Money Marketing
30 May 2007

  • British Insurance launches new PPI policy

    5 Jun 2007

    British Insurance has launched a new payment protection insurance product which is more than £30 a month cheaper than the average high street PPI policy.

  • FSA to reveal results of Mifid talks

    31 May 2007

    The FSA will announce the results of its discussions with the European Commission about the future of the menu and initial disclosure documents under Mifid this week.

  • Poor's ratings for new fund launches

    31 May 2007

    Standard & Poor's Fund Services is to start awarding ratings to brand new fund launches. This will enable the firm to provide analysis of funds not covered by qualitative-based data firms, which rank funds solely on past performance.

  • 82% Of IFAs choose protection on price

    31 May 2007

    Price is the deciding factor for 82 per cent of IFAs when choosing a protection provider, according to a survey by Lincoln Financial Group.

  • A Shaw thing

    31 May 2007

    Sam Shaw is a reporter on Money Marketing

  • A stiff test

    31 May 2007

    Viagra may have been first developed as a drug for hypertension before its true usefulness became clear.

  • ABI figures show steady growth but advisers want breakdown of data

    30 May 2007

    The ABI’s latest new business figures show a marked year on year growth in life and pension sales for the first quarter of 2007.

  • Adviser fees to rise in line with FSA predictions

    31 May 2007

    Fee increases for advisers will remain around the same as the FSA forecast in February with the block comprising of most advisers seeing a 10 per cent rise.

  • Advisers attack FSA menu U-turn on the BBC

    1 Jun 2007

    Advisers have hit out on the BBC’s Working Lunch programme about the effect on their businesses of the FSA’s two year menu and IDD debacle.

  • Advisers play key role in uncertain times

    31 May 2007

    The decision to increase interest rates came as no surprise but what some commentators were predicting as a 0.5 per cent increase became a rather more gentle 0.25 per cent increase.It remains to be seen whether the MPC will increase rates again next month or whether it believes inflation is now under control but there are certainly commentators who believe that the future of interest rates still looks decidedly uncertain.

  • Aegon Asset Management appoints head of performance

    30 May 2007

    Aegon Asset Management has appointed Anne Harrison as the firm's new head of performance.

  • Aifa on the attack over menu and IDD

    31 May 2007

    Aifa has attacked the FSA over the scrapping of the menu and IDD suggesting it could lead to consumer detriment and affect market transparency.

  • Alexander Hall to expand

    31 May 2007

    Alexander Hall is to expand its branch network and broker headcount following the takeover of parent group Foxtons by BC Partners for 390m.

  • An education in self-cert benefits

    31 May 2007

    According to the latest data from the Office of National Statistics (Labour Market Analysis and Summary, November 2006) there are now four million self-employed people who account for 13 per cent of the total workforce. In addition, around one million people have a second job.

  • An own goal for the CII

    31 May 2007

    I refer to the letter written by Julie Lord and am sure that the vast majority of chartered financial planners will agree 100 per cent with her comments.

  • Aon backs PPF on levy calculations

    31 May 2007

    The Pension Protection Fund's decision to continue excluding investment strategy from risk-based levy calculations has been backed by Aon Consulting.

  • As time goes by in RICS' bar

    31 May 2007

    Tanya Powley assesses the impact of the two-month delay to Hips.

  • Axa cuts rates on protection plans

    31 May 2007

    Axa has cut the rates on more than half of its protection products, including on level life cover, decreasing life cover, guaranteed life or early CI cover and guaranteed decreasing life or earlier CI cover.

  • B&B looks at Kensington bid as it eyes sub-prime

    31 May 2007

    Bradford & Bingley has been touted as a potential bidder for Kensington Group, which confirmed it was in advanced takeover talks last week.

  • Basket weave

    31 May 2007

    Meteor Asset Management, headed by the very bright Graham Devile, has produced two excellent capital-protected plans linked to commodities. One is the Meteor galaxy protected commodities plan and the other is a similar plan based in dollars.

  • Beacon appoints Collins as compliance manager

    5 Jun 2007

    Beacon has announced the appointment of Bruce Collins to the role of group compliance manager.

  • Bedlam goes cherry picking

    4 Jun 2007

    Bedlam Asset Management is launching an investment trust that will aim for growth, rising dividends and the preservation of capital by investing globally in 25 - 30 equities.

  • Blow to protected rights due to Pensions Bill amendments

    4 Jun 2007

    The differences between protected rights and pensions built up from other savings are set to remain in a new amendment that has been inserted into the Pensions Bill 2007.

  • BoS apologises over losing mortgage details of 62,000 customers

    4 Jun 2007

    Bank of Scotland has apologised to 62,000 mortgage customers after it lost private information about them in the post.

  • Boulger surprised at Investec bid

    30 May 2007

    South African investment bank Investec’s bid for Kensington Group today has come as a surprise to mortgage brokers.

  • Brain filters aim to help on adverse loans

    31 May 2007

    Mortgage Brain has launched an enhanced adverse and buy to let sourcing module on its Premier Edition sourcing system.

  • Bright Grey targets business protection

    31 May 2007

    Bright Grey is set to enter the business protection market this autumn.

  • Broken hip

    31 May 2007

    Gregor Watt surveys the sorry scene after Ruth Kelly was forced into an embarrassing U-turn to shelve the widely unpopular home information packs.

  • Broker Talkback

    31 May 2007

    Should Hips be scrapped completely?

  • Burns-Anderson IFA opens Cardiff office

    4 Jun 2007

    Burns-Anderson has opened a new Cardiff office to support its growing IFA division.

  • Cash points

    31 May 2007

    The global equity markets have continued to gain upward momentum. Before February's correction, we started to take a defensive approach due to the lack of pricing of potential risk and short-term technical and sentiment indicatorsWe believe these short-term market corrections offer great entry points for longerterm investors and we used the cash we had built up to buy equities at a better price. We now feel it is a prudent strategy to start building up cash again as a further correction ...

  • Cazenove deal on multi-manager funds

    31 May 2007

    Cazenove Capital Management is marking its fifth anniversary by making the full initial charge for its multi-manager funds available as initial commission. This offer will run until October 31, 2007.

  • Chartered firms will not be confusing for public

    31 May 2007

    Julie Lord is quite wrong, I am afraid (Money Marketing, May 17). Chartered financial planner status for firms will not confuse the public any more than they would be confused by dealing with, for example, a chartered accountant firm.

  • Chartwell rebrand means end of the Cavendish Grant brand

    1 Jun 2007

    Chartwell’s four business activities have been rebranded under the Chartwell banner meaning an end to the Cavendish Grant brand.

  • Cheshire Building Society - Buy To Let Two Year Fixed Rate

    4 Jun 2007

    Cheshire Building SocietyBuy To Let Two Year Fixed Rate

  • Cheshire Building Society - Buy-To-Let Five Year Fixed Rate

    4 Jun 2007

    Cheshire Building SocietyBuy-To-Let Five Year Fixed Rate

  • Chesterton Global re-enters valuation market

    5 Jun 2007

    Estate agency Chesterton Global has re-entered the valuation market with its purchase of Moss Kaye Pemberton.

  • CML urges Northern Ireland Assembly to tackle shortage of affordable homes

    5 Jun 2007

    Council of Mortgage Lenders Northern Ireland chairman Derek Wilson has urged the NI assembly to tackle the shortage of affordable homes which has helped fuel spiralling house price inflatoin over recent years.

  • Collins Stewart - UK Catalyst Fund

    4 Jun 2007

    Collins StewartUK Catalyst Fund

  • Combine harvesters

    31 May 2007

    Investors looking to reap profits from commodities can utilise a variety of investment vehicles.

  • Commission closure

    31 May 2007

    Banning an easy payment choice is not treating customers fairly.

  • Complaints fall 20% on income protection

    31 May 2007

    The Financial Ombudsman Service received almost 20 per cent fewer complaints for income protection insurance in the past year while complaints for payment protection and similar products rose by nearly 40 per cent.

  • Court battle looming over FOS jurisdiction

    31 May 2007

    The Financial Ombudsman Service could face a High Court battle over its right to hear complaints against advisers from many years ago.

  • Court says FOS must keep to 100k limit

    31 May 2007

    The High Court has ruled that the Financial Ombudsman Service does not have the power to make binding "directional" awards requiring redress payment of over 100,000.

  • Cru chief in online political call

    31 May 2007

    Cru Investments chief executive Jon Maguire has begun a website calling for a new political party for "British people who care about Britain".

  • Dalton Strategic Partnership - Melchior Pan-Asian Advantage Fund

    4 Jun 2007

    Dalton Strategic PartnershipMelchior Pan-Asian Advantage Fund

  • DC members missing out on £225m of employer pension contributions

    31 May 2007

    Nearly 40 per cent of defined contribution pension scheme members are failing to take advantage of pension contribution matching from their employers to the sum of £225m per annum.

  • Define time

    31 May 2007

    Sesame head of protection research Dale Tranter, sets out the changes being made by product providers to their critical-illness insurance conditions as part of the ABI's new guidelines.

  • Delay hits the final verdict on Equitable

    31 May 2007

    A further delay has hit the Parliamentary Ombudsman's investigation into the prudential regulation of Equitable Life and the watchdog says it cannot commit to a new publication date.

  • Departures hit Ashley Law

    31 May 2007

    Two disgruntled Ashley Law members have quit the firm, with one accusing directors of having "ridden roughshod" over his business.

  • Door reopens on HSBC Bric

    4 Jun 2007

    HSBC Investments has reopened its GIF Bric Freestyle fund to investors following its temporary closure last June to protect performance for existing shareholders.

  • Dumbo and dumber

    31 May 2007

    Why the retail review must not ignore the elephants in the room.

  • Economic picture will change in second half of year

    31 May 2007

    The economic headlines have recently been filled with stories about inflation. The overshoot of the target band, when inflation reached 3.1 per cent in March, came at what might be regarded as an unfortunate time for the monetary policy committee - just when the economic commentators were writing articles about "10 years of the MPC".

  • Equitable Life completes sale of University Life

    1 Jun 2007

    Equitable Life has completed the sale of its subsidiary University Life Assurance Society to Reliance Mutual.

  • ERCs shows why long fix argument is flawed

    31 May 2007

    One of the biggest dilemmas for a borrower now is whether to fix or not. The base rate has risen by 1 per cent in the last nine months and many economists are expecting at least one more 0.25 per cent increase before the end of the year.

  • F&C Asset Management - Lifestyle Balanced Fund

    4 Jun 2007

    F&C Asset ManagementLifestyle Balanced Fund

  • F&C Asset Management - Lifestyle Cautious Fund

    4 Jun 2007

    F&C Asset ManagementLifestyle Cautious Fund

  • F&C Asset Management - Lifestyle Defensive Fund

    4 Jun 2007

    F&C Asset ManagementLifestyle Defensive Fund

  • F&C Asset Management - Lifestyle Growth Fund

    4 Jun 2007

    F&C Asset ManagementLifestyle Growth Fund

  • F&C in sponsorship deal with Birmingham FC

    31 May 2007

    F&C is to sponsor newly promoted Birmingham City in the Premiership.

  • Face value

    31 May 2007

    It may be time to consider less conventional approaches to equity income investing.

  • Farewell all

    31 May 2007

    I write this blog with tears streaming down my cheeks. Why? I hear you ask. Well - 'tis because it's my last pensions blog for Money Marketing. Next Monday I move to write about pensions and investments for another paper and will be replaced by our lovely life and protection reporter Nicola York who, I have been repeatedly assured by various contacts, is much more attractive than me.

  • Fidelity - Fidelity Retirement Fund 2015

    4 Jun 2007

    FidelityFidelity Retirement Fund 2015

  • Fidelity - Fidelity Retirement Fund 2020

    4 Jun 2007

    FidelityFidelity Retirement Fund 2020

  • Fidelity - Fidelity Retirement Fund 2025

    4 Jun 2007

    FidelityFidelity Retirement Fund 2025

  • Fidelity - Fidelity Retirement Fund 2030

    4 Jun 2007

    FidelityFidelity Retirement Fund 2030

  • Fidelity - Fidelity Retirement Fund 2035

    4 Jun 2007

    FidelityFidelity Retirement Fund 2035

  • Fidelity - Fidelity Retirement Fund 2040

    4 Jun 2007

    FidelityFidelity Retirement Fund 2040

  • Fidelity - Fidelity Retirement Income Fund

    4 Jun 2007

    FidelityFidelity Retirement Income Fund

  • FSA releases McCarthy letter

    31 May 2007

    The FSA has finally published the notorious letter of complaint from Callum McCarthy to Tony Blair, revealing the full fury of the FSA chairman against the Prime Minister.

  • FSA to scrap the menu and IDD

    31 May 2007

    The FSA is to scrap the menu and initial disclosure document after concern from the European Commission that they would not be allowed as an add-on to Mifid.

  • FSA warns lenders again of sub-prime crash

    31 May 2007

    The FSA has renewed its warning that UK sub-prime could go the same way as the US market and says lender vulnerability is beginning to show through.

  • FSA web update may herald Icob rules on non-advice

    31 May 2007

    The FSA has added a buying without advice section to its Money Made Clear website, warning that consumers may be unable to seek redress from the Financial Ombudsman Service if they buy the wrong insurance product.

  • FundsNetwork adds new fund links to onshore bond

    4 Jun 2007

    Fidelity FundsNetwork is to add 11 new fund links to its onshore investment bond which will bring the total choice available to over 200 funds.

  • FundsNetwork adds seven to range

    1 Jun 2007

    FundsNetwork is to bolster its platform offering with addition of seven funds from the income, ethical and best ideas markets.

  • German president signs off Reits

    4 Jun 2007

    The German president has approved the G-Reit law, a move welcomed by the UK industry.

  • Gillies will focus on Cofunds' distribution

    31 May 2007

    Cofunds has appointed Ron Gillies as head of strategic distribution relations.

  • Green around the investment edges

    31 May 2007

    With the current focus on the environment and pick up in ethical investing, many investors could be forgiven for thinking that they are accessing green investment ideas through an ethical fund.

  • Harris slams Govt on affordable homes

    31 May 2007

    Savills Private Finance managing director Mark Harris has accused the Government of failing to deliver on providing affordable housing for first-time buyers.

  • Have the last laugh

    31 May 2007

    Retirement funding will be an increasingly nagging problem for future generations. Peter French, a partner at Troy French and Partners, explains how equity release might be harnessed to help solve income and inheritance tax issues.

  • Health industry could be the model for regulation

    31 May 2007

    The retail distribution review may recommend an independent council to govern financial advisers, with the ability to strike off those who are not up to scratch.

  • Hedge hope?

    30 May 2007

    A number of industry experts gathered at Money Marketing's offices last week for a hedge fund roundtable and as you would expect the discussion produced as many questions as it did answers.

  • Henderson launches Jersey-based diversified income fund

    4 Jun 2007

    Henderson Global Investors is launching a Jersey-domiciled, London-listed closed-end fund, Henderson diversified income.

  • Hip providers consider legal action after delay

    31 May 2007

    The Association of Home Information Pack Providers is considering taking legal action against the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors over its part in the home information packs debacle.

  • HMRC will find it hard to implement tax crackdown, says Grant Thornton

    1 Jun 2007

    HM Revenue & Customs will have trouble enforcing its clampdowns on the 'artificial' creation and use of capital losses by individuals and trustees, warns Grant Thornton.

  • HSBC fund steps into private equity

    31 May 2007

    HSBC's OpenFunds global return fund has diversified into private equity by taking a small holding in Pantheon International Participations, an investment trust that also takes a fund of funds' approach.

  • HSBC International - Foundation 1 - Resources Bonus Fund

    4 Jun 2007

    HSBC InternationalFoundation 1 - Resources Bonus Fund

  • HSBC set for third OpenFunds offering

    31 May 2007

    HSBC Investments is to launch a third vehicle within its OpenFunds multi-manager range.

  • IFAP voices menu concern

    31 May 2007

    IFA Promotion has warned the replacement to the menu and IDD must prioritise consumer protection and ensure a level playing field across advice channels.

  • IMA chief wants Government help to boost savings industry

    31 May 2007

    The Investment Management Association has appointed F&C Asset Management's Robert Jenkins as its new chairman, replacing Threadneedle's Simon Davies.

  • Is watchdog over the limit?

    31 May 2007

    The Financial Ombudsman Service is facing a judicial review of whether it is acting outside its powers when hearing complaints from some categories of advisers.

  • James Hay aims for new wrap clients by waiving fee

    31 May 2007

    James Hay is waiving its 0.3 per cent cash receipt charge on all new wrap applications until the end of the year.

  • Jan Regnart

    31 May 2007

    The founder of Sipp and wrap consultancy Wealthtime is one of the pioneers in the self-invested pension policy sector and here efforts have helped the Sipp market boom from a niche into a burgeoning and widespread business and she is also a great advocate for wrap platforms but believes many companies could see profitability problems ahead. Interview by Helen Pow.

  • Jelley says IFAs must be aware of Phizackerley implications

    31 May 2007

    The high-profile Phizackerley ruling on inheritance tax and will trusts has far-reaching implications for all trusts making loans to beneficiaries, warns Skandia.

  • JP Morgan aims to be in top five UK fund groups

    31 May 2007

    JP Morgan Asset Management says the group is ramping its activities in the IFA market in a bid to break into the top five fund groups in the UK.

  • Jupiter - North American Income Fund

    4 Jun 2007

    JupiterNorth American Income Fund

  • Jupiter proposes c share for green trust

    4 Jun 2007

    Jupiter is looking to bolster the assets within its £34.8m green investment trust by proposing the introduction of up to 75 million c shares.

  • Kensington waves its troubles goodbye

    1 Jun 2007

    So troubled lender Kensington Group has finally been sold. After months of speculation - heightened last week after it confirmed it was in advanced takeover talks - the group announced on Wednesday that its surprise suitor is South African investment bank Investec.

  • Key Retirement Solutions announces expansion plans

    5 Jun 2007

    Key Retirement Solutions has announced plans to further expand its adviser workforce with at least 50 new members over the next 12 months.

  • Leap of Faif for Horlick

    31 May 2007

    Bramdean Asset Management chief executive Nicola Horlick is thought to be launching a fund of alternative investment funds in June.

  • Legal & General - Capital Guaranteed Bond 2 - Six-Year Term

    4 Jun 2007

    Legal & GeneralCapital Guaranteed Bond 2 - Six-Year Term

  • Legal & General - Capital Guaranteed Bond 2 - Three-Year Term

    4 Jun 2007

    Legal & GeneralCapital Guaranteed Bond 2 - Three-Year Term

  • Legal & General - Group Portfolio Plus Self-Invested Personal Pension

    4 Jun 2007

    Legal & GeneralGroup Portfolio Plus Self-Invested Personal Pension

  • Lighthouse sets up loan packaging deal

    31 May 2007

    Lighthouse group has launched a new mortgage packaging service in conjunction with the Mortgage Times group and support desk.

  • Lincoln quick on the draw with income guarantee

    31 May 2007

    Lincoln Financial Group is offering a retirement plan with a guaranteed income option for clients opting for a drawdown or annuity product.

  • Liontrust profits increase by 12%

    31 May 2007

    Liontrust has unveiled a 12 per cent profit rise for the 12 months to the end of March. Assets under management rose by 8 per cent to £5.5bn.

  • LV= to buy Tomorrow

    30 May 2007

    LV= has entered into talks to acquire retirement specialists Tomorrow, formerly GE Life, from Swiss Re and will co-brand products from July this year.

  • M&G shareholders reject gilts move

    31 May 2007

    Shareholders in the M&G international sovereign bond fund have rejected proposals to broaden the fund's investment criteria to allow it to hold gilts.

  • Marsden and LV= link up on products

    1 Jun 2007

    Marsden Building Society and LV= have announced a new strategic partnership.

  • McCreevy asserts his authority

    4 Jun 2007

    It was the long arm of Charlie McCreevy rather than the clunking fist of Gordon Brown that dominated the financial services news agenda this week after he forced the FSA’s hand over the menu and IDD.

  • Means-testing looks set to be scrapped for low earners

    4 Jun 2007

    Former DWP minister Baroness Hollis has added an amendment to the Pensions Bill which could remove means-testing for low earners if it is passed in the House of Lords.

  • Medals for long service

    31 May 2007

    It has been hard to open the financial press recently without finding the not so smiling features of Anthony Bolton staring out at you.

  • Medical notes

    31 May 2007

    How the definition of full medical evidence swayed the diagnosis in the Smith and others case.

  • Menu decision - first adviser reaction

    31 May 2007

    IFAs have expressed initial relief at the FSA’s decision to get rid of the menu but they are very worried about what may replace it.

  • Meteor Asset Management - Galaxy Protected Commodities Plan

    4 Jun 2007

    Meteor Asset ManagementGalaxy Protected Commodities Plan

  • Morgan Stanley - Emerging Markets Growth Plan

    4 Jun 2007

    Morgan StanleyEmerging Markets Growth Plan

  • Mortgage approvals continue to fall says Bank of England

    31 May 2007

    The Bank of England’s mortgage data for April has shown that mortgage approvals have continued to fall.

  • Mortgage Express - Two-Year Fixed Buy-To-Let

    4 Jun 2007

    Mortgage ExpressTwo-Year Fixed Buy-To-Let

  • Multi-manager firms link for roadshows

    31 May 2007

    Five multi-manager firms are joining forces on a national IFA roadshow. T.Bailey, iimia, Premier, Neptune and The Way Group will be holding five events across the country in September. To register, call 01392 475 904.

  • 'New A-Day needed is to iron out problems'

    31 May 2007

    A second A-Day is needed to smooth out the problems and uncertainties A-Day created, says Aspen annuities director Billy Burrows.

  • New look

    31 May 2007

    Every industry wants to attract good quality people. Equally, good quality people want to work for industries with good reputations, not least among the customers they are trying to attract and keep. The fund industry is committed to maintaining high professional standards and the Investment Management Association is engaged in ensuring that the industry offers qualifications and training that are relevant to business needs.

  • New look Cheviot maks fund debut

    4 Jun 2007

    Cheviot Asset Management has made its fund debut with a multi-asset fund of funds.

  • New Star - International Property Fund

    4 Jun 2007

    New StarInternational Property Fund

  • Norwich Union - Balanced Fund of Funds

    4 Jun 2007

    Norwich UnionBalanced Fund of Funds

  • Norwich Union - Cautious Fund of Funds

    4 Jun 2007

    Norwich UnionCautious Fund of Funds

  • Norwich Union - Growth Fund of Funds

    4 Jun 2007

    Norwich UnionGrowth Fund of Funds

  • NU will inject £180m into legacy products overhaul

    31 May 2007

    Norwich Union says it will invest £180m this year to move its 850 legacy products onto five internal platforms and streamline its systems.

  • Omo failures can lead to scandalous loss of income

    31 May 2007

    With reference to the article headlined, Hargreaves Lansdown wants Omo as default (Money Marketing, May 17), I feel compelled to write in support of the proposal.

  • OPM distribution link with Cofunds

    31 May 2007

    OPM Fund Management - formerly Smith & Pinching Portfolio Management, has set up a distribution link with Cofunds as part of its drive into the IFA market.

  • Origo sets its FMA target

    31 May 2007

    Origo says it is looking to have its XML standards for full mortgage applications by the end of the year.

  • Panellists lose their appetite for Japanese

    31 May 2007

    The Adviser Fund Index panellists displayed a lack of appetite for Japanese equities during the last rebalancing on May 1.

  • Paternoster survey shows falling cost of pension scheme buyouts

    31 May 2007

    Paternoster says the cost of buying out pension liabilities for UK companies has reduced significantly over the past 18 months.

  • Personal accounts will create pensions apartheid, says ACA

    1 Jun 2007

    The majority of companies of all sizes are worried the Government’s personal accounts plans will damage existing provision and many fear it will create pensions apartheid, according to ACA research.

  • Pink Home Loans - Mortgage Express Self Cert 2 Year Fixed Rate

    4 Jun 2007

    Pink Home LoansMortgage Express Self Cert 2 Year Fixed Rate

  • Plum links to Zurich funds

    4 Jun 2007

    Plum Software has launched an updated version of its Fact Finder Plus administrator to offer Zurich fund details to intermediaries.

  • Premier Fund Managers - European Growth Plan - Limited Editions No 35

    4 Jun 2007

    Premier Fund ManagersEuropean Growth Plan - Limited Editions No 35

  • Price and prejudice

    31 May 2007

    A client has been warned that pensions are a waste of money but is property investment a viable alternative?

  • Providers vie for a piece of business protection pie

    5 Jun 2007

    In protection this week, after being severely neglected by many providers and advisers for sometime, the business protection market is getting some attention.

  • Quilter trio join PSigma

    31 May 2007

    PSigma Investment Management has bolstered its private-client offering with the appointment of three managers from Citigroup Quilter.

  • RBS in multi-brand move

    31 May 2007

    Firm admits proposition not working and aims to mimic HBoS version after stiff criticism from brokers.

  • RBSIP ready to restructure

    31 May 2007

    Royal Bank of Scotland Intermediary Partners is set to shake up its brands, with structural changes expected in the coming weeks.

  • Record number of fixed-rate loans

    31 May 2007

    UK borrowers have taken out a record number of fixed-rate mortgages since Sept 2006, according to the Mortgage Trust. Fixed-rate deals now make up over 60 per cent of the market, up 48 per cent since last September.

  • Research reveals older people's boost to economy

    31 May 2007

    Older people in Britain contribute nearly £60bn a year to the economy, according to the HSBC Future of Retirement study.

  • Resolution signs £580m deal with Capita

    30 May 2007

    Capita Group has today signed a contract to become a strategic outsourcing partner of Resolution plc in a £580m deal.

  • Retention seeker

    31 May 2007

    As the biggest single lender in the mortgage market, Halifax has a significant influence in mortgage broking. Thankfully, the firm has signalled its intention to keep intermediaries at the heart of its business with plans for further investment in technology this year.

  • Review set to split advisers in segments

    31 May 2007

    The retail distribution review is likely to call for a clear graded segmentation of advice from financial planner through to transactional-based advisers and down to a simplified advice service, according to the FSA.

  • Robin's nest

    31 May 2007

    I think Neptune is one of the most under-rated groups in the marketplace right now. It may have been overlooked because it has launched so many funds in a short space of time and few of them are run by well known managers. This could give the impression of a company in too much of a hurry but I feel that would be doing it a disservice.

  • Room with a view

    31 May 2007

    The Government claims to be confident of meeting its revised August 1 start date for Hips although this will now apply only to properties with at least four bedrooms.

  • Rowanmoor in SSAS move on property

    31 May 2007

    SSAS provider Rowanmoor will retain in-specie contributions for its SSAS and family pension trust for property where a recent independent valuation has been obtained.

  • Royal London appoints Aujard as legal director and company secretary

    1 Jun 2007

    Royal London has appointed Chris Aujard as group legal director and company secretary following the retirement of Murray Ross.Aujard, formerly of Kaupthing Singer & Friedlander, will be responsible for the group’s legal matters and will head a team of nine lawyers.Royal London group finance director Stephen Shone says: “We are delighted to welcome Chris to the team. I’m sure his experience within the financial services industry will prove invaluable as we drive the business forward.”

  • Schroders launches global climate change fund

    4 Jun 2007

    Schroders has launched a global climate change fund for investors interested in companies involved in the mitigation of, or adaptation to, the effects of climate change.

  • Scot Life launches adviser podcasts

    4 Jun 2007

    Scottish Life has launched a series of regular podcasts on its website featuring industry news and issues relevant to advisers.

  • Scot Wids paid out £25m of CI claims last year

    30 May 2007

    Scottish Widows paid out more than £25 million on 774 critical illness claims in the year up to October 2006.

  • ScotEq offers Sipp option cutting out advisers

    31 May 2007

    Aegon Scottish Equitable has added an option to its group Sipp which enables members to self-invest without having to use an adviser.

  • Selestia name with Skandia ID for combined platform

    31 May 2007

    Skandia and Selestia's combined fund platform will launch in July under the name Selestia Investment Solutions.

  • 'Share risks and help protect the future of final-salary schemes'

    31 May 2007

    Actuaries are urging employers and trustees to move to risk-sharing schemes to stave off a second wave of final-salary scheme closures to future service accrual.

  • Skandia pension business goes on booming

    31 May 2007

    Skandia UK has continued to reap the benefits of A-Day, posting a 20 per cent increase in first-quarter gross sales to £2.3bn from £1.9bn in the same period last year.

  • Skipton Building Society - 10 Year Fixed Rate

    4 Jun 2007

    Skipton Building Society10 Year Fixed Rate

  • Skipton Building Society - Seven-Year Fixed Rate

    4 Jun 2007

    Skipton Building SocietySeven-Year Fixed Rate

  • SLI unveil Trenchard on UK opps fund

    31 May 2007

    Standard Life Investments has announced the appointment of Casper Trenchard as the new manager on the group's UK opportunities fund.

  • Small wonder

    31 May 2007

    Chris Salih analyses the Resolution UK smaller companies fund.

  • South African firm Investec to buy Kensington

    30 May 2007

    South African investment bank Investec has been confirmed as the surprise bidder for Kensington Group.

  • Special delivery

    31 May 2007

    Mortgage specialist Mark Harris talks to Gregor Watt about setting up Savills Private Finance, offering a one-stop loan solution and its national and international aspirations. He also gives his views on Hips and affordability.

  • Split-cap vanishing act

    31 May 2007

    And so it ends, not with a bang but a whimper. Last week, the FSA finally put its split-cap investment trust investigation to bed, agreeing minor slaps on the wrists for four key players involved in the debacle.

  • St James's Place picks chief exec

    31 May 2007

    St James's Place has appointed David Bellamy as chief executive from his interim role following the departure of Mark Lund. He was group managing director for five years.

  • Stand up and be counted

    31 May 2007

    Advice produces the best results, with more protection sold for longer.

  • Standard Bank Offshore - Structured Growth Solutions - Global Portfolio Picker (Security Variant)

    4 Jun 2007

    Standard Bank OffshoreStructured Growth Solutions - Global Portfolio Picker (Security Variant)

  • Standard choice

    31 May 2007

    How very different life is now compared with when I started as an adviser. Clients are more demanding of service and the timescale of its delivery. Containing costs is key to a profitable business. Some costs such as regulatory costs are unavoidable. Some such as administration costs are controllable.

  • Standard pension pact

    31 May 2007

    Standard Life has reached a compromise with its staff after an angry reaction to plans to cut their pension benefits.

  • Standard under fire at AGM

    31 May 2007

    Standard Life chairman Sir Brian Stewart came under fire from shareholders over the performance of endowment policies at its first annual meeting since demutualisation.

  • Sumus acquires majority share of IFA Deverill Black

    5 Jun 2007

    Sumus has acquired 50.1 per cent of share capital of Bristol-based IFA firm Deverill Black and Company for £750,000 and reported a 40 per cent profit increase.

  • Taken off the menu

    1 Jun 2007

    The FSA has finally come out and admitted defeat, sounding the death knell for that onerous and, according to some advisers who have been in contact with Money Marketing, “pointless” document.

  • Team HML's latest...

    31 May 2007

    Team HML's latest charity achievement is raising money to sponsor a black Labrador guide dog puppy named Sky for the Skipton area and has raised over £250,000 for combined charities around Skipton, Padiham, Londonderry and Glasgow. The team has over 800 members across the company's four sites who are all raising money through a variety of initiatives such as moonwalking, abseiling off the Humber Bridge, quiz nights and cake stalls. Congratulations.

  • Thames River rules out single-country funds for star duo

    31 May 2007

    Thames River says it will not launch single-country multi-manager funds for Gary Potter and Robert Burdett because it does not believe there is sufficient adviser demand.

  • The Big Question

    31 May 2007

    Following the Government's decision to postpone the introduction of home information packs, what effect do you think Hips will have if they are introduced to the market after August 1?

  • The right message

    31 May 2007

    Equitable policyholders must work together to get more media coverage.

  • Threesixty launches further TCF workshops

    31 May 2007

    Threesixty will boost its support for treating customers fairly as it finds 59 per cent of firms did not meet the March deadline.

  • Tories say Hip U-turn will add to public's confusion

    31 May 2007

    Tory Shadow housing minister Michael Gove says the Government must go back to the drawing board over Hips.

  • Treasury challenged on human rights advice

    31 May 2007

    The Information Commiss-ioner has ruled that the Treasury must reveal whether it holds attorney and solicitor general advice about the compatibility of the Financial Services and Markets Act with the Human Rights Act following a two-year battle.

  • Trustee steed

    31 May 2007

    Nicole Blackmore looks at how trustees will run personal accounts and finds opinion divided on whether the Government is just trying to offload blame if things go wrong.

  • Trustees key to NPSS success

    31 May 2007

    Work and Pensions Secretary John Hutton says appointing a board of trustees to run pension personal accounts will be critical if the scheme is to be a success.

  • Under the influencer

    31 May 2007

    Having just ordered dog food, a trip to Spain, home contents insurance and a PS2 Singsong game on the internet, I then skipped through a report from the Interactive Media in Retail Group, an organisation that tracks internet sales.

  • 'Use new media to sell pensions to young people'

    31 May 2007

    The pension industry has been told it must use its imagination and find different ways to persuade the younger generation to start saving for retirement.

  • Veron joins Investec Africa fund as analyst

    4 Jun 2007

    Investec Asset Management has announced the appointment of Julien Veron as research analyst for its Investec Africa Fund.

  • Warwick in attack on fee-based adviser 'arrogance'

    31 May 2007

    Former LIA president Len Warwick has stormed into the commission debate, accusing some fee-based advisers of exhibiting "snobbery" and "arrogance" by attacking commission.

  • Watch out for momentum

    31 May 2007

    Iimia has warned against "dangerous" momentum-driven investing, saying that multi-managers can be caught out by rapid changes in market sentiment.

  • What next for BTL?

    31 May 2007

    Buy to let has surged in the last decade but rising interest rates and inflation could be putting the squeeze on landlords. Samantha Downes gauges opinion on whether the market's success will continue.

  • Whittaker hands over reins of tri-star fund to Collins

    31 May 2007

    Stephen Whittaker is to pass control of the UK equity portion of the New Star tri-star fund to Edward Collins.

  • Witan register

    31 May 2007

    Witan would like to clarify that trust busters Laxey Partners is not on its shareholder register. Witan is continuing its sharebuyback programme as part of its commitment to managing its discount, which analysts say should deter abitrageurs.

  • Yorkshire Building Society achieves full carbon neutral status

    5 Jun 2007

    Yorkshire Building Society has achieved full carbon neutral status and has switched from its standard electricity supplier to ‘green electricity’ in all of its 131 branches across the UK.

  • Yorkshire's Cornish is new chief for the BSA

    31 May 2007

    The Building Societies Association has appointed Yorkshire Building Society chief executive Iain Cornish as its chairman for 2007/08.

  • Zurich transfers £3.7bn of annuities to Swiss Re

    4 Jun 2007

    Zurich Assurance has signed an agreement to transfer £3.7bn of its UK annuity business to Swiss Re.

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