Money Marketing
16 May 2007

  • Charterhouse is first multi-tie to get fine

    17 May 2007

    The FSA has fined Charterhouse Consulting Wealth Management £122,500 for carrying out discretionary portfolio management without permission and for conduct of business failings. The regulator says Charterhouse is the first multi-tied firm to be fined.

  • MPs press for help for pension victims

    17 May 2007

    The public administration select committee has published a report calling on the Government to extend its help for victims of occupational scheme collapses to those schemes wound up by solvent employers.

  • £100M MMC funds get FSA approval for the UK

    17 May 2007

    MPC Investors has got regulatory approval from the FSA to bring its global convertibles and strategic reserve funds to the UK retail market.

  • 160P for Hargreaves Lansdown shares

    17 May 2007

    Hargreaves Lansdown says the offer price for the initial public offering of its ordinary shares has been set at 160p per share, setting its market value at 759m.

  • 300 UCB staff face axe after Portman merger

    17 May 2007

    Over 300 staff at UCB Home Loans employees face redundancy after the merger of Nationwide and Portman specialist lending businesses in August.

  • A Shah thing

    16 May 2007

    After months of speculation Fidelity has finally unveiled internal heavyweight Sanjeev Shah as long-term successor to Anthony Bolton on the £3.2bn UK special situations.

  • A shaw thing

    17 May 2007

    Sam Shaw is a reporter on Money Marketing

  • A short shelf life

    17 May 2007

    It's clear that the Government intends scheme pensions to be mainstream.

  • A song for Europe

    17 May 2007

    A Eurovision of corporate dynamism, strong profits' growth, M&A opportunities and attractive valuations.

  • A Tiner in your tank

    17 May 2007

    After a well deserved break, the Diary returns to the world of drama and intrigue that is IFA Defence Union Evan Owen's fishtank.

  • Abbey loses multi-manager guru

    16 May 2007

    Abbey head of client investment John Kelly has left the firm with immediate effect to "persue another opportunities".

  • 'ABI is not looking to resurrect salesforces'

    17 May 2007

    Large-scale provider direct salesforces are extinct and will not be resurrected under the Association of British Insurers' retail distribution review proposals, claims Norwich Union.

  • ABI turns up heat on Government over personal accounts

    17 May 2007

    The Government is failing to live up to its promise that personal accounts will not compete with existing provision, warns the ABI.

  • Adviser Fund Index

    17 May 2007

    The latest rebalancing of the Adviser Fund Index series has once again resulted in significant turnover.

  • Adviser says chartered companies could cause confusion

    17 May 2007

    IFA Julie Lord has criticised the Chartered Insurance Institute for allowing companies to have chartered financial planner status and claims it devalues the qualification.

  • Advisers still angry over ABI calls for regulatory action over commission

    16 May 2007

    Advisers say the ABI’s call for regulatory intervention to move them to factory-gate pricing is missing the point and there are bigger issues that need to be addressed in the industry.

  • Aegon and UBS team up to provide pension buy-out service

    21 May 2007

    Aegon and UBS Global Asset Management are to join forces to create a bulk annuities service to help large companies offload their pension fund liabilities.

  • Aegon's 5 for Life put on Barclays panel

    21 May 2007

    Barclays has added Aegon UK's 5 for Life product to its Select Choice multi-tie panel.

  • AIC research shows strong dividend growth for global growth sector

    21 May 2007

    Nearly half of AIC member global growth trusts have raised dividends year on year for at least the last 10 years, according to research by the AIC.

  • Aifa slams FSA with profits research as flawed and misleading

    18 May 2007

    Aifa has attacked the research behind the FSA’s recent warning about the way advisers are treating with-profits clients suggesting it is flawed, misleading and lacking in credibility.

  • Alpha bets spell good returns

    17 May 2007

    Chris Salih analyses core holding Schroder European alpha plus.

  • Analysis

    21 May 2007

    Yes, Home Information Packs will make a differ-ence because they will make home transactions faster, easier, more successful and less stressful.

  • Anger after Balls blames industry for PTA abolition

    17 May 2007

    Providers have responded angrily to Treasury Economic Secretary Ed Balls' claims that the protection industry suppor-ted the abolition of pension term assurance.

  • Another Hip week

    18 May 2007

    With just eight working days before the controversial Home Information Packs are set to be launched you would have thought the uncertainty of the last eighteen months would have finally ended by now.

  • Asp the family

    17 May 2007

    Mike Morrison, pensions strategy manager at Winterthur Life, says unsecured pension and alternatively secured pension can still play a part in an IHT strategy.

  • Bamford warns of rapid change

    17 May 2007

    Informed Choice managing director Nick Bamford is confident the IFA market will survive the impact of the FSA's retail distribution review but warns that change will be rapid.

  • Be whiter than white with Omo

    17 May 2007

    EXPERTS Q&A: our panel consider whether the open-market option is being explained adequately to retirees and evaluate innovations in the market.

  • Beautiful moment

    17 May 2007

    My Beautiful Wrap author Chris Barnes from last week's issue and Mike Reid, anyone? Oi, Pat… Nah, it's Peggy… Or Pat.Please can no readers ever send in pics of themselves comparable to that very fine moment when Frank seduces Pat, naked except for his whirly red bow tie.

  • Bolton claims fund split move is blazing a trail

    17 May 2007

    Fund manager legend Anthony Bolton says Fidelity has set a trend by splitting its special situations fund.

  • Broker Talkback

    17 May 2007

    Do you think you will miss Tony Blair as Prime Minister?

  • 'Brokers must prepare to defend distribution'

    17 May 2007

    Edeus chief executive Michael Bolton has issued a rallying cry to mortgage brokers and warned them not to be complacent about their dominant share of distribution.

  • Bupa Individual Protection -Critical-Illness Cover/ Critical Illness Cover With Life Insurance

    18 May 2007

    Bupa Individual ProtectionCritical-Illness Cover/ Critical Illness Cover With Life Insurance

  • Bupa Individual Protection -Critical-Illness Cover/ Critical Illness Cover With Life Insurance

    18 May 2007

    Bupa Individual ProtectionCritical-Illness Cover/ Critical Illness Cover With Life Insurance

  • Calculated risks

    17 May 2007

    What are the real risks faced by pension scheme members and how can they be quantified?

  • Changing fortunes

    17 May 2007

    Asset market returns in the first quarter of this year were tightly bunched, presenting a significant challenge to clients' portfolios.

  • Charter for confusion

    17 May 2007

    I read with astonishment the press release by the PFS/CII to allow firms, rather than just individuals, to have chartered financial planner status.

  • CII will not seek powers to confer degrees

    18 May 2007

    The CII has decided to maintain its status as a professional qualifications-awarding body and not to seek powers to confer degrees following a year long review. Results from a CII survey of members found that greater value was attached to the CII's professional and vocational qualifications than to academic degrees. CII deputy director general Bob Bullivant says it is vital for body to preserve the integrity of its qualifications, which are highly regarded around the world ...

  • Click set for acquisition in sub-prime move

    17 May 2007

    Online life insurance broker Click is starting a sub-prime mortgage business and is looking to buy a mortgage brokerage.

  • Cofunds call for improvement to pension transfers

    22 May 2007

    Cofunds has called for improved standards in the industry over the management of pension transfers.

  • Commercial lending deal from Lighthouse

    17 May 2007

    Lighthouse has set up a commercial lending service which will enable its advisers to source loans for clients from a panel of lenders. Advisers which are not members of NACFB can write business through a referral arrangement with The Commercial Mortgage Desk.

  • Commuter nightmares

    17 May 2007

    In my most recent article, I outlined the contents of an announcement from the Institute of Actuaries relating to the variability in commutation factors for retiring members of final-salary schemes. I would now like to develop the implications of this with regard to the advice given by advisers to these individuals.

  • Complaints soar over online ads

    17 May 2007

    A record number of advertisements received complaints in 2006, says the Advertising Standards Authority's annual report, and complaints about online ads rose by 33 per cent.

  • Cover

    21 May 2007

    perusal of Mortgage StratAegy should be enough to convince anyone that brokers are insufficiently re-munerated by lenders.

  • Credit Suisse appoints head for absolute return

    21 May 2007

    Credit Suisse has appointed Tim Sweeting as head of institutional distribution for absolute return strategies, EMEA for the asset management business.

  • CurriculumVitae

    21 May 2007

    name: Steve Cox

  • Dalton backing Korea with pan-Asian launch

    17 May 2007

    Dalton Strategic Partnership has set up a pan-Asian equity fund, which will be managed by Sally MacDonald.

  • Deal won't impinge on independence, says Gale

    17 May 2007

    Sesame chief executive Patrick Gale is reassuring members that the Friends Provident deal will not compromise their independence.

  • Dennehy has doubts over Fidelity's choice

    17 May 2007

    IFA Brian Dennehy has attacked Fidelity's decision to appoint Sanjeev Shah as Anthony Bolton's successor on its UK special situations fund, branding the move as "Hobson's choice".

  • Devil's advocates

    17 May 2007

    Following Money Marketing Live, the financial services chattering classes have the future of distribution at the top of their favoured subjects.

  • Direct Life and Fool link for online deal

    17 May 2007

    Direct Life & Pensions Services has joined forces with Fool.co.uk. Fool will become an appointed representative of Direct Life offering an online and call centre life insurance service to its members and users, administered by Direct Life's systems.

  • 'Divide has become pension apartheid'

    17 May 2007

    Tory Shadow Chancellor George Osborne says the ever widening gap between public and private sector pensions is resulting in "pension apartheid".

  • Doctor's orders

    17 May 2007

    The Phizackerley case has potential implications for a married couple looking to buy a second home.

  • Does the FSA with-profits warning stack up?

    21 May 2007

    Aifa has attacked the FSA’s research into with-profits advice after pointing out several flaws in the methodology used by the regulator to jump to the conclusion that many advisers were not treating with-profits clients properly.

  • 'Don't force IFAs through factory gate'

    17 May 2007

    Skandia has hit out at the Association of British Insurers over its call for regulatory intervention to move advisers to factory gate pricing.

  • Drawing the line on caveat emptor

    17 May 2007

    The issue of caveat emptor has come to the fore again. The FSA has made it clear that firms will be responsible for giving consumers all the information they need to make an informed decision.

  • Equity move aims to bolster returns on fixed interest

    17 May 2007

    Multi-manager Smith and Pinching Portfolio Management has added a small weigh-ting in direct equities to its fixed-interest fund to boost returns.

  • Ex-BlackRock chief joins Nevsky Capital

    17 May 2007

    Former BlackRock fund manager Gavin Corr is joining Thames River affiliate Nevsky Capital. Thames River is planning to launch two funds, including a European equity portfolio for Corr, who joins in September.

  • Face the challenge

    17 May 2007

    Take a long-term and structured approach to recruitment.

  • Fair game

    17 May 2007

    A few years ago, I had to take my car in for a full service and valet before it was sold. Except that when I went to pick up the car that evening, neither the service nor the valeting had been carried out.

  • Fears over policing NPSS

    17 May 2007

    Pension experts are warning that the Government has failed to address how personal accounts will be policed.

  • Fears over policing NPSS

    17 May 2007

    Pension experts are warning that the Government has failed to address how personal accounts will be policed.

  • Fidelity MultiManager increases European exposure

    21 May 2007

    Fidelity’s MultiManager Investment team has increased its European exposure within the Fidelity MultiManager distribution fund after adding Resolution Argonaut’s European equity income fund.

  • Fighting talk

    17 May 2007

    As 16 boxers were slugging it out at the third annual Square Up in the City, New Star Asset Management public relations manager Ben Robinson was laying down a challenge.

  • Financial Express endorses Frontini appointment

    16 May 2007

    Financial Express fund analyst Sarah Beasley has praised Fidelity's appointment of relative unknown Mario Frontini to replace UK special sits bound Sanjeev Shah on the European aggressive fund.

  • Food for thought

    17 May 2007

    Who would have thought the investment world could have recovered to the extent it had, mused the chairman of the curiously named Betelgeuse Investment Funds as he looked through the sales figures for the first four months of the year.

  • Former Scot Am principal Swinney takes finance role in Scottish Parliament

    17 May 2007

    Former Scottish Amicable strategic planning principal John Swinney has been confirmed as cabinet secretary for finance and sustainable growth in the Scottish Parliament.

  • Fortis links with S&P in fund deal

    17 May 2007

    Fortis Private Banking has signed a deal with Standard & Poor's to supply clients with its fund research, looking at analysis and ratings of 2,200 funds across equity, fixed income and alternatives.

  • FOS lead ombudsman to become pensions and PPF ombudsman

    21 May 2007

    FOS lead pensions ombudsman Tony King has been appointed pensions ombudsman and Pensions Protection Fund ombudsman by the DWP.

  • FOS protection claims down

    22 May 2007

    The ombudsman received almost 20 per cent fewer complaints for income protection insurance this year while complaints for payment protection insurance and similar products increased by nearly 40 percent.

  • Foxtons and Alexander Hall sold to BC Partners

    22 May 2007

    Estate agent Foxtons, and its mortgage broker Alexander Hall, has been sold for £390m to private equity group BC Partners.

  • Friends Prov buys Sesame

    21 May 2007

    Sesame has reassured its members that its buyout by Friends Provident last week won't leave the network giant single-tied with the insurance provider.

  • Friends says time is right to take control

    17 May 2007

    Friends Provident says taking over Sesame and Pantheon Financial marks the next phase in its acquisition of distribution companies.

  • Friends swoops for Sesame with £100m takeover deals

    17 May 2007

    Friends Provident has bought Sesame and Pantheon Financial Services in a £100m distribution shopping spree.

  • FSA bans adviser for major client failings

    21 May 2007

    The FSA has banned Powell Price director Nigel Layton after finding him guilty of failing to pass on client premiums to insurers and leaving clients uninsured.

  • FSA issues stark with-profits warning to advisers

    16 May 2007

    The FSA is to warn that many advisers are failing to treat their with-profits clients fairly by not offering them the ongoing advice they expect to receive.

  • FSA sends out strong warning to small adviser firms

    22 May 2007

    The FSA has fired a strong warning to small adviser firms that they are not beneath the regulatory radar and will not escape its attention.

  • FSA to recognise industry guidance for first time

    16 May 2007

    The FSA has confirmed supervision of outsourcing by firms will now take account of industry guidance issued by trade group Mifid Connect, the first time industry guidance has been used in this way.

  • FSCS launches academy in bid to plug skills gap

    17 May 2007

    The Finance Services Skills Council has set up an academy to help plug the predicted future skills gap in the financial services sector.

  • Game, set, match

    17 May 2007

    Flicking through Money Marketing recently, I was surprised to find what I thought was an article on tennis. It involved a company called Baseline Capital.

  • Ghambir will run European hedge fund

    17 May 2007

    Recent recruit Ajay Ghambir will run a European equity long/ short hedge fund for MPC Investors to be launched in September.

  • GMAC-RFC launches two year fix at 5.25 per cent

    22 May 2007

    GMAC-RFC new chief executive officer Simon Knight has marked the start of his tenure with the launch of a mainsteam two year fixed product at 5.25 per cent.

  • 'Go further afield for income'

    17 May 2007

    Sarasin Chiswell fund manager Graham Ashby says overseas income is becoming a more attractive option.

  • Government's plan could cost billions

    17 May 2007

    The Government's controversial proposals to convert contract schemes to trust based schemes to "protect" existing savings could cost £4bn, according to industry estimates.

  • Guilty by association

    17 May 2007

    How the recent case of Smith and Others vs HMRC has brought the associated operations rule into the spotlight.

  • Half of advisers hold AFPC and 28% have G60

    17 May 2007

    Almost half of IFAs in the UK hold the advanced financial planning certificate, according to Money Marketing research.

  • Half of IFAs see no provider support

    17 May 2007

    Fifty-five per cent of small to medium-sized directly regulated IFAs say they are not supported by product providers while 41 per cent say providers do not communicate effectively with them, according to research by IFA community internet portal Panacea.

  • Halifax prepares for instant offers

    17 May 2007

    Halifax could become the first high-street lender to launch instant mortgage offers early next year.

  • Hargreaves Lansdown business booms on LSE debut

    16 May 2007

    Shares in IFA and discount brokerage firm Hargreaves Lansdown have soared by more than 30 per cent as the group made its debut on the London Stock Exchange yesterday.

  • Hargreaves Lansdown wants Omo as default

    17 May 2007

    Hargreaves Lansdown is urging the Government to make the open market option the default option for annuity sales to stop customers ending up in second rate products.

  • Health service

    17 May 2007

    Ian Owen, chairman of Partnership Assurance, says many people are missing out on increased annuity payments for ill health resulting in impaired lives.

  • Hips delayed until August 1

    22 May 2007

    The Government has delayed the implementation of Home Information Packs until August 1. The decision was made following an interim order preventing Energy Performance Certificates from being included in Hips from June 1.

  • Hire ground

    17 May 2007

    As the nation's media comment on how much better or worse off we are after 10 years with Tony Blair at the helm, I have been thinking how my own little world has changed.

  • Hit and myth

    17 May 2007

    Many brand-building exercises fail because companies mistake customer convenience for loyalty, says Simon Parker, director of public relations and marketing company SPS Marketing.

  • HMRC set to slam factory gate shut

    17 May 2007

    James Salmon on moves to get tough on factory gate pricing.

  • Honest opinion

    17 May 2007

    Recruitment consultants do not like my being frank with clients.

  • IFAs called on to back factory gate pricing

    17 May 2007

    Advisers are being called on to embrace the Association of British Insurers' proposal to move to factory gate pricing as a way of adding more value to their businesses and improving the industry's reputation.

  • Individual sales underpin Aegon

    17 May 2007

    Aegon UK saw a 37 per cent rise in life and pension sales in the first quarter.

  • Industry up in arms with Balls

    22 May 2007

    Bonjour! Here I am in Nice where the weather is great but I have had little time to top up my tan as I’ve been rushing around the various conference rooms at the Money Marketing Retirement Summit.

  • Inflation rate slows to 2.8%

    17 May 2007

    The UK's rate of inflation slowed to 2.8 per cent in April from 3.1 per cent in March after energy bills were cut, according to the latest figures from the Office of National Statistics.

  • Investors force change to trusts

    17 May 2007

    Big generalist international investment trusts have been forced to change due to the demanding nature of investors, says iimia chief investment officer Nick Greenwood.

  • Keydata Investment Services - Dynamic Growth Plan 17

    18 May 2007

    Keydata Investment ServicesDynamic Growth Plan 17

  • Kirwan calls for action on declined claims

    17 May 2007

    Association of British Insurers protection committee chairman Nick Kirwan says declined claims are the biggest issue facing the industry and must be resolved quickly.

  • L&G appoints offshore chief executive

    16 May 2007

    Legal & General International has appointed David Fagan as chief executive officer in Dublin and will be launching two offshore products later this year.

  • Lawrence House's portfolio caution

    17 May 2007

    Lawrence House Financial Management says that, unlike some multi-managers, it is wary of holding the same funds and fund managers across all of its portfolios.

  • Lifesearch highlights unsung protection policy benefits

    16 May 2007

    Protection specialist Lifesearch has compiled a list of what it believes to be the ten best unsung protection policy benefits. Included in the top ten is Extra Care from Liverpool Victoria, Bright Grey’s Helping Hand and Bupa’s Best Doctors.

  • Lighthouse ties up deal with accountancy network

    21 May 2007

    LighthouseCarrwood has been chosen to provide financial advisory services to CerTax, the national professional accountancy network.

  • Lord Sheikh

    17 May 2007

    The chairman and chief executive of Camberford Law has juggled a successful career at the Lloyd's broker with an active role in the House of Lords since becoming the Conservative Party's first Muslim peer. He sees his role as protecting and promoting the financial services industry. Interview by Paul McMillan.

  • Lords defeat could give Government perfect excuse to delay Hips, says Boulger

    22 May 2007

    A House of Lords vote against Hips today would give the Government the perfect excuse to defer the 1 June start date, says Ray Boulger.

  • Love apple

    17 May 2007

    With one pound now worth around two dollars, company profits expanding and US interest rates likely to fall, now is the first time for around five years that I am recommending buying American unit trusts.

  • LV= appoints Holt as chairman

    18 May 2007

    LV= has appointed Dennis Holt as chairman, effective from July.

  • LV= appoints new head of national accounts

    17 May 2007

    LV= has appointed Chris Hopkinson as head of national accounts for the intermediary division.

  • Man Investments - Man AP Spectrum

    18 May 2007

    Man InvestmentsMan AP Spectrum

  • Mortgage approvals fall says BSA

    21 May 2007

    Mortgage approvals have fallen from £4,248m in April 2006 to £3,910m in April 2007.

  • Mortgage endowment complaints against IFAs on the increase, says FOS

    22 May 2007

    Mortgage endowment complaints remain high with a slight increase in IFA complaints despite a small drop overall, according to the FOS’s annual review.

  • Mortgage Expo: CML calls for increased TCF focus

    16 May 2007

    The Council of Mortgage Lenders has called on its members to make the Treating Customers Fairly Forum set up by specialist lenders an industry initiative.

  • Mortgage Expo: FSA issues ‘stay out’ equity release warning

    17 May 2007

    The FSA has warned advisers looking to enter the equity release market to ‘stay out’ if they are not willing to commit significant resources and investments to their operations.

  • Mum's the word

    17 May 2007

    The financial services industry is missing out on a valuable resource by sidelining women who want to return to work part-time after having a family, writes Catriona Brand, a mother of one and a part-time adviser with a high-street bank.

  • Munich Re appoints chief underwriter

    16 May 2007

    Munich Re Life Branch has appointed Paul Gyseman previously at GE Insurance Solutions as chief underwriter.

  • NAPF launches poll to gauge pension concerns

    22 May 2007

    The National Association of Pension Funds has set up an online poll calling for delegates and members to give their views on which issues are causing them most concern.

  • New chairman for Financial Objects

    18 May 2007

    Financial Objects deputy chairman Paul Fullagar has been appointed as chairman, effective from May 31.

  • New Star fund opens to retail investors

    17 May 2007

    New Star has opened its international property fund to retail investors. The fund will offer a 1 per cent discount on the initial charge for all lump-sum investments during the offer period of May 14-June 4, with a fixed price of 50p per unit during the retail offer period, priced daily after the offer period ends.

  • Nil-rate band is alive and well

    17 May 2007

    Peter French's letter (Money Marketing, May 10) seems, to me at least, to be overly pessimistic. Every individual liable to inheritance tax has a nil-rate band and the first step in any planning should be to ensure it is not wasted.

  • No short cuts

    17 May 2007

    The FSA announced recently that the T&C sourcebook for retail firms will be made much shorter. In fact, all will be contained within fewer than five pages.

  • Open season

    17 May 2007

    Hargreaves Lansdown is urging the Government to make the open market option the default for annuity sales.

  • Out of Context

    17 May 2007

    "You look like Challenge Anneka."

  • Over a third of IFAs want to redress the work-life balance

    17 May 2007

    More than a third of IFAs are somewhat or highly dissatisfied with their worklife balance, according to our survey.

  • Pension scheme conversion costs could total 4bn

    17 May 2007

    The Government's controversial proposals to convert contract schemes to trust-based schemes could cost 4bn, according to industry estimates.

  • Pensioner homes rise by £41.5bn in first quarter

    21 May 2007

    Rising property prices have seen British pensioners’ home values rise by £41.5bn in the first three months of this year, according to Homewise.

  • People on the move

    17 May 2007

    17 May 2007

  • Personal theory

    17 May 2007

    In any profession, there are those who are good, bad or downright mediocre at their jobs. Despite the plethora of training available most good advisers tend to be born and not made, claims Mortgage Talk sales director Michelle Brook.

  • Plum 20% discount for SimplyBiz firms

    17 May 2007

    Plum Software is offering a 20 per cent discount to SimplyBiz members for all its technology solutions.

  • Plum gives SimplyBiz 20% discount

    16 May 2007

    Plum Software is offering SimplyBiz menbers a 20 per cent discount on all its software products with immediate effect.

  • Practitioner panel warns FSA about effect of too many reviews

    17 May 2007

    The Financial Services Practitioner Panel has urged the FSA to consider the impact on retail firms of the number of reviews, projects and thematic initiatives it conducts.

  • Prestbury to use new mortgage system

    17 May 2007

    The Prestbury Network has announced it will use the MortgageStream casemanagement system to support its business. Prestbury members will be able to utilise MortgageStream to facilitate caseprocessing, manage their new business pipeline, client relationships andmanagement information. Prestbury Network sales director Kevin Sample says after extensive researchMortgageStream came out on top. He says: “The MortgageStream client management and workflow ...

  • Price's words are an insult to women

    17 May 2007

    Having read the letter, "Thinc again on women from Fiona Price", I feel I have to respond. This is the second time I have been outraged by comments made by Fiona Price.

  • Product matters

    17 May 2007

    There's no doubt the New Star international property fund is the hot launch of the summer but is it a truly innovative and worthwhile investment or simply a way for New Star to cash in on its stellar property brand?

  • Protecting pension policies

    17 May 2007

    Is the Government only paying lip service to protecting existing pension schemes when personal accounts are introduced?

  • Quote...unquote

    17 May 2007

    Why is the premium we quote to clients not always what they will pay?

  • 'Rate rise does not go far enough'

    17 May 2007

    F&C growth and income manager Ted Scott has hit out at the Bank of England's monetary policy committee for raising the base rate by just 0.25 per cent.

  • Reckless generic

    17 May 2007

    The Government seems determined to bring in some form of generic advice.

  • Redwood pledging to downscale FSA

    17 May 2007

    John Redwood says he will focus on reducing the size and strength of the FSA and lowering regulatory fees for advisers.

  • Regulator ends split-cap investigation

    21 May 2007

    The FSA has announced an end to its split-cap investigation with a further number of individuals agreeing not to perform customer and significant influence functions for various time periods.

  • Resolution Asset Management CIO bullish on market high

    18 May 2007

    Resolution Asset Management chief investment officer for UK equities Peter Reid believes that the FTSE 100 will break it’s all-time record of 6,930 next year with the bull market set to continue until at least 2009.

  • Resolution property manager quits

    17 May 2007

    Resolution Asset Management UK property fund manager Sandy Thompson has resigned from the firm.

  • 'Return to work' deal from Towry

    17 May 2007

    Towry Law is looking beyond the traditional IFA pool and launching a "return to work" scheme for professionals considering careers as wealth advisers.

  • RICS in last-ditch legal bid to block Hips

    17 May 2007

    The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has started legal proceedings against the Government over home information packs.

  • Room for improvement in treating customers fairly

    17 May 2007

    The industry still has a long way to go to embrace the FSA's treating customers fairly regime, according to a newly launched consultancy.

  • 'Royal' website redirect fuels merger rumours

    17 May 2007

    Royal Liver and Royal London have denied that a website link is evidence they are close to a merger.

  • Satchell hails Tiner's reign

    17 May 2007

    ABI chairman Keith Satchell has paid tribute to outgoing FSA chief executive John Tiner, saying he has turned the UK regulatory system into "one which is the envy of much of the rest of the world".

  • Sesame, You’ve (finally) got a Friend

    17 May 2007

    At last the wait is over. Friends Provident this week came to the rescue of Sesame, the IFA network with a burgeoning direct arm and comparatively strong multi-tie proposition that now has a single, dedicated provider parent.

  • Shah to carry on special sits style

    17 May 2007

    Sanjeev Shah's appointment to replace Anthony Bolton on Fidelity's flagship £3.2bn UK special situations fund has been broadly welcomed by advisers.

  • Shah will cut stocks but stay contrary

    17 May 2007

    Sanjeev Shah says investors will not see any radical changes in the way the special situations fund is run when he takes over from Anthony Bolton.

  • 'Sipp clients better off in a PPP'

    17 May 2007

    The Sipp market is becoming oversaturated and the majority of people taking out Sipps would be better suited to personal pension policies, according to outgoing Selestia marketing director Bill Vasilieff.

  • Skandia pays 88% of critical claims

    17 May 2007

    Skandia paid out on 88 per cent of critical-illness insurance claims totalling more than 181m to 1,920 policyholders last year.

  • Softly, softly approach

    17 May 2007

    Multi-manager Cazenove has broadened the commodity exposure within its diversity fund by reducing its holding in JP Morgan natural resources by 10 per cent to establish a new position in the Schroder agricultural fund.

  • SSP to buy Sirius

    21 May 2007

    Software Solutions Partners looks set to buy adviser software provider Sirius after the two companies reached agreement on the terms of the acquisition.

  • Standard and Scot Prov added to Webline IP panel

    22 May 2007

    Capita Enabler’s adviser portal Webline has added Standard Life and Scottish Provident to its panel of income protection providers.

  • Standard takes 25% stake in Threesixty

    17 May 2007

    Standard Life has bought a 25 per cent stake in IFA support service provider Threesixty.

  • Sub-prime ministering

    17 May 2007

    Abbey appears to have chosen to partner with a specialist in a bid to re-enter the sub-prime market, says Tanya Powley.

  • Survey shows average IFA earning £30,000

    17 May 2007

    MM probe finds senior advisers on £40,446 and trainees getting just over £23,000.

  • SWIP appoints Dickson to new European equity role

    22 May 2007

    Scottish Widows Investment Partnership has appointed Kathleen Dickson to the newly created role of European equity product specialist.

  • Tenet and Leeds Building Society link for overseas advice

    22 May 2007

    Tenet has teamed up with Leeds Building Society to expand the society's overseas business model.

  • Thames moots fettered fund for Potter and Burdett

    17 May 2007

    Thames River is looking at launching a fettered multi-asset fund of funds involving Gary Potter and Robert Burdett when they join in August.

  • The heart of the matter

    17 May 2007

    As a relatively new business, we have watched the launch of wrap propositions with interest and just before Christmas began a fact-find exercise followed by detailed due diligence on our short list of wrap providers.

  • The key to the door

    17 May 2007

    The Government's Open Market Home Buy scheme for key workers has got off to a slow start due to lack of awareness among the public and advisers finding the scheme confusing, reports Helen Pow.

  • The rate composers

    17 May 2007

    Five-page special report opens with Mike Kipling, deputy chairman of The Actuarial Profession's life board, explaining the computations that go into setting annuity rates and how they work to protect the pensioner throughout retirement.

  • The rebate risk

    17 May 2007

    Margaret Jago, technical manager at Aegon Scottish Equitable International, considers why the Treasury took action over commission rebating on offshore bond business and why some life offices have welcomed the move.

  • Thinc consultant says Price comments insult women

    17 May 2007

    A female Thinc Group financial consultant has accused Fiona Price of belittling women in the debate on how to encourage them to enter the industry.

  • Thinc TV widening reach with streaming

    17 May 2007

    Thinc group's online TV channel, Thinc TV, is starting to use internet streaming technology to deliver content on demand to over 1,000 financial advisers and staff.

  • Thoresen calls on industry to engage in generic review

    17 May 2007

    Aegon UK chief executive Otto Thoresen says the industry must engage in the generic advice review or suffer a further hit to its reputation and loss of future business.

  • Three more firms sign up to Nucleus

    17 May 2007

    AJS Wealth Management, Intelligent Capital and Ward Mitchell have signed up to the Nucleus platform, bringing the total to 13.

  • Tories fail to scrap Hips

    16 May 2007

    The Conservatives have failed to derail Home Information Packs after losing a vote to scrap the controversial policy in the House of Commons today.

  • Trigold announces new secured loan lender service

    17 May 2007

    Trigold has unveiled the lenders and master brokers who are part of the new Secured Sourcing module to be launched to Trigold subscribers.

  • Two of GMAC-RFC's...

    17 May 2007

    Two of GMAC-RFC's corporate account managers David Tickle and Simon Jones have successfully climbed 5,895m to reach the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. The pair have raised over £13,500 so far for Marie Curie, a charity which is close to both their hearts. By the end of June, this figure will have reached £15,000. Simon was diagnosed with cancer four years ago and has lost six members of his family to the disease. David Tickle also lost a friend to cancer.

  • UK pensions schemes move into surplus

    18 May 2007

    UK pension schemes have moved into surplus for first time in over five years, according to research from Aon Consulting.

  • 'We have come a long way,' says Tiner

    17 May 2007

    Outgoing FSA chief executive John Tiner says the life insurance industry is unrecognisable compared with when he joined the regulator in 2001.

  • What's it all about, alpha??

    17 May 2007

    Are constraints eating your alpha, and other pompous verbiage??

  • Widows appoints head of distribution development

    17 May 2007

    Scottish Widows has appointed Robert Kerr to the newly created role of head of distribution development.

  • Winterthur says Asps still offer opportunities

    18 May 2007

    Winterthur says Asp can still be used as part of financial planning and there are ways to keep the surplus on Asp tax free.

  • Word power

    17 May 2007

    When I was asked to write this column, my first thought was: what career? It is not a term I would normally use to describe the succession of job changes I have made over the past two decades.

  • Would retrospection be step in wrong direction?

    17 May 2007

    Nicola York says the critical-illness industry is split in two on applying policy enhancements to existing customers.

  • 'Wrap offers efficiency and won't replace advice'

    17 May 2007

    Wrap should not be considered a threat because it will help drive client interest in investment and help advisers work more efficiently, says Baigrie Davies director Amanda Davidson.

  • Yardley says 'generic advice' devalues IFAs

    17 May 2007

    The introduction of generic advice runs the risk of devaluing the work of financial advisers, Royal London has warned.

  • Yield trip

    17 May 2007

    UK equity income funds remain as popular as ever. That is not surprising considering that they meet the objectives of so many of our clients - capital growth and income growth.

  • You can't hold back TCF tide

    17 May 2007

    The FSA has stressed the importance of treating customers fairly and has issued numerous fines in the last few months to demonstrate that they mean business.

  • Zurich Financial Services - Guaranteed Capital Account 12

    18 May 2007

    Zurich Financial ServicesGuaranteed Capital Account 12

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