Money Marketing
31 October 2007

1st Software pilots new solution for group pensions

1 Nov 2007

1st Software is piloting a technology solution to allow advisers to generate and schedule valuation requests for group pensions.

A word to the wise

1 Nov 2007

Competing and cooperating is the way to restore confidence in the market

Abbey denies it has withdrawn its high fee loan

5 Nov 2007

After 24 hours... WHAT?

1 Nov 2007

Aifa publishes response to FSA's Platforms DP

2 Nov 2007

All the right moves

1 Nov 2007

In my last few articles, I have been identifying and discussing legitimate reasons why a member of a money-purchase pension scheme might benefit from a transfer to a different money-purchase scheme despite the likelihood of some sort of transfer penalty such as a transfer value below the fund value or initial charges under the new contract.

An old film with new cast

1 Nov 2007

Moneyfacts recently reported that the number of mortgage products available on the market had dropped by 40 per cent in the last three months. Are we surprised, amazed or just resigned that the end is nigh?

Asset allocation king in battle for superior defaults

1 Nov 2007

The average default fund returned an average of 11 per cent a year over the last five years, but the difference between the best and worst was 13 per cent a year, according to a major survey by PensionDCisions.

Axa names its wrap platform Elevate and reveals pricing structure

5 Nov 2007

Bad news for those soldiering on

6 Nov 2007

In the absence of your favourite protection hack, I have the pleasure of bringing you all the latest and greatest protection news from the past week.

BDS Mortgage Group launches new sourcing system

5 Nov 2007

Beta blockers

1 Nov 2007

The pre-Budget report proposals on inheritance tax were generally welcomed, despite the fact that they seemed to be developed by one political party and implemented by another.

BM Solutions plans new BTL range

1 Nov 2007

Borderline cases

1 Nov 2007

The day of the Mifid is now upon us but many advisers are still confused about the effects of the wide-ranging directive which aims to open up the European financial services market, reports Will Henley

Boundaries change again as Mifid and Newcob arrive

1 Nov 2007

Britannia Building Society scraps Irish mortgage market launch

6 Nov 2007

British soldiers could face £1,000 insurance premiums

5 Nov 2007

Bupa cuts rates on life and CI cover

1 Nov 2007

Cable reiterates call for change of management at Northern Rock

5 Nov 2007

Capital concerns

1 Nov 2007

Central database mooted to combat non-disclosure

1 Nov 2007

Charges must be more transparent

1 Nov 2007

Cleary makes plea for positive push

1 Nov 2007

Close Investments selects open-ended structure for EuroPip

1 Nov 2007

Clubcard deal on Tesco insurance

1 Nov 2007

Connect Mortgage Group plans to double in size in 2008

5 Nov 2007

Darling calls for banks to be more transparent over risks

6 Nov 2007

Darling slams FSA over Rock debacle

1 Nov 2007

Discretionary choice

1 Nov 2007

Employee benefits make the difference in employee retention

1 Nov 2007

Two thirds of employees receive no employee benefits package at all, according to research carried out by Canada Life Group Insurance.

Every dog has its day

1 Nov 2007

Expensive medicine

1 Nov 2007

Advances in medicine has meant inflation-beating increases in the cost of medical insurance. But new medicines are also likely to lead to market innovations says Sam Barrett

F&C takes on multi-manager co-head

5 Nov 2007

F&C has appointed Dean Cheeseman as director of the group’s fund of funds division.

Few advisers attribute improved with profits performance to life companies, says FundsNetwork

5 Nov 2007

First criminal investigation by FSA leads to two arrests

2 Nov 2007

Flex poses increasing threat to group risk market

1 Nov 2007

The group risk market stands at a crossroads, threatened by competition from other benefits, particularly through flex schemes, and the cost ramifications of age discrimination legislation.

Fraud for thought

1 Nov 2007

Nicole Blackmore reports that the jail sentences in the Independent Insurance case show the courts are prepared to get tough on financial fraud

FSA fines stockbroker for poor risk warnings and advice

31 Oct 2007

The FSA has fined Wills & Co Stockbrokers Limited £49,000 for failing to ensure that its customers understood the risks involved with penny shares.

FSA to hold extra RDR consultation sessions for small firms

5 Nov 2007

The FSA has announced it is offering additional RDR consultation sessions for small firms in November and December so that more advisers can have their say on the review.

Goodwin to set up her own business

1 Nov 2007

Green funds net 15% of sales

1 Nov 2007

Halifax draws IHT map

1 Nov 2007

Heritable Bank records 60% increase in profits

5 Nov 2007

Heritable Bank, the UK specialist banking subsidiary of the Icelandic bank Landsbanki Islands, has announced a 60 per cent increase in profits for the first nine months of 2007.

HL defies market conditions with £400m inflows

6 Nov 2007

Hargreaves Lansdown has revealed a £400m increase in assets under administration after publishing its first quarter statistics for the 2008 financial year.

HSBC Investments - Open Global Property Fund

2 Nov 2007

HSBC InvestmentsOpen Global Property Fund

IAF Securities - Capital Protected Commercial Property Plan

2 Nov 2007

IAF SecuritiesCapital Protected Commercial Property Plan

Individual insolvencies see a decrease in Q3 2007

2 Nov 2007

Investec picks Aird as business head

1 Nov 2007

Investment boost for rehab therapies

1 Nov 2007

The investment of £170m of new money in a psychological therapy service by the Secretary of State for Health, Alan Johnson MP has been welcomed by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)

Job cuts aplenty

2 Nov 2007

This week has seen even further job cuts being announced by the mortgage market. In the space of just one week, three lenders have decided to flush the bad news out of their systems and announce exactly how many redundancies they will need to make due to the credit crunch.

Kensington slashes 20 per cent of staff due to market conditions

1 Nov 2007

Kensington is to make around 65 redundancies and restructure the company’s operating model in light of the current market conditions.

L&G increases maximum sum assured for critical illness

1 Nov 2007

Land Registry scraps online mortgage deeds and leases over concerns of fraud

5 Nov 2007

Learning to share

1 Nov 2007

Share incentive plans are the ideal tool for engaging staff of all levels in the company's performance. Sonia Speedy looks at how employers and senior employees can get the most out of them

Legal & General - Guaranteed Capital Bond 5

2 Nov 2007

Legal & GeneralGuaranteed Capital Bond 5

Lifestyle choice

1 Nov 2007

The switch to DC is thrusting lifestyling into the spotlight. James Phillipps examines whether existing solutions are up to the job

Longevity changes hit PPF funding

1 Nov 2007

Lyxor Asset Management -Lyxor ETF Russia

2 Nov 2007

Lyxor Asset ManagementLyxor ETF Russia

Means to an end

1 Nov 2007

Minister for pensions reform Mike O'Brien is forging ahead with establishing a framework for personal accounts. John Greenwood finds he will not be distracted by means-testing but is keeping a watchful eye for unintended consequences

Mixed signals

1 Nov 2007

Two weeks ago, I was making my annual pilgrimage to the West Country when I observed the FTSE100 nudge into new high territory. Never one to pass up an opportunity, I rang my broker to take some profits, only to be talked out of precipitate action. He was right, of course, except the market then experienced several days of straight falls, handing back close to 5 per cent of the gains made - peak to trough.

Move over, darling

1 Nov 2007

The much-hailed 'doubling' of the inheritance tax nil-rate band in the pre-Budget report is little more than window dressing and advisers would be well advised to continue using the discretionary will trust for married clients rather than letting them trust the new 'Darling method' of IHT planning, says Sovereign Will and Probate Services operations director Nick Plumb

Multi- managers may make move on Africa

1 Nov 2007

New equity release plans increase by 15 per cent, says SHIP

5 Nov 2007

New specialist member service from NAPF

1 Nov 2007

The NAPF has launched a new specialist member service aimed at those involved in defined contribution pensions. Called DC PensionsConnection, the service has been designed to help those involved in DC pension provision and will offer NAPF members access to a web-site which features a "have your say" discussion forum, online polls and presentations as well as a newsletter providing information on the news, legal and regulatory changes, research and case studies.

Northern Rock's BoE borrowing at £22.8bn but predicted to continue

1 Nov 2007

NU plans to focus on corporate pensions as A-Day effect fades

1 Nov 2007

O'Brien delays DB regulations

1 Nov 2007

Osney media hosts protection summit

1 Nov 2007

Paaleads.com says brokers diversifying client basis due to credit crunch

5 Nov 2007

Pearl attack over Friends' surrenders

1 Nov 2007

Pink Home Loans- Amber Feather Adverse 2-Year Fixed

2 Nov 2007

Pink Home LoansAmber Feather Adverse 2-Year Fixed

Politicians sharpening the knifes for personal accounts battle

5 Nov 2007

This week’s Queen’s Speech will include a Bill on personal accounts but it is likely to receive a rocky ride in the Commons with both the Conservatives and Lib Dems strongly opposed to important aspects of the current plans.

PPF compensation to be shared in divorce settlements

6 Nov 2007

Product Innovations - Aria Dynamic Growth Protected Fund

2 Nov 2007

Product InnovationsAria Dynamic Growth Protected Fund

Property companies punished in Q3, says LaSalle

5 Nov 2007

Higher interest rates, wary lenders and the credit crunch have resulted in the market punishing property companies during Q3 2007, according to LaSalle Investment Management.

Property to rise by just 1% in 2008

1 Nov 2007

Quality control

1 Nov 2007

Evaluating how your advice has benefited your client is essential to maintaining high levels of customer satisfaction. Stephanie Spicer finds smart intermediaries are making a priority of monitoring their own performance

Recycling in fast lane

1 Nov 2007

The Asian bull is still strong and has a long way to run with great walls of cash set for the stockmarkets

Rock's role

1 Nov 2007

I recently addressed a group of people who are not mortgage professionals and it proved difficult to explain some of the facts behind recent news.

Rozario joins Ship as director-general

1 Nov 2007

Samuel speech on complaint rules

1 Nov 2007

Schroders invests in change

2 Nov 2007

SchrodersSchroder Global Climate Change Fund

Screen savers

1 Nov 2007

Changes to tax rules are providing a boost to lower cost health screening arrangements. Edmund Tirbutt puts plans under scrutiny

Service stations

1 Nov 2007

Sesame has been tracking advisers' attitudes to the service they get from product providers and sales and marketing director Stephen Young looks at some of the key findings from the surveys

Sipp probe to focus on transfers

1 Nov 2007

Soft skills boost business as clients fail to recognise qualifications

1 Nov 2007

Split views on currency hedging

1 Nov 2007

Standard Life wants Swiss Re to take a stake to seal Resolution deal

5 Nov 2007

Strategic ideas

1 Nov 2007

Skandia has produced yet another fund with great potential - the UK strategic best ideas fund.

Suffolk Life MasterSipp goes live

1 Nov 2007

Takeover Panel raps Standard

1 Nov 2007

TCF progress is still too slow, says FSA

6 Nov 2007

Adviser firms must up their pace of progress in embedding Treating Customers Fairly if they are to meet next year's deadlines, warns the FSA.

The big payoff

1 Nov 2007

A redundancy payment can be stretched further by investing it in a pension scheme

The Diary was...

1 Nov 2007

Threadneedle Investments - American Extended Alpha Fund

2 Nov 2007

ThreadneedleAmerican Extended Alpha Fund

Tories complain at delays by Treasury on answers

1 Nov 2007

Towry chief says the end is nigh for unprofessional advisers

1 Nov 2007

Transition time

1 Nov 2007

The effects of rule changes on interest in possession trusts where there is a change of beneficiary

Two, nil

1 Nov 2007

Looking further at the implications of the transferable nil-rate band and how clients can achieve their estate planning goals

Unum updates GIP claims procedures

1 Nov 2007

Disability insurer Unum is modifying its group income protection claims management procedures with the introduction of telephonic claims form completion options topping a list of changes.

Watching the facts

1 Nov 2007

I am always wary of someone who either opens or closes a letter with a Latinism. From experience, it implies that the letter's arguments are portentous enough to merit especially serious consideration, when the reverse is usually the case.

We need a resolution

31 Oct 2007

I don’t know about everyone else but I am starting to get tired of having to update stories on who is buying Resolution and for how much every five minutes.

Wellness effectiveness proves difficult to quantify

1 Nov 2007

Only 50 per cent of European employers achieved reductions in employee absence, even though 95 per cent of employers identifed it as an important objective of their wellness initiatives, according to a global survey of wellness strategies by Buck ConsultantsBuck says this may in part be because many newly established arrangements have not had time to generate a measurable impact and some employers do not have the capability to measure results effectively.

Why are advisers being sold short on the long stop?

1 Nov 2007

Alan Lakey questions the Financial Ombudsman Service's time-bar stance