Money Marketing
2 March 2005

  • A bit of a do as Qifs put on style

    3 Mar 2005

    Guernsey Finance has introduced its evolutionary QIFs (pronounced, clearly, quiffs) in order to speed up their fund approval process.

  • A sense of directive

    3 Mar 2005

    Our panel of experts look at the savings tax directive, what it covers, how the tax will be implemented and who is affected.

  • Abbey - Fixed Rate Flexible Plus Mortgage

    3 Mar 2005

    Abbey Fixed Rate Flexible Plus Mortgage

  • ABN Amro looks to major growth in hedge fund assets

    3 Mar 2005

    ABN Amro Asset Management believes its hedge fund assets will grow globally by up to 30 per cent a year for the next two years.

  • Affairs of estate

    3 Mar 2005

    Making use of annual IHT exemptions can help reduce a liability. Towry Law Financial Services financial consultant Matt Pitcher reviews the estate planning process.

  • Aifa presses for hard push towards professionalism

    3 Mar 2005

    Speaking at the FSA retail intermediaries sector confer-ence in Solihull last week, Aifa director of policy Fay Goddard said any professional certification would be hard-earned and not necessarily for everyone but would raise an IFA to the status of an accountant or lawyer.

  • Allocation scouts

    3 Mar 2005

    Skandia's decision to launch a range of asset allocation funds has drawn mixed reactions from the industry.

  • Ambrose McGinn resigns as director of Abbey for Intermediaries

    7 Mar 2005

    Abbey for Intermediaries director Ambrose McGinn has resigned and will leave on March 24th.

  • April fuel day

    3 Mar 2005

    Don't let the demands of A-Day distract you from the pension planning opportunities presented by the end of the tax year. St James's Place Capital head of pensions Ian Price offers some tips for keeping schemes well funded.

  • Arc Fund Management - Arc Growth Company VCT

    7 Mar 2005

    Arc Fund Management Arc Growth Company VCT

  • Arc transfers skills to VCT

    4 Mar 2005

    Enterprise investment scheme specialist Arc Fund Management is looking to raise up to 15m for Arc growth company VCT, its venture capital trust debut.

  • AWD casts ties aside after 20m Chase de Vere buy

    3 Mar 2005

    AWD has emphasised its commitment to remain independent following its acquisition of Chase de Vere from Bank of Ireland.

  • Barclays bids for 30% multi boost

    3 Mar 2005

    Barclays Financial Planning is aiming to increase turnover by 30 per cent this year through its multi-tie with Axa, Friends Provident, Legal & General, Norwich Union, Prudential and Standard Life.

  • BDO Stoy Hayward expects two interest rate rises by the summer

    7 Mar 2005

    BDO Stoy Hayward expects to see two interest rate rises by late-summer of 2005.

  • Beachcroft Wansbroughs says KFIs result in information over-load

    4 Mar 2005

    Prescriptive rules mean too much information in key facts illustrations according to Beachcroft Wansboroughs Consulting.

  • Best business press advertisement

    4 Mar 2005

    This category recognises the finest work in the business to business press.

  • Best consumer direct mail pack

    4 Mar 2005

    Making consumers who don’t want to think of tomorrow understand the importance of financial services products is one of the perennial challenges of our sector.

  • Best consumer press advertisement

    4 Mar 2005

    Attracting over 40 entries, this category rewards the talented agencies that created the most memorable and effective consumer press advertisements of 2004.

  • Best IFA direct mail pack

    4 Mar 2005

    This year’s Best IFA Direct Mail Pack category saw stiff competition across 26 entries.

  • Best outdoor advertisement

    4 Mar 2005

    Recognising the work of the agencies that brought financial services messages to public spaces in the most imaginative and powerful way, this year’s winners were drawn from a strong pool of 24 entries.

  • Best radio advertisement

    4 Mar 2005

    All this year’s entrants to the best radio advertisement category left judges thrilled by the brilliance of their work.

  • Best TV advertisement

    4 Mar 2005

    Drawn from 17 entries, this year’s winning and shortlisted work in the Best TV advertisement category constitutes the very best financial services advertisements seen on UK television in 2004.

  • Best use of new media

    4 Mar 2005

    This category recognises the best use of new media by an IFA to create a real benefit in the market place that demonstrates e-commerce improving the way people do business.

  • Boulger on mortgages

    3 Mar 2005

    Four months into statutory mortgage regulation and it is just as easy to find non-compliant financial promotions as compliant ones.

  • Bright Grey scoops four honours at LifeSearch Protection Awards

    4 Mar 2005

    Bright Grey is celebrating its success in this year's LifeSearch Protection Awards, picking up four awards.

  • Britannic invests in genuine article

    8 Mar 2005

    Britannic Asset Managements UK property fund aims for income and growth by investing up to 100 per cent directly in UK commercial property.

  • Brown starts McKechnie foundation

    3 Mar 2005

    Chancellor Gordon Brown has set up a foundation to recognise individuals excelling in charitable campaigning in memory of former Which? director Sheila McKechnie.

  • BSI flies kitemark to set a standard of IFA experience

    3 Mar 2005

    The definition of an "experienced" IFA will be the subject of a British Standards Institute committee meeting in Berlin this week on standards within financial planning.

  • Call of duty

    3 Mar 2005

    The approach of the end of the tax year appears to be in serious danger of passing unnoticed owing to the prominence of tax in the pre-election debate. There are also pre-Budget tax rumours to contend with.

  • Cash Isa still top

    7 Mar 2005

    Cash continues to be the most popular Isa category, according to research from Halifax based on Inland Revenue figures.Cash Isas recorded growth in balances of 129 per cent over three years to March 2004, to 81.6bn. Stocks and shares Isas saw growth of 68 per cent over the same period.The survey also found that over nine million Isas were opened in the UK in the first half of 2004/05, up 6 per cent on the same period last year.

  • Cheltenham & Gloucester - Two Year Premium Discount Mortgage

    8 Mar 2005

    Cheltenham & GloucesterTwo Year Premium Discount Mortgage

  • Citizen's pension is branded 'derisory'

    3 Mar 2005

    The Pensions Reform Group, founded by Labour MP Frank Field, has attacked the concept of a 105 a week citizen's pension as a derisory benefit that will leave pensioners in poverty.

  • Clerical adds up A-Day

    2 Mar 2005

    Clerical Medical has launched an A-day pension protection calculator tool to its website to assist advisers in planning for their clients retirement.It includes a mechanism to calculate projected tax-free cash levels and any recovery charges that may apply for the three different protection options. The tool is available through the life office's IFA website.

  • Club together on mortgages

    3 Mar 2005

    It is with considerable interest that we have been following the various articles and comments made by a variety of industry commentators in relationship to lenders and the role of mortgage clubs.

  • CML calls for cuts to stamp duty

    2 Mar 2005

    The Council of Mortgage Lenders is calling for a reduction in stamp duty in its Budget submission to the Chancellor for the fifth year running.

  • Cofunds adds to development team

    2 Mar 2005

    Cofunds has confirmed new senior appointments to its business development team, all of which have been made internally.

  • Commission Edge

    3 Mar 2005

    FRANCIS McGEE Two truths underlie last week's publication of new research on commission and the launch of ABI's consultation on options for change. First, is the fundamental importance of advice to closing Brit-ain's £27bn savings gap.Oliver Wyman's work for the ABI in 2001 proved that. Securing the widest possible access for potential savers to the best-quality, impartial advice is a matter of nat-ional importance. Second, is that the public's concerns - for some the deeply ...

  • Consumer campaign of the year

    4 Mar 2005

    The five shortlisted entries to this key category are acknowledged for their ability to consistently communicate a financial services message to the general public across all forms of media.

  • Continued naivete still surrounds investment trusts

    3 Mar 2005

    I am no apologist for the investment trust industry but I was bemused by the comments of John Kelly, head of Abbey multi-manager development, in Money Marketing recently.

  • Correspondent's Week

    3 Mar 2005

    Cold mornings, arctic temperatures and a flurry of snow can only mean one thing - it is time to train for the marathon once again.

  • Davis's discounts

    3 Mar 2005

    Invesco Perpetual has cut up front charges for all new Isa investments and Pep and Isa transfers from 5 per cent to 3 per cent. It is also offering a 1.75 per cent discount from 5 per cent to 3.25 per cent for new lumpsum investments and monthly savings plans made outside an Isa into five of its funds.

  • Double indemnity

    3 Mar 2005

    The ABI's proposals to ditch indemnity commission and overhaul adviser remuneration have shocked IFAs and consumer groups.Many commentators and industry bodies agree that commission needs reforming if consumers' perceptions of IFAs are to improve but several have taken issue with the thrust of the ABI's proposals, which stem from research carried out by consultancy Charles River Associates.The ABI has also proposed annual commission statements for consumers and equalisation ...

  • Exeter Fund Managers goes into administration

    4 Mar 2005

    Exeter Fund Managers has been placed in administration, because it is likely to become insolvent as a result of civil claims relating to the split caps crisis.

  • F&C picks US managers for large cap

    2 Mar 2005

    The 2.25bn Foreign & Colonial investment trust is putting US-based fund managers to run its larger cap portfolio in the US, in response to poor performance.

  • Felton adjusts focus of M&G capital fund

    3 Mar 2005

    Mike Felton has finished restructuring M&G's capital fund after changing 50 per cent of the stockholdings.

  • Flight of fancy comes to a head Out of context

    3 Mar 2005

    "You know I am a Stalinist at heart." - ABI head of pensions Joanne Segars.

  • Flight says IFAs are being phased out by regulation

    3 Mar 2005

    Conservative Party deputy chairman Howard Flight claims there is an unspoken objective to phase out IFAs with excessive regulation.

  • FOS getting 500 underfunding cases a year

    3 Mar 2005

    The Financial Ombudsman Service says it is getting 400-500 mortgage underfunding cases a year, where borrowers complete the term but have not cleared the loan.

  • Friends makes two new senior level appointments

    4 Mar 2005

    Friends Provident has appointed Jim Halliday as head of group accounting, and Mike Collins as head of with-profits actuarial services, both with immediate effect.

  • FSA compliance help for BIBA members

    8 Mar 2005

    British Insurance Brokers Association members can now access expert financial compliance advice following a deal with Marsh Corporate Consulting Limited.

  • FSA spells out electronic reporting regime

    3 Mar 2005

    The FSA has outlined its new electronic reporting requirements ahead of implementation of integrated regulatory reporting from July.

  • FSCS says it could cut 27m fund levy

    3 Mar 2005

    The Financial Services Compensation Scheme has admitted it could reduce the massive 27m split-cap levy on fund management firms after protests from the Investment Management Association.

  • Fund firms united on splits' rules

    3 Mar 2005

    The investment industry has told the Treasury that the present regulatory structure should not be changed.

  • Future lies in product factories, says Capita

    3 Mar 2005

    The future of financial services is giant product factories white-labelling for the industry, according to back office outsourcer Capita chief executive Paul Pindar.

  • Getting financial regulation right

    3 Mar 2005

    Financial services has become the UK's biggest industry, employing one million people, earning £17.8bn in exports and paying one third of corporation tax revenues.

  • Hales says it is up to advisers to deal with compensation costs

    3 Mar 2005

    Norwich Union sales and marketing director Peter Hales believes it is up to IFAs to deal with the cost of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, claiming that advisers need to take more responsibility for levies because of misselling.

  • Hales' wise words on commission

    3 Mar 2005

    Everybody's talking about commission again. Norwich Union's sales and marketing director Peter Hales says that in a personal capacity, he would like to see pension commission increased.

  • Heir trigger

    3 Mar 2005

    Contract Marketing Services managing director Richard Lloyd-Jones looks at the importance of IHT in offshore sales.

  • Help the tsunami appeal with triple peak challenge

    3 Mar 2005

    Financial Services Charitable Foundation founder Paul Hogarth is challenging the industry to complete a three-peak 24-hour challenge in June, climbing the three highest mountains in the UK, to help with aid for countries hit by tsunami.

  • Highbury Financial Services fined 35,000 for misleading financial promotions

    3 Mar 2005

    The FSA has fined penny share tipping company Highbury Financial Services Limited 35,000 for the publication of misleading financial promotions.

  • IFA campaign of the year

    4 Mar 2005

    Recognising the very best work aimed at IFAs in 2004, this year’s shortlist for the IFA Campaign of the Year comes from a strong field of 35 entrants.

  • IFAs say GP reports biggest cause of frustration in protection

    8 Mar 2005

    General Practitioner reports are IFAs biggest protection gripe according to research held at fourteen Royal Liver roadshows.

  • Independent view

    3 Mar 2005

    We have recently been considering a new strap line for our business - something bold and eye-catching. For some time, we have considered ourselves to be "better and different" than most other IFAs. Now I know this may sound arrogant but we do not think so.

  • Insight receive 'A' rating on seven funds

    4 Mar 2005

    Insight Investment, the asset manager of HBOS, has received A ratings for seven of its multi-manager funds, from Old Broad Street Research.

  • Intermediaries' support saves the ScotProv brand

    3 Mar 2005

    The Scottish Provident brand is here to stay because intermediaries want it and it is generating business.

  • Invesco Perpetuals Aim VCT to close early

    4 Mar 2005

    The Invesco Perpetual Aim VCT is to close early to protect existing investors, having raised 9.86 million and invested in 32 companies to date.The NAV of the VCT at February 28 20005 was 118.66p per share, compared with the current subscription price of 1 per share. The fund is managed by Andy Crossley.

  • Investment view

    3 Mar 2005

    It seems American consumers are still prepared to put their hands into their pockets.

  • Is defence the best form of attack?

    3 Mar 2005

    Like them or loathe them, the IFA Defence Union seems to be striking a chord with a growing group of IFAs disenchanted with the deal they are getting.

  • ISA express

    3 Mar 2005

    Remember Murder on the Orient Express? A luxury train, a collection of exotic and eccentric characters - and a dead body. Whodunnit? That was the clever bit - everyone did.

  • It's a sporting life for HNW investors

    3 Mar 2005

    English sporting painting, 20th Century furniture and modern European painting have seen surges in value, according to the Zurich-AMR art and antiques index.

  • Julian Gibbs

    3 Mar 2005

    Noble & Company, one of the leading sponsors of venture capital trusts, which has raised 236m out of a total VCT market of 1.6bn, is sponsoring four VCTs this season, all among the best in their categories.

  • Jupiter axes VAT on fees in Sipp admin switch to online access

    3 Mar 2005

    Jupiter is relaunching its Sipp this week after switching third-party admin to offer a more automated Vat-free service.

  • Keydata energises renewable source

    7 Mar 2005

    Keydata has established the Keydata income VCTs 1 and 2, two VCTs investing in renewable energy.

  • L&G scoops three Lifesearch awards

    3 Mar 2005

    Legal & General dominated the stage at this year's Lifesearch Protection Awards, taking three honours, including best overall product provider.

  • Laundry

    3 Mar 2005

    Simplifying the anti-money laundering process could deliver major benefits to advisers, providers and consumers.

  • Lending and market share fall but Abbey back in profit

    3 Mar 2005

    Abbey is back in profit, turning round a 686m loss in 2003 into a 273m profit last year.

  • Losing interest

    3 Mar 2005

    When considering the use of the private residence in planning to reduce the overall inheritance tax liability borne by a family, a married couple should consider how they can ensure that up to the nil-rate band is left to other than the surviving spouse when the first of them dies.

  • Lost in translation

    3 Mar 2005

    A question of interpretation on offshore portfolio bonds could see a tax shock for investors.

  • Multi-Manager view - James Budden

    3 Mar 2005

    It was with a sense of fatigue that I read the headline concerning Abbey shunning "too risky" investment trusts (Money Marketing, February 17).

  • Multimanager with protection from Zurich

    2 Mar 2005

    Zurich AssuranceMultimanager Protected Profits Fund

  • NAPF calls for state pension age to be linked to life expectancy

    3 Mar 2005

    The National Association of Pension Funds is calling for the state pension age to be indexed to longevity.

  • NDF Administration - NDF Income Plan February 05

    2 Mar 2005

    NDF AdministrationNDF Income Plan February 05

  • Nearly 15m adults don't maximise Isa, claim IF

    2 Mar 2005

    Almost 15m adults in the UK are not maximising tax benefits created by their Isa accounts, according to ICM research commissioned by Intelligent Finance.

  • Norrie Henderson becomes chairman of CML Scotland

    4 Mar 2005

    Norrie Henderson, Head of Mortgages at Lloyds TSB Scotland, today becomes chairman of the Council of Mortgage Lenders, Scotland arm.

  • Norwich moves in with active protection

    4 Mar 2005

    Norwich UnionActive Protector Fund

  • Old Mutual converts hedge fund of funds to multi-manager

    3 Mar 2005

    Old Mutual Asset Management has turned its multi strategy hedge fund of funds into a multi-manager fund that will access external managers solely on a managed account basis.

  • Old Mutual's Sutcliffe misses out on 500k in share options

    3 Mar 2005

    Old Mutual chief executive Jim Sutcliffe has lost out on over 500,000 of share options after the firm failed to meet a performance target that would trigger the bonus.

  • On the level

    3 Mar 2005

    Hargreaves Lans-down pensions research manager Tom McPhail says the company's research shows that a worrying 80-90 per cent of investors choose level annuities over increasing annuities which could prove a catastrophe in the face of prolonged high inflation.

  • On what criteria has BM based its seal of approval?

    3 Mar 2005

    Shock, horror, BM is encouraging brokers to go direct rather than via packagers. I would have never guessed it.

  • Origen unites after IFA brand merger

    2 Mar 2005

    Origen becomes a single legal entity today under FSA rules marketing the final stage in the merger of Aegon UKs five independent financial adviser firms into one brand. Origen is also this week launching a national marketing campaign which has been created by agency CCHM:ping.

  • Pension certificate from PMI

    2 Mar 2005

    The Pensions Management Institute is taking applications for its newly launched pension plan executive cetificate via its website.The first PPE certificates will be issued from April. Holders will be required to complete PMI's new accredited professional development programme on an annual basis to renew their PPEC certificate.

  • Pension rescue scheme criticised as inadequate

    3 Mar 2005

    A pension rescue scheme set up by the Government to help people in collapsed final-salary schemes has been criticised as being inadequate.

  • PFS members won't get preferential PI

    3 Mar 2005

    Personal Finance Society members will not benefit from lower professional indemnity cover rates with broker NCG despite PFS claims of a partnership with the insurer to provide favourable terms.

  • Pink Home Loans - Mortgage Trust MT Select Lifetime Tracker Buy-To-Let

    4 Mar 2005

    Pink Home LoansMortgage Trust MT Select Lifetime Tracker Buy-To-Let

  • Portman Building Society - 2 Year Fixed 4.68%

    8 Mar 2005

    Portman Building Society2 Year Fixed - 4.68%

  • Product Matters

    3 Mar 2005

    Newcastle's guaranteed FTSE returnbond provides an interesting example of the way in which structured products can cater for both bulls and bears.

  • Profile: David Aird

    3 Mar 2005

    Investec Asset Management's managing director says the fund industry needs to win the trust of customers as consultants rather than using a sales-driven approach and he is looking to the cautious managed sector to achieve realistic returns.

  • Property fund puts New Star in top spot

    3 Mar 2005

    New Star topped the retail fund sales tables in the last quarter of 2004 with a 175 per cent rise in business, beating its nearest competitor by 50m.

  • Question over Pritchard role at the regulator

    3 Mar 2005

    I note that a certain David Pritchard has been appointed by FSA head honcho Tiner as an adviser to the "end-to-end" review of the enforcement process - following its losing both to Legal & General and the splits' companies - to "help speed up the fairness of decisions made".

  • Red tape tying up brokers' bids for new business

    3 Mar 2005

    Regulation is stifling brokers' efforts to stimulate new business, according to Mortgage 2000 managing director Sean Hornsby.

  • 'Regulator is causing club conflict'

    3 Mar 2005

    Premier Mortgage Service chief executive John Malone believes the FSA does not understand distribution in the mortgage market and is causing problems between packagers and intermediaries

  • Release of life

    3 Mar 2005

    Just Retirement marketing and product manager Nigel Barlow says equity-release plans have been labelled distress purchases but are becoming an integral part of retirement planning.

  • Reliance Mutual to acquire Eurolife Book

    4 Mar 2005

    Reliance Mutual is to acquire the £50m life assurance business of Eurolife, for an undisclosed sum.

  • Retitrement is not an option

    3 Mar 2005

    The spectator sees more of the game than the players and that has certainly been my experience over the last month or two. Following the sale of Charcol, for the first time in 15 years, I had time to sit back before deciding what direction I wanted my career to take.

  • Revenue leaves door open on lifetime limit

    3 Mar 2005

    The Inland Revenue's technical amendments to A-Day rules means investors avoid being tested against the lifetime limit twice, says Scottish Equitable pension development director Stewart Ritchie.

  • Second helping of security from Standard Life

    2 Mar 2005

    Standard Life has brought out the second issue of the secured capital plan, a capital-protected Oeic established under the European Ucits III legislation.

  • Severn says life offices will break ranks when sales fall

    3 Mar 2005

    Aifa says the ABI's proposals to abolish indemnity commission are "nonsense" and would be near unenforceable among its members, particularly when their sales levels start to drop.

  • Sipp building

    3 Mar 2005

    I have over 100,000 in three personal pensions with different providers. I am interested in setting up a self-invested personal pension with a possible view to future property purchase. What are the advantages and disadvantages of transferring my existing funds to the Sipp?

  • Sitka VCT offering 10 million C1 shares

    3 Mar 2005

    Sitka health fund VCT is offering 10 million C1 fund shares for 1 each, hoping to double its size to 20m.

  • Small firms are biggest part of FSA

    3 Mar 2005

    Small firms now represent 97 per cent of the FSA's membership since regulation of mortgages and general insurance, says FSA managing director David Kenmir.

  • Sourcers' service is slammed

    3 Mar 2005

    Sourcing systems and lenders' online applications are still not providing the service that intermediaries expect.

  • SPML AIPs fully available on Trigold

    7 Mar 2005

    Southern Pacific Mortgage is fully integrating with sourcing system Trigold.

  • Spring is packing in details to speed sales

    3 Mar 2005

    An online service offered through estate agents is being set up to speed up the mortgage advice process and end post-sale delays.

  • Standard rejects ABI's bid to scrap indemnity

    3 Mar 2005

    Standard Life says it does not see the need for abolishing indemnity commission, as proposed by an ABI study paper.

  • 'Starting gun for wraps will fire soon'

    3 Mar 2005

    True Financial Planning director John Baxter says using a wrap platform can save 400 per client a year.

  • Straight talking

    3 Mar 2005

    Direct Line started a revolution in the general insurance sector. Can Royal Liver do the same for life insurance with its straight-through processing model?

  • Strange case of Brown and the lost 5bn

    3 Mar 2005

    What a strange letter from Kevin Neil of Parker Kelly Financial Services, saying he does not believe the 5bn lost to pensions since Gordon Brown took over.

  • Strong IFA sales boost Axa UK business

    2 Mar 2005

    Axa UK reported a 145m increase in adjusted earning and revenues up by 5 per cent in its preliminary results for 2004. Total revenues stand at 37.3bn for 2004 with IFAs bringing 82 per cent of new business in 2004 to Axa UK. Life and savings business revenues increased 8 per cent to 4.28bn in 2004 from 4.04bn in 2003.

  • Sub-prime row on charge hike

    3 Mar 2005

    Mortgage intermediaries are angry over higher lending charges for sub-prime loans which only make clear the final pay rate at completion.

  • Sub-prime suspect

    3 Mar 2005

    The grey area between sub-prime and prime lending candidates could result in advisers giving inappropriate advice, say a panel of mortgage industry experts.

  • Talkback

    3 Mar 2005

    Should indemnity commission be abolished?"No. With a fee structure, indemnity commission helps to keep up the level of advice that IFAs can provide."Andrew Walter Jackson, Egan Roberts Financial Services"No. It is an option for payment. If it is taken away, clients unable to pay fees will not be able to get advice."Nigel Bracken, The Financial Partnership"No, There are arguments on both sides but, ultim-ately, how commission is paid is less important than clients getting ...

  • 'Tax sales strategy could break VCT spirit'

    3 Mar 2005

    An investment IFA is warning that the surge in VCTs is in danger of jeopardising the future status of the asset class.

  • Tenet selects The Exchange

    4 Mar 2005

    The Exchange has been selected to power Tenets new protection panel arrangements.Tenets new protection offering provides all members and clients with preferential rates, products and services from leading providers.Tenet has a panel of five providers; Norwich Union, Friends Provident, Legal & General, Scottish Provident and Axa.The Exchange says its new panel management functionality, developed to meet the requirements of GI and depolarisation regulation, will enable Tenet ...

  • Thames River Capital - Property Growth & Income Fund

    7 Mar 2005

    Thames River CapitalProperty Growth & Income Fund

  • The Exchange parent sold

    8 Mar 2005

    Vertex Data Science Ltd is to buy The Exchange parent Marlborough Stirling, subject to shareholder approval, in a deal worth 95.3m.

  • The international health service

    3 Mar 2005

    Expats need to ensure they have PMI cover for their stay abroad.

  • The Mortgage Works - Buy-To-Let Two Year Fixed

    4 Mar 2005

    The Mortgage Works Buy-To-Let Two Year Fixed

  • The PFS view

    3 Mar 2005

    One of the main reasons for forming the Personal Finance Society is to improve the perceptions of financial advisers.

  • Three independents win the votes for Standard bid

    3 Mar 2005

    The three independent candidates for the Standard Life board have all achieved the 250 votes needed to be considered for election to the life office's board.

  • Tied agents back contracting in while IFAs baulk at advice

    3 Mar 2005

    Almost four times as many of Axa's tied-agent clients have asked the life office to contract them back in to S2P as those clients contacted via IFAs, according to the life office.

  • Tom Baigrie on Protection

    3 Mar 2005

    The ombudsman has been quoted as warning IFAs to be cautious over sales of income protection. IP is more of a problem than critical illness. IP needs to be sold and explained carefully because it is not as clear cut as life insurance, because loss of income through disability is not as clear cut as death.

  • Transfer choices from GE Life

    7 Mar 2005

    GE LifeSection 32 Transfer Plan

  • Transition time

    3 Mar 2005

    Simon Olive, Management consultant Axa Management & TrainingFirst, commission is an appropriate payment mechanism for those clients who simply want to buy product from you. It is less appropriate for those who want general advice and/or an ongoing service and relationship.Twenty years ago, fatter commissions and lower costs may have enabled advisers to subsidise a commitment to service on the back of an initial commission but this is no longer the case. Increasing costs and ...

  • Turn over new relief

    3 Mar 2005

    VCTs are especially attractive to investors after the Chancellor enhanced the tax breaks but there are other investment opportunities to consider ahead of the tax year end.

  • Verity's view

    3 Mar 2005

    On February 22, pensions minister Malcolm Wicks provided about 60,000 worried people with the reassurance they had been waiting for. Those 60,000 were, of course, the unfortunates whose companies went bust with big holes in their pension schemes before they had retired, robbing them of benefits worth tens or even hundreds of thousands of pounds.

  • Will FSA feel the collar of the 'rule-breakers'?

    3 Mar 2005

    Since October 31 last year, the words "clear fair and not misleading" have been echoing down the corridors of that marketing departments of mortgage firms and lenders, leaving them striving to make sure their promotions and marketing are compliant.

  • Willetts warns against ending contracting out

    3 Mar 2005

    Shadow Work and Pension Secretary David Willetts has highlighted the difficulties of abolishing the state second pension.

  • Woolwich Plan Managers - 7% Bonus Bond

    3 Mar 2005

    Woolwich Plan Managers7% Bonus Bond

  • Yorkshire group buys MFM

    3 Mar 2005

    Yorkshire Investment Group has bought financial advisory firm Manor Financial Management and its Manor Management Services third-party admin arm.

  • Youngsters not deterred by high house prices

    3 Mar 2005

    The UK's obsession with property begins at an early age, with 95 per cent of teenagers planning to become homeowners, acc-ording to research by IFA Promotion.

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