia open platform

    16 Nov 2006

    Selestia/Skandia will launch a complete open architecture platform in early 2008 to complement its integrated wrap.

  • A closed run thing

    16 Nov 2006

    The commercial viability of networks, as well as their directly-authorised counterparts, continues to dominate the trade press. If you can read beyond the puerile and self-obsessive hubris being exhibited by some businesses, you may notice that a common denominator in these debates is the expression "closed businesses".

  • A matter of trust

    16 Nov 2006

    Do solicitors and accountants deserve the professional respectability they command?

  • A&L and HBOS back affordability over income multiples

    16 Nov 2006

    Two of the UK's biggest lenders have stressed the importance of using affordability calcu-lations rather than income multiples.

  • Abbey - Guaranteed Commercial Property Bond Issue 1

    15 Nov 2006

    AbbeyGuaranteed Commercial Property Bond Issue 1

  • Action group in legal battle over lost Paymentshield commissions

    17 Nov 2006

    Disgruntled Paymentshield brokers are forming an action group to recover thousands of pounds of lost commission after the protection provider last month ceased trail payments to intermediaries no longer regulated to sell mortgage-related general insurance.

  • Administrator's statement brings Eurolife confusion

    16 Nov 2006

    The administrator in charge of Eurolife has been accused of sending out misleading information to the firm's creditors.

  • Adviser Fund Index

    16 Nov 2006

    Turnover of the underlying Adviser Fund Index constituents was high at the rebalancing point on November 1 but the best-represented fund management groups saw little change.

  • Advisers shun Suisse

    16 Nov 2006

    Credit Suisse's attempts to provide assurances of its commitment to the UK retail market have failed to win over leading investment advisers.

  • Aegon stays strong with buoyant Sipp

    16 Nov 2006

    Aegon is continuing to see strong pension business with a 56 per cent rise in sales in the first three quarters to £768m from £491m in the first three quarters of 2005 on an annual premium income basis.

  • AIC urged to boost promotion

    16 Nov 2006

    The Association of Investment Companies needs to do more to promote investment trusts and push its members to make information more easily available to advisers, according to Transact managing director Ian Taylor.

  • Aifa fear on collective investments

    16 Nov 2006

    Aifa has welcomed the FSA's moves to improve the quality of data for this year's payment menu market averages but warns it is virtually impossible to deliver an accurate commission rate for initial advice on collective investments.

  • Aifa sets out reply to distribution review

    16 Nov 2006

    Aifa has set up a working group to draw up its response to the FSA's review of retail distribution. It will look to highlight the value of ind-ependent advice and provide arguments on adviser remun-eration and capital.

  • AIG subsidiary swoops for Ocean Finance

    17 Nov 2006

    AIG subsidiary American General Finance Corporation has bought Ocean Finance and Mortgages for an undisclosed sum.

  • Alexander Hall considering stock market float

    20 Nov 2006

    Alexander Hall has confirmed it could soon float on the London stock market, as part of the proposed listing of estate agent Foxtons’ parent company Heven Holdings.Heven, owned by millionaire Jon Hunt and valued at £400m, has hired Credit Suisse to advise on the potential IPO.Alexander Hall chief operating officer Andy Pratt says: “The valuation of Heven includes Alexander Hall so we are looking at our options which includes a floatation.”

  • Analysts clash over life source

    16 Nov 2006

    A City analyst has accused consultant Ned Cazalet of exaggerating the level of churning in financial services and argues that persistency problems lie primarily with life products rather than pensions.

  • Anand given Pride of India award

    16 Nov 2006

    Anand Associates managing director Bhupinder Anand has been awarded the Pride of India Gold Award by the NRI Institute of India, which promotes the success of non-resident Indians and people of Indian origin.

  • Aviva considers reattribution of inherited estate

    21 Nov 2006

    Aviva is continuing to pursue the possibility of a reattribution of the inherited estate of two of its with-profits funds and has appointed Clare Spottiswoode as policyholder advocate.

  • Balls says bars don't cut off complaints

    16 Nov 2006

    Treasury Economic Secretary Ed Balls has weighed into the debate on time bars, saying endowment providers have a duty to consider complaints regardless of the time-barring rules.

  • Bank on being better than Barclays

    16 Nov 2006

    Barclays Financial Planning is telling its customers five reasons why Barclays is in some ways as good as if not better than an IFA.

  • Bankhall offers 40% discount on Selector

    16 Nov 2006

    Bankhall is offering its member firms 40 per cent discount on Old Broad Street Research's Selector internet-based investment fund research service.

  • Barclays and Pru mass clash

    16 Nov 2006

    Ingledew says there is no duty to serve all corners but Boardman believes the industry needs to reinvent itself

  • BBA questions TSC findings

    20 Nov 2006

    The British Bankers’ Association has questioned the Treasury select committee’s belief that poorer customers are finding it hard to open bank accounts.The second part of the TSC’s financial inclusion report found that certain banks treat low earners as second-class citizens- for example by not allowing basic account holders access to branch counters- and such customers were sometimes excluded from opening an account entirely.The committee recommends the Banking Code Standards Board ...

  • BBB creditors set to get just 8.9p in the pound

    16 Nov 2006

    Creditors expecting any recompense out of Berkeley Berry Birch look set to be disappointed, with only 8.9p in the pound likely to be recovered.

  • Bills to set out pension reform

    16 Nov 2006

    The Queen's speech put forward a bill for state pension reform and possibly another bill on personal accounts.

  • Breath of fresh air from union

    16 Nov 2006

    I write with regard to the article in the November 2 edition of Money Marketing headlined, FSA and FOS should be dismantled.

  • Broker

    16 Nov 2006

    Will the monetary policy committee's latest interest rate rise hurt your clients? Yes "It will be a problem for my clients but for others it will be drastic if they are on adverse deals, which we don't do."

  • Brokers berate Barclays claims

    16 Nov 2006

    Aifa is calling on the FSA to investigate Barclays for claiming its service is as good, if not better, than that offered by IFAs.

  • Bryan collings

    16 Nov 2006

    Hexam Capital Partners' managing director says the six partners of the firm make up a 'magic' team who are paid on the performance of the business as a whole rather than on the success of each fund and its 50/50 partner Resolution has deep pockets to drive the business ahead. Interview by Gregor Watt

  • Bupa, Bright Grey and ScotProv add PTA switch option

    16 Nov 2006

    Bupa, Bright Grey and Scottish Provident are introducing conversion options on their pension term assurance plans which enable policyholders to switch to ordinary life cover with no additional underwriting.

  • Canada Life International - Wealth Preservation Accoun

    15 Nov 2006

    Canada Life InternationalWealth Preservation Account

  • Capita builds on Enabler with Synaptic takeover

    16 Nov 2006

    Capita has bought Synaptic Systems in the latest round of consolidation in the IFA technology sector.

  • Catholic Building Society - Fee Free Remortgage Tracker

    15 Nov 2006

    Catholic Building SocietyFee Free Remortgage Tracker

  • Chelverton seeks income from small caps

    17 Nov 2006

    Boutique small cap specialist Chelverton Asset Management is launching an Oeic that will invest in UK smaller companies for income.

  • Cheshire Building Society - 2 Year Fixed Rate

    17 Nov 2006

    Cheshire Building Society2 Year Fixed Rate

  • City Financial - Diversified Absolute Return Fund

    15 Nov 2006

    City FinancialDiversified Absolute Return Fund

  • City Financial - Strategic Global Bond Fund

    15 Nov 2006

    City FinancialStrategic Global Bond Fund

  • Clarity call on providers' stakes in IFAs

    16 Nov 2006

    L&G executive gives depolarisation low marks and admits that life offices underestimated the resilience of IFAs

  • Clear view of Poso potential

    16 Nov 2006

    Paul Fryers of Mortgages plc is reported in Money Marketing on November 2 as saying that our predictions relating to the take-up of point of sale offers are "exaggerated" and that limited investor demand will severely restrict its impact.

  • CML reveals strong October lending figures

    20 Nov 2006

    Gross lending hit a new monthly record in October of £30.3bn, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders.

  • CML sees the outlook for repossessions improving

    16 Nov 2006

    The Council of Mortgage Lenders says the outlook for arrears and repossessions is improving despite last week's bank base rate rise.

  • CML to rethink league table after GMAC clash

    16 Nov 2006

    The Council of Mortgage Lenders will work with its members to produce a more robust lender league table after coming under fire from GMAC.

  • Coming clean on claims

    16 Nov 2006

    Our panel consider how much the publication of claim statistics by protection providers has contributed to improving the image of the industry

  • Coming to terms

    16 Nov 2006

    Pension term assurance Advisers could find the new tax-efficient alternative to traditional term insurance a useful addition to their armoury but it is important to be aware of its limitations and the restrictions on giving advice, says Samantha Downes

  • Concerns raised over poor Hip awareness

    21 Nov 2006

    Easier2move has revealed an improving but still disappointing awareness of home information packs among estate agents.

  • Conservatives to make financial education compulsory

    20 Nov 2006

    The Conservatives have said that if they win the next election they plan to make financial education compulsory in secondary schools in a bid to tackle the UK’s rising debt problem.

  • Correspondent's

    16 Nov 2006

    This week by Matt Davis, a former Money Marketing reporter who now works for the Portland Mercury in Oregon, USIspent most of last Tuesday night mixing with 300 Republican women in the ballroom of the Hilton hotel in Portland, Oregon, covering the victory party of would-be Republican Governor, Ron Saxton. I'm sorry - Republican failure party. He lost.

  • Dampier poses questions over niche market

    16 Nov 2006

    Investment trusts are "a pain" for advisers to sell and will always lend themselves to a niche rather than mass market, claims Hargreaves Lansdown head of research Mark Dampier.

  • 'Disp rule changes have brought a mess'

    16 Nov 2006

    The FSA's Disp rule reforms make it harder for firms to handle complaints properly and easier for unscrupulous firms to avoid responsibility, says compliance consultant Adam Samuel.

  • Double trouble

    16 Nov 2006

    Former world darts champion Andy "The Viking" Fordham regained his pride last week by beating Money Marketing news editor James Phillipps to level the series at one apiece.

  • Drawdown down under

    16 Nov 2006

    Ship chief executive Jon King describes how the Australian equity-release market has drawn on the lessons learned from the UK experience

  • DWP refuses to extend EU anti age discrmination deadline

    20 Nov 2006

    The Government has refused to extend the December 1st deadline for pension trustees to comply with the EU anti age discrimination rules despite issuing the final regulations less than two weeks ago.

  • Fined firms take lead roles at FSA fair day

    16 Nov 2006

    Six of the eight regulated firms that spoke at the FSA's Treating Customers Fairly conference last week have racked up combined fines of over £4m for not treating their customers fairly.

  • Firms combine to set up free IFA seminars

    16 Nov 2006

    Defaqto, Plum and Taxbriefs are combining forces to offer free joint seminars to IFAs on November 30 at London's Inmarsat Conference Centre. The sessions will offer guidance on how advisers can use technology to streamline their businesses.

  • Focus on Protection

    21 Nov 2006

    IP is the Bermuda Triangle of protection.

  • Foresight to offer C shares

    16 Nov 2006

    The directors of the Foresight 2 VCT are raising up to £20m in new money through a C share offer.

  • FPIL mirror range gets a New Star

    16 Nov 2006

    Friends Provident International has added a mirror fund of the New Star European Growth fund to its fund range. This is one of eight recent additions to the Isle of Man mirror fund range, bringing the total number of funds up to 119.

  • Friends Privident International - FPIL Merrill Lynch World Mining Fund

    15 Nov 2006

    Friends Privident InternationalFPIL Merrill Lynch World Mining Fund

  • Friends Provident International - FPIL M&G Offshore UK Select Fund

    17 Nov 2006

    Friends Provident InternationalFPIL M&G Offshore UK Select Fund

  • Friends Provident International - FPIL Merrill Lynch New Energy Fund

    15 Nov 2006

    Friends Provident InternationalFPIL Merrill Lynch New Energy Fund

  • Friends Provident International - FPIL UBS USA Equity Sales Fund

    16 Nov 2006

    Friends Provident InternationalFPIL UBS USA Equity Sales Fund

  • FSA fines mortgage broker for cold calling and PPI failings

    21 Nov 2006

    The Financial Services Authority has fined broker Capital Mortgage Connections £17,500 for rule breaches including cold calling potential customers.

  • FSA presses Pru to share fund surplus

    16 Nov 2006

    The FSA is understood to be pressing Prudential to hand policyholders a share of the 8.7bn surplus in its with-profits fund to clamp down on the treatment of inherited estates. It has asked for a complete review of the assets and liabilities of the fund.

  • FSA warns of ‘worrying cracks’ around mortgage advice

    15 Nov 2006

    The FSA has issued a warning to mortgage advisers of the ‘worrying cracks’ appearing around quality of advice, affordability and interest-only mortgages.Speaking today at the Mortgage Business Expo in London, FSA retail markets managing director Clive Briault said the pressure on the processes for giving mortgage advice is increasing- due to a changing economic climate- and many aspects of the market are not up to scratch.Briault said the FSA’s work looking at the quality of mortgage ...

  • FSA warns wrap must not hide increased commission

    16 Nov 2006

    The FSA is warning that wrap should not be used as a smokescreen to take more commission without offering additional services or to get round the checks that networks place on advisers.

  • FTB deal offers personal loan with mortgage

    16 Nov 2006

    BM Solutions has introduced its eagerly anticipated first-time buyer product, modelled on Northern Rock's successful Together offering which allows friends to club together and buy a property.

  • GE Money Home Lending enters buy-to-let market

    16 Nov 2006

    GE Money Home Lending has launched into the buy-to-let moved this week under its First National brand.

  • Geography lessons

    16 Nov 2006

    There has been a lot of change at Gartmore this year, most importantly, the management buyout by the senior staff with the assistance of H&F, a private equity firm. Most changes of this type inevitably result in several departures and, for Gartmore, some of the big losses included Philip Ehrmann and Peter Dalgliesh on the emerging markets team, which put into question Gartmore's capabilities in this field.

  • Going to town

    16 Nov 2006

    The announcement that Isas are here to stay should give them a fillip ahead of the 2007 season but fund firms are increasingly trying to remind investors that they do not have to wait until the last minute to invest. By Matt Goodburn

  • Government urged to reform benefits system to prevent repossessions

    20 Nov 2006

    The Council of Mortgage Lenders had today urged the Government to help reduce arrears and repossessions by reforming the benefits system to help those in trouble.

  • Green room

    16 Nov 2006

    Gregor Watt reports on growing inflows into ethical investments

  • Half baked

    16 Nov 2006

    One New Star customer got a handsome cheque in the post last week when promised a dividend from her Isa. The Brayne & Co client from Hove got a cheque for half a penny. SimplyBiz managing director Ian Thorneycroft has finally completed his much-trained-for 10-day hike of the Great Wall of China and has raised over £12,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support.Ian is still recovering from his experience and would like to thank everyone who sponsored him to raise the impressive amount of money.

  • Halifax moves to end retention confusion

    16 Nov 2006

    Halifax has moved to stop confusion over its retention products after two Personal Touch brokers claimed it does not offer the same deals to new and existing customers.

  • Haresnape praises GMAC Poso move

    16 Nov 2006

    HBOS has praised one of its biggest rivals, GMAC, for its use of technology.

  • Hogarth joins Cavanagh board

    21 Nov 2006

    Paul Hogarth has joined the board of Cavanagh Group as non-executive director.

  • Housing elite

    16 Nov 2006

    Homeownershiop is in danger of becoming the preserve of the middle class

  • HSBC fund of fund range for IFAs

    16 Nov 2006

    HSBC Investments has set up a multi-asset fund of funds range exclusively for IFAs.

  • Hub aiming to help IFAs with marketing

    16 Nov 2006

    A company aimed at helping advisers market their serv-ices to clients is launching this week and is free to UK-registered advisers.

  • IFADU wrangle could lead to splinter group

    16 Nov 2006

    Open warfare has broken out among the ranks of the IFA Defence Union, with prominent members threatening to form a splinter group if their concerns are not addressed.

  • In the shade

    16 Nov 2006

    Whenever I meet IFAs, after the initial pleasantries, I almost always find myself having to defend the views expressed in this column. The general consensus seems to be that I am unduly negative about IFAs and the good work that they do.

  • Invesco relaunches trust as multi-asset

    16 Nov 2006

    Invesco Perpetual is relaunching an investment trust mandate it won in the summer as a multi-asset class vehicle that will include exposure to a fund of hedge funds.

  • Invista European Real Estate Trust announces IPO

    21 Nov 2006

    Invista is set to float its Luxemburg registered European Real Estate Trust and is seeking a listing on the London Stock Exchange.

  • JPMorgan puts trust in split-caps

    16 Nov 2006

    JPMorgan Asset Management has launched a split capital investment trust for new investments and as a rollover option for investors in the existing JPMorgan Fleming Income & Growth Investment trust.

  • Jupiter wants end to life office contracted-out monopoly

    16 Nov 2006

    Jupiter has called for an end to the life office monopoly on contracted-out pension money and says insurers have done a mediocre job looking after these funds.

  • King of ethical solutions

    16 Nov 2006

    King & Shaxson Asset Management has introduced two new ethical funds – the green solutions fund and the ethical balanced income fund.

  • Knight strider

    16 Nov 2006

    David Knight of Pace Financial Solutions has returned from a 10-day hiking challenge in the US, taking in Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon and the Grand Canyon.Knight has so far raised £5,250 and is still raising funds for Macmillan Cancer.He is no stranger to this sort of challenge after walking the Inca Trail in Peru in 2004 for Macmillan and he is planning a trek to the Everest base camp in 2008.

  • L&G moves to Origen for tied Omo advice

    16 Nov 2006

    Legal & General has signed a deal with Origen that will see the advice firm provide annuity and drawdown advice to L&G's tied clients.

  • L&G will give 1bn to shareholders

    16 Nov 2006

    Legal & General is planning to release 1bn cash to shareholders in the next two years as part of a wider capital restructuring. The cash will be returned through a combination of special dividends and share buybacks.

  • Law Society launches dry run of Hips

    15 Nov 2006

    The Law Society has committed to Home Information Packs by launching its pilot scheme in six locations across the UK.

  • Legg Mason Investments - Brandywine Global Equity Fund

    15 Nov 2006

    Legg Mason InvestmentsBrandywine Global Equity Fund

  • Multi-manager fund use set to grow

    16 Nov 2006

    Four out of five advisers recommend multi-manager funds and over two-thirds expect this to increase over time.

  • 'Name and shame on promotions'

    16 Nov 2006

    McFall says lack of public scrutiny means there is little incentive for firms to abide by rules

  • NDF Administration - NDF Growth Kick Out Plan November 06

    15 Nov 2006

    NDF AdministrationNDF Growth Kick Out Plan November 06

  • New spring in the Isa's step

    16 Nov 2006

    The FTSE All Share looks set to deliver a third successive year of positive returns and many fund managers are looking forward to what they expect to be a buoyant Isa season.

  • No contest

    16 Nov 2006

    Claims Helen Pow asks whether the lack of consumer confidence in protection products might be addressed by a non-contestability clause where insurers must pay out on all claims after an initial period plus is there a danger that pension term assurance will become the default option for life cover and should advisers be putting more emphasis on recommending income protection rather than critical-illness cover?

  • Norwich & Peterborough Building Society - Credit Repair: Adverse Heavy Tracker

    15 Nov 2006

    Norwich & Peterborough Building SocietyCredit Repair: Adverse Heavy Tracker

  • Norwich & Peterborough Building Society - Credit Repair: Adverse Near Prime Fixed

    15 Nov 2006

    Norwich & Peterborough Building SocietyCredit Repair: Adverse Near Prime Fixed

  • Norwich & Peterborough Building Society - Spanish Tracker Mortgage

    15 Nov 2006

    Norwich & Peterborough Building SocietySpanish Tracker Mortgage

  • Old Mutual to launch European equity long/short hedge fund

    17 Nov 2006

    Old Mutual Asset Managers UK (OMAM) has appointed a European investment team which will launch a European equity long/short fund as its first product.

  • Paragon says MEX and C&G losing buy-to-let focus

    16 Nov 2006

    Paragon Mortgages managing director John Heron claims that Mortgage Express and Cheltenham & Gloucester are failing to live up to their potential in the buy-to-let market.

  • Paternoster in £70m DB buyout

    16 Nov 2006

    Paternoster has taken on over £70m in assets from the buyout of five final-salary schemes.

  • Paying for the flexibility with Cheshire

    16 Nov 2006

    Cheshire Building SocietyThree-Year Discount

  • Pearls of wisdom on indemnity

    16 Nov 2006

    Whenever an industry issue reaches a certain critical mass, there will always be a pundit persuaded to peek out from under the nearest stone to add his or her two-penn'orth.

  • Plumbing the debts

    16 Nov 2006

    Guy Anker on the outcry as whistleblowers accuse lenders of using debt collectors as debt counsellors to aggressively chase loan arrears

  • Positively charged

    16 Nov 2006

    In a speech at the recent Cazalet Consulting conference on asset management, life insurance analyst Ned Cazalet brought some much needed cheer to the industry by focusing on the positives in life and pensions.

  • PPF dismisses criticism over levy setting restructure

    17 Nov 2006

    The Pension Protection Fund has rejected critisicm that changes to the way it sets levies will wreak havoc with companies' budgeting processes.

  • Pre-X Capital Management - Axcess EIS Fund 2007

    15 Nov 2006

    Pre-X Capital ManagementAxcess EIS Fund 2007

  • Prime deal from Unity

    17 Nov 2006

    Unity Home LoansPrime Buy To Let 2 Year Tracker

  • Proactive service

    16 Nov 2006

    Business cannot be developed by just responding to requests which is why we have a protection and savings gap

  • Problem credit card customers to face 'card rate rises'

    20 Nov 2006

    Credit card customers who persistently pay late or exceed their limit could face increases in their rate charges financial services company Defaqto has warned.

  • Property funds take £956bn in record-breaking quarter

    16 Nov 2006

    Property funds accounted for 21 per cent of net retail fund sales in the first nine months of this year and the sector attracted record net retail inflows of £956m in the third quarter.

  • Protect and survive

    16 Nov 2006

    Friends Provident's new protected investment portfolio bond allows investors to invest in a range of 14 of its funds. On death, it pays out a guaranteed minimum of 101 per cent of the bond value or the original investment, depending on which is higher.

  • Pru fears over diversification

    16 Nov 2006

    'Baby thrown out with bathwater as with-profits reduced'

  • Quay and Royal Liver deal to aid Irish brokers

    16 Nov 2006

    Quay Software has signed a deal with Royal Liver to create a bespoke back-office system for its Irish broker subsidiary.

  • Queen’s speech unveils pension reform Bill

    15 Nov 2006

    The Queen’s Speech has unveiled Government intentions to introduce a Bill for the long term reform of pensions and legislation to improve the welfare system.This morning’s speech, setting out Government policies and its proposed legislative programme for the new parliamentary session, also included reforms to the planning system and the regulation of estate agents and claims management companies.ABI director of life and pensions says: “We support the establishment of a Delivery ...

  • Rate rise will cost borrowers £292m

    16 Nov 2006

    Wave of long-term fixes expected to protect against further increases

  • Remortgages at five-year low

    16 Nov 2006

    Lenders' retention schemes have seen the remortgage market hit a five-year low.

  • Resolution looks for buys or merger

    16 Nov 2006

    Resolution is on the acquisition trail and has not ruled out merging with a bigger rival or offers for the firm. It is understood to have met life offices, including Standard Life and Pru.

  • Ritchie slams First Direct after it warns husband against using an IFA

    16 Nov 2006

    Finance4women founder Karen Ritchie has attacked First Direct after she said one of its staff warned her husband against using IFAs, saying the advice could be skewed by commission.

  • RLAM targets return

    15 Nov 2006

    Royal London Asset ManagementRLAM Strateguc Bond Fund

  • Role reversal

    16 Nov 2006

    There seems to be a mismatch between some advice propositions and investment propositions

  • Sales surge for TMB

    16 Nov 2006

    The Mortgage Business has revealed a dramatic increase in business in the 14 months since it lost its entire senior management team.

  • Scottish Life launches DB proposition

    16 Nov 2006

    Scottish Life has launched a range of services designed for the defined benefit market.

  • Second land fund from Cordea Savills

    16 Nov 2006

    Cordea Savills, the fund management arm of the Savills property services group is looking to raise £50 for a second serviced land fund.Like the original fund launched last year, the serviced land fund 2 will trade in land and is available as a limited partnership and exempt unit trust for Sipp and SSAS investors.

  • Selestia says innovation is needed

    16 Nov 2006

    Selestia says more innovation is needed in the investment trust industry if trusts are to attract IFAs and increase business in the sector.

  • Senior managers blamed for holding up TCF progress

    16 Nov 2006

    Lack of support by senior management is the biggest barrier to firms implementing the treating customers fairly initiative, say financial services practitioners.

  • Sesame pioneers big push

    16 Nov 2006

    Sesame is launching its biggest promotional campaign in three years in a bid to encourage advisers not to focus just on selling a mortgage but also sell supporting products.

  • Shining Euro

    16 Nov 2006

    This is the time of year that fund managers firm up their forecasts for the new year. The results typically shape portfolio performance for the final quarter. For the last few years, the process has been equity market-friendly, with investors concluding that the year will see continued growth, and positioning accordingly. This year, the decision is more complicated than usual, for there are cross currents in the economy and a mixed pattern of performance within the stockmarket.

  • Sobering thoughts

    16 Nov 2006

    As you will have gathered from my previous articles, I am a passionate believer that the financial services industry can help the general public improve their lives and achieve financial security and the best way to do this is through the provision of independent financial advice. This is the perfect world scenario but is the industry itself perfect?

  • Spending spree

    16 Nov 2006

    Is it any wonder that debt is rising when TV ads encourage you to overspend?

  • Standard aims to be On The Money with finance stories aimed at children

    16 Nov 2006

    Standard Life is working with the Scottish Book Trust to produce stories with a financial theme for children in primary schools.

  • Standard can't justify third value

    16 Nov 2006

    I am curious as to how Standard Life can justify the introduction of a third value of their pension policies which have funds in the with-profits fund.

  • Standard spots A-Day tax-free cash anomaly

    16 Nov 2006

    Standard Life claims to have spotted another quirk in A-Day rules which will cause people consolidating multiple pension pots to lose tax- free cash.

  • Standard tops 2005 total in three quarters

    16 Nov 2006

    Standard Life says strong sales of its Sipp and investment bonds has led to UK life and pension sales in the first nine months of this year exceeding the total volume of sales in 2005.

  • Steer says the mid cap fits for New Star alpha

    16 Nov 2006

    New Star UK alpha fund manager Tim Steer believes that if he had maintained the fund's mid-cap exposure at around 80 per cent since the funds' launch, it would have achieved greater outperformance.

  • Stop abuse with clear disclosure

    16 Nov 2006

    It is mildly heartening to read that Clive Briault is, albeit in the FSA's familiarly oblique and somewhat roundabout way, admitting that commission in itself is not evil but rather it is the abuse of the commission system that is the cause of so much of the industry's bad reputation. Hey, well done, Clive. Cracking piece of insight. We never realised until you spelt it out for us.

  • SYZ & Co - Oysetr Oncology Fund

    15 Nov 2006

    SYZ & COOyster Oncology Fund

  • Tenet appoints non-exec director

    16 Nov 2006

    Tenet has signed up Rupert Robson as a non-executive director. Robson, was global head of financial institutions group at HSBC.

  • Terms of delivery

    16 Nov 2006

    The Government has set out six delivery models for personal accounts

  • The buoys from Brazil

    16 Nov 2006

    The Brazilian economy should hold up well following the re-election of president Lula

  • The Exchange launches equity release referral service

    20 Nov 2006

    The Exchange is launching Fintal Exweb, a new equity release referral service designed to reduce the risk and cost in the first stages of the equity release advisory process.

  • The mirror on FPIL's wall

    16 Nov 2006

    Friends Provident International has added a mirror fund of the BlackRock Merrill Lynch World Mining fund to its fund range.

  • The principle prize

    16 Nov 2006

    The ABI is looking forward to the challenge of the FSA's change of course

  • The Way Group - Way Gifts From Income Inheritor Plan

    16 Nov 2006

    The Way GroupWay Gifts From Income Inheritor Plan

  • This week in Mortgages

    17 Nov 2006

    The Mortgage Business Expo took centre stage with week with the great, the good and the hungover from the mortgage market all descending on London's Earl's Court for two days of well, er, mortgages.

  • This week in Pensions

    15 Nov 2006

    It seems nothing the Government can do will entirely allay concerns that age or service related pensions schemes will be effectively wiped out under the new EU anti age discrimination rules.

  • This week in Politics

    20 Nov 2006

    The Treasury select committee¹s report into financial inclusion carried an important warning to the Treasury and FSA over the relationship between regulated financial advice and any potential generic advice network.

  • Ticket to ride

    16 Nov 2006

    Congratulations to Selestia head of corporate communications Pippa Russell and Billy Ferara. Or rather, the very recently wed Mr & Mrs Billy and Pippa Ferara.In a stunning ceremony, the bride and groom stopped traffic - literally - outside the Institute of Civil Engineers as they ferried their guests to the venue in a team of red London buses.Pippa might soon become the slightly more exotic sounding Philippa Ferara, though. She explains: "I think it is time that I rebranded."

  • Towergate deal for Paymentshield

    16 Nov 2006

    General insurance broker Towergate has bought Paymentshield in a deal reckoned to be worth £180m.

  • Treasury backs forced annuities

    16 Nov 2006

    The Treasury has stressed its allegiance to forced annuitisation and says alternatively secured pensions should never become a mainstream product.

  • Trust strategy

    16 Nov 2006

    In preparing for a recent conference, I was fortunate enough to have had a (mostly drink-based, but nonetheless in-depth) conversation with a few other financial advisers which drifted towards ideas and technical developments in the pension field which are often overlooked.

  • TSC report calls for Government action on savings and advice

    16 Nov 2006

    The Treasury select committee report into financial inclusion has called for the Government to create a greater savings culture and do more to encourage generic advice.The report calls for a clampdown on illegal money lending, increased competition in the home credit market, better data-sharing among and for lenders, new legislation for credit unions and changes to the Government’s social fund.Resolution Foundation chief executive Sue Regan says: “The TSC report is a further illustration ...

  • Twists in the tale

    16 Nov 2006

    Seven months on from A-Day, a look at how the rules effect the clients of a family law solicitor

  • Two years of regulation

    16 Nov 2006

    The mortgage business has come a long way since M-Day in October 2004, with an influx of new lenders moving into the market and borrowers gaining confidence in the sector. Helen Pow reports

  • Uncertainty over age rules for schemes

    16 Nov 2006

    Financial services firms are concerned that age or service-rel-ated pension schemes will effectively be wiped out under the new European anti-age discrimination rules.

  • UnumProv extends protection to 70

    16 Nov 2006

    Unum Provident is extending its income protection plan to cover policyholders up to the age of 70 in response to the recent changes to age discrimination laws and the likely raising of the state pension age.

  • 'Use equity release and relief to boost pension'

    16 Nov 2006

    People should consider unlocking capital through equity release and use it to bolster their pension funds , taking advantage of tax relief, according to Legal and General.

  • Way weighs up portfolio balancing strategy

    16 Nov 2006

    The Way Group is diversifying its IFA product range with the launch of a portfolio management service.

  • Wealth preservation from CanLife International

    16 Nov 2006

    Canada Life International has brought out the wealth preservation account, a product designed to allow people to build wealth outside their estate for IHT purposes.

  • Webline prepopulation speeds up applications

    16 Nov 2006

    Webline has revamped its e-submission capability and revised its term application form to help advisers.

  • West LB - SSG Capital Protected Income Plan

    15 Nov 2006

    West LBSSG Capital Protected Income Plan

  • Which? claims public lack of trust in financial services

    21 Nov 2006

    Only 47 per cent of consumers trust the financial services industry and 21 per cent have had a bad experience with a financial company, according to research from Which?The consumer body interviewed 528 people for the survey and claims it shows the industry has a long way to go to regain the full trust of the public.Which? personal finance campaigner Doug Taylor says: “These are worrying statistics. The financial services industry’s past actions and misselling scandals have scarred ...

  • Wholesale move for societies

    16 Nov 2006

    The Treasury is proposing changes it says will help building societies in raising cheaper wholesale funding.

  • Winterthur bolsters adviser support in the South-East

    17 Nov 2006

    Winterthur Life has appointed Samantha Bannister as sales consultant to bolster its adviser support services in the South-East.Bannister joins from a sales consultancy position at Scottish Equitable where she was responsible for developing relationships with key accounts in Surrey.Winterthur director of distribution David Thompson says: "Winterthur has seen a significant increase in business following A-Day, with a 46% rise in single premium business year-to-date, while assets ...

  • Wishing well

    16 Nov 2006

    Have you eaten five portions of fruit and veg today? Have you drunk two litres of water? What about 30 minutes of exercise? Are you eating low GI or cutting out carbs? Have you switched to brown bread and reduced your salt intake? Would you refuse to eat anything except organic food?

  • Women will lose out in the NPSS

    16 Nov 2006

    Widows says women could get only two-thirds of a man's pension income

  • Wraps are barrier to trust business

    16 Nov 2006

    The lack of true open architecture on many wrap platforms is the major barrier to increased take-up of investment trusts among IFAs, according to Baillie Gifford.

  • Zurich adds 40 new funds to range

    16 Nov 2006

    Zurich International Life is adding 40 new funds to its mirror and international wealth account platforms.

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