Money Marketing
20 April 2005

  • Investment view

    21 Apr 2005

    What conclusions should you draw from last week's figures emerging from the high street, asks Brian Tora?

  • Investment view

    21 Apr 2005

    What conclusions should you draw from last week's figures emerging from the high street? On the one hand, Tesco delivered a stunning set of results, demonstrating it is tightening its grip upon Britain's grocery trade. On the other, Marks & Spencer's woes appear to continue unabated while the British Retail Consortium figures suggest that we are still being cautious over how we spend our money. It rather looks as though stockpicking in the stores sector is particularly important ...

  • A consumer's view

    21 Apr 2005

    With the election campaigns well under way and the pros-pect of Labour being returned to power, voters will be dis-appointed to find out that there is nothing in the Labour Party's manifesto, other than a few platitudes about want- ing a sustainable system, about pensions.The Turner review is due to report in the autumn and voters have a right to know what the Government intends.Former economic adviser Ed Balls maintains that compulsory pension saving is years away and would ...

  • A consumer's view

    21 Apr 2005

    With the election campaigns well under way and the pros-pect of Labour being returned to power, voters will be dis-appointed to find out that there is nothing in the Labour Party's manifesto, other than a few platitudes about want- ing a sustainable system, about pensions.

  • A hart of gold

    22 Apr 2005

    Hartford Lifes gold flexible investment bond is a unit-linked bond providing access to five ready-made portfolios and a self-select range of 37 investment funds from fund management groups.

  • Abbey adds Credit Suisse and Jupiter to its wrap service

    25 Apr 2005

    Abbey wrap has added funds from Credit Suisse and Jupiter to its wrap service.Abbey wrap now offers 730 funds from 39 fund managers with preferential terms.Abbey head of wrap propositions Holly Mackay says: "Were committed to offering people a choice of quality managers and Im delighted that CSAM and Jupiter have come on board."

  • Abbey appoints Bradshaw

    21 Apr 2005

    Abbey has appointed Paul Bradshaw, part of the team responsible for founding Skandia Life, as chief executive of insurance and asset management.

  • Abbey launches new advertising campaign

    25 Apr 2005

    High street bank Abbey will launch a new integrated advertising campaign on May 2, with TV, posters, press and radio.

  • ABI calls for improved enforcement from FSA

    22 Apr 2005

    The ABI is urging the FSA to improve its enforcement procedures so that they provide "greater transparency, objectivity and certainty".

  • ACA says retirement age should rise

    26 Apr 2005

    The Association of Consulting Actuaries says tax increases are on the way as all the main political parties are shying away from the need to raise the state pension age.

  • Advisers split over fund brand power

    21 Apr 2005

    Advisers have differing views on the importance of fund marketing.

  • Advisertech to put you in e-commerce picture

    21 Apr 2005

    Next month will see Money Marketing's specialist technology show for intermediaries return to London.

  • Aifa looks at customer care staff for networks

    21 Apr 2005

    Aifa is experimenting with the idea of providing customer care managers for the major networks and support services grounds as a way of promoting Aifa and allowing a better flow of information to members.David Severn responded to a query from a network member at the roadshow by saying that Aifa was piloting a customer care scheme with SimplyBiz. Aifa has also dev- eloped a micro-site on the SimplyBiz website.Aifa director of policy Faye Goddard says if the pilot is successful, ...

  • Aifa looks at customer care staff for networks

    21 Apr 2005

    Aifa is experimenting with the idea of providing customer care managers for the major networks and support services grounds as a way of promoting Aifa and allowing a better flow of information to members.

  • ALIL signs online support contract with Moneyfacts

    25 Apr 2005

    Alliance & Leicester International Limited is finalising contracts with Moneyfacts DataScreen to supply its online research and competitor information.

  • Alliance & Leicester -Two Year Base Rate Tracker FeeSaver

    25 Apr 2005

    Alliance & LeicesterTwo Year Base Rate Tracker FeeSaver

  • AMI launches mortgage intermediary census

    25 Apr 2005

    The Association of Mortgage Intermediaries is launching the Mortgage Intermediary Census.

  • Bank of Scotland International issues new bond

    25 Apr 2005

    Bank of Scotland International is launching its new issue of its capital guarantee savings bond, offering investors up to 70 per cent growth.

  • Bankhall chief Taylor's IFA firm in default of FSCS

    21 Apr 2005

    Bankhall joint CEO Simon Taylor's old IFA firm has been declared in default by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. SJ Taylor and Associates, the defunct IFA based in Cheshire, had a claim against it relating to a collective investment scheme. The FSCS states that a firm is in default if it is unable or likely to be unable to pay claims against it. Taylor closed down the IFA firm in 1998 to concentrate on establishing Bankhall with partner Paul Hogarth. He has not ...

  • Bankhall rings the insurance changes

    21 Apr 2005

    Bankhall is urging its members to consider diversify into general insurance. It argues that the arbitrary divide created by the fact that the IFAs were regulated and general brokers were not has ended.

  • Bankhall sets up new firm in move on GI market

    21 Apr 2005

    Bankhall is entering the general insurance market with the launch next month of Bankhall UK GI following the acquisition of GI broker support firm Total Broker Solutions.

  • Bankhall sets up new firm in move on GI market

    21 Apr 2005

    Bankhall is entering the general insurance market with the launch next month of Bankhall UK GI following the acquisition of GI broker support firm Total Broker Solutions.

  • Baring set to join trend of higher fund charges

    21 Apr 2005

    Baring Asset Management has been called greedy after saying it is likely to follow Credit Suisse and Threadneedle in raising management charges.

  • Baring set to join trend of higher fund charges

    21 Apr 2005

    Baring Asset Management has been called greedy after saying it is likely to follow Credit Suisse and Threadneedle in raising management charges.Baring marketing director Ian Pascal says his firm is looking at raising the charges on some of its funds, arguing that the increase is needed because the costs of running a fund management business have been rising steadily in recent years.He also blames regulatory pressures and the cost of Ucits 3 conversions for the pressure on ...

  • Bates builds a top-floor fund

    21 Apr 2005

    Bates last year left Bates Investment Services, the IFA firm which he founded. He has amassed a personal property portfolio of 10m by investing in his speciality, North of England property, and is offering IFAs' clients the opportunity to share in his expertise and exploit a 40 per cent tax break by investing in the Keydata resid- ential property limited partnership.

  • Benefits lost since PFS transfer

    21 Apr 2005

    I refer to the article in Money Marketing where John Ellis takes some unusual stances over important matters to do with commission and the absurd report from the CRA. I have been in corres-pondence with him regarding the fact that the PFS excludes all members below AFPC from the public IFA search facility on its website. John's view appears to be that it is persmissible to do this in the interests of "raising standards" and it is contained in a very small paragraph in the booklet ...

  • Benefits lost since PFS transfer

    21 Apr 2005

    I refer to the article in Money Marketing where John Ellis takes some unusual stances over important matters to do with commission and the absurd report from the CRA.

  • Berry Birch & Noble wins contract for NAHT IFA business

    25 Apr 2005

    Berry Birch & Noble Financial Planning has launched a new IFA service for members of the National Association of Head Teachers and their families.

  • Boston firm MFS unifies funds to boost UK sales

    21 Apr 2005

    MFS Investment Management plans to attract UK multi-managers to its unified fund range by offering competitive total expense ratios on institutional share classes.

  • Boston firm MFS unifies funds to boost UK sales

    21 Apr 2005

    MFS Investment Management plans to attract UK multi-managers to its unified fund range by offering competitive total expense ratios on institutional share classes.The Boston-based company is increasing the range of funds available to UK investors by merging its Cayman Islands and UK-domiciled fund ranges into its Luxemburg Sicav.The merger is expected to take place in September , subject to regulatory approval. It will create a single range of 28 Ucits 3-compliant funds under ...

  • Britannia International takes optimum route to growth

    20 Apr 2005

    Britannia International’s optimum growth bond 9 is a six-year guaranteed equity bond which could mature in year three.

  • Building trust

    21 Apr 2005

    IFAs need to rethink the way they advise on life insurance. With house prices rocketing in recent years, the possibility of being sued by an aggrieved beneficiary is increasingly likely if a trust is not recommended and the beneficiary finds themselves losing 40 per cent of the payout to an inheritance tax bill.

  • Cartel throws lifeline to NMS members

    21 Apr 2005

    Mortgage intermediary Cartel is offering a lifeline to members of Perthshire mortgage processor National Mortgage Services following its closure to business on April 1.Cartel says it has started to approach ex-members as it sees this an opportunity to expand its national business, particularly into Scotland, and says it already has five who have expressed a keen interest in joining.It is understood that 80 members of NMS are affected by the closure. Parent broker company Easy-Life ...

  • Cartel throws lifeline to NMS members

    21 Apr 2005

    Mortgage intermediary Cartel is offering a lifeline to members of Perthshire mortgage processor National Mortgage Services following its closure to business on April 1.

  • Cash is a sticking point for L&G on panels

    21 Apr 2005

    Legal & General has attacked IFAs' cash demands for making signing up multi-tie panels a "seriously sticky" process. Finance director Andrew Palmer told MM sister title Finance Week that when negotiating multi-tie deals, the opening question from many adviser firms has been "how much are you prepared to pay us to be on our panel?", leaving L&G forced to drop some deals. It was concerns about such practices that led the FSA to send out "Dear CEO" ...

  • Cash is a sticking point for L&G on panels

    21 Apr 2005

    Legal & General has attacked IFAs' cash demands for making signing up multi-tie panels a "seriously sticky" process.

  • Chelsea Building Society - Prospect Discount Scheme H

    22 Apr 2005

    Chelsea Building SocietyProspect Discount Scheme H

  • Clerical loans for IFAs to pay PI and regulatory fees

    21 Apr 2005

    Clerical Medical is introducing a new insurance premium funding product offering advisers loans to pay regulatory levies and professional indemnity insurance premiums in instalments.The loan does not require security and can be repaid quarterly, or in six or 10 monthly instalments. Interest rates on repayments are fixed, depending on the loan term and amount.It will allow firms to spread the cost of all types of commercial insurance premiums and regulatory costs to ease cashflow ...

  • Clerical loans for IFAs to pay PI and regulatory fees

    21 Apr 2005

    Clerical Medical is introducing a new insurance premium funding product offering advisers loans to pay regulatory levies and professional indemnity insurance premiums in instalments.

  • Clerical Medical -Secure Investment Plan 2

    21 Apr 2005

    Clerical MedicalSecure Investment Plan 2

  • Cofunds' assetst top 4bn

    20 Apr 2005

    Cofunds assets under administration have reached 4bn in four years since launch. The platform attracted 1.7bn in 2004. The supermarket launched in January 2001 and at its current rate of growth expects to break even in late 2006/ early 2007. The fund supermarket expects its rate of asset accumulation to increase when it launches personal pension and investment bond wrappers through a tie-up with Legal & General, later in the year.

  • Cordea Savills arrives early

    26 Apr 2005

    Cordea Savillls Wealth ManagementDiversified Residential Opportunities Fund

  • Cordea Savills launches residential property fund

    21 Apr 2005

    The wealth management arm of fund manager Cordea Savills has established its first residential property fund.

  • Coulson buys into mortgage broker

    21 Apr 2005

    Former Zurich Advice Network director Richard Coulson is understood to have bought into broker Enterprise Mortgage Specialists with former Zurich colleagues. Coulson is now listed with the FSA as director of the Stanmore-based broker along with former Zurich ally Keith Baldwin, who is listed as director as well as chief executive. Baldwin is best remembered as ZAN distribution chief executive and for his outspoken comments in support of depolarisation and of ...

  • Coulson buys into mortgage broker

    21 Apr 2005

    Former Zurich Advice Network director Richard Coulson is understood to have bought into broker Enterprise Mortgage Specialists with former Zurich colleagues.

  • Coventry Building Society -Buy-to-Let 5.89% Fixed

    20 Apr 2005

    Coventry Building SocietyBuy-to-Let 5.89% Fixed

  • Daniel Godfrey

    21 Apr 2005

    Daniel Godfrey has taken some hard knocks over the last seven years in what is arguably one of the hottest seats in UK financial services as director general of the Association of Investment Trust Companies.

  • Exeter pays £1m into FSA split-cap settlement fund

    21 Apr 2005

    Exeter Asset Management directors have negotiated a £1m agreement with the FSA over its role in the split- caps crisis.The agreement, signed last week, requires Exeter to pay the money into Fund Distribution, the company established to administer payments to investors in zero-dividend shares of split-capital investment trusts. The payment has been made without any admission of wrongdoing and the FSA will end its investigation into Exeter.Exeter's parent company Iimia said ...

  • Exeter pays 1m into FSA split-cap settlement fund

    21 Apr 2005

    Exeter Asset Management directors have negotiated a 1m agreement with the FSA over its role in the split- caps crisis.

  • Focus survey shows huge electronic growth

    22 Apr 2005

    The number of electronic new business transactions processed in the life and pensions market has risen to over half a million, increasing 61 per cent since last year, according to research from Focus.The Focus Quotient aims to be the industry benchmark for the growth of electronic trading and represents over 75 per cent of UK insurers.The research also shows IFA channels, industry IFA portals and IFA extranets delivered the majority of electronic new business in 2004.The Focus ...

  • Framlington MBO talks stall

    20 Apr 2005

    Framlington managers are in the early stages of management buyout talks. Former chief executive Peter Chambers started the talks in the autumn but resigned after senior managers at Framlington decided Chambers was not the right person to take the buyout forward. The managers are still planning the buyout but have put plans on hold pending the appointment of a new chief executive. Framlington is currently 15 per cent owned by its staff.

  • Francis takes Aviva non-exec role

    20 Apr 2005

    Former ABI director general Mary Francis has joined the board of Aviva as an independent non-executive director. Francis, who joins on 1 October, is also a non-executive director of the Bank of England and Centrica. Prior to joining the ABI in 1999, she worked for the Treasury and as private secretary to the Prime Minister.

  • FSA assurance on confidentiality

    21 Apr 2005

    In the Money Marketing article headlined, FSA aims to boost its service standards, you report that IFAs have questioned the confidentiality of the questionnaire which will be held by NOP, the marketing agency we have appointed.

  • FSA assurance on confidentiality

    21 Apr 2005

    In the Money Marketing article headlined, FSA aims to boost its service standards, you report that IFAs have questioned the confidentiality of the questionnaire which will be held by NOP, the marketing agency we have appointed. I can assure MM readers that NOP will not be giving us the names of the firms which respond. David KenmirManaging director, FSA regulatory services business unit, London E14

  • FTBs at the double in March

    20 Apr 2005

    The number of first-time buyers doubles last month while prices in the housing market stayed steady, says the National Association of Estate Agents. FTBs per estate estate agency rose from an average of 10.1 per cent in February to 22.3 per cent in March.

  • Fund Distribution sends out splits forms

    20 Apr 2005

    Fund Distribution is sending application forms to investors who may be eligible for compensation over the splits crisis.

  • Fundsdirect sale announcement due tomorrow morning

    26 Apr 2005

    Fundsdirect is at the centre of sale speculation with an announcement to be made tomorrow morning.

  • Goy Harris Cartwright in fixed-weight revamp

    21 Apr 2005

    Goy Harris Cartwright is relaunching its managed portfolio service as a range of fixed-weight portfolios with a new risk-grading system and a 1.25 per cent annual management charge.

  • Goy Harris Cartwright in fixed-weight revamp

    21 Apr 2005

    Goy Harris Cartwright is relaunching its managed portfolio service as a range of fixed-weight portfolios with a new risk-grading system and a 1.25 per cent annual management charge.The system is intended to make it easier for clients to choose the strategy that is best suited to their investment needs and appetite for risk. Three new strategies are being introduced - cautious, diversified, and managed growth.For each portfolio strategy, the investment team selects the most appropriate ...

  • Growing pains for Woolwich

    22 Apr 2005

    WOOLWICH PLAN MANAGERS

  • Hard line on with-profits

    21 Apr 2005

    Software company O&M says it is not good enough for IFAs to have clients with with-profits investments on their books. For some time now, the company, which rates providers, has said that IFAs should not be putting money into with-profits but this is now a much harder line.

  • Hargreaves Lansdown Fofs hits 250m

    20 Apr 2005

    Hargreaves Lansdown fund of funds have broken 250m in sales since the firm launched its first multi manager product in 2001. It uses a mixture of qualitative and quantitative analysis to run the money under Lee Gardhouse, who has developed his own system to identify how returns are achieved. The three Hargreaves Lansdown multi manager products are a UK equity income, a UK global growth and a balanced managed product.

  • Harris on Mortgages

    21 Apr 2005

    It has been a busy few months for Savills Private Finance, particularly at the top end of the market.

  • HARRIS on Mortgages

    21 Apr 2005

    It has been a busy few months for Savills Private Finance, particularly at the top end of the market.So far this year, we have completed on 50 residential mortg- ages in the £1m-plus bracket - more than double the business done in the prime market over the same period last year. It is an encouraging sign of a pick-up in the top end of the market, particularly in London and the South-east area.But while this is encouraging, the products available to these clients are desperately ...

  • Health Solutions on the menu

    25 Apr 2005

    Health solutions is Norwich Union’s latest private medical insurance plan for individuals and families.

  • Home Malone - will FTS focus be a best seller?

    21 Apr 2005

    Premier Mortgage Services managing director John Malone thinks he has an idea that could not only save the first-time buyer property market but could also kickstart the market as a whole as it reaches a dull, flat period.

  • IFAs are still waiting for depolarisation CD-Rom

    21 Apr 2005

    IFAs struggling to meet the June 1 depolarisation deadline are still waiting to get an FSA CD-Rom calculator designed to help them with the menu payment system.

  • IFAs being deluged with marketing material

    21 Apr 2005

    IFAs says they are being are deluged by indiscriminate marketing from fund management companies. BestInvest business development manager Justin Modray claimed that he often gets 10 to 15 identical copies of the same factsheet. Technology and Tech-nical founder Kim North questioned whether enough research has been done into how IFAs want to receive marketing information. Equal Partners managing director Vivienne Starkey says that for a small operation such as hers, there ...

  • IFAs go off their trolley over supermart tie-ups

    21 Apr 2005

    IFAs fear the growing number of tie-ups between life offices and fund supermarkets could create problems in monitoring clients' holdings.Concerns have risen after it emerged that advisers using Standard Life's Sipp will have access to all the funds on the FundsNetwork platform. How- ever, if they transfer any holdings not on FundsNetwork into the wrapper, they will not be able to view detailed information on these funds through Standard's Sigma platform.This includes daily pric- ...

  • IFAs go off their trolley over supermart tie-ups

    21 Apr 2005

    IFAs fear the growing number of tie-ups between life offices and fund supermarkets could create problems in monitoring clients' holdings.

  • IFAs told to cover their backs on with-profits

    21 Apr 2005

    IFAs who do not have evidence that they have reviewed whether to switch all with-profits policies could be in breach of their duty of care to their clients.

  • IFAs told to cover their backs on with-profits

    21 Apr 2005

    IFAs have been warned to cover their backs by reviewing every with-profits policy held by their clients, as failing to switch policies could be deemed as bad as selling them. O&M Systems director Graham Miller says IFAs who do not have evidence that they have reviewed whether to switch all with-profits policies could be in breach of their duty of care to their clients. Miller warns it is no longer good enough just to say you do not sell with-profits policies and advisers ...

  • IFAs wait to see the block buster show

    21 Apr 2005

    With combined sales of UBS's absolute return bond fund, and DWS's Ratebuster product topping £90m in their offer periods, the industry has been reflecting on whether these apparently safe products can deliver on their promises.Hargreaves Lansdown investment manager Ben Yearsley says the most important thing with new products is that they have good investment teams behind them, with the ability to produce the returns that are being stated.The UBS absolute return bond fund ...

  • IFAs wait to see the block buster show

    21 Apr 2005

    With combined sales of UBS's absolute return bond fund, and DWS's Ratebuster product topping 90m in their offer periods, the industry has been reflecting on whether these apparently safe products can deliver on their promises.

  • IFAs won't be hit by client money rules

    21 Apr 2005

    IFAs will not be deemed to be holding client money when they rebate commission under a menu fee arrangement, the FSA has confirmed.

  • IFAs won't be hit by client money rules

    21 Apr 2005

    IFAs will not be deemed to be holding client money when they rebate commission under a menu fee arrangement, the FSA has confirmed.Aifa director general David Severn raised concerns that the menu system could lead to IFAs effectively holding client money when they get commission from providers under fee arr-angements. This would place them under onerous client asset rules designed to safeguard consumers' money.But the FSA says IFAs will be able to continue to operate after June ...

  • iimia signs up Parfett to boost pensions team

    22 Apr 2005

    David Parfett is joining iimia's wealth management division as pensions manager.

  • INDEPENDENT VIEW

    21 Apr 2005

    As the general election draws nearer, I have been thinking about the state of British politics and the way New Labour are running this country. I am so fed up with the Government I want to scream.Let me give you a few recent examples. I have just received a speeding ticket for driving at 41mph on a dual carriageway in Milton Keynes. I am furious that valuable police time is being wasted collecting fines from innocent drivers like me instead of catching real criminals.The detection ...

  • Independent view - Tony Byrne

    21 Apr 2005

    As the general election draws nearer, I have been thinking about the state of British politics and the way New Labour are running this country. I am so fed up with the Government I want to scream.

  • 'Inflation could slash pensions'

    21 Apr 2005

    Pensioners risk their income being eroded if they do not take steps to guard against inflation.

  • Julian Gibbs

    21 Apr 2005

    Seven months ago, Fidelity launched its India focus fund, which has attracted no less than $1bn of assets.

  • Julian Gibbs

    21 Apr 2005

    Seven months ago, Fidelity launched its India focus fund, which has attracted no less than $1bn of assets.Fund manager Michael Gordon, who is Fidelity's chief investment officer for Asia Pacific, is based in Hong Kong but is backed up by his team in Mumbai. He has over 20 years' investment experience with Rothchilds and Schroders as well as Fidelity.The performance of the fund so far has been impressive, with a gain of over 37 per cent against a 32 per cent rise in the index.This ...

  • L&G predicts corporate expenditure will drive growth

    21 Apr 2005

    UK plc has record levels of cash on its balance sheets, providing a strong base for economic growth, according to Legal & General.Amid fears that consumer spending is about to tail off, after underpinning US and UK GDP growth for the past three years, L&G believes the anticipated upturn in corporate expenditure and merger and acquisition activity will drive economic growth onward.Head of UK equities Mark Burgess says the slashing of corporate expenditure since the 2000 ...

  • L&G becomes largest shareholder in Cofunds

    20 Apr 2005

    Legal & General has bought a 25 per cent stake in Cofunds, making it the largest shareholder in the fund supermarket.L&G paid 18.6m for its stake and has the option to invest a further 7m in return for equity from the five other shareholders.IFDS is now the second largest shareholder with 24 per cent, followed by Gartmore with 18 per cent, Jupiter and Threadneedle with 15 per cent and Prudential with 3 per cent.

  • L&G predicts corporate expenditure will drive growth

    21 Apr 2005

    UK plc has record levels of cash on its balance sheets, providing a strong base for economic growth, according to Legal & General.

  • Labour manifesto pledges 'to let the industry prosper'

    21 Apr 2005

    Labour's general election manifesto pledges to allow the financial services industry to prosper but has avoided any pension policy ommitments until after the autumn publication of the Turner report.

  • 'Lenders bleeding advisers with call charges'

    21 Apr 2005

    Lenders are using higher-rate call numbers to bleed intermediaries for cash to pay for the cost of regulation, says Mortgage Portfolio Services mortgage planner Simon Chalk.

  • 'Lenders bleeding advisers with call charges'

    21 Apr 2005

    Lenders are using higher-rate call numbers to bleed intermediaries for cash to pay for the cost of regulation, says Mortgage Portfolio Services mort- gage planner Simon Chalk.Chalk says the proliferation of 0870 numbers since M-Day coupled with extensions in call waiting times means lenders are using the charges to get revenue for themselves while still not improving services.He says intermediaries should not be subsidising lenders' services.Call charges are often not revealed ...

  • LibDems outline plans for citizen's pension

    21 Apr 2005

    The Liberal Democrats' manifesto promises "fairness and opportunity', promoting their citizen's pension and meas-ures aimed at achieving economic prosperity.The manifesto spells out the LibDem's citizen's pension proposal with a guaranteed basic pension of £109.45 a week, increasing with earnings for anyone over 75.The LibDems say this would immediately remove a million pensioners from means-testing and they would hope to widen the scheme to include 65-74-year-olds although ...

  • LibDems outline plans for citizen's pension

    21 Apr 2005

    The Liberal Democrats' manifesto promises "fairness and opportunity', promoting their citizen's pension and meas-ures aimed at achieving economic prosperity.

  • Liberty Ermitage - Classic Reserve Fund

    26 Apr 2005

    Liberty ErmitageClassic Reserve Fund

  • Life in the fast lane...

    21 Apr 2005

    Destini is sponsoring Embassy Racing, a team competing in the 2005 SRO British GT series championship.Not only does this give the sales team an opportunity to mix with the pit lane love-lies but it also means that the Destini logo will be emblazoned across the new Embassy Porsche for the rest of 2005.Destini reckons the GT season was watched by around four million people last year.

  • Life in the fast lane...

    21 Apr 2005

    Destini is sponsoring Embassy Racing, a team competing in the 2005 SRO British GT series championship.Not only does this give the sales team an opportunity to mix with the pit lane love-lies but it also means that the Destini logo will be emblazoned across the new Embassy Porsche for the rest of 2005.Destini reckons the GT season was watched by around four million people last year.

  • Lloyds TSB enters race for Deutsche arm

    22 Apr 2005

    Lloyds TSB has been reported to have joined the bidding for the UK arm of Deutsche Asset Management, following revelations by Money Marketing that Old Mutual and BNP Paribas have submitted offers for the bank. DeAms UK division was effectively offered for sale in February when Deutsche Bank appointed Hawkpoint to find potential buyers. Up to three more companies are thought to be in the process of making serious bids. Lloyds TSB refused to comment.

  • London hedges grow fast

    21 Apr 2005

    Hedge fund assets managed from London grew by 60 per cent last year, reaching a total of over 105bn, according to International Financial Services London.

  • MCCB surplus to fund FSA fee cut for brokers

    22 Apr 2005

    The surplus funds from the Mortgage Code Compliance Board are to pay for a reduction in FSA fees and to fund the training of brokers.

  • Millfield and Prudential claim first with multi-tie

    21 Apr 2005

    Millfield and Prudential claim to be the first provider and distributor to sign a multi-tie agreement.The five-year deal has been penned by Millfield chief exec- utive Paul Tebbutt and Pru UK chief Mark Wood.Pru has also just signed its fourth annuity single-tie deal and will be the sole annuity provider for National Australia Bank.Pru annuities will be sold through NAB's Clydesdale and Yorkshire Bank networks from May 31 in a deal that will initially run for five years.PruHealth ...

  • Millfield and Prudential claim first with multi-tie

    21 Apr 2005

    Millfield and Prudential claim to be the first provider and distributor to sign a multi-tie agreement.

  • Milton aims to cover commodity exposure for global portfolio

    21 Apr 2005

    Miton Investments is protecting the CF Miton global portfolio from volatility in its commodity exposure by buying a Barclays structured product linked to the prices of oil, copper and aluminium.

  • Milton aims to cover commodity exposure for global portfolio

    21 Apr 2005

    Miton Investments is protecting the CF Miton global portfolio from volatility in its commodity exposure by buying a Barclays structured product linked to the prices of oil, copper and aluminium.The product, which was originally designed for institutional investors, invests in a zero-coupon bond and options on the commodities market.It will return 180 per cent of the growth in the commodity basket plus the original capital at the end of an 18-month term.The Miton fund's weightings ...

  • Morgans sets up loan specialist

    21 Apr 2005

    Morgans Financial Planning is setting up specialist mortgage company Digital Orange.The firm has invested in back-office systems to cut paperwork and believes that over the next couple of years, all mortgage advisers will use an online operation.Digital Orange is aiming to be working totally online by the end of the year.Principal Neil Soper says the industry is moving towards fewer firms conducting more business through whole-of-market specialist advice.Digital Orange ...

  • Morgans sets up loan specialist

    21 Apr 2005

    Morgans Financial Planning is setting up specialist mortgage company Digital Orange.

  • Mortgage Express joins the Exchange

    26 Apr 2005

    Mortgage Express is now available on the Exweb equity release trading platform.

  • Mortgage Force and Wow! Mortgages appoints Goldsmith Williams as exclusive conveyancing partner

    22 Apr 2005

    Goldsmith Williams is being appointed as the exclusive legal conveyancing partner for mortgageforce and WOW! Mortgages

  • Multi purpose

    21 Apr 2005

    Ninety-two per cent of IFAs say they intend to retain their independent status within the depolarised market. This is one of the main findings of The Exchange's 2005 technology index, which surveyed 300 IFAs via the Exweb portal. The figure shows that the independent sector is here to stay.

  • Multi-manager view - Pascale Moray

    22 Apr 2005

    The world's financial climate is changing. Risks have increased, returns have collapsed. It used to be that diversifying overseas within equity and fixed-interest asset classes was enough to produce good returns but this is no longer the case.

  • Nationwide announces its new fixed rate mortgages

    22 Apr 2005

    Nationwide is launching new lower rate fixed rate mortgages.

  • New IFA partnership set up in South Wales

    22 Apr 2005

    David Wingar, formerly of Courts IFA in South Wales, is setting up a new firm, Future Asset Management focusing on high net-worth and corporate clients.

  • Norwich Union - Health Solutions

    25 Apr 2005

    Norwich UnionHealth Solutions

  • NU gets healthy

    20 Apr 2005

    Norwich UnionHealth Solutions

  • OFT set to sample 'indigestible' menu

    21 Apr 2005

    With only six weeks left to go, the debate surrounding the menu system took a dramatic turn last week. After Aifa predictably failed to convince the FSA that it had got its sums wrong over market-average fees, it has appealed to the Office of Fair Trading for a second opinion.

  • Old Mutual and BNP lead bids for Deutsche arm

    21 Apr 2005

    Old Mutual and BNP are bel-ieved to be the front -runners in the bidding for the UK institutional arm of Deutsche Asset Management.

  • Old Mutual and BNP lead bids for Deutsche arm

    21 Apr 2005

    Old Mutual and BNP are bel-ieved to be the front -runners in the bidding for the UK institutional arm of Deutsche Asset Management.There are thought to be four other groups considering making bids for the business.Old Mutual said two mon-ths ago that it was looking for a UK acquisition. A question mark now hangs over the management of DWS's retail funds after Deutsche Asset Management said any plan to sell the UK institutional business will not include the retail arm.But ...

  • OUT OF CONTEXT

    21 Apr 2005

    l "I'm on tip-top form, albeit recovering from a nasty fall and, no, I wasn't drunk, I was out walking my dog and didn't see a hole in the ground." - Britannia's Ingerlise Bulloch.l "I specialise in body parts." - Mike Williams, head of general insurance at Bankhall.l "I think being frightfully posh is a criterion for working at Penrose, I mean, they even have a baroness, don't they?" - A competing and clearly less affluent PR about her Penrose counterparts.l "That's the ...

  • OUT OF CONTEXT

    21 Apr 2005

    l "I'm on tip-top form, albeit recovering from a nasty fall and, no, I wasn't drunk, I was out walking my dog and didn't see a hole in the ground." - Britannia's Ingerlise Bulloch.l "I specialise in body parts." - Mike Williams, head of general insurance at Bankhall.l "I think being frightfully posh is a criterion for working at Penrose, I mean, they even have a baroness, don't they?" - A competing and clearly less affluent PR about her Penrose counterparts.l "That's the ...

  • Payout deal for split-cap investors

    20 Apr 2005

    Investors in split caps will hear this week how and when Fund Distribution, the company set up by the Financial Services Authority after the crisis, is to make its payments to those eligible for compensation. Eighteen fund management companies paid into the company in December after reaching agreement with the FSA, with Exeter Asset Management and Teather and Greenwood signing up this month.

  • Pension firms daunted by the 'toughest-ever' task of A-Day

    21 Apr 2005

    Half of pension providers are worried that they are ill-prepared for A-Day and say preparing for pension simplification is harder than Y2K.

  • PFS has not had its final say on commission

    21 Apr 2005

    I am afraid that Harry Katz in his recent letter in Money Marketing headlined, Prac-tical knowledge beats the consultants, does not clearly reflect the context in which I commented about the ABI commission paper. The fact is that we are putting together a response to the ABI. We have asked for member comments and so far I have had several, reflecting a wide span of views. The spontaneous comments received from members since the ABI report came out similarly express a variety ...

  • PFS has not had its final say on commission

    21 Apr 2005

    I am afraid that Harry Katz in his recent letter in Money Marketing headlined, Prac-tical knowledge beats the consultants, does not clearly reflect the context in which I commented about the ABI commission paper.

  • Plafform Edge: Alistair Hardie

    21 Apr 2005

    It is often said that there is only one thing worse than being talked about and that is not being talked about.

  • Platform - Non-Conforming Two Year Fixed Rate Minor Adverse

    21 Apr 2005

    PlatformNon-Conforming Two Year Fixed Rate - Minor Adverse

  • PLATFORM EDGE: ALISTAIR HARDIE

    21 Apr 2005

    It is often said that there is only one thing worse than being talked about and that is not being talked about.It is perhaps an indication of its impact on the market that Standard Life's Sipp continues to generate so much interest.There has been considerable coverage of our decision to appoint Fidelity FundsNetwork as our preferred supermarket platform for Sipps.It is clear that the rationale for choosing a single supermarket at this stage in the life of the proposition ...

  • PLATFORM EDGE: bill vasilieff

    21 Apr 2005

    An article in Money Marketing last week stated that Standard Life is encouraging its salespeople to sell the bene- fits of FundsNetwork - the provider's supermarket partner - in a bid to build sales of self-invested personal pensions.We at Selestia have had two Sipp arrangements similar to this in operation for over two years and both have worked extremely well. Our thinking was that both parties to such arrangements - the Sipp administrator providing specialist administration ...

  • Platform edge: Bill Vasilieff

    21 Apr 2005

    An article in Money Marketing last week stated that Standard Life is encouraging its salespeople to sell the benefits of FundsNetwork - the provider's supermarket partner - in a bid to build sales of self-invested personal pensions.

  • Please release me

    21 Apr 2005

    I am looking to release equity from my property as I do not have enough income or savings to maintain the lifestyle I want. Can you please explain my options?

  • Please release me

    21 Apr 2005

    I am looking to release equity from my property as I do not have enough income or savings to maintain the lifestyle I want. Can you please explain my options?There are few options for those who have retired to increase income from their pensions or investments. However, many retired people who manage on a small pension and limited savings are also living in properties which have greatly increased in value.Equity-release plans called lifetime mortgages or home-reversion plans ...

  • 'Proc fee changes embarrass advisers and confuse customers'

    21 Apr 2005

    Mortgage intermediaries are exposed to embarrassment in front of their clients when lenders indiscriminately change their procuration fees, says Mortgage Portfolio Services mortgage planner Simon Chalk. Chalk says significant changes in payments not only go against the initial KFI seen by the client but also result in the client being overbilled or underbilled by the intermediary, creating consumer confusion. In a recent application with the Halifax, Chalk says ...

  • 'Proc fee changes embarrass advisers and confuse customers'

    21 Apr 2005

    Mortgage intermediaries are exposed to embarrassment in front of their clients when lenders indiscriminately change their procuration fees, says Mortgage Portfolio Services mortgage planner Simon Chalk.

  • Product matters

    21 Apr 2005

    Abbey has had a very attractive tracker range recently and its service standards have suffered as a result.

  • Product matters

    21 Apr 2005

    range recently and its service standards have suffered as a result. It withdrew its market-leading two-year tracker at its last rate review and replaced it with a rate which was not quite so competitive. As a result, I think its service levels are returning to normal.Looking at this range, it has improved its fixed rates slightly but I think this is mainly down to recent falls in swap rates, which make fixed rates cheaper to fund, rather than Abbey's desire to win more business.The ...

  • Profits triple for Positive Solutions

    21 Apr 2005

    Positive Solutions has seen a 98 per cent increase in turnover, bringing business in the first quarter of the year to 15m from 7.5m in the same period last year.

  • Profits triple for Positive Solutions

    21 Apr 2005

    Positive Solutions has seen a 98 per cent increase in turnover, bringing business in the first quarter of the year to £15m from £7.5m in the same period last year. First-quarter profits rocketed by 305 per cent to £1.5m from £490,000. The firm's annual report, published this week, also shows an increase in the number of its IFA partners from 750 to 1,100. The firm puts its growth down to the quality of the IFAs it has on board ...

  • Property-rich pensioners live in poverty

    21 Apr 2005

    Pensioners are living below the poverty line despite the value of their properties rising by a total of 10bn over the past three months, equivalent to a 1,500 gain per retired homeowner.

  • Property-rich pensioners live in poverty

    21 Apr 2005

    Pensioners are living below the poverty line despite the value of their properties rising by a total of £10bn over the past three months, equivalent to a £1,500 gain per retired homeowner.Around 1.25 million pensioners still live below the poverty line, according to equity-release property developer Economic Lifestyle.The national average property price gains in the first quarter have more than offset a £5.5bn loss on the same basis over the fourth quarter of ...

  • Pru looks at developing its own wrap

    20 Apr 2005

    Prudential is looking at developing its own wrap but says it will monitor the market before making any decisions. If it goes ahead, it says it will adopt a model that involves third parties sharing costs.

  • Psychoanalysis meets investing

    21 Apr 2005

    Even if you are only an occasional reader of trade publications, you cannot have escaped one of the hottest buzz phrases in our industry behavioural finance where the worlds of psychology and financial theory have collided to form a burgeoning new field of study.

  • Psychoanalysis meets investing

    21 Apr 2005

    Even if you are only an occasional reader of trade publications, you cannot have escaped one of the hottest buzz phrases in our industry behavioural finance where the worlds of psychology and financial theory have collided to form a burgeoning new field of study.In a nutshell, behavioural finance, or behavioural economics, is the study of why investors think and do what they do about money and inv-esting. The unflattering results show that investors can be irrational, emotional ...

  • Purls of PR wisdom

    21 Apr 2005

    Polhill has chosen to grace MM's Diary page with a refined coming-out. Heidi Robinson says the "chicks with sticks" club has been picking up speed at the agency, with six members taking a lead from Vogue's fashionistas and casting off and on in their free time.The current project is cushion covers although Heidi has decided to rebel and create a scarf from the inspiring colour "glum". Hopefully, it will be finished by the winter.Charlotte Read, creator of the infam-ous ...

  • Purls of PR wisdom

    21 Apr 2005

    Polhill has chosen to grace MM's Diary page with a refined coming-out. Heidi Robinson says the "chicks with sticks" club has been picking up speed at the agency, with six members taking a lead from Vogue's fashionistas and casting off and on in their free time.The current project is cushion covers although Heidi has decided to rebel and create a scarf from the inspiring colour "glum". Hopefully, it will be finished by the winter.Charlotte Read, creator of the infam-ous ...

  • Read between the lines of the pension pledges

    21 Apr 2005

    Turnout is expected to be a key issue in this general election and so the the parties' appeal to the grey vote and pension policy is particularly important.Labour has continued with their "wait until Turner" pol- icy, a move of particular pol- itical risk, given the power that it gives to the Turner commission's final report.In light of this, commentators have spent more time trying to read between the lines of the Labour election manifesto. Adding to Work and Pensions Secretary ...

  • Read between the lines of the pension pledges

    21 Apr 2005

    Turnout is expected to be a key issue in this general election and so the the parties' appeal to the grey vote and pension policy is particularly important.

  • Regulator rules out refunds for double-charged advisers

    21 Apr 2005

    The FSA has told IFAs who have had to pay double fees after leaving a network to become directly authorised that they are unlikely to get a refund. Brigham Brining director David Brigham raised the issue at Money Marketing Roadshow in Leeds last week after he left Berkeley Independent Advisers at the end of March to become directly auth- orised and found he had to pay an annual fee twice to the regulator. FSA head of department, small business Michael ...

  • Regulator rules out refunds for double-charged advisers

    21 Apr 2005

    The FSA has told IFAs who have had to pay double fees after leaving a network to become directly authorised that they are unlikely to get a refund.

  • Reid all about it

    21 Apr 2005

    As a teenager, I worked for a tailor in Glasgow and we had short supplies of anything in chest size 34. When asked by a customer what we had, I responded with "Not much" and the person duly exited. The owner took me to one side and suggested that I took an alternative approach. When next asked for size 34, I responded: "Let me show you our special selection."

  • Reid to step down as Royal London chairman

    25 Apr 2005

    Royal London, the mutual life and pension company, has announced that Hubert Reid plans to retire as chairman and as a director at the end of 2005.

  • Reid to step down as Royal London chairman

    25 Apr 2005

    Royal London has announced that Hubert Reid plans to retire as chairman and as a director at the end of 2005.

  • Rights of access

    21 Apr 2005

    There has been a lot of talk about the positive impact on the self-invested personal pension market of the simplification proposals, particularly the opportunities arising from the new investment freedoms. However, far less has been said about the increasingly restrictive impact of the governing rules on protected rights.The Pension Schemes Act 1993 laid down conditions for an appropriate pension scheme, that is, a scheme which can accept protected rights. The act was amended by ...

  • Rights of access

    21 Apr 2005

    There has been a lot of talk about the positive impact on the self-invested personal pension market of the simplification proposals, particularly the opportunities arising from the new investment freedoms. However, far less has been said about the increasingly restrictive impact of the governing rules on protected rights.

  • ScotEq Protect reveals critical claim statistics

    21 Apr 2005

    Scottish Equitable Protect paid out 631 critical-illness claims totalling more than £33m last year. The company decided to release its critical cover claims' figures two years ago after calls from IFAs for statistics to be published. The average claim for ScotEq Protect was £61,390 and the average age of claimants was 40. The statistics show that cancer was responsible for 71 per cent of all female claims. For male claims, 47 per cent were due to cancer ...

  • ScotEq Protect reveals critical claim statistics

    21 Apr 2005

    Scottish Equitable Protect paid out 631 critical illness claims totalling more than 33m last year.

  • Secret probe sees DTI shut BTL schemes

    21 Apr 2005

    A secret investigation has seen the Department of Trade and Industry seeking to shut six property investment companies which claimed to show investors how to get rich quick through buy-to-let portfolios.The firms are Sterling Mansion (UK), Mansion Investments, SMI (Overseas), Turningpoint Seminars, Portfolios of Distinction and CM2.Sterling Mansion (UK) and Mansion Investments claimed to offer the opportunity to build a £1m BTL property portfolio within a year for a fee ...

  • Secret probe sees DTI shut BTL schemes

    21 Apr 2005

    A secret investigation has seen the Department of Trade and Industry seeking to shut six property investment companies which claimed to show investors how to get rich quick through buy-to-let portfolios.

  • Secure second tranche

    21 Apr 2005

    Clerical Medical is offering a second tranche of its secure investment plan, a capital guaranteed product providing exposure to the FTSE 100.

  • Secure second tranche

    21 Apr 2005

    Clerical Medical is offering a second tranche of its secure investment plan, a capital guaranteed product providing exposure to the FTSE 100.The plan has a five-and-a-half-year term and provides 110 per cent exposure to the FTSE 100. The growth of the index is averaged out over the last six months of the product's term.Minimum investment is £5,000 and charges are bundled into the product.Marketing manager Rod MacDonald says the secure investment plan capital guaranteed ...

  • Select switch at Threadneedle

    20 Apr 2005

    Phil Cliff is to take over from his boss, Darrel ODea, as manager of Threadneedles European Select Growth fund. Cliff has been number two on the team and currently also manages Threadneedles pan-European Accelerando fund. He will now switch roles with ODea, who becomes deputy manager on the select growth fund.

  • Selestia adding Schroder fund for investment bonds

    21 Apr 2005

    Selestia is adding 23 Schroder funds to its collective investment bond and offshore collective investment bond products.

  • Selestia adding Schroder fund for investment bonds

    21 Apr 2005

    Selestia is adding 23 Schr- oder funds to its collect- ive investment bond and offshore collective investment bond products.The online business solutions adviser is offering investors the choice of up to 23 equity, bond or multi-manager funds. Until now, these funds were only available to unit trust, Isa and Pep investors.The funds include eight UK equities, three European equities, two US equities, Japanese equities and Far East equities, three multi-manager and one global ...

  • Selestia says it is on target for break-even

    21 Apr 2005

    Selestia says it will be the first major fund supermarket to stop losing money when it moves into positive cashflow later this year.

  • Seven launches corporate Sipp aiming at SMEs

    21 Apr 2005

    Seven Investment Manage-ment is aiming at the small and medium enterprise market with its corporate Sipp.

  • Severn says FSA is a slow-moving glacier

    21 Apr 2005

    Progress in the relationship between IFAs and the FSA has been a case of one step forward and two steps back, Aifa director general David Severn told Money Marketing roadshow delegates last week.Severn said recent successes include persuading the FSA to offer a 50 per cent discount to IFAs if they appear in more than one fee block and an agreement from the regulator to review fundamentally the way that the compensation scheme is funded.But the former FSA business head ...

  • Severn says FSA is a slow-moving glacier

    21 Apr 2005

    Progress in the relationship between IFAs and the FSA has been a case of one step forward and two steps back, Aifa director general David Severn told Money Marketing roadshow delegates last week.

  • SGAM chief Warner joins Close Finsbury as CEO

    21 Apr 2005

    Close Asset Management has appointed SG Asset Management's Rufus Warner as chief executive officer of Close Finsbury Asset Management.

  • SGAM chief Warner joins Close Finsbury as CEO

    21 Apr 2005

    Close Asset Management has appointed SG Asset Management's Rufus Warner as chief executive officer of Close Finsbury Asset Management.Warner is SGAM's deputy head of global marketing and head of European pension business development based in Paris. He joins Close on June 1. He has 22 years' experience as an analyst, fund manager and developer of businesses in firms such as Fidelity, Morgan Grenfell and Hoare Govett.Close Asset Management CEO Jonathan Sieff says: "Rufus is highly ...

  • SHIP members' new business up on 2004

    26 Apr 2005

    The eighteen members of Safe Home Income Plans report robust quarterly business for the period up to March 31 2005.

  • Shooting from the Hip

    21 Apr 2005

    There has been much deb-ate recently about the housing market's abilities and desires to produce home information packs and the options available to them.

  • 'Sipps already have mass market appeal'

    21 Apr 2005

    Sipps are already mass- market pension vehicles, according to research by Hargreaves Lansdown.

  • Smith & Williamson - Venture Capital Trust Portfolio Service

    20 Apr 2005

    Smith & WilliamsonVenture Capital Trust Portfolio Service

  • Sreve Bee on Pensions

    21 Apr 2005

    We have just had an important indication of the way the Inland Revenue will be policing the exploitation of what it calls "unintended" features of the way the current tax regime will interface with the post-A-Day regime.

  • Standard launches another technology guide

    25 Apr 2005

    Standard Life has launched a free booklet focusing on technology tools to help adviser firms discover the advantages of online planning tools and calculators.The booklet is the fourth in a series of seven free adviser booklets entitled The easy technology guides, designed to give advisers a complete reference library of advice on all aspects of e-commerce and technology options.15,000 copies of each guide will be distributed by the providers field force and advisers can also obtain ...

  • Standard Life Bank - Freestyle Six Month Discount

    22 Apr 2005

    Standard Life BankFreestyle Six Month Discount

  • Standard Life rebel shareholders fail to make board

    26 Apr 2005

    Rebel shareholder Michael Hogan failed to secure a berth on the Standard Life board with the incumbents enjoying a clean sweep.

  • Standard offers online view on Sipps

    21 Apr 2005

    Standard Life has set up an online client view service to include its Sipp and mutual funds and allowing advisers to view all client policies in one window.

  • Standard offers online view on Sipps

    21 Apr 2005

    Standard Life has set up an online client view service to include its Sipp and mutual funds and allowing advisers to view all client policies in one window.The service will focus on Standard's Sipp and inc- lude information on fund valuations, investment instructions, cash transactions and the updated value of other investments such as property and shares.The service uses real-time data and a combination of monthly and quarterly fund reports provided by Morningstar. It also ...

  • Suffolk Life appoints new head of corporate sales

    22 Apr 2005

    Suffolk Life creates a new position of head of corporate sales, appointing Rollo Wilson, formerly of Abbey Investments.

  • Survey reveals retirement gap

    21 Apr 2005

    Nine out of ten people believe they must work harder, save more and find additional funding for retirement, according to a survey by Just Retirement.

  • SWIP expands UK institutional and wholesale business

    22 Apr 2005

    Scottish Widows Investment Partnership is expanding its business into UK institutional and wholesale market, offering its services to a broader international client base.

  • Take a lead from AMI guide

    21 Apr 2005

    The Association of Mortgage Intermediaries is launching a guide to help intermediaries with lead generation.The move follows concerns from AMI members about the increase in the number of lead-generation firms which often do not deliver what they promise or deliver below their original sales pitch.The AMI says there have been some cases of members paying for leads up front and then never hearing from the lead generator again.The guide covers business development, questions ...

  • Take a lead from AMI guide

    21 Apr 2005

    The Association of Mortgage Intermediaries is launching a guide to help intermediaries with lead generation.

  • Take time for testing

    21 Apr 2005

    Why is there so much financial services advertising, direct mail and literature, digital and other communications that is missing the mark?

  • Take time for testing

    21 Apr 2005

    Why is there so much financial services advertising, direct mail and literature, digital and other communications that is missing the mark?A lot of this is produced by financial services specialist agencies but much of it looks the same.How effective is it? What messages are IFAs getting from product providers? How does the IFA translate these messages to their clients?Can they be bothered to read headlines in three different type sizes and colours which merge into one? ...

  • Talkback

    21 Apr 2005

    Are you ready to implement the menu system when it comes in on June 1?"Yes. There are probably still a couple of things we need to work out but we have plenty of time allocated for that."George Chakko George, Progressive Independent Advisers"No. I have not really given it a lot of thought but it is creeping up on us."Alan Northeast, Northeast & Thakrar"No. I am not ready but I will be by June 1. We have known it has been coming for long enough so there should be no reason ...

  • Talkback

    21 Apr 2005

    Are you ready to implement the menu system when it comes in on June 1?"Yes. There are probably still a couple of things we need to work out but we have plenty of time allocated for that."George Chakko George, Progressive Independent Advisers"No. I have not really given it a lot of thought but it is creeping up on us."Alan Northeast, Northeast & Thakrar"No. I am not ready but I will be by June 1. We have known it has been coming for long enough so there should be no reason ...

  • Test drive

    21 Apr 2005

    Last week, I looked at the substantial non-trading activities test in relation to capital gains tax business assets taper relief. For those who are or may be considering selling their shares in a private trading com- pany, this relief represents a massive improvement in the net return they would otherwise receive.

  • Test drive

    21 Apr 2005

    Last week, I looked at the substantial non-trading activities test in relation to capital gains tax business assets taper relief. For those who are or may be considering selling their shares in a private trading com- pany, this relief represents a massive improvement in the net return they would otherwise receive.It is not that long ago that the starting point for most was 40 per cent tax on any gains realised after indexation.For any gains of substance on sales of private company ...

  • The future of multi-managers

    21 Apr 2005

    A few years from here, the UK financial advisory landscape is going to look a lot different.Depolarisation, with its payment menu, the arrival of wrap providers, the enhancement to supermarket platforms and the reaction of life companies with their own administration platforms and open architecture around their products will all combine to shape this change.But it is the explosive growth now and that is widely predicted for the future for the use of multi-manager investment ...

  • The future of multi-managers

    21 Apr 2005

    A few years from here, the UK financial advisory landscape is going to look a lot different.

  • Three quarters of Britons are financially out of control, says IFAP

    26 Apr 2005

    Just one in four British adults are in charge of their finances, and women are the worst culprits, according to a recent study by IFA Promotion.

  • Time to transfer?

    21 Apr 2005

    In my previous piece in this series of articles examining recent and imminent changes to pension planning, I started to concentrate on issues affecting the decision as to whether or not an early leaver from a final-salary scheme should consider transferring their benefits to a private pension arrangement.I discussed the vital importance of considering a client's marital status in relation to the definitions of dependent used by the former employer's scheme, concentrating on the ...

  • Time to transfer?

    21 Apr 2005

    In my previous piece in this series of articles examining recent and imminent changes to pension planning, I started to concentrate on issues affecting the decision as to whether or not an early leaver from a final-salary scheme should consider transferring their benefits to a private pension arrangement.I discussed the vital importance of considering a client's marital status in relation to the definitions of dependent used by the former employer's scheme, concentrating on the ...

  • Tories plan to raise tax relief to defuse pension timebomb

    21 Apr 2005

    The Tories have unveiled plans to increase tax relief on pension contributions as part of their commitment to tackle the "pension timebomb".

  • Tories plan to raise tax relief to defuse pension timebomb

    21 Apr 2005

    The Tories have unveiled plans to increase tax relief on pension contributions as part of their commitment to tackle the "pension timebomb".Under the proposals, basic-rate taxpayers would have their tax relief raised by 10p in the pound to 32p, adding £10 to every £100 saved towards a personal pension.The Tories expect that around 10 million people would benefit from the rise, which would cost £1.7bn of the £4bn they have pledged in tax cuts. The scheme would ...

  • 'Tories would not lift markets more than Labour'

    21 Apr 2005

    A Tory Government would not lift markets more than Labour despite the party's allegiance to the investment community, say roadshow panellists.In some general elections, investment professionals have been vocal in their support of the Tories but panellists said investors would not be affected positively or negatively by a change of Government.Invesco Asset Management distribution director Andrew Watkins said he "leaned to the right of Genghis Khan" but believed the re-election ...

  • 'Tories would not lift markets more than Labour'

    21 Apr 2005

    A Tory Government would not lift markets more than Labour despite the party's allegiance to the investment community, say roadshow panellists.

  • Tories would raise stamp duty threshold

    21 Apr 2005

    The Conservatives have announced they would raise the stamp duty threshold to 250,000, meaning the average homebuyer would not have to pay anything.Tories say the measure will free over half a million homebuyers a year from stamp duty with over 80 per cent of home purchases attracting no stamp duty at all.Conservative leader Michael Howard says: "This will help young people to get onto the property ladder. And it will make it easier for young couples starting a family to buy a ...

  • Towry supplies Sainsbury

    21 Apr 2005

    Towry Law has signed a deal to provide its online financial advice system My Financial Friend to Sainsbury employees.My Financial Friend allows employees to explore individual personal finance issues using their employer's extranet service.It works in with existing IT systems and forms part of the employer's home page or company benefits page.Sainsbury recognises the importance of independent financial planning and believes Towry Law is well placed to deliver quality advice ...

  • Towry supplies Sainsbury

    21 Apr 2005

    Towry Law has signed a deal to provide its online financial advice system My Financial Friend to Sainsbury employees.

  • Transact cuts high-end charges in wrap war

    21 Apr 2005

    Transact has slashed charges on funds for wealthier clients in a wrap price war sparked by Abbey undercutting its rates for high-volume business. Baxter Fensham director John Baxter says Transact was losing clients in the £500,000 to £1m market to Abbey because the bank-owned wrap's charges were sometimes thousands of pounds cheaper for wealthier clients. Baxter says he has worked with Transact on competitively pricing its products at the higher end. ...

  • Transact cuts high-end charges in wrap war

    21 Apr 2005

    Transact has slashed charges on funds for wealthier clients in a wrap price war sparked by Abbey undercutting its rates for high-volume business.

  • Transatlantic tax deal for insured pension funds

    21 Apr 2005

    Insured pension funds will no longer be taxed on dividend income from US equity holdings after the Inland Revenue struck a deal with the US authorities.

  • Treasury to consult on VAT after Euro judgment

    21 Apr 2005

    The Treasury is to launch a consultation into what aspects of insurers' business will be subject to VAT following the recent Andersen case in Europe.

  • Turning a negative into a positive

    21 Apr 2005

    I was very disappointed by the recent article in Money Marketing by Bhupinder Anand, who I know is held in high regard. His criticism of Hargreaves Lansdown research director Mark Dampier appears to me to be based on the view that Mark had been quoted as saying something which may not have been positive for the financial services industry. Many of the new clients we see at Warwick Butchart do not have positive past experiences from their interaction with the financial services ...

  • Turning a negative into a positive

    21 Apr 2005

    I was very disappointed by the recent article in Money Marketing by Bhupinder Anand, who I know is held in high regard.

  • Wagstaff drops plan for investment boutique

    21 Apr 2005

    Former M&G head of retail Phil Wagstaff has denied industry rumours that he is setting up an investment boutique with high-profile figures former SG Asset Management retail head John Ions and former Invesco Perpetual chief executive Mike Webb.

  • Wagstaff drops plan for investment boutique

    21 Apr 2005

    Former M&G head of retail Phil Wagstaff has denied industry rumours that he is setting up an investment boutique with high-profile figures former SG Asset Management retail head John Ions and former Invesco Perpetual chief executive Mike Webb.Wagstaff confirmed that the trio had looked at the proposal but had decided against taking the plan further. He was managing director of M&G's retail division for three years and was with the company for seven years before resigning ...

  • Winterthur adds development trio

    21 Apr 2005

    Winterthur Life UK is strengthening its adviser service by recruiting three new business development managers.Russell Anderson joins from Scottish Life. He was previously an IFA for Sedgwicks and Frizzells. Anderson will be responsible for supporting IFAs in Northern Ireland.David Arthur joins the company from Standard Life, where he spent five years in financial consultancy and intermediary business teams, following a career in the retail industry. Arthur will be responsible ...

  • Winterthur adds development trio

    21 Apr 2005

    Winterthur Life UK is strengthening its adviser service by recruiting three new business development managers.

  • Woolwich explores the fast lane

    26 Apr 2005

    Woolwich Plan Managers accelerated growth plan issue 6 is a FTSE 100 linked capital-protected bond available with a six-year or three-year term.

  • Zurich Assurance -Guaranteed Account 7

    26 Apr 2005

    Zurich AssuranceGuaranteed Account 7

Poll

Should the MPC have increased QE this week?

Current Issue

Advanced search