Money Marketing
Gregor Watt Editorial
Gregor joined Money Marketing as features editor in 2006 becoming deputy editor in 2009. He started his career as a trainee at the Sunday Times and has also worked for Pensions Management and as a freelance journalist.
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The fight for platform market share
23 May 2013
The FCA’s final rules for platforms has caused platforms to try and position themselves as the best placed to help advisers deal with the new rules.
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FCA warning over execution-only services
18 Apr 2013
The FCA has warned execution-only services could be subject to advice rules if customers believe they have received advice.
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Apprenticeships offer new routes into financial services
18 April 2013
School leavers and graduates are being offered more routes into financial services.
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Salary satisfaction is a case of who you are
18 April 2013
The last few years have seen a wide discrepancy in pay increases depending on seniority within a firm, rather than business success.
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Walking the line between risk and no-reward
11 April 2013
Retail investors are moving out of fixed income but for those that remain, corporate bonds are offering a balance between historic low gilt yields and the risk of high yeild.
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Consistency is needed for IP claims stats
28 March 2013
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Prospective employers are watching you
21 March 2013
The rise of social media offers new opportunities for recruitment but there are potential pitfalls for both employers and employees.
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Investors look to China to drive economic growth
7 March 2013
With China set to overtake the US to become the world largest trading nation, investors are increasingly looking east for their equity investments.
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Where are UK equity income returns coming from?
7 February 2013
Following a record year in 2012, UK dividend growth is expected to slow in 2013.
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Is FATCA setting the standard for tax information exchanges?
31 January 2013
US FATCA regulations are not only changing the way that financial institutions deal with the US but are starting to set a standard for wider co-operation
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Leader: The market evolves
Wrap & Platforms 31 Jan 2013
The latest Investment Trends report into wraps and platforms offers a real insight into the continued evolution of the market.
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Training and development is key to retention
22 Jan 2013
Developing existing staff can keep down staff turnover and benefit businesses.
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The UK funds delivering on income (and those that aren't)
17 January 2013
The difference between UK equity income funds run on a total return and those geared towards paying income can make a difference to investors.
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MM Profile: Tony Solway
6 December 2012
The new Tisa chairman says there is a lot more the industry can do to improve competition in asset management and consumer outcomes.
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Slowly does it
22 Nov 2012
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Financial advisers earnings close in on accountants
15 November 2012
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MM Profile: John Warburton
15 November 2012
You could say that John Warburton’s entire working life has been determined by rules and regulations.
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MM Profile: David Cobb
8 November 2012
Smith and Williamson has changed a lot from its inception in 1881 but head of investment and banking David Cobb intends to ensure the business is fit for the new world.
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Are we reaching an annuity tipping point?
1 November 2012
With annuity rates continuing to fall should people be looking at other investment options?
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MPs pensions finally set to be reformed
25 October 2012
Reform of the MPs’ pension scheme could help them drive through the rest of the public sector pension reforms.
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Foster Denovo launches recruitment drive
18 October 2012
Foster Denovo launches iniative to boost adviser numbers in the south-east.
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US view: Senate elections key to avoiding the fiscal cliff
18 October 2012
Elections for the US Sentate rather than the presidential race could have a bigger impact on US equities.
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What the reshuffle means for financial services
13 September 2012
Last week’s Cabinet re-shuffle was David Cameron’s first significant re-organisation since the coalition Government came to power in 2010.
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Higher inflation strengthens the case for equities
23 August 2012
Despite Bill Goss’s prediction of the death of the cult of equities, rising inflation makes equities more attractive
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MM Leader: MAS must stop describing its service as 'advice'
23 August 2012
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MM Profile: Stephen Lowe
16 August 2012
From bluechips to start-ups and credit cards to mortgages, Just Retirement’s Stephen Lowe has had a varied career to date but he predicts big things for the retirement income market.
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MM Profile: Anna Sofat
26 July 2012
Financial advice was not the first choice of career for Addidi managing director Anna Sofat.
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MM Profile: Graeme Bold
5 July 2012
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The great debate
5 July 2012
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Standard unveils RDR-ready charging details
22 Jun 2012
Standard Life has released more details of its RDR ready product charges for its Sipp, wrap and FundZone
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MM Profile: Tim Kirk
14 Jun 2012
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A trend, not an enemy
7 June 2012
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Fund Focus: Bric fix
7 June 2012
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MM Profile: Gill Cardy
7 Jun 2012
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MM Profile: Carl Lamb
31 May 2012
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MM Profile: Peter Craddock
23 May 2012
Perspective Financial Management’s group operations director has a few golden rules when acquiring new businesses - do not lose the advisers and take care not to destroy what made that business successful in the first place.
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Brave new world
17 May 2012
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Point of difference
7 May 2012
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Bankrupt thinking
May Retirement Strategy
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Working conditions
May Retirement Strategy
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Fast track
30 Apr 2012
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MM Profile: Jon King
20 Apr 2012
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A tax on aspiration
30 Mar 2012
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MM Profile: James Bolton
29 March 2012
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Rally round the flag
8 March 2012
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Fund Focus: Asia ex-Japan
5 Mar 2012
Gregor Watt reports that fundamentals are changing for the better in the Asia excluding Japan sector, with inflation falling and attractive valuations
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No win situation
2 Mar 2012
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The final countdown
2 Mar 2012
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Face value
9 February 2012
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Cash on delivery
6 Feb 2012
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Dividend data
February Retirement Strategy
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Holding pattern
February Retirement Strategy
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Narrow margin
Online - February 2012
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What are the best funds for income?
30 Jan 2012
Using total returns to assess equity income fund performance does not always identify the best sources of income.
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AS 2011: EU financial transaction tax rejected
1 December 2011
Chancellor George Osborne has warned that a financial transaction tax would hit individual savers rather than the banks.
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Blake's progress
December Retirement Strategy
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AS 2011: Osborne brands FTT a tax on pensions
29 Nov 2011
Chancellor says a financial transaction tax would damage the City and would unfairly target savers
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Feast or famine
24 November 2011
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Room at the top
27 October 2011
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Can PPI be patched up?
18 Oct 2011
Gregor Watt reports on moves to reinforce safeguards on payment protection insurance as a new wave of PPI complaints hits the ombudsman.
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Qe2 could be the start of a new £200bn wave
17 Oct 2011
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Twist of fate
10 Oct 2011
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Quality street
15 September 2011
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MetLife replaces Living Time with enhanced fixed-term annuity
8 Sep 2011
MetLife is launching a fixed-term annuity to replace the Living Time product it has been distributing.
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The trouble with annuities
September Retirement Strategy
The turbulent markets make buying an annuity a tricky proposition and getting it wrong could mean losing thousands in the long term.
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Farley Thomas
25 August 2011
HSBC global head of ETFs says a shift in the market towards low-cost, passive management is driving the phenomenal growth of exchange-traded funds and he believes the company can become a top 10 player in the European market by keeping its offering small and simple Interview by Gregor Watt
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Is this an equities bargain?
22 Aug 2011
Gregor Watt reports that the recent swings of the stockmarket have brought out investors eager to snap up what they believe to be bargain equities.
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Will the RDR be the salvation of protection?
2 Aug 2011
CWC Research’s Clive Waller believes the protection market is gently dying but the RDR could be the catalyst needed for a revival
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ECB move focuses on Germany at the expense of the periphery
14 July 2011
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A touch of Genius
Online - July 2011
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Hornbuckle: RDR has seen Sipp orphans double
2 Jun 2011
Hornbuckle Mitchell says the number of Sipp holders that have become orphan clients has more than doubled in the last 18 months as a result of the RDR.
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Forward march
June Retirement Strategy
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The first shall be last
27 May 2011
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The btl bounce
26 May 2011
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Caught in the IHT net
19 May 2011
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Will power
19 May 2011
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Treasury shuts Hong Kong Qrops loophole
14 April 2011
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Treasury closes Qrops loophole
6 Apr 2011
The Treasury to introducing clause in the Finance Bill to stop Qrops being used for tax avoidance.
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Good intentions stumped
1 Apr 2011
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Window dressing
1 Apr 2011
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Budget 2011: NS&I to re-introduce index-linked savings certificates
23 Mar 2011
NS&I to re-introduce inflation-linked savings following new issuance target for 2011/12
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Budget 2011: Corporation tax reduced by 2%
23 Mar 2011
Chancellor George Osborne says tax cut is not an opportunity for banks to pay less, as bank levy will rise.
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Take the break
10 March 2011
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A push in the right direction
March Retirement Strategy
Pica chairman Tom McPhail says tweaking the annuity rules and nudging people towards shopping around would help to mend a broken system.
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Gender agenda
March Retirement Strategy
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Special delivery
March Retirement Strategy
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Doug Crawford
3 March 2011
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Pressure point
3 March 2011
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Advance warning
24 February 2011
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The moving baseline
17 February 2011
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Drill down for dividends
7 Feb 2011
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Fund Focus: UK equity income funds can deliver on yield promises
7 Feb 2011
Gregor Watt says demand for income means that UK equity income funds are still the biggest draw in town despite other alternatives starting to appear.
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Special delivery
February Retirement Strategy
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Standard Life launches online direct personal pension
31 Jan 2011
Standard Life launches online, execution only pension to appeal to non-pension savers.
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Martin Andrew
27 January 2011
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Drawdown annuitants under 55 are saved from tax charge
6 Jan 2011
The Treasury is to allow people in unsecured pensions who are below the new minimum retirement age to buy an annuity without incurring a tax charge.
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Treasury to allow early USP clients to buy annuities
4 Jan 2011
The Treasury will allow clients in drawdown but below age 55 to buy an annuity without unauthorised payment charge
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Andy Clark
20 Dec 2010
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MM Profile: Peter Chadborn
14 Dec 2010
The principal of Plan Money says he has restructured the firm and changed its name from CBK to offer differing levels of service.
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Clarity begins at home
December Retirement Strategy
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National disservice?
December Retirement Strategy
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Safety factors
December Retirement Strategy
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The long view of advice
December Retirement Strategy
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It takes two to contango
25 November 2010
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Sense of relief at pension solutions
18 November 2010
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Time is not on my side
18 November 2010
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Time management
18 November 2010
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MetLife looking to be a world power
4 November 2010
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Basic principles
November Retirement Strategy
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Big Mac and sighs
2 Nov 2010
Gregor Watt’s exam diary: QCF level 3 is too low for new entrants but grandfathering is a different matter.
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Alico brand scrapped as MetLife completes acquisition
1 Nov 2010
Alico brand dropped and UK wealth management products to be streamlined as MetLife completes acquisition.
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Osborne rocks the housing structure
28 October 2010
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Outsource of opportunity
28 October 2010
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Lee Travis
21 October 2010
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Resolution set to acquire Bupa Health Assurance
15 Oct 2010
Resolution has announced plans to acquire Bupa Health Assurance.
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Fear of failure on Sipp due diligence
14 Oct 2010
James Hay managing director Tim Sargisson claims that a lack of due diligence among smaller Sipp companies risks damaging the Sipp brand.
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IPS will come under James Hay brand
14 Oct 2010
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Easing the burden
14 October 2010
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Tim Sargisson
14 October 2010
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Bean counter
October Retirement Strategy
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Check pension input time to avoid charges
30 Sep 2010
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95% Of staff want advice on retirement
30 September 2010
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Goodbye to the golden age
30 September 2010
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Government urged to keep annuity income simple
23 September 2010
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Mid-earners to subsidise rich in pension changes
23 September 2010
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Protection firms fear offset review
23 September 2010
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Aegon says cuts won't hit support for brokers
17 Sep 2010
Aegon says cuts are not a kneejerk reaction.
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'55% Tax charge will put people off saving'
16 Sep 2010
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End of age 75 rule could boost scheme pensions
16 Sep 2010
Scrapping the age 75 annuitisation rules could boost the market for scheme pensions by offering wealthy savers a way to sidestep the proposed cap on retirement income.
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Metlife opts for flexible over fixed-term annuity
16 September 2010
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Mind pension reality gap, warns Sun Life
16 September 2010
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Tony Vine-Lott
16 September 2010
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Centre stage for pension reform
September Retirement Strategy
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Losing the will
26 Aug 2010
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How PPI missed the point
17 Aug 2010
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An open and shut case
16 Aug 2010
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Life after Lehmans
16 Aug 2010
Gregor Watt surveys the structured product scene still in the shadows of the big counterparty collapse.
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Altmann wants a total rethink
12 August 2010
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Long-term care cash could be next crisis
12 August 2010
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Pension tension as coalition cracks appear
12 August 2010
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Pressure weighing down on annuity rates
12 August 2010
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Phil Howcroft
29 July 2010
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Nest predicted to boost Omo and shake up annuity market
22 July 2010
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Paul Kennedy
22 July 2010
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Pension and Isa worlds should merge
2 Jul 2010
Michael Johnson, author of a new reform paper, explains the radical steps he believes need to be taken to stimulate the savings market.
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Cable warns against 'new interventionism'
10 June 2010
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Increasing state pension age to save £2bn a year
10 June 2010
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Bric alternatives
7 Jun 2010
Gregor Watt and Lee Jones consider the potential of lesser-known emerging markets as doubts arise over the continuing performance of Brazil, Russia, India and China.
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Howorth predicts Nest opt-outs of up to 40%
3 Jun 2010
Opt-out rates for Nest could rise to 40 per cent, almost double Govt forecasts, according to Society of Pension Consultants president.
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Peter Hicks
3 June 2010
Fidelity head of retail distribution has overseen a period of great change for the IFA industry and as further change is on the horizon, he remains optimistic for the industry’s prospects.
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Access roads
June Retirement Strategy
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Goodbye mr hips
28 May 2010
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Heir cut from coalition plans
24 May 2010
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Guy Morrell
10 May 2010
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Slipping up on Greece
6 May 2010
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Leader
May Retirement Strategy
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The joy of text
29 April 2010
“Two exams down, three more to go to reach the certificate in financial planning before the quest for QCA level four and the real fun begins.”
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'Advisers are sleepwalking towards fines'
15 April 2010
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Karen Barrett
8 April 2010
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Leading questions
April Retirement Strategy
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The age of longevity
April Retirement Strategy
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West End buoys
26 Mar 2010
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March of the markets
25 Mar 2010
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Turn ash into cash
19 Mar 2010
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Eagle says scrap retirement age
18 Mar 2010
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Pensions in the wilderness
March Retirement Strategy
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Clare Brook
25 February 2010
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Euston, we have no problem
25 February 2010
MM deputy editor Gregor Watt ruins Valentine’s Day to pass his first exam on the road to QCF level 4.
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Feathering nest
February Retirement Strategy
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Forced measures
February Retirement Strategy
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Mark Jones
25 Jan 2010
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Leader
January Retirement Strategy
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Conservatives would fast-track auto-enrolment
14 January 2010
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Backing for ABI plan to raise the annuitisation age to 80
07 January 2010
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Equities back on the march
17 December 2009
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Protection push failed at the cash point
17 December 2009
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‘NI increase will hit employment’
10 December 2009
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PBR: CBI criticises headline grabbing speech
9 Dec 2009
The CBI says increasing National Insurance will hold back growth and plans to tax bankers bonuses are just an attempt at ‘headline grabbing’.
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PBR: Public sector pay and pensions restricted
9 Dec 2009
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Halfway house
26 November 2009
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Time management
26 November 2009
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Default dynamics
19 November 2009
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Sense of expectancy
19 November 2009
“If mortality continues to improve, many people working today will spend almost as long in retirement as they do in employment and this raises real questions on how people pay for their retirement.”
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The green gap
19 November 2009
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James Edgedale
12 Nov 2009
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Put to the test
27 Oct 2009
