Money Marketing
9 February 2005

  • 'a beacon of trusted advice is needed'

    10 Feb 2005

    A trusted advice brand is needed by the financial services industry, giving consumers "a lighthouse" to guide them through the market, said Sesame at a Money Marketing round-table discussion hosted in conjunction with Teamspirit.There are many financial services brands but there is not one specialist advice brand, which presents an opportunity for someone to become the "trusted voice" in an industry generally lacking in faith, says Sesame marketing director Stewart Gitsham.He ...

  • A consumer's view

    10 Feb 2005

    The recent rise in short-term mortgage arrears could be the precursor to a much more serious situation.

  • Abbey - Five Year Fixed Rate Mortgage

    11 Feb 2005

    AbbeyFive Year Fied Rate Mortgage

  • Abbey plan could pay out 20% after one year

    10 Feb 2005

    Abbey is launching a new structured product series with a plan offering two investment options for private investors and trustees.

  • A-day costs soar to 1bn

    10 Feb 2005

    Pension consultancy Hunts-wood claims the cost to the industry of preparing for A-Day will be around 1bn, at least double the amount anticipated.

  • Adviser appointed to enforcement review

    9 Feb 2005

    Lloyds TSB deputy chairman of David Pritchard has been appointed as an adviser to the FSA review of its enforcement process. Pritchard, who is also chairman of Cheltenham & Gloucester and on the board of Scottish Widows, will advise the sub-committee review in the regulators enforcement process. The review is being led by David Strachan and supervised by Michael Brindle QC.

  • Advisers sample training plan for lecturers' scheme

    10 Feb 2005

    A group of the Personal Finance Society's best-qualified advisers has attended pilot training schemes on the Universities Superannuation Scheme in advance of a national advisory programme being rolled out this year.

  • Advisers split as murray vcts move to close

    10 Feb 2005

    The decision of the four Murray VCT boards to sack Murray Johnstone as manager and move the contracts over to Close Venture Management has split adviser opinion.

  • Allchurches duo to lead IFA drive

    10 Feb 2005

    Allchurches Investment Management, the fund management arm of Ecclesiastical Insurance, is making a push into the IFA market with the recruitment of its first dedicated sales team.

  • Anglo Irish Bank Isle of Man - Privilege Multi-Asset Bond

    15 Feb 2005

    Anglo Irish Bank Isle of ManPrivilege Multi-Asset Bond

  • Barclays moving into multi-manager

    10 Feb 2005

    Barclays is introducing a range of multi-manager portfolios for retail customers investing between £25 and £1m.

  • Bates wins out of court deal over sacking

    10 Feb 2005

    Bates Investment Services founder Graham Bates has won the fight for his reputation and an estimated 700,000 after being sacked for gross misconduct.

  • Battle of the brands over FSA logo

    10 Feb 2005

    Concern were voiced at a Money Marketing round table that the FSA logo on key fact documentation is overpowering product providers' branding and could mislead consumers.

  • Broker Talkback

    10 Feb 2005

    Should IFAs do more pro bono work for organisations such as the Citizens' Advice Bureau?

  • Brown boost for Isa sales

    10 Feb 2005

    Fidelity says investor confidence has been boosted by the Government's decision to consult on Isa contributions.

  • Build up savings with Isa boost

    10 Feb 2005

    I write on behalf of the more than 1.4 million accountholders of Interactive Investor and, I am sure, many millions more existing and would-be savers and investors in this country.

  • CBI sides with ABI to reject citizen's pension

    10 Feb 2005

    The CBI has joined the ABI in its criticism of the NAPF's plan for a citizen's pension and an end to contracting out.

  • Charcol offers new mix and match mortgage

    11 Feb 2005

    Charcol is offering a mix and match mortgage which combines a five-year fixed rate with a lifetime offset tracker.

  • Chilton on mortgages

    10 Feb 2005

    Talking to lenders over the past few days, they all assert that applications in January were between 40 and 60 per cent below target. This is clear evidence that the market slowdown indicated by data from the Council of Mortgage Lenders and the Bank of England at the end of last year has continued well into this year.

  • Citizens' band of volunteers

    10 Feb 2005

    I am writing in response to the call by John Ellis of the Personal Finance Society (Money Marketing, February 3,) for positive statements on how advisers help the community and clients of the Citizens' Advice Bureau.

  • City barrister takes role in review of RDC

    10 Feb 2005

    A top City barrister will advise the FSA on its investigation into the regulatory decisions committee and enforcement processes.

  • CML urges the Government to act on its six home-ownership pledges

    14 Feb 2005

    The Council of Mortgage Lenders welcomes the Government's support for home-ownership announced by the Prime Minister as one of his six pledges for the forthcoming general election.

  • Commission for life in chase de vere plan

    10 Feb 2005

    Chase de Vere Mortgage Management has set up a ground-breaking scheme to pay advisers commission for life for introducing clients and any referrals they then give.

  • Correspondent's week

    10 Feb 2005

    Tamsin Waghorn

  • Dawnay Day explores base metals

    14 Feb 2005

    Dawnay Day QuantumProtected Commodities Accelerator II

  • DCM hopes Bulgaria EU target will boost property

    10 Feb 2005

    Development Capital ManagementBlack Sea Property Fund

  • Death of David Norton

    10 Feb 2005

    Former Institute of Financial Planning chairman and president David Norton has died, aged 54.

  • Destini chooses The Exchange

    11 Feb 2005

    Destini has signed an agreement with The Exchange to use its Exweb portal as the technology platform to support its IFAs.Destini will initially take 200 Exweb licences, an increase of 170, and plans are agreed to raise these numbers in the future to support its growth strategy.Destini director of networks Bill Wynn says: "Having looked at the other portals in the market it is clear to us that The Exchanges Exweb service is a comprehensive trading platform that will support our ...

  • Directors want an end to compulsory retirement

    10 Feb 2005

    Business leaders want compulsory retirement ages to be abolished, according to research from the Institute of Directors.

  • Divorcees get the go-ahead to rebuild retirement funds

    10 Feb 2005

    Divorcees who share their pensions will be able to rebuild their retirement saving when the simplified pension regime comes into operation next year.

  • Don't myth out on the non-conforming market

    10 Feb 2005

    There are widespread false perceptions about non-conforming borrowers.

  • DTI chief in for Francis at ABI

    10 Feb 2005

    Department of Trade and Industry director general,fair markets group Stephen Haddrill is taking over from Mary Francis as director general of the Association of British Insurers.

  • DWP sets out the five-year plan for flexi-retirement

    10 Feb 2005

    People who defer their state pension for five years will get a lump sum of over 32,000 under Department for Work and Pensions proposals in its five-year strategy on flexible retirement.

  • Eurolife investors wait for decision on settlement deal

    10 Feb 2005

    Eurolife secured bond inv-estors are still waiting on details of a potential settlement package.

  • Exchange offers comparative quotes

    9 Feb 2005

    The Exchange is to launch a PMI comparative quotation service on its Exweb portal. The service is expected to launch in the first half of 2005 and will enable IFAs to produce comparative quotes for individual PMI policies. The Exchange has partnered with Preferred Medical for the launch of this new service. If an adviser is reluctant to carry out a sale they can refer clients to Preferred Medical and receive an introducers fee

  • Exodus from endowments

    10 Feb 2005

    The number of endowment policies in force has fallen by nearly three million in the last three years, according to a report by the ABI.

  • First bank to announce multi-tie agreement

    14 Feb 2005

    HSBC has become the first bank to multi-tie, offering high street customers funds from five leading management companies, and its own.

  • First State Investments - First State Investments Aim VCT

    15 Feb 2005

    First State InvestmentsFirst State Aim VCT

  • First State takes Aim

    15 Feb 2005

    First State Investments is raising up to 20m for its Aim VCT, a venture capital trust which invests in the alternative investment market.

  • Five firms in default

    9 Feb 2005

    Five firms have been declared in default of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. Consumers entitled to compensation of up to 48,000 have been asked to submit a claim against the five firms. The firms are Edwin Hodgson Ltd (in liquidation) from Preston, Crumpsall Insurance Services Ltd from Manchester, Anthony Howard Easton from Winchester, York Pollard Ltd from Epson, and Ashford Parker Ltd from Cheltenham.

  • FSA crackdown on cross-subsidy rates

    10 Feb 2005

    Lenders are braced for the FSA to impose rules proposed in the Miles review that could stop different rates being offered to new and existing customers.

  • FSA visiting lenders in probe on packagers

    10 Feb 2005

    The FSA is visiting mortgage lenders to discuss the role of packagers in a regulated environment.

  • FTSE 100 breaks 5000 barrier

    9 Feb 2005

    The FTSE 100 broke through the psychologically-important 5000 level today, before closing at 4990.

  • GMAC fixes it

    15 Feb 2005

    GMAC RFCSelf-Certification Rate Control

  • GMAC RFC - Buy-to-Let 3 Year Fixed

    14 Feb 2005

    GMAC RFCBuy-to-Let 3 Year Fixed

  • Gmac self-cert starts at 5.2%

    10 Feb 2005

    GMAC-RFC is offering a range of self-certification mortgages with rates starting at 5.2 per cent.

  • Greg Boyko

    10 Feb 2005

    There's a buzz going round the life business as US giant Hartford Life International gets set to move into the UK, and its bee-keeping chairman aims to make it the land of milk and honey with the focus on service

  • Hallen takes key multi-manager role at skandia

    10 Feb 2005

    Skandia Investment Management has recruited Raj Hallen to its multi-manager team.

  • Help tsunami children

    10 Feb 2005

    The Bournemouth Philharmonic will play Prokofiev's Peter and The Wolf in May to support the Money Marketing/Financial Services Charitable Foundation tsunami appeal.

  • HHG terminates discussions with Resolution Life

    10 Feb 2005

    Hugh Osmond's Life Company Investor Group has upped its offer for HHG's Life Service business in return for HHG cutting off negotiations with Resolution Life.LCIG has increased its bid for the four closed life books within HHG from 1.025bn to 1.07bn. If HHG breaks the exclusivity agreement it will have to pay LCIG 45m compensation- the same amount as the increase in its offer.Resolution says it is considering its options.

  • IFA debate is urged on fund manager quality

    10 Feb 2005

    Dennehy Weller managing director Brian Dennehy is calling for IFAs to share their investment research to create a debate on the quality of fund managers.

  • IFA swamped by pro bono cases

    10 Feb 2005

    Staffordshire IFA Richard Jacobs Pension & Trustee Services is having to screen clients to cut down on the number of pro bono cases it deals with each week.

  • IFAs will recommend UK equities & bonds in 2005

    15 Feb 2005

    Schroders has announced that over two-thirds of IFAs will be recommending UK equities, corporate bonds and commercial properties to their clients in 2005.

  • iimia - iimia ACD Services Income Fund

    9 Feb 2005

    iimiaiimia ACD Services Income Fund

  • Iimia funds charge performance fees based on cash benchmark

    10 Feb 2005

    Fund manager iimia has introduced three funds of funds which it says are the first FSA-authorised funds to base performance fees on a cash benchmark.

  • iimia- iimia ACD Services Growth and Income Fund

    9 Feb 2005

    iimiaiimia ACD Services Growth and Income Fund

  • iimia innovates with cash benchmark for performance fee

    9 Feb 2005

    Fund manager iimia has introduced three funds of funds which it believes are the first FSA-authorised funds to base performance fees on a cash benchmark

  • IMA in plea to brown over tax on authorised investments

    10 Feb 2005

    The Investment Management Association is asking Chancellor Gordon Brown to consult with the industry over tax on authorised investment funds.

  • IMA says FSA prospectus move adds complexity

    10 Feb 2005

    The IMA says the FSA's proposals on the EU simplified prospectus requirements are a missed opportunity to enh-ance consumer understanding of investment funds.

  • Independent view

    10 Feb 2005

    When the Boxing Day tsunami shook Asia, I was on holiday in Bangkok, two days away from going to Phuket.

  • Intelligent finance probes broker incentive claims

    10 Feb 2005

    Intelligent Finance is to investigate after a mortgage broker claims incentives were being offered which could fall foul of disclosure regulations.

  • Interest rates on hold

    10 Feb 2005

    The Bank of England today announced that interest rates would stay at 4.75 per cent.In a widely anticpated move the governors decided that no change to the base rate was necessary.Experts are widely predicting a rise in rates later this year with the possibility that they will stabilise or maybe even fall away in the later half of the year.

  • Invesco Perpetual offer two per cent discount

    14 Feb 2005

    Invesco Perpetual is to continue its current 2 per cent discount on the sales charge for all new Isa investments and Pep and Isa transfers.The discount will continue until the end of the tax year and includes Isa monthly savings and phased investment options. Invesco will also offer a 1.75 per cent discount on the sales charge for lump sum investments made outside an Isa in their corporate bond, distribution, global bond, monthly income plus and European high yield funds.

  • Investec appoints new Gulf investment manager

    14 Feb 2005

    Investec has appointed Tony Zeiger from Barclays Private Bank, with responsibility for the development of investment management in the Gulf region. At Barclays, Tony was senior investment adviser responsible for high net-worth clients in the Gulf states and Africa. At Investec he will develop the firms investment consulting service, offered exclusively to ultra high net worth investors.

  • Investment edge: Billy Burrows

    10 Feb 2005

    There are only a few firms offering annuities which means there is not strong competition. The annuity market resembles the supermarket industry - a small number of competitive firms all looking to increase market share.

  • Investment edge: Oliver Stones

    10 Feb 2005

    Private clients generally shun ultra long-dated gilts as they just do not get enough bang for their bucks and there is too much inherent risk. But we see potential for holding the new 50-year gilts in some bespoke portfolios.

  • Investment view

    10 Feb 2005

    Amid all the contradictory indications at present, the watchword for investors is diversification.

  • Investors are moved by FTSE high

    11 Feb 2005

    80 per cent of investors in UK equity and fixed interest funds dont care that the FTSE 100 has breached the 5000 mark, according to research by Bates Investment. Bates senior investment advisor Paul Illott says that while the breach might be significant for investors who have pencilled 5000 in as a signal to sell equities and bank gains, investors on the whole have become too focussed on the short-term market. The index is up over 50 per cent from its low point of 3287 prior to the ...

  • Is Severn up for a fight with the FSA?

    10 Feb 2005

    We need an organisation that is going to be forceful. It has to be led by someone who is finally going to stop the IFA being bullied and stomped on by the rest of the industry.

  • Isa cuts have seen savings ratio halved

    10 Feb 2005

    Interactive Investor is accusing Chancellor Gordon Brown of making Isas worthwhile only for the wealthy.

  • Julian gibbs

    10 Feb 2005

    Now, for the first time, an independent investment wine company, PremierCru.com, is providing a specialist service for IFAs.Premier Cru was founded by Stacey Golding about 12 years ago. Formerly with J Rothschild, Golding understands the needs of IFAs and their clients. The company is completely independent and Golding is advised on selection by masters of wine.Fine wines are free of both capital gains tax and income tax. Over the past 30 years, a managed wine portfolio ...

  • Just retirement targets equity-release market

    10 Feb 2005

    Just Retirement is entering the equity-release market as it looks to broaden its product offering.

  • Keith Popplewell - A gender for change

    10 Feb 2005

    In my past couple of articles, I have started to discuss the state of play in a number of important areas of pensions in which very recent or imminent developments are destined to have a significant effect on a large number of people.

  • Keydata income VCT to target renewable energy

    10 Feb 2005

    Keydata is to offer an income VCT looking to profit from the Government's commitment to subsidising renewable energy.

  • Lacomp revives EIS fund

    10 Feb 2005

    The Lacomp British enterprise Fund 4 is an enterprise investment scheme fund that will invest in unquoted companies at an early stage of their development.

  • Laurie Edmans joins Pension Regulator board

    14 Feb 2005

    Aegon director of corporate development Laurie Edmans has been appointed as a non executive director of The Pensions Regulator. The appointment was announced by Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Alan Johnson.Edmans is the sole representative from a pensions provider on the new non-executive board of five directors, which also includes Mercers partner Alan Pickering, and will be chaired by David Norgrove.

  • Lenders to be named and shamed by BM

    10 Feb 2005

    BM Solutions is embarking on a campaign to name and shame lenders which it feels are not giving a fair deal to consumers.

  • Letters

    10 Feb 2005

    I have a classic example of the garbage being distributed by life offices, working on the instructions of the FSA.My client has received a letter from his flexible mortgage plan provider carrying an "amber alert".The target amount is £56,000 in 2026.My client's attention was drawn by the red box emblazoned across the front page of the letter which set alarm bells ringing for him to phone me in something of a panic.The letter tells him that in the year 2026, and ...

  • Lifesearch warns rate rise will see sales fall

    10 Feb 2005

    Protection rates will rise, resulting in a potential loss of business for IFAs, according to the latest quarterly report by Lifesearch.

  • Lincoln re-launch investment bond

    15 Feb 2005

    Lincoln Financial Group is re-launching its investment bond with improved allocation, a new loyalty bonus and reduced charges.

  • Martin currie recruits investec and aberdeen fund chiefs

    10 Feb 2005

    Martin Currie is boosting its team with a new managing director from Investec and a fund manager from Aberdeen.

  • Moneyextra launches new service

    15 Feb 2005

    Moneyextra has launched a new free online financial planning service covering all areas of personal finance.Financial Planner offers consumers a financial health check which takes between 20-30 minutes to complete and aims to present a comprehensive overview of a users financial situation.Moneyextra managing director Mark Fleet says: "Financial Planner will help our users map out their future and ensure that they have a financial plan to achieve their goals."

  • Mortgage top choice in the new cii exams

    10 Feb 2005

    The mortgage exam paper proved the most popular choice of the six subjects available in the Chartered Insurance Inst-itute's new certificate in financial planning.

  • MTM Capital Partners - MTM China VCT

    14 Feb 2005

    MTM Capital PartnersMTM China VCT

  • Multi-manager launch from Zurich

    9 Feb 2005

    Zurich is launching a fund of funds portfolio with a guarantee that its unit price will never fall below 80 per cent of its peak value.The multi-manager protected profit fund will invest in Cazenove UK growth and income, Newton higher income, DWS American growth, Gartmore European selected opportunities and BGI's liquidity first cash fund. Equity exposure is capped at 70 per cent.

  • Multi-manager view

    10 Feb 2005

    I was once quoted as saying that multi-manager was a solution for lazy IFAs. Multi-manager propositions start with the premise that IFAs cannot select decent funds for themselves or cannot be bothered.

  • Multi-tie prospects losing ground

    10 Feb 2005

    Support service provider Threesixty Services says multi-ties have slipped down its agenda as it is optimistic over prospects for growth in the independent channel.It says it will focus its efforts on the independent sector rather than multi-ties.

  • Newcastle BS guaranteed equity offer

    9 Feb 2005

    Newcastle Building Society is launching a guaranteed equity bond offering exposure to a basket of indices. The short term global guaranteed equity bond, which is Isable, offers the average growth of the FTSE 100, S&P 500, Dow Jones Euro Stoxx 50 and Nikkei 225 indices over its three year term. Capital is protected and minimum investment is 1,000.

  • Okey joins Abbey to drive loan and protection sales

    10 Feb 2005

    Ex-Charcol managing director Ricky Okey has joined Abbey for Intermediaries as director, mortgages and protection.

  • Osmond admits realistic reporting reduces value of cash offer for hhg

    10 Feb 2005

    Hugh Osmond's Life Comp-any Investor Group has admitted that the value of the cash offer it made for HHG's closed life businesses is lower than stated if viewed on a realistic reporting basis.

  • Out of sight

    10 Feb 2005

    What happens to existing policies with providers which are outside a panel as some IFA firms choose to tie or multi-tie to a restricted number of providers? It is a big issue and there are several possible outcomes.

  • Pass the portfolio

    10 Feb 2005

    Eavesdrop on a conver-sation in early February and there is a fair chance you may hear some people casually talking about their disappointment at once again failing to keep to their resolutions.

  • Peak practice

    10 Feb 2005

    Raising investor awareness of branding is clearly an uphill climb so is it any surprise that Invesco Perpetual has brought back its mountain logo? The image is famous for being the visual identity of Perpetual until its takeover by Invesco at the end of 2000.

  • Pension Protection Fund launches website

    15 Feb 2005

    The Pension Protection Fund has launched a website to provide information on its activities as well as provide access to documents it publishes.Interested parties can sign up for an email alert that will enable subscribers to receive information about any updates on the site and there is a frequently asked questions help page. The web address is www.pensionprotectionfund.org.uk.

  • Pensions Simplification reminder from FSA

    11 Feb 2005

    The FSA has urged IFAs to think about standards of advice and professional development as part of its pensions simplication programme.In a newsletter to retail intermediaries, regulators asked IFAs to think about the changes they needed to make for pensions tax changes.The FSA is continuing to talk with the Association of British Insurers and the Personal Finance Society about the best ways to overcome the challenges ahead.The newsletter is available on the FSA website.

  • Performing arts

    10 Feb 2005

    Allenbridge Group began 20 years ago as an investment performance analyst for high-net-worth clients and now teaches the nouveau riche to handle their wealth, as well as providing Isa and Fof advice for the less affluent.

  • Pink Home Loans - Mortgage Trust MT Select 3 Year Discount Buy-To-Let

    10 Feb 2005

    Type: Discounted-rate tracker buy-to-let mortgage

  • Preferred announces new core range

    15 Feb 2005

    Preferred announces its new core range with enhancements including increased discounts and reduced loadings.

  • Premier comes up with twist on early maturity

    14 Feb 2005

    Premier Fund Managers has established a capital-protected fund which divides the amount invested into six segments and allows for one segment to mature in year one, two segments to mature in year three and so on, with the remaining segments remaining inv...

  • Pro bono plan is getting our support

    10 Feb 2005

    For a number of reasons, we were surprised to read the article on advisers snubbing pro bono advice (Money Marketing, January 27).

  • Profits double at Positive Solutions

    10 Feb 2005

    Profits at national franchise Positive Solutions rose by a record 113 per cent from 1.1 in 2003 to 2.4m last year.

  • Profits plummet after M-day

    10 Feb 2005

    Nearly half of brokers have seen profits fall since M-Day, says Alliance & Leicester in a survey which also finds that many appointed reps are considering switching to direct regulation.

  • Protection racket

    10 Feb 2005

    Lifesearch senior technical adviser Kevin Carr and Friends Provident head of protection marketing Peter Hamilton are hereby banned from consuming alcohol together or getting anywhere near a karaoke machine.This is what happens when the world of pop and protection collide. Sing these words, if you can bear it, to the tune of Robbie Williams's Angels.I sit and wait while an underwriter contemplates my fate...And do they know, the places where I go, where it's grey and cold?'Cos ...

  • Protests are growing against FSCS huge hike for fund firms

    10 Feb 2005

    The 27m increase in the Financial Services Compensation Scheme levy on fund companies has provoked confusion and outrage throughout the industry.

  • 'Raise recognition for family income benefit'

    10 Feb 2005

    Lifesearch has challenged product providers to raise the profile of family income benefit easier which it sees as a neglected product.

  • Rooster booster for China

    10 Feb 2005

    The Chinese new year of the rooster has got off to a flying start with Gartmore crowing over long-term prospects for China and Far East emerging markets.

  • Russia gets moved up to investment-grade status

    10 Feb 2005

    Russia has been upgraded by three major rating agencies to investment-grade status just six years after defaulting on its debt.

  • Savills launches BTL base rate tracker

    9 Feb 2005

    Savills Private Finance launches today a buy to let base rate tracker with an initial pay rate of 5.59 per cent.

  • Savings tool finds best rates for bigger balances

    10 Feb 2005

    Investec Private Bank has devised a savings index to give a picture of the deposit rates available on savings accounts with balances over 25,000.

  • Scot Eq Intl gets the revenue go-ahead for reserved trust

    10 Feb 2005

    Scottish Equitable International has been given clearance by the Inland Revenue for its reserved interest trust, approving it as exempt from pre-owned asset tax.

  • Scottish Life offers support pre-A-day

    11 Feb 2005

    Scottish Life is producing a range of support packs offering intermediaries practical help to prepare for the effects of A-day.

  • Second chance

    10 Feb 2005

    Many years ago,I contracted out of the state earnings-related pension scheme and since then I have received annual statements which serve to do nothing more than remind me of the suggestion that at some point it will be prudent to contract back into Serps. Can you advise me of when this should be done?

  • Sense of balance base instincts we must back fsa objectives

    10 Feb 2005

    I did not think I would make it through January without coming across some sort of new industry rules or regulations for 2005. When the FSA's Financial Risk Outlook report for 2005 landed on my desk, I drew a deep breath, hoping that the industry has finally woken up to its frailties and was this year going to try to make amends.Thankfully, the 92-page report, which is followed one week later by the FSA's Business Plan, is not particularly new news to any of us but does demonstrate ...

  • Shore Capital - Puma VCT I and II

    10 Feb 2005

    Shore CapitalPuma VCT I and II

  • Solutions to the shortfall

    10 Feb 2005

    Early feedback to the Pensions Commission report on improving provision in the UK suggests the industry staunchly opposes compulsion but want to see the state pension system reformed, says Philip Scott

  • Sourcers try to get key facts straight

    10 Feb 2005

    Three months after M-Day, how successful have mortgage sourcing systems been in dealing with key fact illustrations from over 100 UK lenders?

  • St James's place gap-fills to expand product range

    10 Feb 2005

    St James's Place is expanding its range of products and services from May by gap-filling.

  • Standard bearer

    10 Feb 2005

    How Standard Life is making its move on the protection market with its online offering.

  • Stewart ritchie on pensions

    10 Feb 2005

    It is often said that the new pensions tax regime is not the simplification it is claimed to be but, in my view, most of the complexity is voluntary. People who embrace the complexity do so because it is in their interests. A prime example of this is enhanced protection for defined benefits (EP for DB).

  • Stop the scaremongers, says Sesame chief Gale

    10 Feb 2005

    Sesame chief executive Patrick Gale says scaremongers are trying to influence advisers over the opportunities presented by depolarisation.

  • Tech firm offering client bank deal to retiring IFAs

    10 Feb 2005

    Technology firm IFA Data is offering advisers who want to leave the industry a way to make old client banks marketable.

  • The biggest risk facing financial services is the FSA

    10 Feb 2005

    Having read about the key risks identified by the FSA as now facing the financial services sector, most life companies and practitioners might reasonably place at the top of the list the FSA itself.

  • The cookie crumbles

    10 Feb 2005

    Urgent diary, urgent diary stop press. At the last minute Diary has finally received communication from Mr Ghiloni. However it seems his claim is not all the events discussed were actually leaving dos at all. Anyway in his own words:"I have read with interest the diary pieces regarding my departure from Britannic Asset Management and I thought that I should set the record straight. Yes, there have been a number of 'dos' so far but these have not been related to the 'how many leaving ...

  • The financial election

    10 Feb 2005

    The next general election is likely to feature more about pensions, savings and mortgages than almost any before it.

  • THE IFP view

    10 Feb 2005

    A couple of things have happened over the last couple of weeks that have both interested and frustrated me at the same time.

  • The Mortgage Business - House 2 House Buy-To-Let

    11 Feb 2005

    The Mortgage BusinessHouse 2 House Buy-to-Let

  • TMB back in the market with new range

    10 Feb 2005

    The Mortgage Business has come back to the market with a full range after being forced to close to new business last year.

  • Tony Wickenden - Strike up the nil-rate band

    10 Feb 2005

    I read this week that it is a Government objective to raise the level of homeownership in the UK to 80 per cent of people from 71 per cent. Hardly surprising, then, that property represents such an important aspect of the financial lives of UK residents. For most, it represents the greater part of their estate.

  • Treasury to consult on PI Euro rule exemption

    15 Feb 2005

    The Treasury will consult on plans to allow IFAs to become exempt from a new European law that could push up PI bills by thousands.

  • TrustNet announces record traffic

    14 Feb 2005

    TrustNet, the online fund information specialist, has announced a record number of users to its website for 2004. The number of unique visits showed a year-on-year increase of over 40 per cent, reaching almost a million.TrustNet specialises in UK and offshore fund prices, performance, factsheets, news and education and is used by financial professionals, private investors and fund analysts.Financial Express head of marketing and communications Paul Wynne says: "TrustNet Adviser ...

  • Warning on deferrals

    10 Feb 2005

    Falling annuity rates mean deferring annuity purchases can cost pensioners hundreds of pounds a year, GE Life is warning.

  • Watchdog tells IFA to pay 5k into company-only pension

    10 Feb 2005

    A Newport IFA has hit out at the Financial Ombudsman Service after being told to make a 5,000 compensation payment into a pension scheme that only accepted company contributions.

  • We need simplicity rather than spinning around in circles

    10 Feb 2005

    One day quite recently, I found myself daydreaming and reminiscing about how we played tops in our school playground. We would draw a ring in the dirt, place a stick in the middle, wrap a cord around our spinning tops,take aim and let fly.

  • Wesleyan tied up in status row

    10 Feb 2005

    Wesleyan Assurance says it did not intend to mislead British Medical Association members following IFA criticism of the way it describes the status of its multi-tie intermediary arm.

  • Willcocks joins M&G's biggest push into equities for 10 years

    10 Feb 2005

    M&G has appointed former MFS UK sales director Jonathan Willcocks as head of discretionary sales.

  • Woolwich deal offers proc fee on high street

    10 Feb 2005

    The Woolwich is piloting a scheme allowing mortgage brokers to introduce their clients to a high-street range and still get a form of procuration fee.

  • Zurich adds multi-manager to CPPI

    11 Feb 2005

    Zurich has established a unit-linked multi-manager fund which uses constant proportion portfolio insurance (CPPI) to protect 80 per cent of the funds highest value.

  • Zurich pledge on fof portfolio

    10 Feb 2005

    Zurich is introducing a fund of funds portfolio with a guarantee that the unit price will never fall below 80 per cent of its peak value.

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