Money Marketing
26 November 2009
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Aifa setting up group to put its cap-ad case
26 November 2009
Aifa says the FSA’s increased capital adequacy requirements are unrealistic in the timescale and risk adding a heavier cost burden to good firms.
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A new home page for argos
26 November 2009
Our panel consider the entry of Argos into the mortgage comparison website field and applaud CML chairman Matthew Wyles’ hard-hitting conference speech attacking heavy-handed regulation
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A suitable case for sipps
26 November 2009
David Baker, legal director of Wealthtime, says the FSA’s review of the self-invested personal pension market has resulted in an upheaval for admin requirements that could turn out to be a benefit in the long term for the sector
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Absolute fund avoids the volatility
26 November 2009
Gartmore believes the first-year performance figures of its multi-manager absolute return fund show how stress-tested the portfolio has been.
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Adviser Evolution: Leader
26 November 2009
If the financial advice industry aspires to be considered a profession alongside law or accountancy (although perhaps we should set our ambitions higher than that), it needs to do a number of things to make it look the part.
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Adviser Fund Index
26 November 2009
Adviser Fund Index panellists have moved away from British equities and towards emerging markets and strategic bond funds in the balanced index.
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After the fall
26 November 2009
Structured products have taken a battering. Hannah Stodell and Christopher Jarvis report on industry moves to repair some of the damage
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Ahead of the pack
26 November 2009
Marketing is all about ensuring that your calls, emails and messages get heard above the rest of the noise and a little time and passion spent on this part of yourbusiness can make you stand out from the crowd
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Assets soar at Man
26 November 2009
Hedge fund manager Man Group saw assets held by its multi-manager business in managed accounts leap by 50 per cent in the six months to September 30.
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At your service
26 November 2009
Julian Marr Marr’s Markets
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Axa is looking for a new name for pensions
26 November 2009
Axa has teamed up with Collins English Dictionaries to launch a campaign to rename pensions.
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Back to protection basics
26 November 2009
“There needs to be a complete reassessment of income protection basics - there is a significant vacuum waiting to be filled by forward-thinking providers.”
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Bolton's back- adviser reaction
26 Nov 2009
Advisers have given a mixed response to news that fund guru Anthony Bolton is to return to the market to run a new China offering.
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Bridge the knowledge divide
26 November 2009
The adviser is first and foremost a firm’s best product and gaining level four will mean bridging knowledge gaps in the long term and enhancing the business
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Buckles aiming to buy three IFA firms
26 November 2009
Buckles is planning to buy three IFA firms in the first quarter of next year.
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Capita may face Arch cru loss
26 November 2009
Capita has prepared its shareholders for the possibility that the firm will have to pay costs as a result of the Arch cru suspended funds’ debacle.In a Stock Exchange statement last week, Capita said it is working with the FSA, Arch, the depositories to the funds and other parties to resolve the suspension of the funds and provide shareholders with further information regarding the current value and future prospects of the funds.
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China points
26 November 2009
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Close property fund aims for 8% return
26 November 2009
Close Asset Management has set up an ungeared closed-ended residential property fund that aims for a capital return of 8 per cent a year through investment in English residential property let to lifelong tenants.
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Complaints rising over repo selling prices
26 November 2009
The FOS is seeing more disputes over property valuations, particularly on the sale of repossessed properties.
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Consolidators face bias risk
26 November 2009
Leah Milner interviews In Partnership investment director Mark Pittaccio who says IFA consolidators could be at odds with the RDR
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Consumer protection campaign fails to raise necessary funds
26 Nov 2009
The Tom Baigrie inspired Consumer Protection Insurance Engagement Campaign has failed to raise the necessary funding to take its plans forward.
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Court blocks repo bid
26 November 2009
A GMAC-RFC borrower with £14,000 arrears charges whose mortgage was resold to Wave has narrowly escaped repossession this week.
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Darling's buds for may
26 November 2009
Lee Jones reports that with a spring general election looming, the Chancellor has to come up with a balancing act in his pre-Budget report with tax rises to boost Government coffers while trying to offer some vote-winning strategies
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Darling's dilemma
26 November 2009
Start planning for tax increases in the pre-Budget report
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Dear Rob and Roderic...
26 November 2009
Our resident agony uncles and The Ideas Lab directors Rob Reid and Roderic Rennison answer adviser queries
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Euro equities to come out top in 2010, says S&P
30 Nov 2009
Ratings agency sees potential in equities over fixed income next year.
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Exam plans backed by law, claims FSA
26 November 2009
Nicoll says regulator will close down firms and warns on building up commission
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Ex-FSA lawyer criticises Sif hire and fire powers
26 November 2009
Warning over the FSA’s new powers to grill prospective candidates.
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Ferguson to head protection at Friends
26 November 2009
Former Legal & General marketing and channel development director Alan Ferguson is joining Friends Provident as head of protection.
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FSA tells firms to cut out long-stop clauses
26 November 2009
The FSA has issued a warning to small IFA firms that insert a long-stop clause into their terms of business.
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Gummer points to long decline in consumer access to advice
26 November 2009
Aifa chairman John Gummer believes the RDR will fail to improve the financial advice market if it does not increase consumer access to advice.At the Aifa annual dinner last week, Gummer warned that consumer access to advice has been declining over the last 20 years, due to falls in the number of IFAs.
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Halfway house
26 November 2009
While some industry experts say a rise in first-time buyers is breathing life back into the mortgage market, others argue it is too early to celebrate. Gregor Watt reports
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Heir wraps
26 November 2009
In the final part of a four-part series surveying the retirement market, Annie Shaw considers inheritance tax planning and reports on views over wrapping annuities in bonds
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HMRC faces criticism over continuing delay for Gibraltar Qrops
26 November 2009
London & Colonial has complained that HM Revenue & Customs is wasting time and effort in continuing to delay approval of qualified recognised overseas pension schemes in Gibraltar.
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HMRC spells out Qrops property ban
26 November 2009
HM Revenue & Customs has issued clarification that residential property is not a permitted investment within qualified recognised overseas pension schemes before or after the five-year reporting period.
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If I were you, I would take the concierge's advice
26 November 2009
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In the dark on prices
26 November 2009
Last week’s article by Kira Nickerson, headlined Platform price war, was a compelling read which raised many valid points about future distribution trends and pricing in the platform industry.
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iShares urged to align TER for ETFs with client cost
26 November 2009
Evercore Pan Asset is lobbying iShares to align the total expense ratio for exchange traded funds more closely with the true net cost for clients.
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Jailed broker is banned by FSA
26 November 2009
The FSA has banned broker Rashid Farid from carrying out regulated activity after he was jailed earlier this year for 11 years.
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Jupiter offers free switch into Gibbs' new funds
26 November 2009
Jupiter is to offer unitholders in its financial opportunities fund a free switch into manager Philip Gibbs’ two new funds, which will launch on December 14.
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Just like Eddie
26 November 2009
An example illustrates the process to calculate total income and adjusted net income plus some tax-saving strategies
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Keeping it simple
26 November 2009
James Smith Boutique View
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Labour lords hit out at Brown's care plan
26 November 2009
Labour peer Lord Lipsey has attacked Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s plans to offer free care at home to the elderly, claiming it is “one of the most irresponsible acts to be put forward by a Prime Minister in recent history”.
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Life lessons
26 November 2009
James Harvey of James Harvey Associates follows life planning guru George Kinder’s approach for getting to the heart of a client’s life goals. Cherry Reynard reports on the firm’s RDR transition
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Linking-up with the problem solvers
26 November 2009
In assessing his RDR position, Kevin Cannon, director of MGP (Employee Benefits) felt that five key questions needed answering
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Mark of approval
26 November 2009
“Public confidence in the market will only be safeguarded if the majority of borrowers feel that they are being fairly and properly treated when they buy products.”
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Martin Davis
26 November 2009
Openwork’s chief executive is looking to change the firm’s position for the RDR because he says ‘the old rules were all about just getting the ball in front of the goal, the new rules want to make sure you score the goal every time’ Interview by Lee Jones
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Match fees to risk profile, says Strange
26 November 2009
Aifa wants the FSA to change the way it calculates firms’ regulatory fees.
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May calls for quality
26 November 2009
Conservative Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Theresa May says advisers play a crucial role in consumer awareness of the need to save for retirement and the availability of quality IFAs must be increased.
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MM leader: FSA needs to heed concerns
26 November 2009
Following recent comments from Aifa director general Chris Cummings and Conservative Shadow pensions minister Niger Waterson questioning the RDR timetable, it appears certain industry voices have become preoccupied with creating an artificial divide in the adviser community.
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Model of efficiency
26 November 2009
Simon Cole says the reward from using his platform is a lack of surprises.
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Name check
26 November 2009
In the open letter published in Money Marketing from David Munro to Andrew Fisher of Towry Law, my name is referred to as the adviser at TL.
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NAO will audit the FSA from next year
26 November 2009
The National Audit Office will audit the FSA from the 2010/11 financial year.
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Nationwide's profits hit amid state bank distortion
26 November 2009
Nationwide has warned that Government-backed institutions are “seriously distorting” the savings market.
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On the rebound
26 November 2009
Bill McQuaker Multi-manager View
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Open minded
26 November 2009
The Open University is offering a foundation degree in financial services aimed at people on the retail front line who want to develop their careers
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Out of context
26 November 2009
“There are ways to avoid taxes - living on a rock in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, for example.”
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Personal Touch suspends chairman Wilson
26 November 2009
Personal Touch Financial Services chairman Martin Wilson has been suspended pending an internal investigation.
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PM plea for global banking action
26 November 2009
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has reinforced his support for a global Tobin tax on financial institutions.
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Portal to the future
26 November 2009
IntelliFlo’s Intelligent Office system is used by 850 firms and has over 6,000 users. Nick Eatock gives his views on the market for adviser technology
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Pru exit hits release sector hard
26 November 2009
Advisers say Prudential’s exit from the equity-release market is “a hammer blow” to the sector.
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RBS 90% tracker could be pivotal market point
26 November 2009
Advisers say Royal Bank of Scotland Intermediary Partners’ latest launch of a tracker at up to 90 per cent LTV could signal a turn-round for the market.
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RDR must bring back the pride
26 November 2009
SimplyBiz managing director Ian Thorneycroft issues a rallying cry to IFAs for a return to traditional values.
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Reasons to be optimistic for 2010
26 November 2009
Savills Private Finance MD Mark Harris looks forward to a better year for the mortgage intermediary.
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Regulator focuses on go-betweens to fight corruption
26 November 2009
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Release role for LTC cash
26 November 2009
Safe Home Income Plans claims the Personal Care at Home Bill will not go far enough and says equity release could play a role in plugging the funding gap.
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Retirement tops IFA searches
26 November 2009
More people are looking for an IFA to advise on their retirement planning needs, according to figures from Unbiased.co.uk.
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Risk assessment
26 November 2009
There is no such thing as a low-risk investment. The question now is how much money investors are willing to play with
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Royal London wants FSA to pull back from the cliff edge
26 November 2009
Royal London chief executive of intermediaries John Deane says there must be practical implementation of the RDR. Helen Pow reports
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Sense of balance
26 November 2009
A look at the changing face of fund management, with a boutique perspective on price and value and finding the right balance between the two to win client trust
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Shock treatment
26 November 2009
Ben Yearsley takes a look at the Miton strategic portfolio.
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Sitting targets
26 November 2009
RDR may seem a long way off to some advisers but with only three sittings a year to pass the requisite exams, it would be wise to act now and embrace change
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Skandia enhance service for high-value protection
26 November 2009
Skandia is offering a new service for advisers writing high- value protection cases.
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Skandia guide to compare platforms
26 November 2009
Skandia has published a new guide to help advisers in their due diligence process when comparing platforms.
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Skandia's Jelley anticipates CGT U-turn by Darling
26 November 2009
Capital gains tax, income tax for high-earners and pension tax relief are likely to be pre-Budget report targets, according to Skandia.
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Skandia's Mann says restricted advice regime will be abused
26 November 2009
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Smashing the golden eggs
26 November 2009
FSA should have been charged with increasing personal financial provision.
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Smooth out the RDR
26 November 2009
The FSA must take into account the present situation
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St James's Place opposes oral RDR disclosure
26 November 2009
SJP says there is no need for oral disclosure for restricted advisers.
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Structured launch faces struggle
26 November 2009
Advisers have warned that Macquarie will face an “uphill struggle” to gain traction in the UK structured product market following the FSA’s review of the sector and Keydata’s collapse.
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Suitable job for a woman
26 November 2009
The macho image of the finance industry has deterred women from joining but times are changing and the profession must adapt so women want to participateand thrive, says National Skills Academy for Financial Services South-west board member Diane Weitz
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Survival instincts
26 November 2009
Our two experts give their sides of the argument on whether firms need to be part of a large firm or if they can survive as directly authorised concerns
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T Bailey's flexible emerging market approach pays off
26 November 2009
T Bailey says one of the reasons that few global emerging market funds do consistently well is because many have a built-in bias to one of the bigger countries.
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Technical Connection
3 Dec 2009
Tony Wickenden refreshes his understanding of the rules on UK resident non- domiciliaries and the remittance basis of taxation.
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The beauty of simplicity
26 November 2009
A no-frills policy should be the only resolution this coming new year
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The blame game
26 November 2009
Christopher Jarvis reports on the industry reaction to the CML chairman’s criticism of the regulator
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The litmus test
26 November 2009
One winning claim of annuity misselling could open the floodgates
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The Nick of time
26 November 2009
I read a letter from Nick Bamford in the October 22 edition of Money Marketing. Nick, who admits to being 50-plus, says he is dead against any form of grandfathering to comply with the retail distribution review qualifications.
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Thinktank in call to shut state pension 'Ponzi scheme'
26 November 2009
The Adam Smith Institute says the state pension is a “giant Ponzi scheme” that will soon become bankrupt and must be phased out.
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Time management
26 November 2009
Money Marketing deputy editor Gregor Watt continues his journey towards QCF level four and realises that he is going to have to make sacrifices to fit in study time
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Tories want RDR change of emphasis
26 November 2009
The Conservatives have questioned whether the 2012 ret- ail distribution review time-table is practicable and suggest there should be more emphasis on experience and on-the-job training.
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Torpedo trails
26 November 2009
Commercial property needs to be handled with care
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Trail blazing
26 November 2009
I thought your editorial comment on Mr Fisher of Towry Law was inordinately polite and respectful. I would put it more like this - he is making extraordinary attempts to justify a completely untenable position which is, by his own admission, that they keep on taking money from clients and giving nothing back. And that the amount is £6m a year. And they cannot track it.
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Under the influence
26 November 2009
The role of underwriters is rightly growing in status
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Value call on small pots
26 November 2009
Bob Bullivant makes some interesting points in his Profile interview (Money Marketing, last week) about annuities, the open market option and the insurance industry. However, he misrepresents the position of the ABI and the annuity industry on small pension pots.
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Vital signs
26 November 2009
Buy to let looked dead in the water, says Gregor Watt, but a new lender launching into the sector shows there is life yet
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Yields take a turn
26 November 2009
The yield difference between corporate bonds and equity dividends has narrowed dramatically
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Zurich Intl restricts distribution
26 November 2009
The insurer will only accept new business from certain overseas domains following a strategic business review.
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Zurich still wants to sell Openwork stake
26 November 2009
Openwork chief executive Martin Davis has revealed Zurich is still aiming to sell its 25 per cent stake in the network.




