Money Marketing
30 March 2005

  • A date with Destini

    31 Mar 2005

    What's this we hear? Scandal at the Lansons quiz, at which 28 teams of journalists, PRs and financial services companies competed for a top prize.Money Marketing may have been humbled slightly by some 23 of the teams present but now we know the reason. We hear that in the picture round, the answer given by the quiz mistress for picture two - Maria Carey - should have been Beyonce Knowles, lead singer of R&B group Destini's Child.We are sure that, had the quiz been run to a higher ...

  • A distilled blend from Skandia

    4 Apr 2005

    Skandia Investment ManagementUK Equity Blend Fund

  • A long road for Abbey

    31 Mar 2005

    Abbey for Intermediaries' Ricky Okey has high hopes to turn its poor service around and enter new markets.

  • A lost opportunity

    31 Mar 2005

    Winterthur Life's senior analyst John Colbeck believes Gordon Brown missed out on a perfect chance to prove how committed this Government is to pensions.

  • Abbey stops bonuses to cut MVRs

    31 Mar 2005

    Abbey is continuing to pay no annual bonuses on its with-profits funds in a bid to cut MVRs and boost terminal bonuses.

  • Aegon makes its move into Czech life market

    31 Mar 2005

    Aegon is to sell life insurance in the Czech Republic,having gained its licence from the Ministry of Finance last week.

  • Allianz launches total return 'C' share class

    1 Apr 2005

    Allianz Global Investors has added a 'C' share class to its Pimco Sterling total return fund.T c-share class annual management fee is 0.75 per cent, compared to the 'A' share class fee which is 1.25 per cent.Allianz hopes to lure IFAs who prefer a lower annual management charge to trail commission. The minimum investment is 2m.

  • Analyst argues against shareholder activism

    31 Mar 2005

    An investment analyst is claiming that shareholder activism can stifle enterprise and damage returns for investors.

  • Analyst recommends exit from Pacific trust

    31 Mar 2005

    A leading investment analyst thinks investors should switch out of the F&C Pacific trust following its takeover by Witan.

  • Another BBB investigation continues

    4 Apr 2005

    Berkeley Berry Birch has announced the FSA investigation into the sale of Berkeley Independent Advisers Regular Savings Premium & Whole of Life Sales products is still ongoing.As a result the costs of such an exercise are uncertain at this point although they could be substantial if a full review is required.BBB also announced turnover for the year ended 31 March 05 is likely to be below market expectations due to the fact that sales of BIA products under investigation are no longer ...

  • Are resources running out?

    31 Mar 2005

    Liontrust has started a debate with its suggestion that small cap funds invested heavily in resources could be on the verge of a crash.

  • AWD signs up to new CII programme

    1 Apr 2005

    AWD is the first organisation to sign up to the CIIs new pensions simplification update programme.The new CII programme was launched in February and is designed to help advisers better understand the new pensions tax regime post A-day.AWD is committing 350 advisers and support staff to the programme.AWD managing Director Chris Isard says: "It is essential that our advisers demonstrate their competence well in advance of A-day and the CIIs programme is a key step in AWDs ongoing ...

  • Axa limits new investments into property fund

    1 Apr 2005

    Axa is limiting new investments into its life property fund following large flows of new money.

  • B&CE sets out its manifesto for pension reform

    31 Mar 2005

    B&CE Benefit Schemes has issued a pension manifesto calling on the main political parties to address the impending pension crisis.

  • Bank of Ireland looking at offers for Bristol & West branch network

    31 Mar 2005

    Bank of Ireland is looking at the sale of the non-mortgage elements of Bristol & West with plans to shed B&W's 97 UK branches.

  • Bates makes return with property fund for Sipps

    31 Mar 2005

    Graham Bates is returning to financial services next month as a fund manager with the first in a range of property funds.

  • BDO Stoy Hayward predicts rate rises

    4 Apr 2005

    BDO Stoy Hayward says it expects to see two more interest rate rises by the end of the year, bringing the rate to 5.25 per cent.It believes the Bank of England will hold off any rate rise until after the election with the first rise possible in June.BDO Stoy Hayward partner Chris Grove says: "The latest poll of polls reveals that businesses remain wary of the potential effects the General Election will have on the economy. Despite this, the economy continues to grow at a healthy ...

  • Big multi-managers may miss out on niche firms

    31 Mar 2005

    Smaller hedge funds are often early-stage managers investing in niche areas and, in general, tend to perform better than later-stage managers.Smaller multi-manager funds, such as the newly launched PSolve Alternative Investments select opportunities fund, can easily access small specialist hedge funds. But the bigger multi-manager funds may neglect niche players because they are often too small to take the amount of cash the multi-manager needs to place.Allenbridge Hedgeinfo ...

  • Boulger on Mortgages

    31 Mar 2005

    Minutes published from the latest MPC meeting show that the committee voted seven to two in favour of keeping the Bank of England Base Rate at 4.75 per cent, yet some members conceded that a rise may be justified in due course. For the two in the minority, a rise in interest rates was warranted immediately.

  • Bradford & Bingley launches two new Isas

    5 Apr 2005

    Bradford and Bingley is to launch two mini cash Isas to be available from April 6. The Isa regular saver offers 6 per cent gross in the first year before switching to the Bank of England base rate plus half a per cent. The minimum monthly contribution is 10, maximum 250. The fixed Isa 3 offers 5.25 per cent gross guaranteed for the next three years, aimed at lump sum investors who invest 9,000, which is then fed into the account in three 3,000 portions.

  • Broker talkback

    31 Mar 2005

    Is there a potential for venture capital trusts to be missold?

  • Brothers on TV mission to cut debt

    31 Mar 2005

    Baronworth directors Colin and Robert Jackson are to star in a hard-hitting financial advice TV series called The Brothers which aims to get Britons to stop spending and start saving.

  • Brown study

    31 Mar 2005

    The Budget box contained little to boost the savings industry, says Morgan Stanley Quilter executive director Charles Maisey.

  • Buchanan warns new pension vehicle may depress annuity rates

    31 Mar 2005

    Pension simplification will put further downward pressure on annuity rates as increasing numbers of people favour alternative secured pensions over annuities, providers are warning.

  • Budget boost for buyers

    31 Mar 2005

    Chancellor Gordon Brown's Budget was billed as a vote-winner. Cash for schools and families, together with free bus travel for the elderly, certainly grabbed the headlines.

  • Cashplan duo in healthy merger

    31 Mar 2005

    HSA Group and HealthSure are merging the two cashplan businesses.

  • Childcare Corporation rises again

    31 Mar 2005

    Smith & Williamson has introduced Childcare Corporation 8, an enterprise investment scheme that aims to raise money for the building and operation of around three more purpose-built children's nurseries in the UK.

  • Clifford vows new relationship will not inhibit independence

    31 Mar 2005

    Mortgageforce chief executive Rob Clifford says the firm will remain a fiercely independent broker franchise despite its acquisition by West Bromwich Building Society.

  • Close all weather fund outperforms in first year

    4 Apr 2005

    Close Private Banks all weather fund launches its first anniversary campaign, offering reduced risk with the potential for equity-like returns.

  • Closing in on nirvana

    31 Mar 2005

    In the past few weeks, the FSA has published its intentions surrounding regulation of the promotion of financial services.

  • CML welcomes Government's commitment to home expansion

    1 Apr 2005

    The Council of Mortgage Lenders welcomes the announcement by the Deputy Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Government's commitment to encourage the expansion of home-ownership.

  • Commission mission

    31 Mar 2005

    Scottish Life sales director Jim Smith considers that the ABI's recent commission message has been misunderstood.

  • Companies struggle to meet TCF requirements

    31 Mar 2005

    Financial services firms tend to design products benchmarked against what their competitors are doing rather than meeting the needs of their customers, according to an interim FSA report into treating customers fairly.

  • Correspondent's week

    31 Mar 2005

    William Kay

  • David Barral

    31 Mar 2005

    Norwich Union's distribution director believes a key way to restore consumer confidence in the industry is for multi-tied advisers and IFAs to build closer relationships which would help them better target the right people and improve persistency.

  • Dirty deeds?

    31 Mar 2005

    Mortgage regulation, as we are happily told by the FSA, has helped to make charges and fees clear to consumers and started a golden era for treating customers fairly.

  • DWP move to replace MFR on DB schemes

    31 Mar 2005

    The Department for Work & Pensions has issued new proposals to replace the minimum funding requirement for defined-benefit pension schemes.

  • Election date revealed

    5 Apr 2005

    As expected Tony Blair has named 05 May as the date for the General Election.Labour is hoping to place the Economy at the heart of its campaign. Political battles are expected regarding the issues of financial regulation, pensions and savings.

  • Equitable faces payout to 1,500

    31 Mar 2005

    Equitable Life may have to pay compensation to 1,500 policyholders after a lead case was upheld by the Financial Ombudsman Service last week.

  • Equitable v E&Y case is set to open

    30 Mar 2005

    Equitable Lifes negligence claim against its former auditors Ernst & Young opens in court on April 11. The fight has been ongoing since 2001 when Equitable launched a claim for over 2bn against the accountancy firm. E&Y is accused of signing off the firms accounts without warning of the impending crisis over guaranteed annuity rates. The total cost of the trial is estimated at around 100m.

  • Ethical defends its financial position

    30 Mar 2005

    Ethical Mortgage Solutions chief executive Steve Royal says the firm is financially secure but admits to a slow period after M-Day which has led to restructuring, cost-cutting and some redundancies. Mortgage Next, which provides regulatory services to the group, says it will continue to give regulatory support to the ARs whatever Ethical's position.

  • Flight fights on for IFAs

    31 Mar 2005

    Tory campaigner for IFA rights Howard Flight says he hopes to be battling for financial advisers long into the future.

  • FSA achieves 60 per cent of target

    1 Apr 2005

    The Financial Services Authority achieved just under 60% of its targets last year according to its Performance Account report. The FSA has published its performance against its existing service standards; announced 11 new standards and introduced customer satisfaction measurement for firms that have completed some of the most frequently used and important processes set out in the Financial Services and Markets Act and FSA handbook.The 'Performance Account' report provides information ...

  • FSA and Ombudsman to implement improved procedures

    30 Mar 2005

    The Financial Services Authority and the Financial Ombudsman Service have published updated procedures for handling complaints to the ombudsman service which may have wider regulatory implications for firms and consumers.

  • FSA investigate BBB director

    1 Apr 2005

    The FSA has appointed investigators into the alleged conduct of Berkeley Berry Birch director Michael Cleary in respect of his role in relation to the acquisition of Berry Birch & Noble Financial Services.Cleary was the sole director of Berry Birch & Noble Financial Services when it was purchased by Berry Birch & Noble Financial Planning immediately after its liquidation in March 04.There is no definitive timescale for this process.

  • FSA publishes new consultation rules

    31 Mar 2005

    The FSA has published consultation rules addressing the issue of soft commissions and bundled brokerage arrangements. The rules, combined with proposals developed by industry, address the lack of transparency associated with soft commissions and should promote improved management of conflicts of interest. The proposed rules confirm the FSA's position that fund managers' use of commission should be limited to the purchase of 'execution' and 'research' services.

  • FSA putting the brakes on VCTs

    31 Mar 2005

    The FSA's decision to issue guidance to advisers on the sale of VCTs has been met with an indifferent, if not indignant, reaction both from IFAs and product providers.

  • Gartmore - Gartmore icav Continental European Smaller Companies Fund

    31 Mar 2005

    GartmoreGartmore Sicav Continental European Smaller Companies Fund

  • Gartmore - Gartmore Sicav Eurobloc Fund

    31 Mar 2005

    GartmoreGartmore Sicav Eurobloc Fund

  • Gartmore - Gartmore Sicav Pan European Focus Fund

    1 Apr 2005

    GartmoreGartmore Sicav Pan European Focus Fund

  • Gartmore - Gartmore Sicav United Kingdom Fund

    1 Apr 2005

    GartmoreGartmore Sicav United Kingdom Fund

  • Gartmore - Gartmore Sicav US Smaller Companies Fund

    4 Apr 2005

    GartmoreGartmore Sicav US Smaller Companies Fund

  • Gartmore expands Luxemburg Sicav

    31 Mar 2005

    Gartmore is setting up nine new sub-funds for its Luxemburg-based Sicav.

  • Gartmore Sicav focuses on Europe

    30 Mar 2005

    Gartmore has extended its Sicav fund range as the result of merging the Gartmore capital strategy fund range into the Sicav range.

  • Getting to grips with mortgage regulation

    31 Mar 2005

    This year's Money Marketing Live in London will provide intermediaries with a dedicated mortgage seminar stream discussing the very latest developments within the industry.

  • Gimme shelter

    31 Mar 2005

    Can you explain to me the recent rule changes surrounding tax-efficient investments as I am interested in maximising the options for myself and my children?

  • Green takes over PMI chair

    30 Mar 2005

    Penny Green takes over as president of the Pensions Management Institute from July, replacing outgoing chief Roger Cobley.

  • Halifax General Insurance launches online sales solution

    5 Apr 2005

    Halifax General Insurance is introducing a new online sales solution for mortgage intermediaries.

  • Hopwood takes over as MD at Assureweb

    31 Mar 2005

    Assureweb has appointed Nigel Hopwood as managing director.He will take control of the day-to-day running of the portal from chief executive Charles Bryant who becomes chairman and will take a more hands-off role. Bryant is also commercial director of Sesame.

  • HSBC enters freestyle race

    4 Apr 2005

    HSBC Asset Management has joined the quest for absolute returns with the introduction of the HSBC freestyle fund.

  • HSBC hikes existing critical policies by 30% as claims soar

    31 Mar 2005

    HSBC is raising premiums for existing critical-illness cover policyholders by up to 30 per cent.

  • Identity check service aims at small societies

    31 Mar 2005

    Mutual One has signed an exclusive agreement with credit reference agency Callcredit to market the agency's online identity verification service to building societies.

  • In Partnership plans paperless business

    31 Mar 2005

    IFA network In Partnership says it aims to become a paperless operation by cutting in half the amount of paper used centrally and by its 450 RIs in the next two years.

  • In the Pink

    1 Apr 2005

    Pink Home LoansMortgage Trust Select 5.39% Fixed

  • Independent view

    31 Mar 2005

    With Chancellor Gordon Brown delivering what may be his final Budget two weeks ago, we have become accustomed to studying the small print to ascertain what alterations are really to be implemented.

  • Investment view

    31 Mar 2005

    The personal touch is missing from the selling of investments, which may account for declining demand, says Brian Tora.

  • Julian Gibbs

    31 Mar 2005

    Some forecasters believe that UK commercial property will be the top performing sector in 2005, despite others anticipating that there may be a bubble in this asset class.

  • Jupiter - Jupiter Sipp

    30 Mar 2005

    JupiterJupiter Sipp

  • Kessler joins Zurich in key marketing role

    1 Apr 2005

    Zurich is announcing Joe Kessler has joined the form as distribution marketing director for Openwork, Zurichs new multi-tied distribution business, launching later this year.

  • Knight Frank enters retail market with property fund

    31 Mar 2005

    Knight Frank Investment Management is moving into the retail market with a commercial property fund for intermediaries' high-net-worth clients, having previously offered only institutional funds.

  • L&G lobbying for'soft compulsion' pension solution

    31 Mar 2005

    Legal & General is lobbying the Pension Commission to impose what it calls a "soft compulsion" solution to the pension crisis after analysing take-up of its company stakeholder scheme.

  • Leeds & Holbeck changes name to Leeds Building Society

    30 Mar 2005

    Leeds & Holbeck will be changing its name to Leeds Building Society following its Annual General Meeting in Leeds earlier today.

  • Lenders 'doubt effectiveness' of home inspectors

    31 Mar 2005

    Lenders may require borrowers to get separate valuations from those produced by the Government's new home inspectors, according to the Mortgage Advice Bureau.

  • LibDems accuse Tories of means-test U-turn

    31 Mar 2005

    Opposition parties have clashed over means-testing, with the Liberal Democrats claiming Conservative pension plans to reverse its spread will make the problem worse.LibDem Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Steve Webb says a policy U-turn by the Conservatives will mean that a quarter of a million more people will be pushed into means-testing in contrast to the Tory pledge to reverse the spread of means-testing.In October 2003, the Conservatives pledged to relink the basic state ...

  • Lighthouse shines with first profit

    31 Mar 2005

    Lighthouse Group made a profit of 0.1m in the second half of last year, its first profit since being set up five years ago.

  • Lloyds TSB offers home finance deal for Muslims

    31 Mar 2005

    Lloyds TSB is introducing an Islamic home finance product to help Muslims buy homes according to the principles of ijara.

  • MassMutual completes Baring acquisition

    1 Apr 2005

    MassMutual has completed its acquisition of Baring Asset Management from ING. The acquisition adds approximately 18.4bn to assets under management for MassMutual, which now exceed 185bn. Baring will continue to operate independently.

  • Milton cuts high-yield bond exposure

    31 Mar 2005

    Miton Investments has reduced exposure to high-yield bonds within its income fund of funds.

  • MM Live looks at distribution

    30 Mar 2005

    Money Marketing Live takes place on May 5 at Olympia in West London with regulation and multi-distribution in the depolarised world set to dominate the conference agenda. Speakers from across the industry will discuss where tied, multi-tied and independent advice will settle in the market., Speakers will include Clive Briault, managing director (retail markets) of the FSA and Trevor Matthews, chief executive (life and pensions) of Standard Life, who will discuss the future of products, ...

  • Moneynet pledges to remove pop-up ads

    31 Mar 2005

    Moneynet.co.uk is aiming to make its site more user-friendly by improving its systems and removing pop-up ads.

  • Morley adds two to global equities team

    5 Apr 2005

    Morley Fund Management has appointed two new analysts to its global equities team in the form of John Wilson and Nicole Mardell.

  • Morley adds two to global team

    5 Apr 2005

    Morley Fund Management has added two analysts to its global equities team.John Wilson and Nicole Mardell join from HSBC Asset Management in Tokyo, and First State Investments in London.

  • Mortgage 2000 sets up virtual processing deal

    31 Mar 2005

    Mortgage 2000 is offering a virtual processing system to allow intermediaries to process and control loan applications for clients.

  • Mortgages plc acquires 100m tranche of mortgage assets

    1 Apr 2005

    Freedom Lending has today sold a 100m tranche of mortgage assets to Mortgages plc.

  • Multi-manager view

    31 Mar 2005

    Around 3.4 million people are caught by the 40 per cent income tax rate and a large number of these are retired.

  • Multi-ties are planning to set up trading hubs to bypass portals

    31 Mar 2005

    Big multi-tie operations are planning to create trading hubs to bypass major web portals, according to Focus Solutions managing director Nigel Smith.

  • NAB to axe 1,700 UK jobs within 18 months

    30 Mar 2005

    Yorkshire and Clydesdale banks are to axe 1,700 jobs as part of a major restructuring operation ordered by parent company National Australia Bank, seeking cost reductions of 125m.

  • NHFA in will-writing deal

    30 Mar 2005

    Specialist nursing home fees IFA NHFA has been signed up as an introducer by EPS, a will-writing and estate administration business. The deal means that EPS now has over 160 IFA introducers throughout the UK, including SimplyBiz.

  • No party can claim control of stock market

    5 Apr 2005

    No political party can claim the stock market has performed best whilst under their control, according to research from Halifax Financial Services.Halifax measured the performance of the FT30 index during the three months before and after each of the 10 elections since 1966, as well as the performance of the stock market during the Governments actual term in office.The research found both Labour and Conservatives have seen rises during their particular term in office.The highest ...

  • Norwich Union brings big name into reversion

    31 Mar 2005

    Norwich Union is introduing a home-reversion plan after extensive research into the sector.

  • Oldham is luckiest premium bond prizewinner

    30 Mar 2005

    Oldham is the UKs luckiest town for winning premium bond prizes in 2004/05, according to recent tables compiled by National Savings & Investments.

  • On your marks for Poat

    31 Mar 2005

    I'm sure all you advisers who take an interest in technical matters will be only too aware that we are just a few days away from a new tax.

  • Only 6% of IFAs plan multi-ties

    31 Mar 2005

    Only 6 per cent of IFAs have any plans for multi-ties, according to research by The Exchange.

  • Out of context

    31 Mar 2005

    "Don't you think it is a bit strange that as well as bringing his hippo to lunch, Bill Kay admits to keeping it on his bedside table?" - Jupiter's Alicia Wyllie."Paul Farrow looks like Robert de Niro in Meet the Parents." - Hargreaves Lansdown's Meera Patel."I am trying to be taken seriously as a PR so I have to stop appearing in Out of Context." - Lansons PR Lisa Folwell."I would be fine, thanks, except I have just spent most of my day on the phone to pension companies. It seems it ...

  • Pendragon launches Art of Pensions 2005

    4 Apr 2005

    Pendragon Professional Information Limited is officially launching its Art of Pensions 2005 competition, calling for pensions professionals to demonstrate their artistic prowess in a postcard competition.

  • Platform back on track

    30 Mar 2005

    PLATFORMSelf Cert One Year Base Rate Tracker

  • PMPA launches payment protection plan

    1 Apr 2005

    Professional Mortgage Packagers Alliance is launching an intermediary payment protection plan to provide guarantees for intermediaries procuration fees.

  • Positive thinking

    31 Mar 2005

    It is often said that advisers are reluctant to use new technology. Anybody who makes such a statement has never met Positive Solutions.

  • Premier dreams of halcyon days

    5 Apr 2005

    Premier Asset Managements halcyon extra income fund is an Oeic fund of funds that is aimed particularly at older investors who may be looking for ways to fund their long-term care needs.

  • Premier Halycon extra income fund aims at market for care costs

    31 Mar 2005

    Premier Asset Management has launched the Halcyon extra income fund, a fund of funds aimed particularly at older people with rising care costs.

  • Product Matters

    31 Mar 2005

    The Mortgage Business has followed otherspecialist lenders such as Platform, GMAC and BM Solutions in sharpening up its rates.

  • Programme of reforms to turn the savings tide

    31 Mar 2005

    One of the most important pieces of advice that IFAs offer their customers is that things might not work out according to plan.

  • Pru says Bloomer's departure will not change its strategy

    31 Mar 2005

    Prudential is adamant that the departure of group chief executive Jonathan Bloomer will not alter its UK strategy and 800m is still earmarked for spending on distribution.

  • Public sector to keep lead over private OPPs

    31 Mar 2005

    Public sector pensions will provide between 3 and 18 per cent higher benefits than private sector pensions, even with both types of pension facing change, according to a report by the Pensions Policy Institute.

  • Putting St James's Place in perspective

    31 Mar 2005

    I must respond to Wai Man Cheung's "success story" regarding St James's Place Partnership featured in Money Marketing, March 10.

  • Questions over Pru distribution

    31 Mar 2005

    Does the City understand distribution in financial services?

  • Rathbone smaller companies fund sees continued success

    30 Mar 2005

    Rathbone smaller companies fund has been promoted, awarded and rated, improving its performance and adding to its portfolios success.

  • Rathbones hits road speaking to IFAs

    4 Apr 2005

    Rathbone Unit Trust Management is hitting the road again this year making contact with IFAs, promoting three of its main trusts.

  • Rensburg Battle Continues

    31 Mar 2005

    Following Carr Sheppards Crosthwaites reverse takeover offer for Rensburg last week, Rathbones has re-entered the fight by saying its offer for Rensburg remains compelling.

  • Rensburg Sheppards deal sealed for 188m

    31 Mar 2005

    Investec's private client subsidiary Carr Sheppards Crosthwaite is to buy 47.7 per cent of Rensburg's shares, making the UK's seventh-biggest private client manager.

  • Reywood and Loud&Clear PR firms merge to form Concise

    4 Apr 2005

    Public relations firms Reywood and Loud&Clear have joined forces to become Concise Public Relations, operating as a corporate communications consultancy.

  • ScotLife will target HNWs with late entry into Sipps

    31 Mar 2005

    Scottish Life is set to launch a Sipp by next April, which it believes will be a core product for its favoured high-networth market.

  • Scottish Widows - Guaranteed Investment Bond

    30 Mar 2005

    Scottish WidowsGuaranteed Investment Bond

  • Service double faults

    31 Mar 2005

    Brokers berating life offices for poor service should consider the quality of business that they submit.

  • Seven stages of first-time buyer

    30 Mar 2005

    Lloyds TSB is offering its new Buying Your First Home guide covering the seven stages of becoming a first time buyer.

  • Shepherds admits bleak future as contract is lost

    31 Mar 2005

    Boutique fund manager Shepherds admits the future is bleak after losing the contract to run the 27m Cayman Islands-based Shepherds select funds.

  • SII appoints lawyer as new adviser on compliance

    5 Apr 2005

    Securities & Investment Institute announces the appointment of Christopher Bond as SII adviser on compliance, with effect from April 19.

  • Sipp edge: John Heron

    31 Mar 2005

    We can expect the tax efficiency of a Sipp to motivate a number of new entrants in the buy-to-let market, people who previously held back from the market.

  • Sipp edge: John Lawson

    31 Mar 2005

    Starting in a year's time, a significant proportion of the 75 bn-plus buy-to-let market* looks set to move into pensions. But moving ownership of property into a pension wrapper may not be as easy as it sounds.

  • Sipp group confident over protected rights

    31 Mar 2005

    The Sipp Provider Group and Association of Con-sulting Actuaries are confident they will secure selfinvestment for protected rights by making joint representations to the DWP next month.

  • Skandia Investment Management - European Equity Blend Fund

    5 Apr 2005

    Skandia Investment ManagementEuropean Equity Blend Fund

  • Skandia Investment Management - UK Equity Blend Fund

    4 Apr 2005

    Type: Multi-manager Oeic

  • Skandia Investment Management - US Equity Blend Fund

    5 Apr 2005

    Skandia Investment ManagementUS Equity Blend Fund

  • Skipton Guernsey offers new tiered interest fixed rate bond

    5 Apr 2005

    Skipton Guernsey Limited is offering a tiered interest fixed rate bond that it believes will give investors a competitive choice.

  • Smaller VCTs caught in low-investment circle

    31 Mar 2005

    IFAs say the VCT market is now polarised between those VCTs with the power to thrive, and those caught in a vicious circle of low investment.

  • South Korea poised for economic upturn

    31 Mar 2005

    Baring Asset Management believes that South Korea offers UK equity investors a long-term growth opportunity.

  • Standard in moves to streamline Sipp sales

    31 Mar 2005

    Standard Life is in discussions with sister firm Standard Life Bank about setting up a centralised function to ensure borrowing for Sipp investments is as seamless as possible.

  • Standard Life cuts term cover premiums

    31 Mar 2005

    Standard Life has cut term insurance premiums for single-life and joint-life products.

  • Stay ahead of the game

    31 Mar 2005

    Our panel of experts discuss whether lenders are fuelling the 1tn debt crisis, the future of packagers and HLCs.

  • STS urges investors to reject Pigit bid

    31 Mar 2005

    The board of the 354.6m Securities Trust of Scotland has written to shareholders in inch-high letters urging them not to accept the hostile takeover bid from the 387.4m Perpetual income and growth investment trust.

  • Suffolk Life appoints new sales manager

    5 Apr 2005

    Suffolk Life has announced the appointment of John Nielsen as sales manager, reporting to John Moret, director of sales and marketing. Nielsens main responsibility at Suffolk Life will be building new relationships with IFAs and investment managers.

  • Surprised rivals hope link-up will not mean exclusive deals

    31 Mar 2005

    Rivals in the mortgage market say they are bewildered why a successful organisation such as Mortgageforce would choose to be bought by a building society.

  • Survival guide to pension simplification

    30 Mar 2005

    Punter Southall has launched a third pension simplification survival guide covering higher net-worth clients and planning around the recovery tax. It includes a guide to the differences between primary and enhanced protection and which is best suited to different clients' needs.

  • Taper chase

    31 Mar 2005

    In the last two weeks, I have looked at capital redemption bonds and the proposed legislation bringing such policies within the loan relationship rules. These give rise to the possibility of year-on-year tax charges rather than the more usual deferment of any tax liability until a realisation of gain takes places under the life policy taxation provisions.

  • Tenet appoints Keith Carby as executive chairman of Capital Planning UK

    4 Apr 2005

    The Tenet Group is appointing Keith Carby as executive chairman of Capital Planning UK.

  • The dawning of the age of acquisitions

    31 Mar 2005

    M-Day was tipped to be the dawn of a new era of distribution in the UK mortgage market.

  • The PFS View

    31 Mar 2005

    A few PFS members have become quite heated as a result of views we have expressed on the publication of the ABI paper, Financial Advice: How Should We Pay For It? I suspect their reaction is motivated more by fear of loss of income than the desire to come up with an equitable solution which improves confidence in the financial advice sector.

  • Tilney chief executive leads MBO

    30 Mar 2005

    Tilney chief executive David Campbell is leading a management buyout of the specialist fund manager.

  • Tom Baigrie on protection

    31 Mar 2005

    So, for the first time, the judges of the Money Marketing awards decided to present the IFA of the Year award to a specialist protection adviser. I reckon I know why they felt able to make that brave step and why similar businesses may win many more such awards in the future.

  • Tories call for complainants to pay FOS fee

    31 Mar 2005

    The Conservatives are calling for complainants to the Financial Ombudsman Service to pay a refundable up-front fee in a bid to halt the number of unnecessary cases taken against IFAs.

  • Treasury sets out challenges for the financial services industry

    31 Mar 2005

    The financial services sector has to meet changing social and economic needs if it is to retain its role in the UK's economic success, according to a Treasury report.

  • Turn on transparency

    31 Mar 2005

    The FSA has taken the wrong route and is confusing the public with its stance on fee disclosure for mortgage clubs.

  • UCB Home Loans appoints Keith Astill as md

    4 Apr 2005

    UCB Home Loans has appointed Keith Astill as its managing director.

  • UCB warns that BTL market is slowing

    31 Mar 2005

    Growth in the buy-to-let market will be slower over the coming years, according to Nationwide's specialist lender UCB Home Loans.

  • UK wealth creation is bigger and better than Europe, says DTI

    5 Apr 2005

    UK wealth creation rises 15 per cent on last year, with UK large companies beating European counterparts in the DTIs value added fourth annual scoreboard 2005.

  • VCTs urged to stop in-fighting and learn from failures

    31 Mar 2005

    First State Investments has told other VCT managers that they are at risk of scaring away investors by attacking each other when they compete for cash.

  • Verity's view

    31 Mar 2005

    In recent weeks, certain mischievous members of the media with memories stretching back five years have had occasion to contact Fred Woollard, the financier who challenged Standard Life's directors to demutualise back in 2000.

  • Watchdog claims PI firms are pressing IFAs on complaints

    31 Mar 2005

    The Financial Ombudsman Service believes that IFAs are being forced by their professional indemnity insurers to refer client complaints to the FOS because the insurers want legal certainty.

  • West Brom buys Mortgageforce and plans to double its advisers

    31 Mar 2005

    West Bromwich Building Society has bought mortgage intermediary franchise company Mortgageforce.

  • Woolwich revs up growth plan

    1 Apr 2005

    Woolwich Plan Managers has established another issue of the accelerated growth plan, a capital protected bond that provides geared returns linked to the FTSE 100 index over a six-year term.

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