Money Marketing
16 March 2005

  • £4m drive for stakeholder suite

    17 Mar 2005

    The Government is investing £4m in marketing its stakeholder suite of financial products to consumers.

  • 1. Income tax

    17 Mar 2005

    1.1 RATES OF TAX1.1.1 THE STARTING RATE OF INCOME TAXThe starting rate of 10% for the tax year 2005/2006 applies on the first £2,090 of taxable income (i.e. after allowances and reliefs). It should be noted that the starting rate does not apply to trusts.

  • 10. Corporation tax

    17 Mar 2005

    10.1 RATES OF CORPORATION TAXNo changes to corporation tax rates were announced so the rates we are working with for the financial year starting 1st April 2005 are as follows:

  • 11. Capital allowances

    17 Mar 2005

    The Government continues to use tax as a lever to encourage particular activities or behaviours. Businesses as well as individuals benefit from the tax reliefs offered. Capital allowances are an obvious example of how substantial (sometimes 100%) tax relief on expenditure can positively affect investment decisions made by businesses.

  • 12. Remuneration strategies for shareholding directors

    17 Mar 2005

    Nothing new has been proposed in the Budget that will affect the numbers involving this important issue.

  • 13. Pensions

    17 Mar 2005

    There is no surprise that the Budget contains little new on pensions as the major changes have already been set out in the Finance Act 2004 and the Pensions Act 2004.

  • 14. Stamp Duty Land Tax / Stamp Duty

    17 Mar 2005

    The Chancellor made changes in the following areas in respect of Stamp Duty.

  • 15. Residence and domicile

    17 Mar 2005

    In the 2003 Budget, the Chancellor announced that there would be a review (and possible consultation) on changes to the residence and domicile rules affecting the taxation of individuals.

  • 16. Civil partnerships

    17 Mar 2005

    The Civil Partnership Act 2004 will be brought into force on 5 December 2005. The broad effect of the Act will be to give equal rights to same-sex couples who enter into a civil partnership with each other.

  • 2. Tax avoidance

    17 Mar 2005

    Last year the Government announced their intention to get much tougher with schemes designed to enable people to avoid tax. This was achieved by the implementation of a rule that required details of certain schemes or arrangements with a tax avoidance purpose to be disclosed to them. The precise scope of the rule was dealt with by regulations published in the Summer of 2004.

  • 3. National Insurance

    17 Mar 2005

    3.1 Rates

  • 4. Employee benefits

    17 Mar 2005

    4.1 COMPANY CARS, VANS AND EMERGENCY VEHICLESCars

  • 5. Capital Gains Tax

    17 Mar 2005

    Very little change was announced on capital gains tax (CGT) in the Budget as far as UK domiciled and resident individuals are concerned. It was however confirmed – presumably to combat the speculation of recent weeks – that gains arising on the disposal of a principal private residence will continue to be exempt from CGT.

  • 6. Savings and investments

    17 Mar 2005

    6.1 OVERVIEWWhen managing ones investments (incorporating appropriate asset allocation) to produce acceptable returns whilst managing risk takes absolute priority in portfolio planning, maximising the tax efficiency to minimise tax on investments can substantially add to the bottom line. This year the Chancellor tinkered with some of the rules of existing tax efficient investments.

  • 7. Life policyholder / Life company taxation

    17 Mar 2005

    For the first time in a few years no changes have been made to the taxation treatment of life assurance policies.

  • 8. Trust taxation

    17 Mar 2005

    The reform of the tax system for trusts has been continuing since the Pre-Budget Report in December 2003. The progress is slow but the good news is that the Government continues to work with the industry to secure consensus on the best way to simplify trust taxation still further in order to help people manage their affairs, whilst ensuring that trusts are not used to achieve an unfair tax advantage.

  • 9. Inheritance tax

    17 Mar 2005

    9.1 NIL-RATE BANDThe inheritance tax (IHT) nil-rate band has been increased from £263,000 to £ 275,000 which is more than statutory indexation. The increased threshold will apply to chargeable transfers occurring on or after 6 April 2005.

  • A move in the wrong direction

    17 Mar 2005

    I left Barclays just over a year ago having become disillusioned with its steer towards multi-tie. I have always been a believer in true independence, where customers are offered best of market.

  • A new breed

    17 Mar 2005

    Philip Scott assesses the outsourcing move at Foreign & Colonial Investment Trust.

  • A wealth of advice

    17 Mar 2005

    I have been reading a great deal of press comment recently, about depolarisation and the benefits of using an independent "financial planner"who would be prepared to work on a fee basis rather than take commission from product sales. Can you explain to me how this works and how I would benefit?

  • ABI looks at equalising tax to encourage saving

    17 Mar 2005

    The ABI is looking at what effect an equalised tax relief rate of 30 per cent for both higher-rate and basic-rate taxpayers would have on pension savings.

  • ABI sets new benchmark and plans more mystery shopping

    17 Mar 2005

    The Association of British Insurers is to go ahead with another mystery shopping exercise to probe commission and has committed itself to a new benchmarking initiative to measure what customers think of firms' service.

  • Actuaries fail self-regulation test and face FRC regime

    17 Mar 2005

    Self-regulation by actuaries has failed and the profession should be regulated by an independent body, says Sir Derek Morris.

  • Adverse conditions

    17 Mar 2005

    Sub-prime mortgages have traditionally been regarded as the dirty end of the market, catering for customers on the breadline who no one else will touch.

  • Advice dilemma on PPF income move

    17 Mar 2005

    The Pension Protection Fund will pay only income and not lump sums, which could make transferring out more attractive and pose a dilemma for IFAs on giving advice.

  • Aifa's view - David Severn

    17 Mar 2005

    I now have all of 37 days' experience working at Aifa. If there is such a thing as a "honeymoon period" for the director general of a trade association, I guess mine is over.

  • Appendix

    17 Mar 2005

    Click on the link below to download the appendix as a PDF document.

  • Artemis sells Premier multi-manager fund range to Credit Suisse

    17 Mar 2005

    Artemis has sold its multi-manager Premier Funds business to Credit Suisse Asset Management.The management of the funds is expected to transfer to Credit Suisse in May.

  • B&B launches new mini cash Isa today

    22 Mar 2005

    Bradford & Bingley is today launching a new e-savings Isa with a tax-free interest rate of 5 per cent a year.

  • BBB relaunches DA channel

    17 Mar 2005

    Berkeley Berry Birch is relaunching its directly authorised channel as Berkeley Direct, offering IFA firms a core service with a 2.5 per cent charge.

  • Beyond redemption

    17 Mar 2005

    When considering the marketplace for advice on capital investment, most attention is, understandably, given to individuals but not just any individuals, only those who value and can pay for advice - and there is much advice that is needed.

  • Bill Safran becomes CEO of Trigold

    21 Mar 2005

    Former joint managing directors Bill Safran and Martin Colyer have been appointed chief executive officer and chief operating officer respectively of Trigold.

  • Bridgewater Equity release appoints Peter Couch as md

    22 Mar 2005

    Bridgewater Equity Release the home reversions firm is appointing Peter Couch as managing director. Previously managing director for AMP Retirement Services and latterly an independent consultant specialising in equity release, Couch is also appointed director of equity release for Grainger Trust's group-wide equity release products. Couch spent 10 years at AMP, during which time he fulfilled a number of roles. Following his departure from AMP, Couch set up his own consultancy ...

  • Britannic buys Century closed funds

    17 Mar 2005

    Britannic Group has bought Century Life's closed life funds in a deal that will boost the assets managed by Britannic Asset Management by over 1.7bn.

  • Brown fails to carry FTBs over threshold

    17 Mar 2005

    Mortgage experts and opp-osition politicians have attacked the Chancellor's increase in the stamp duty threshold to 120,000 as offering nothing to most first-time buyers.

  • Brown is splitting heirs with IHT claim

    17 Mar 2005

    Surprises were unlikely in a pre-election Budget and were not forthcoming.

  • Budget helps Britannic property fund's grand entrance

    21 Mar 2005

    Britannic Asset ManagementUK Property Fund

  • Buyer straits

    17 Mar 2005

    Mortgage brokers bearing the brunt of inflexibility of buy-tolet lenders are concerned that the sector may be heading for a significant fall.

  • Chancellor Predicts Continued Growth

    16 Mar 2005

    Economic growth last year was 3.1 per cent, and is forecast to be 3 to 3.5 per cent in 2005, and 2.5 to 3 per cent in 2006, said Chancellor Gordon Brown in his budget speech today.

  • Cheltenham & Gloucester - Two Year Premium Tracker Mortgage

    18 Mar 2005

    Cheltenham & GloucesterTwo Year Premium Tracker Mortgage

  • Clerical sets up business consultancy to help IFAs

    17 Mar 2005

    Clerical Medical is setting a business consultancy service to help IFAs adapt their business models to be more competitive.

  • Close centres Romulus on business

    22 Mar 2005

    Close Property Investment is aiming to raise 10m for the Romulus high income fund, an unauthorised unit trust investing in high-yielding UK business centres.

  • Close Property Investment - Romulus High Income Fund

    21 Mar 2005

    Close Property InvestmentRomulus High Income Fund

  • Compensation on split caps can be kept in Isas

    17 Mar 2005

    Compensation eligible to investors arising from the FSA's split-capital investment trust agreement will be able to be retained in Pep or Isa accounts.

  • Consumer panel chief warning on VCT risks

    17 Mar 2005

    The Financial Services Consumer Panel chairwoman has warned that current marketing of VCTs could open up the potential for future misselling cases.

  • Correspondent's Week

    17 Mar 2005

    I planned to model my diary for the week on Piers Morgan's new book but I have to admit this has been a week of failures.I failed to get invited to lunch at Number 10, I don't have any tales to tell about Princess Diana and I don't believe that influential businessmen get all their best ideas from talking to me.I did learn some secrets about the rich and famous this week but I promised to keep them that way.Secret number one was spilled over Delia nibbles at Norwich City ...

  • 'Debt and equity-release boom could spark an economic storm'

    17 Mar 2005

    High levels of personal debt and pension shortfalls could fuel a stormy economic climate, says BBC business editor Jeff Randall.

  • DecisionDecisions appoints Managing Director

    18 Mar 2005

    DecisionsDecisions, provider of online financial planning models for the investment market, has appointed Ian Horn as managing director. Horn brings experience of growth strategy and operations with Aegon and Scottish Equitable, and hopes to develop the companys potential further outside Europe.

  • Dover Street Capital - Dover Street VCT

    16 Mar 2005

    Dover Street CapitalDover Street VCT

  • Duffy on mortgages

    17 Mar 2005

    FSA regulation introduced a new participant to the mortgage world - the whistleblower. This, I like. Having seen some multiparty electioneering starting to manifest itself, it is time to expose some gross derelictions of duty. I am talking about the Government's performance on mortgages and associated issues.

  • Elderstreet Investments - Elderstreet VCT - C Shares

    22 Mar 2005

    Elderstreet InvestmentsElderstreet VCT C Shares

  • Elderstreet knocks on investors door

    17 Mar 2005

    Venture capital manager Elderstreet is raising up to 15m through a C-share issue for the Elderstreet venture capital trust.

  • End 'disastrous'contracting out,says IMA chief

    17 Mar 2005

    Investment Management Association chairman Lindsay Tomlinson told the ABI conference that contracting out has been "an unmitigated disaster" and should be scrapped.

  • Euro unit chief says we don't need new rules

    17 Mar 2005

    The head of the insurance and financial institutions unit at the European Commission has called for better and less financial regulation across Europe.

  • Evan Owen

    17 Mar 2005

    The chief of the IFA Defence Union says terrorists have more rights than IFAs bec-ause of the Financial Services and Markets Act and he wants it overhauled but, while committed to fighting the IFA corner, he is also quick to ack-nowledge that those who flout the rules are indefensible.

  • Events Diary

    17 Mar 2005

    March 22IFA PromotionPress ClubDundee, Tayside & Fife020 7294 3681March 23IFA PromotionPress ClubAberdeen020 7294 3681April 6IFA PromotionPress ClubTelford, Shropshire020 7294 3681April 12IFA PromotionPress ClubLiverpool & North Wales020 7294 3681April 13IFA PromotionPress ClubBrighton020 7294 3681April 26IFA PromotionPress ClubGuildford, Surrey020 7294 3681May 11IFA PromotionPress ClubGlasgow020 7294 3681May 17IFA PromotionPress ClubIpswich020 ...

  • F&C Announces Strategic Partnership with IMS.

    18 Mar 2005

    F&C Asset management has joined up with Investment Manager Selection for the selection of external managers for its manager of mangers equity mandates.

  • F&C's commercial property trust aims to fill portfolio gap

    17 Mar 2005

    F&C is setting up a 965m closed-end property trust which it says will be the biggest listed property trust launched in the UK.

  • Falling on Hardy times

    17 Mar 2005

    Some might think the disincentivising effect of pension credit on saving for retirement is a new phenomenon. But no - it seems the same issue abounded in Hardy's 19th Century Wessex, as revealed from this excerpt from Tess of the d'Urbervilles. Some things never change."The staple conversation on the farms around was on the uselessness of saving money; and smock-frocked arithmeticians, leaning on their ploughs or hoes, would enter into calculations of great nicety to prove that ...

  • Farrow's view

    17 Mar 2005

    Imagine if Madam Tussauds had a gallery dedicated to fund management. Which canny investors would make the podium?

  • Fat pharm set to be the new medical tonic

    17 Mar 2005

    In its global healthcare review, Threadneedle says that while major companies such as Pfizer still dominate the pharmaceutical investment area, the rest of the sector is split between a diverse mix of stocks, including hospital management groups, distributors, biotech firms and medical technology companies.Global healthcare fund manager Anne Marieke Ezendam believes healthcare funds which invest in medical technology stocks will do well, servicing the needs of an older and fatter ...

  • Fidelity advises UK equity and fixed income funds for Isas this year

    21 Mar 2005

    Fidelity Investments has found UK equity and multi-manager funds dominate adviser Isa recommendations, following FundNetworks BrochureBuilder research service.

  • Find the middle ground over fees and commission

    17 Mar 2005

    I have considered with interest the debate over commission v fees and it seems to me there are three camps.

  • Food for thought on the menu of education

    17 Mar 2005

    I would like to use your pages to correct some significant inaccuracies in the letter from David Parker regarding the exam framework.

  • FSA approves merger of AWD and Chase de Vere Financial Solutions

    21 Mar 2005

    The FSA has granted approval for the merger of AWD plc with Chase de Vere Financial Solutions plc.

  • FSA praised for cutting burden of regulation

    17 Mar 2005

    The Hampton review has held up the FSA as a model for reducing the regulatory burden across UK businesses.

  • Fundamental takes Aim for IHT planning

    17 Mar 2005

    A new inheritance tax planning portfolio service is aiming to offer the advantages of Aim and Ofex investments to IFAs seeking an alternative approach.

  • Gilts go a long way to back annuities

    17 Mar 2005

    With the Turner Commission's second report not due until autumn, the chances of getting anything radical on pensions were going to be limited although there were a couple of interesting developments.

  • Government to introduce long-term bonds

    16 Mar 2005

    The Government is to introduce long-term bonds with durations of up to 50 years from May, Chancellor Gordon Brown has announced in this year's budget.

  • Halifax calls for increases to IHT threshold

    16 Mar 2005

    Halifax is calling for increases to the inheritance tax threshold of 263,000, following research finding that 108 constituencies have one in four property transactions beyond the threshold.

  • Harmony to end pension discord

    17 Mar 2005

    An Inland Revenue plan to harmonise tax-free cash allowances for pensions and lifetime annuities could boost annuity provision for women.

  • Helpline callers reveal women's pension fears

    17 Mar 2005

    Seven out of 10 callers to the Pensions Advisory Service's dedicated women's helpline are not making any private pension provision.

  • Hopwood joins Assureweb

    22 Mar 2005

    Nigel Hopwood has joined Assureweb as managing director. He will take over day to day running of the portal from Charles Bryant who remains as chief executive but will spread his time between Sesame and Assureweb. Hopwood was previously finance director at Bankhall, where he helped develop IFAengine, and before that worked at Norwich Union as head of IFA e-commerce.

  • How to hit the heights

    17 Mar 2005

    Simple cost-effective data solutions are now available to help IFAs serve the HNW market.

  • Howard blast for 'vote now pay later' Brown

    17 Mar 2005

    Conservative leader Michael Howard says Chancellor Gordon Brown has produced a "vote now pay later" Budget.

  • IFAs Discuss Budget Expectations

    16 Mar 2005

    We ask IFAs what they would like to see from the Chancellors budget today. Here are some of their thoughts -

  • IFAs urged to consider VCT as alternative to pensions

    17 Mar 2005

    Noble director Patrick Booth-Clibborn is calling on IFAs to consider VCTs as a credible alternative to top-up pensions, for those willing to take on the risk.

  • IFAs welcome change to stamp duty threshold

    16 Mar 2005

    IFAs have expressed mixed feelings to the change in the lowest threshold for stamp duty although all welcome it as a step in the right direction.

  • IHT threshold to rise to 300,000 in 3 years

    16 Mar 2005

    The inheritance tax threshold will be raised from 263,000 to 275,000 this year, rising to 285,000 next year and 300,000 the year after, said Chancellor Gordon Brown in his Budget speech today.

  • Income from music via VCT

    22 Mar 2005

    Ingenious VentureIngenious Music VCT

  • Independent view - Peter Hargreaves

    17 Mar 2005

    I have noted with interest the antics of some of the more struggling fund supermarkets. I am reliably informed that each quarter, one particular fund supermarket claims astronomic figures but no one can work out why they do not ever seem to get very far ahead.

  • Invesco Perpetual may strike up the old brand

    17 Mar 2005

    Invesco Perpetual is employing market research consultants to find out whether it should change its name back to Perpetual for the retail market.

  • Investment view

    17 Mar 2005

    Investors who spot opportunities and get into a sector early can get big returns but can face big risks, says BRIAN TORA

  • Isa Tax Breaks Extended to 2010

    16 Mar 2005

    Chancellor Gordon Brown extended existing tax breaks on Isas until 2010 in his budget speech today.Limits are currently set at £3,000 a year for cash-only Isas, and £7,000 for equities. The extension of tax breaks brings the cumulative total that could be saved tax free since 1997 to over £100,000. Brown said: "The household savings ratio is now 5.6 per cent - four times that of the USA and Canada - and 16 millions now have Isas."

  • Judgement day - Ian McKenna

    17 Mar 2005

    Judging the Best Use of New Media section in the recent Money Marketing awards involved probably the most diverse range of entries that I have ever seen.

  • Julian Gibbs

    17 Mar 2005

    It is sensible for all higher-rate taxpayers, and those who expect to be, as well as investors who may become capital gains tax-payers, to invest in an Isa.

  • 'Keeping Isa limit is not enough to encourage savers'

    17 Mar 2005

    Investment experts say the Chancellor needs to do more than extend the existing Isa limits to 2010 to encourage long-term saving.

  • Le Brocq picks up The Bill

    17 Mar 2005

    Building Societies' Association press officer Rachel Le Brocq had a magical night at the What Mortgage Awards last week after spotting her favourite man in uniform, Graham Cole who plays PC Tony Stamp in The Bill.He was seen hiding behind a large plant pot while Rachel scoured the dancefloor for him. Finally nabbing him, she got two signed photo-graphs - one for her mum and the other for, er, "a friend". Clutching the photographs to her chest, she exclaimed: "I just couldn't leave ...

  • Legal & General - Accelerated Growth Investment Plan

    18 Mar 2005

    Legal & GeneralAccelerated Growth Investment Plan

  • Less regulation promised

    16 Mar 2005

    Gordon Browns budget promised a reduction in the burden of business regulation in response to the Hampton Review, published today.The Hampton Review, commissioned in the 2004 budget, called for the reduction of inspections of businesses by a third, over one million less a year. This will be accompanied by tougher penalties for companies who persistently break the rules.The Review also called for the reduction of regulators that businesses have to deal with. Brown said he will reduce ...

  • Lincoln sets foundations for family protection

    17 Mar 2005

    Lincoln Financial Group is relaunching its protection package with a menu of long-term benefits.

  • Mixed feelings from UK lenders on stamp duty threshold changes

    16 Mar 2005

    Lenders are expressing mixed feelings with the announcement the zero-rate stamp duty tax is to be raised to 120,000.

  • Morgan Stanley - FTSE 250 Simple Growth Plan

    21 Mar 2005

    Morgan StanleyFTSE 250 Simple Growth Plan

  • Multi-manager view - Nigel Speirs

    17 Mar 2005

    Demand for multi manager products from the public is very high. It is a concept that is easily understood and popular. The principle concern is cost. Multi manager clearly adds another layer of cost, so the payback has to be able to justify this.

  • New Star to Manage Exeter Fund

    22 Mar 2005

    New Star has bought the Exeter Financials Fund and its manager from Exeter Asset Management. It has paid Exeter to release both the fund and Nick Brind, the funds manager, from his employment contract. The board of the fund is expected to change the name of the fund, with Brind joining New Star in early April to continue management of the fund. He will work alongside Guy de Blonay and the New Star fixed interest team.

  • NPBS increases savings interest

    21 Mar 2005

    Norwich and Peterborough Building Society is increasing the rates of interest paid on a selection of its fixed rate bonds, fixed rate mini cash Isa and Tessa-only Isa and loyalty bonds.Examples include a rise from 4.70 per cent to 5.10 per cent in gross interest on a fixed rate mini cash Isa or Tessa-only Isa, and a rise from 4.86 per cent to 5.25 per cent in gross interest on a childrens loyalty bond.

  • NU strives for 20% market dominance

    17 Mar 2005

    Norwich Union will remain the dominant player in life and pensions and will increase its market share to 20 per cent over the next few years, claims the firm's UK chief executive Gary Withers.

  • Old adage with new meaning

    17 Mar 2005

    Like me, many of you will have noticed the gradual but relentless increased focus on this seemingly new concept over the last eight months.

  • Online fund listings take advantage of new rules

    18 Mar 2005

    A joint initiative between Financial Express and the IMA to provide free online fund price listings is ready to take advantage of new FSA rules.From April fund prices no longer require publication in a national newspaper and a free service will be available at www.fundlistings.com and through the new IMA website.The service enables fund management groups to fulfil their obligations under the new rules, which make it possible for them to publish their prices in the most appropriate ...

  • Open season On the FOS

    17 Mar 2005

    It would seem that there is a hardening of attitudes from the Financial Ombudsman Service.

  • Orchard & Shipman to offer new services

    21 Mar 2005

    Orchard & Shipman is to provide across the board services to help private individuals, homebuyers, buy to let investors, landlords and local authorities achieve growth in the property market.It believes there will be greatly increased demands on property services due to economic growth, buy to let and new developments in pensions.Orchard & Shipman chairman Chris Shipman says with nothing in the Budget to rock the property boat, these will be growth areas due to the growing segmentation ...

  • Out of context

    17 Mar 2005

    "Dealing with some insurance companies can make you want to stab yourself." - Hargreaves Lansdown's Tom McPhail at PMI conference."It's not a good day to change your personality." - Stand-ard Life PR Emma Wylie discusses the editor's approach to life the day after the Money Marketing Awards"If you want to insult a man's manhood, tell him he can't do percentages." - Morley PR Monina Villaroman."GMAC? That's the name of the cab firm I use in Hackney." - Villaroman again."Perhaps we should ...

  • Panel beats the warning drum

    17 Mar 2005

    Spotting the next misselling scandal has become a bit of a national sport in financial services circles.

  • Pensions credit to rise by 13 per cent by 2007

    16 Mar 2005

    Pensions credit will rise by 13 per cent, in line with earnings, between now and 2007 meaning pensioners will be guaranteed a minimum weekly income of 119 a week in two years time.

  • Plan for civil rights and wrongs

    17 Mar 2005

    The introduction of equal treatment on all matters tax through full recognition being granted to civil partnerships creates a series of planning issues on which professional advice will need to be sought.

  • Platform - Buy-To-Let Five Year Fixed Rate With Cashback

    17 Mar 2005

    PlatformBuy-To-Let Five Year Fixed Rate With Cashback

  • Portman Building Society - 5 Year Fixed 4.99%

    17 Mar 2005

    Type: Fixed-rate mortgage

  • Positive outlook for Insight

    17 Mar 2005

    Insight is planning a new multi-manager absolute return fund which aims to provide a positive return under all market conditions.

  • Product Matters

    17 Mar 2005

    Is it possible to make a positive return,regardless of market conditions? This seems a tricky proposition, particularly when you are investing in the bond market which has a big question mark hanging over it at the moment.

  • Prudential redesigns adviser service

    22 Mar 2005

    Prudential has redesigned the policy valuations facility it offers advisers on its extranet.Products covered by the service have been significantly expanded to include legacy products.Other features include a comprehensive search facility allowing advisers to trace their clients Prudential policies easily without needing to know plan numbers.All policy information is now presented together in one client portfolio with the aim of making the service more simple to use.Prudential ...

  • Public don't trust pension pledges

    17 Mar 2005

    Over three-quarters of the public do not trust the Government to deliver on its pension promises, according to research from the ABI.

  • 'Raising IHT threshold has not gone far enough'

    17 Mar 2005

    Industry experts say increases in the inheritance tax threshold are not keeping up with house price inflation.

  • Rate relations

    17 Mar 2005

    Our panel of experts give their views on guaranteed rates, the future for online business and the evolution of CI cover.

  • Reaping the rewards

    17 Mar 2005

    I read Money Marketing's Leader last week and glimpsed Mr Cheung's piece (will read fully later).

  • Rensburg Investment Management - Rensburg Aim VCT

    16 Mar 2005

    Rensburg Investment ManagementRensburg Aim VCT

  • Richard Verdin on protection

    17 Mar 2005

    I and others have written about the possible outcomes of statutory regulation for those selling protection products yet among the many advisers I speak to, I sense that the majority are focused only on the short-term effects of simply meeting the required pre-sale and sale processes in the belief that if they get these right, then everything will be OK.

  • Rock loan error throws hundreds into arrears

    17 Mar 2005

    Hundreds of Northern Rock customers have been plunged into mortgage arrears after the company failed to set up direct debits.

  • Second-class stamp posted amid stealth

    17 Mar 2005

    By Mark Chilton

  • Selestia Launches Online Distribution Channel

    18 Mar 2005

    Selestia has launched an online distribution channel with telephone support to provide alternative access to the Selestia platform for IFAs.

  • Shooting from the hip

    17 Mar 2005

    Threadneedle's schadenfreude in a recent global healthcare outlook report is a touch too much for the Diary.It seems the pros-pect of all our elder relatives' hip replace-ments is seeing the firm rubbing its hands.The effect of the obesity epidemic on demand for synthetic hips and knees may be good business but the Diary thinks a heading of "hip, hip, hooray" wouldn't go down well with afflicted investors.

  • 'Simplification' is set to boost need for advice

    17 Mar 2005

    The pension simplification programme will increase the need for independent advice rather than reduce it, said experts at the Pensions Management Institute spring conference.

  • Simplification set for investment tax

    17 Mar 2005

    The Government is aiming for a radical reform of investment trusts and Oeic investments in an overhaul of the investment sector on a par with the pension revolution.

  • Single life has its appeal

    17 Mar 2005

    The Government says it intends to legislate for a UK real estate investment trust in the 2006 Finance Bill. The IMA says this amounts to a delay in the timetable for the introduction of Reits.

  • Skandia widening platform range

    17 Mar 2005

    I would like to refute strongly the allegation by an IFA in last week's Money Marketing that Skandia is not adding other multi-manager funds to our platforms.

  • Smith & Williamson - Childcare Corporation 8

    22 Mar 2005

    Smith & Williamson Childcare Corporation 8

  • Split decisions

    17 Mar 2005

    Abbey for Intermed-iaries head of pensions and retire-ment Mike Brown says clients going through a divorce will need advice on pension issues in the run-up to A-Day and this is where IFAs should take the chance to link with solicitors.

  • Standard is top multi-tie partner

    17 Mar 2005

    Standard Life is the most attractive multi-tie partner and Zurich is the least attractive, according to US broker Bear Stearns.

  • Talkback

    17 Mar 2005

    Is buy-to-let a bubble about to burst?"No, it is not a bubble set to burst but it is certainly a dead market and no one new is coming into it. It is harder to get get high loans to value, too."Peter Sharman, Optimum Financial Solutions"Yes, I think so. London is saturated and the yields are falling and we are not doing much buy-to-let business at all now."Bharti Doshi, Allcover Financial Services"No. There is a sustain-able level of tenants who cannot afford to get ...

  • Technical Connection Budget Commentary

    17 Mar 2005

    By John Woolley, director, Technical Connection

  • Technical Connection's Budget 2005 Introduction

    17 Mar 2005

    This year’s Budget was bound to be a bit different. With a General Election around the corner, it was clear that the March 2005 Budget would primarily be used for election sweeteners with some of the proposed more technical measures reserved for the Budget that will inevitably follow the General Election.

  • Thames property fund spans Europe

    17 Mar 2005

    Thames River CapitalProperty Growth & Income Fund

  • The class of 2005

    17 Mar 2005

    The political rumour mill is buzzing with speculation about when exactly the general election will take place.

  • The granny state

    17 Mar 2005

    IFAs have differing opinions over whether the tax advantages of National Savings & Investments products outweigh their generally low rates of return.

  • The key facts for small firms

    17 Mar 2005

    SMEs insure their material assets but often neglect to cover key staff adequately.

  • Three More Fund Groups Join Amex Wrap

    18 Mar 2005

    Amex has signed up three more fund groups to its wrap service, following the addition of Fidelity in February. Cazenove, Credit Suisse and Franklin Templeton have joined the platform, which was launched in March 2004. The three fund groups bring different areas of specialisation to the wrap platform. Amex head of adviser services Jamesheed Poncha says: "Weve given advisers more depth and breadth from which to make investment decisions."

  • Time has come for citizen's pension

    17 Mar 2005

    The Scottish National Party has promoted the idea of a citizen's pension. Under our prop-osals, each single pensioner would get 110 a week, with each couple getting 168.

  • To Sipp or not to Sipp, can we keep it in the family??

    17 Mar 2005

    Many people have been reading the plethora of comment extolling the virtues of self-invested personal pensions. Mr Brown clearly had other more pressing issues to talk about and so the concept of the "family Sipp" did not appear at the despatch box.

  • Training firm turns advisers into tutors

    17 Mar 2005

    Financial training company fe4 is driving a campaign for improved financial education by working with employment, government and education organisations using IFAs as tutors.

  • Turn on the tele

    17 Mar 2005

    Tele-underwriting can help IFAs save time and costs on bringing in protection business.

  • VCT Edge - Ben Yearsley

    17 Mar 2005

    You might have read in the financial press in the last couple of months the spat going on between Aberdeen and Close Venture Managers over the management of the Murray Johnstone family of VCTs.

  • VCT Edge - Bridget Guerin

    17 Mar 2005

    Chancellor Gordon Brown ignited the fire among VCT providers but he seems to have failed to get the fire roaring among investors and IFAs.

  • Wicks asks PMI to set up forum for trustees

    17 Mar 2005

    Pensions minister Malcolm Wicks has asked the Pensions Management Institute to co-ordinate the establishment of a trustee panel to advise Government thinking.

  • Widows Bank spurns deposit account war

    17 Mar 2005

    Scottish Widows Bank will not be drawn into a rate war with rival HSBC which is offering an 8 per cent deal and online banks, says managing director Graeme Hartop.

  • Will the direct route overtake networks?

    17 Mar 2005

    The closure of Investment Strategies Limited by Bankhall has put into sharp focus the choice between network membership and direct authorisation.

  • Willetts says ABI urged him to back stakeholder

    17 Mar 2005

    Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary David Willetts has revealed that he only suppor-ted the idea of stakeholder pensions after the ABI urged him not to oppose it.

  • Zero rate stamp duty threshold raised to 120,000 in today's budget

    16 Mar 2005

    The Chancellor has doubled the zero-rate stamp duty threshold to 120,000 from 60,000 from midnight tonight.This is the first rise since 1993 when the average house price was 64,000 according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders.There is no change to the charge on residential transactions where the consideration exceeds 120,000. There is no change to the higher threshold of 150,000 for residential transactions in designated disadvantaged areas.

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