Money Marketing
28 November 2007

  • Adviser deadline on FSCS levies

    29 Nov 2007

    Advisers covering both life and pensions and investment business have until November 30 to tell the FSA how their business income is split to ensure that the new Financial Services Compensation Scheme levies are calculated properly.

  • Final CGT proposals in next three weeks

    29 Nov 2007

    Chancellor Alistair Darling told the CBI conference in London this week that the Government will publish its final CGT proposals within three weeks and is still listening to industry concerns.

  • 70 Firms hit by FSA in mortgage crackdown

    29 Nov 2007

    The FSA is taking action against more than 70 mortgage firms after a series of reviews found that some brokers are continuing to operate well below standard.

  • 800,000 Caught in personal account gap

    29 Nov 2007

    The Association of British Insurers says around 800,000 people are at significant risk of not providing adequately for retirement but are unlikely to benefit from personal accounts.

  • A dignified exit

    29 Nov 2007

    Caveat emptor (let the buyer beware) is now a standard warning embedded in our marketplace. In contract or tort law, however, the doctrine of caveat venditor (let the seller beware) has become more prevalent. It is my contention that this trend should be followed by the IFA community.

  • A sense of values

    29 Nov 2007

    Increasing numbers of schemes are being launched to create embedded value in adviser firms.

  • A shaw thing

    29 Nov 2007

    Sam Shaw is a reporter on Money MarketingThe week began in splendid fashion, with the MM team hitting Theatreland to see Avenue Q courtesy of Halifax. If anyone is passing by Asia de Cuba in the near future, its pre-theatre menu is to die for and the musical is pretty funny as well.

  • A&L and B&B both move to calm concerns over funding

    29 Nov 2007

    Bradford & Bingley and Alliance & Leicester have moved to calm investors this morning over their funding prospects after concerns continue to be raised over their future prospects.

  • Aberdeen - Aberdeen Global - Responsible World Equity Fund

    28 Nov 2007

    AberdeenAberdeen Global - Responsible World Equity Fund

  • ABI urged to reveal net figures

    29 Nov 2007

    Pension business grew by 8 per cent in the third quarter of this year.

  • Advanced system for EAP measurement

    1 Dec 2007

    Employee Advisory Resource is launching an employee assistance programme that it says offers the most advanced clinical outcomes measurement system available to date.

  • Aifa welcomes FSA’s change of RDR emphasis

    4 Dec 2007

    Aifa has welcomed the FSA’s “change of emphasis” on the retail distribution review suggesting it has listened to the concerns of the IFA community.

  • Annuity rate could hinge on occupation

    29 Nov 2007

    Occupation, wealth and even genetic testing could become key methods for determining annuity rates, says Hargreaves Lansdown head of pensions research Tom McPhail.

  • Arc issues C shares

    29 Nov 2007

    Arc Fund Management is looking to raise up to £7.5m in C shares to increase the investment opportunities within the Arc growth company venture capital trust.

  • Artemis funds shine as Lazard falls from grace

    29 Nov 2007

    In the twice-yearly Adviser Fund Index rebalancing on November 1, nine asset managers were ejected from the indices, with five new arrivals.

  • Axa media chief takes redundancy

    29 Nov 2007

    Axa media relations manager Steve Muir has taken redundancy after a restructure of the external communications team. He was previously in Axa's pension team.

  • Axa to launch protection T&D programme

    4 Dec 2007

    Axa is piloting a training and development project in a bid to close the £2.3 trillion protection gap.

  • Battle of the sexes

    1 Dec 2007

    The gap between women's and men's pension provision is continuing to widen. Is it time for women to start taking more risks?

  • Battle on the breaches

    29 Nov 2007

    The Conservatives say the data-loss debacle at HM Revenue and Customs is evidence of a systemic failure within HMRC.

  • Bell is voted best but Standard tops Sipp sales

    29 Nov 2007

    Standard Life is the most popular Sipp provider among advisers despite AJ Bell's product being ranked best overall.

  • 'Best buying opportunity' sees Bates set up new residential property fund

    29 Nov 2007

    Bates Investment Services founder Graham Bates is to offer a second residential property fund and says the current market is the best buying opportunity of the last 15 years.

  • Best laid plans

    29 Nov 2007

    For an area of our lives that has enjoyed the close attention of politicians for so many years, it is amazing how resilient the housing market has been.

  • Big in America

    29 Nov 2007

    Often, the time to buy sectors is when they have performed poorly. Apart from Japan, which has performed badly, the next worst is North America which has gone up by only 22 per cent and 40 per cent over the last three and five years respectively.

  • Biggest house price fall in 12 years

    29 Nov 2007

    November saw the biggest fall in property prices for 12 years, according to figures from Nationwide.

  • Black books

    29 Nov 2007

    The purchase of wholeloan books of business by building societies has come under close scrutiny from the FSA since the credit crunch took hold in August.

  • Bland speech: Mortgage broker response

    30 Nov 2007

    Hamptons managing director Jonathan Cornell has stressed that re-mortgaging is not the same as churning after the FSA suggested in a speech today that churning may be a problem in the mortgage market.

  • Bland speech: Protection adviser response

    30 Nov 2007

    Protection advisers say FSA director of small firms division Stephen Bland's speech, which suggests the retail distribution review may be applied to the mortgage and protection markets, comes as no surprise.

  • Blight becomes IMLA chairman

    29 Nov 2007

    GMAC-RFC managing director for sales and marketing Godfrey Blight has taken over as the new chairman for the Intermediary Mortgage lenders' Association.

  • BM Solutions to launch new sub-prime range

    30 Nov 2007

    BM Solutions will be launching a new range of sub-prime and sub-prime self-cert products on December 5.The lender alerted brokers in an email that the current range of sub-prime and sub-prime self-cert products will be withdrawn at midnight on December 4.

  • Bonus season

    1 Dec 2007

    High earners are being advised to batten down the hatches this bonus season. Sonia Speedy checks out what the experts are recommending

  • Branson facing a fight for Rock

    29 Nov 2007

    Virgin has been named as the preferred bidder for Northern Rock this week but is to face stiff opposition from one of the lender's biggest shareholders Rab Capital.

  • Broker Talkback

    29 Nov 2007

    Should Chancellor Alistair Darling resign over the Northern Rock and Revenue and Customs data debacles?

  • Burrows joins MPL Wealth Management

    3 Dec 2007

    Financial adviser Billy Burrows has joined MPL Wealth Management but will continue to trade as William Burrows Annuities.

  • Cable warns of potential house market crash

    3 Dec 2007

    Liberal Democrat acting leader and shadow chancellor Vince Cable has warned that a house market crash is a real possibility.

  • Capita to launch two new business units

    3 Dec 2007

    Capita will launch a new subsidiary on January 1, focusing on financial services distribution - Capita Wealth and Distribution Services.

  • Cavanagh buys corporate adviser JRG for £5.3m

    28 Nov 2007

    Cavanagh has bought corporate adviser JRG Financial Consultancy for a cash and share sum of £5.3m.

  • CF buys funds as Neptune exits market

    29 Nov 2007

    Neptune has sold its two multi-manager funds to City Financial in a deal that will see the firm cut its ties with the fund of funds market.

  • Chaser antics bring on bout of selective memory

    29 Nov 2007

    It was my birthday last week. Like the Queen, I get two. The first is my real birthday in May and my second the anniversary of the last extortion letter I got from a claim-chaser. Thanks to time-barring and, at last, regulation, the hunting season appears to be at an end. There is something for IFAs and the rest of the industry can celebrate.

  • Cheltenham & Gloucester - Full Term Tracker

    28 Nov 2007

    Cheltenham & GloucesterFull Term Tracker

  • Cheshire Building Society - Three Year Fixed Rate Mortgage

    28 Nov 2007

    Cheshire Building SocietyThree Year Fixed Rate Mortgage

  • 'City overestimating house price decline'

    29 Nov 2007

    Mortgage guru Ray Boulger has dismissed forecasts from futures and options traders that house prices will fall by as much as 7 per cent next year.

  • Clerical Medical amends life policy error

    30 Nov 2007

    Clerical Medical has made corrections to some 64,000 life policies after discovering a discrepancy in the annual management charge.

  • Clever additions

    1 Dec 2007

    Added-value features can tip the balance when selecting a group risk products if all the other factors are equal. But advisers can only truly add value by keeping add-ons in perspective, says Edmund Tirbutt

  • 'Clients want choice to use commission'

    29 Nov 2007

    Burns-Anderson says its consumer research shows that people using advisers want a commission option.

  • CML chairman calls for consultation within industry over credit crunch

    4 Dec 2007

    Council of Mortgage Lenders chairman Jon Pain has called for a review of how the Bank of England can help re-open the UK's mortgage backed securities market and support an easing of liquidity in wholesale markets.

  • Cofunds in wrap deal with Australian firm Praemium

    29 Nov 2007

    Cofunds has signed a deal with Australian wrap provider Prae-mium, which will see it introduce a number of new services and reporting tools.

  • Commercial breakdown?

    28 Nov 2007

    At the start of the year, after having delivered double digit returns for the past three years, there was a growing consensus in the financial services industry that the commercial property sector was to take a hit.

  • Consumers want a choice of payment options including commission, says AIFA

    4 Dec 2007

    Forty-six per cent of consumers want a choice of payment options for financial advice and a third believe advisers should be paid through commission, says Aifa.

  • Contract-based boom to run out of steam, says Ellison

    1 Dec 2007

    The seemingly irresistible rise of contract-based pensions will not last and the trust-based system will enjoy a renaissance, according to Robin Ellison, senior partner at Pinsent Masons.

  • Cover by phone slashes admin time

    29 Nov 2007

    Protection applications that are tele-underwritten are processed almost two weeks quicker than paper-based applications, says Lifesearch.

  • Cowdery gets backing for venture

    29 Nov 2007

    Resolution chairman Clive Cowdery plans to launch a new investment vehicle when the sale of Resolution to Pearl is complete. He is believed to have received several offers of backing for his new venture.

  • Dabblers be wary

    29 Nov 2007

    The next regulatory wave to crash against the IFA sector will be a review of firms that have been conducting high-volume transfers out of finalsalary schemes.

  • Debating society

    29 Nov 2007

    One thing I always find fascinating about this job is the diverse range of opinions people have about various subjects.

  • Derbyshire BS to close Intermediary Support Unit brand

    4 Dec 2007

    The Derbyshire Building Society is set to close its Intermediary Support brand in favour of its other intermediary arm Salt Finance.

  • Diverse strategies

    1 Dec 2007

    Advisers have different views of how to profit from market developments. Not all will be the right ones

  • Doric roars into the City

    29 Nov 2007

    Doric Asset Finance, is aiming to raise £170m from UK and German investors for Geno Lion Plaza GmbH & Co KG, a closed-ended fund that invests in a retail and office building in the City of London.

  • Dragons' den

    29 Nov 2007

    Despite the recent market turmoil that has seen the FTSE drop by nearly 10 per cent and the housing market wobble due to the credit crisis, it is an undeniable fact that many people are becoming wealthier. It is estimated that there are well over 400,000 individuals in the UK with liquid assets of more than £500,000 excluding the primary residence.

  • Duo will run guaranteed product trial

    29 Nov 2007

    Axa and Norwich Union are the two companies set to test guaranteed life insurance policies with Lifesearch, Money Marketing understands.

  • Edge Investment Management/RAM Capital - Edge Performance VCT D Shares

    28 Nov 2007

    Edge Investment Management/RAM CapitalEdge Performance VCT D Shares

  • Epic Private Equity - Epic VCT

    28 Nov 2007

    Epic Private EquityEpic VCT

  • Equitable Life annuity policy transfer to Pru approved by courts

    4 Dec 2007

    Equitable Life has announced that its agreement to transfer £1.7bn with-profits annuity policies to Prudential has been approved by the Royal Court of Guernsey and the Royal Court of Jersey.

  • Family values

    29 Nov 2007

    Big families are much less common than they used to be but I have a couple of clients with large numbers of children. Are there any financial planning issues that need to be looked at in this situation?

  • Fees plus CAR most popular answer to RDR

    1 Dec 2007

    A model based principally on fees but with some commission business on a customer agreed remuneration basis is seen as the most popular way to address the retail distribution review, but the future market place is predicted to hold many different models, according to Corporate Adviser research.

  • Fidelity changes UK aggressive and growth managers

    3 Dec 2007

    Fidelity has replaced two of the managers on its UK range with Mark Hodges and Carlos Moreno coming off the UK aggressive and UK growth portfolios respectively.

  • Fidelity warning on CAR plan problems

    29 Nov 2007

    Fidelity has warned the FSA of the dangers of introducing customer-agreed remuneration and primary advice in the form set out in the retail distribution review papers.

  • Firms need price clarity to compete

    29 Nov 2007

    Structured product providers should have to state an annual management charge equivalent to help advisers and platform providers offer these vehicles.

  • Fisher Investment hires ex-Towry Law MD Standish to head wealth arm

    4 Dec 2007

    Fisher Investments has appointed Miles Standish as the new managing director of its wealth management arm.

  • Friends Provident appoints UK distribution director

    29 Nov 2007

    Friends Provident has appointed Mark Cracknell as its director of development of UK distribution.  Cracknell, who has held a number of senior sales roles at Friends Provident, will be responsible for the strategy in developing new and existing distribution relationships and the management of operational support across UK distribution.  Friends Provident has a number of distribution and third party agreements in place, including Bankhall, Barclays Financial, Countrywide, ...

  • FSA looks to spread its RDR wings

    3 Dec 2007

    Not content with reshaping the investment marketplace through the retail distribution review, the FSA has now signalled the RDR could have a heavy bearing on mortgages and protection.

  • FSA pondering commission cap

    29 Nov 2007

    The FSA says it is considering soft-capping commission as part of the retail distribution review.

  • FSA puts back RDR timetable and pledges simplification of proposals

    4 Dec 2007

    The FSA has put back its retail distribution review timetable and suggested the final proposals will need to be less complex than originally suggested.

  • FSA warns "very real prospect" credit conditions will worsen further

    4 Dec 2007

    The FSA has warned the mortgage industry that there is a “very real prospect” that credit conditions will worsen further into next year.

  • FSA warns firms must do more to ensure ARs are treating customers fairly

    3 Dec 2007

    An FSA review has found firms are not doing enough to ensure their Appointed Representatives are treating their customers fairly with four firms facing enforcement.

  • FSA warns on “significant minority” of website promotions

    28 Nov 2007

    The FSA has warned that a quarter of financial firm’s websites are failing to present information to the consumer in a fair, clear and not misleading way.

  • Get a free ticket for our Mortgage debate

    29 Nov 2007

    Money Marketing is hosting a Mortgage Market Question Time event next week in London in conjunction with Lansons Communications. An expert panel will discuss the current state of the mortgage market and the outlook for 2008.

  • GMAC-RFC launches exclusive mainstream tracker rates

    3 Dec 2007

    GMAC-RFC has launched three new exclusive mainstream tracker rates through controlled distribution channels today.

  • Go fish

    29 Nov 2007

    This year's difficult market conditions provide the perfect backdrop for multi-managers to restate their modus operandi and, indeed, their raison d'etre.

  • 'Gold-plating tarnishes UK regulation'

    29 Nov 2007

    Aifa chairman John Gummer has called on FSA chief executive Hector Sants to improve the FSA's relationship with Europe and learn lessons from the EU to create more sensible regulations.

  • Government could be guilty of misselling PAs says Alexander

    1 Dec 2007

    The Government cannot rely on the political consensus around Personal Accounts holding unless it addresses the legitimate concerns of all parties. That was the message from Danny Alexander MP, shadow work and pensions secretary for the Liberal Democrats addressing delegates at the Corporate Adviser Summit in Hampshire last month.

  • Greenshields tipped to take on leading role at BestInvest

    29 Nov 2007

    Financial services industry veteran Ray Greenshields has been hotly tipped to take over as chairman of BestInvest.

  • Group Sipp launch as Friends chief quits

    1 Dec 2007

    Friends Provident has added a Sipp option to its new generation Group Personal Pension as well as increased retirement choices through an income withdrawal option.

  • Guidance confuses advisers

    29 Nov 2007

    Advisers say FSA guidance on pension advice ahead of the introduction of personal accounts has done little to help them.

  • Hazell Carr Sipp has no up-front fees

    29 Nov 2007

    Hazell Carr is offering a self-invested personal pension with no set-up fee that allows in specie contributions.

  • Henderson looks to financials

    29 Nov 2007

    Henderson Global Investors is adding the Horizon global financials fund to its Luxemburg Sicav range.

  • High take-up for Red Arc service

    29 Nov 2007

    Aegon Scottish Equitable says 88 per cent of group critical-illness policyholders who make a claim use the support services it provides through care advisory specialist Red Arc.

  • Home base

    29 Nov 2007

    One impact of the sub-prime crisis could be a reduction in Bank of England base rates.

  • Home thoughts

    29 Nov 2007

    This will be my last Money Marketing Expert column in my current role as in January my husband and myself are moving to South Africa.

  • I did it Maia way

    29 Nov 2007

    New multi-manager Maia Capital opened its doors to business last month. Resolution's fourth joint-venture boutique has launched with an initial core range of onshore cautious, balanced and growth funds and two offshore portfolios. Former Fidelity managers Chris Ralph, Jason Collins and Simon Mungall were hired to run the money, with Resolution providing £200m of seed funding. Last week, the boutique revealed some of its investments.

  • IAF takes to property

    29 Nov 2007

    IAF SecuritiesCapital Protected Commercial Property Plan

  • Invesco Powershares - Powershares Dynamic US Market

    28 Nov 2007

    Invesco PowersharesPowershares Dynamic US Market

  • Invesco Powershares - Powershares Global Clean Energy Fund

    29 Nov 2007

    Invesco PowersharesPowershares Global Clean Energy Fund

  • Invesco Powershares -Powershares FTSE RAFI 1000

    28 Nov 2007

    Invesco PowersharesPowershares FTSE RAFI 1000

  • Investec appoints Seif as portfolio manager

    3 Dec 2007

    Investec Asset Management has announced the appointment of Amr Seif as a portfolio manager to its frontier investing team.

  • Investment chief for Axa & Winterthur

    29 Nov 2007

    Axa & Winterthur Wealth Management has app-ointed Ian Colquhoun (as managing director commercial operations UK) to run its new investment company. Colquhoun has over 25 years' experience working within the pension and investment industry, including 14 years at Winterthur.

  • JPM loses new Europe co-head

    30 Nov 2007

    JPMorgan new Europe co-manager Amr Seif has left the firm to persue other opportunities.

  • Kensington quits adverse loans market

    29 Nov 2007

    Sub-prime lender Kensington Mortgages pulled out of the adverse market last week as a result of the credit squeeze.

  • Kent Reliance buys first loan book

    29 Nov 2007

    Kent Reliance Building Society is set to make its first loan book purchase this week despite the FSA urging caution in the current climate.

  • Keydata issues two plus plans

    29 Nov 2007

    Keydata has introduced two structured products which provide geared - also known as accelerated – returns that are linked to the FTSE 100 index.

  • Killik & Co launches loan facility for Sipp customers

    3 Dec 2007

    Killik & Co has launched a loan facility for its FlexiSipp customers which allows them to borrow up to 50 per cent of the value of their portfolio.

  • Knight predicts new wave of job losses

    29 Nov 2007

    Mortgage guru Stephen Knight believes a new round of redundancies will hit the industry as cost-cutting has not gone far enough.

  • L&G is preferred protection provider due to price says Defaqto

    4 Dec 2007

    Legal & General is advisers' preferred provider for life cover, life and critical illness and stand-alone critical illness policies according to Defaqto's Protection Service Study.

  • Lazard goes global in pursuit of income

    29 Nov 2007

    Lazard Asset ManagementGlobal Equity Income Fund

  • Len Warwick

    29 Nov 2007

    Money Marketing would like to clarify that Warwick Butchart chairman Len Warwick questioned why advisers with over 15 years' experience and a strong specialist track record should have to take up to 10 additional modules to achieve chartered status, not AFPC standard as reported on November 8.

  • Levelling down could cost us dear

    29 Nov 2007

    Prudential is the latest life office to go down the outsourcing route with Capita taking on the administration of seven million life and pensions policies for the next 15 years.

  • Levelling off may see pension cash plummet £10bn

    29 Nov 2007

    Annual pension contributions could fall by £10bn by 2050 if most employers level down their contributions when personal accounts are introduced.

  • Make a statement

    1 Dec 2007

    Pension statements should be the biggest possible opportunity for employee engagement. James Phillipps finds out why many are missing their target

  • Managing Partners - Traded Policies Fund

    28 Nov 2007

    Managing PartnersTraded Policies Fund

  • 'Meet in middle over education'

    29 Nov 2007

    Advisers at all levels need to be educated on how to analyse and use protected investments, according to Santander head of intermediary sales Gary Dale.

  • Merger is not on the cards

    4 Dec 2007

    Royal London head of intermediary business John Deane has denied rumours that Bright Grey and Scottish Provident will merge if Pearl successfully acquires Resolution.

  • Meteor Asset Management - Prima Growth Plan 5

    29 Nov 2007

    Meteor Asset ManagementPrima Growth Plan 5

  • Midas nets over 10% of sales on Cofunds

    29 Nov 2007

    Midas Capital's two multimanager funds exceeded a 10 per cent market share of Cofunds' net sales for the first time in October.

  • ML Blackrock goes for enhancement

    29 Nov 2007

    BlackRock Merrill Lynch has introduced the MLIIF European enhanced equity yield fund, which aims for income and growth by investing in dividend-paying European equities and derivatives.

  • Mortgages, protection and the RDR

    30 Nov 2007

    Sometimes I wonder if the FSA isn't some strange collection of major public school sadists urging the market on to greater and greater levels of masochism. Industry-led self flagellation anyone?

  • Nationwide expanding on-the-spot loan offers

    29 Nov 2007

    Nationwide is to introduce point-of-sale mortgage offers across all its brands by the end of next year after admitting it has been slow to bring in the system.

  • Nationwide increases rates on two year trackers

    30 Nov 2007

    Nationwide has increased rates on a number of its tracker mortgages with effect from December 4.

  • Neptune looks to Asia and Latin America

    3 Dec 2007

    Neptune has added two offerings to its investment range with the launch of both a Latin America and Asia Pacific opportunities fund.

  • New FSA review of pension transfers

    1 Dec 2007

    Advisers writing pension transfer business face a focused FSA review next year, Corporate Adviser Summit delegates heard last month.

  • Newcastle Building Society launches equity release broking arm

    4 Dec 2007

    Newcastle Building Society has launched a broking arm to provide advice on equity release.

  • 'No merger for Bright Grey and ScotProv'

    29 Nov 2007

    Royal London head of intermediary business John Deane has denied rumours that Bright Grey and Scottish Provident will merge if Pearl successfully acquires Resolution.

  • Noble Fund Managers appoints head of unquoted investments

    28 Nov 2007

    Noble Fund Managers has appointed Paul Toon as the firm’s head of unquoted investments.

  • NU cuts stakeholder pension charges

    29 Nov 2007

    Norwich Union is cutting stakeholder pension charges from 1.5 per cent to 1 per cent. Where no commission is paid, the base charge on its stakeholder and personal pension products will be reduced from 0.7 per cent to 0.55 per cent.

  • O'Brien backs B&CE as lesson for pensions

    29 Nov 2007

    Pensions minister Mike O'Brien says the Government should look at B&CE Benefit Solutions for lessons in how to run pension schemes.

  • O'Brien tells victims to wait for Young review

    29 Nov 2007

    Pensions minister Mike O'Brien says he wants justice for the victims of collapsed occupational pension schemes but his hands are tied until the Young review is completed.

  • Octopus Investments - Titan VCT 1 and 2

    28 Nov 2007

    Octopus InvestmentsTitan VCT 1 and 2

  • Octopus swims with the Titans

    29 Nov 2007

    Octopus InvestmentsTitan VCT 1 and 2

  • Offshore property firms in plea for self-rule regime

    29 Nov 2007

    The International Property Investment 2007 panel is calling for self-regulation of offshore property investing rather than handing control over to a Government body.

  • Original thinking

    1 Dec 2007

    The last surviving director of the five firms that formed Origen is building a business ready for the retail distribution review. Helen Monks asks Stephen Greenstreet where he is taking the firm

  • Origo tunes up tech for CAR

    29 Nov 2007

    Origo is working on a retail distribution review project with product providers in an attempt to ensure that firms' technology is ready to cope with customer-agreed remuneration and a new segmentation of advisers.

  • Overspend sees RDR cost hit £1m

    29 Nov 2007

    The FSA overspent its retail distribution review 2006/07 budget by 38 per cent, with nearly £1m now allocated to the project.

  • Park Row advisers aiming for diploma

    29 Nov 2007

    Almost three-quarters of Park Row advisers plan to take the diploma in financial planning exams in the next two years.

  • Pension switch deal on Hornbuckle Sipp

    29 Nov 2007

    Hornbuckle Mitchell is offering a Sipp which enables people to switch from an income-drawdown plan or an alternatively secured pension into a scheme pension.

  • Perception of health

    1 Dec 2007

    Public perception of the NHS plays an integral part in the value employees put on healthcare benefits. Sam Barrett assesses how the state system measures up to its private counterparts in the eyes of the nation.

  • PFS says prof standards board would police conflicts of interest

    29 Nov 2007

    Clear guidance on professional standards for dealing with conflicts of interest should run alongside any structural RDR remuneration changes and be rigidly enforced by a professional standards board, says the PFS.

  • PHL chief to head Abbey loan club

    29 Nov 2007

    Phil Whitehouse has been appointed head of Abbey-owned mortgage club The Mortgage Alliance. Whitehouse joins from Pink Home Loans, where he was business opportunities manager.

  • Pink Home Loans- TMB House-To-House 90 Tracker

    28 Nov 2007

    Pink Home LoansTMB House-To-House 90 Tracker

  • Pioneer and Exeter friendly societies join forces

    3 Dec 2007

    Income protection specialist Pioneer Friendly Society and private medical insurer Exeter Friendly Society have agreed transfer of engagement terms which will see the creation of a dedicated mutual healthcare insurer.

  • Plumb job

    29 Nov 2007

    When I was a child, my late father took me to see Tommy Cooper and the next day I felt that I had bust a rib or two, such was the severity of the mirth he delivered.

  • Powershares ETFs blur active and passive boundaries

    29 Nov 2007

    Invesco PowerShares has launched its first exchange traded funds on the London Stock Exchange.

  • PPF hit by allegations of overcharging

    29 Nov 2007

    Aon Consulting has accused the Pension Protection Fund of overcharging companies by millions of pounds through levy payments.

  • Private landlords enjoy high demand

    29 Nov 2007

    Tenant demand in the private rented sector has reached a five-year high, says the Association of Residential Letting Agents.

  • Proc bottom

    29 Nov 2007

    Next year marks the 25th anniversary of my first mortgage. It also marks the 25th anniversary of my endowment, which matures in May.

  • Product matters

    29 Nov 2007

    Aegon's 5 for Life plan brought the variable annuity concept to the UK when it was launched towards the end of 2006. It is actually a vehicle for investments, not pensions. Providers such as Hartford and MetLife have since come to market offering a similar concept for pension money.

  • Property problems

    29 Nov 2007

    Last week saw the rollercoaster ride continue on the markets. Talking to a couple of investment professionals, I was alarmed to find them making comparisons with early 2000. The market feels far from comfortable but the malaise is not universal and we are not as overextended as we were at the start of the new millennium.

  • Pru drawdown plan has protected rights switch

    29 Nov 2007

    Prudential has set up an income-drawdown plan which can be used alongside its personal pension.

  • Prudential signs £722m life and pensions outsourcing deal with Capita

    28 Nov 2007

    Prudential has signed a £722m outsourcing deal with Capita to administer seven million life and pensions policies for the next 15 years.

  • Psigma adds to Euro incoem crowd

    29 Nov 2007

    PSigma Asset ManagementEuropean Income Fund

  • Purvey joins C&G in IFA sales roles

    29 Nov 2007

    Former Bank of Ireland Mortgages head of sales Kevin Purvey has been appointed as Cheltenham & Gloucester's new head of corporate intermediary sales from the new year.

  • Quality issues

    29 Nov 2007

    The individual protection market is dominated by four or five providers but the latest Defaqto protection service report shows that IFAs do not get the level of service they expect.

  • Quarter of advisers to respond over RDR

    29 Nov 2007

    Around a quarter of advisers say they will respond to at least some aspects of the retail distribution review, according to research from Aegon.

  • RBS cuts proc fees

    29 Nov 2007

    RBS Intermediary Partners is cutting procuration fees on its First Active, RBS and The One account products.

  • RDR may have huge impact on mortgages and protection, says FSA

    30 Nov 2007

    The FSA has signalled the retail distribution review may well have a huge impact on the mortgage and protection market with questions to be answered over training and competence, churning and consumer understanding.

  • Right on target?

    1 Dec 2007

    High returns for low volatility should make absolute return funds an obvious candidate for defaults. Paul Farrow finds the jury is still out

  • Robert Kyprianou

    29 Nov 2007

    The son of Greek-Cypriot immigrants who moved to England after he Second World War, Axa Fram-lington chief executive Robert Kyprianou grew up in modest surroundings. His father worked in the catering business as a chef while his mother was in the rag trade.

  • Rock cost is 30 Domes, claims Cable

    29 Nov 2007

    The LibDems have launched a petition calling on the Government to reveal how much money has been lent to Northern Rock.

  • Rock's role

    29 Nov 2007

    What is the liability for taxpayers in the Northern Rock case?

  • Sants says IFAs are vital part of vibrant market

    29 Nov 2007

    New FSA chief executive Hector Sants has sent out a conciliatory message to advisers, saying he is aware of their concerns over the retail distribution review and admitting that the regulator has not made its intention clear at times.

  • ScotEq tests simple online policy

    29 Nov 2007

    Aegon Scottish Equitable is running tests on an online simplified life insurance product with key distributors.

  • Seasonal adjustments

    29 Nov 2007

    Christmas shopping has begun and this wave of consumer spending is always vital to the state of financial markets. Retail stocks are generally among the most affected by the holiday season and forecasts suggest this Christmas will be no different. However, considering the extent to which consumers may be affected by current market activities, shopping is going to be watched carefully by analysts ...

  • Select committee slams CGT changes

    29 Nov 2007

    The Treasury select committee has attacked the Government's capital gains tax proposals, highlighting the damage that could be done to small businesses, employee shareholders and longer-term investment.

  • Seven Dials adds third fund

    29 Nov 2007

    Property fund of funds manager Seven Dials expects to complete a third acquisition for its European property fund in the next three to four weeks.

  • Skills for success

    29 Nov 2007

    The UK has arguably the most sophisticated financial system in the world.

  • Something to celebrate

    29 Nov 2007

    Thanksgiving is a time of celebration in the US and for investors looking at the world's biggest economy, there could be rich pickings among the sub-prime gloom.

  • Split-cap saga finally draws to an end

    29 Nov 2007

    Split-cap product provider BFS Investments has been declared in default by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.

  • Splitting the difference

    1 Dec 2007

    What will the Gissings split mean for their clients in the long term? John Greenwood looks at plans for an amicable divorce

  • SPML and Preferred cut rates

    3 Dec 2007

    Lehman Brothers subsidiaries SPML and Preferred have cut rates today after launching new product ranges.

  • Standard Life pulls out of UK protection market

    28 Nov 2007

    Standard Life has pulled out of the UK protection market admitting its proposition is "sub-scale".

  • Stricken Eaglet fends off

    29 Nov 2007

    The vultures are circling round the Eaglet investment trust after a lengthy period of underperformance.

  • Suisse looks at global income

    29 Nov 2007

    Credit Suisse Asset Management is planning to launch a global equity income fund.

  • Suspend Northern Rock shares, say Lib Dems

    3 Dec 2007

    Acting Lib Dem leader Vince Cable has accused the FSA of a "dereliction of duty" in failing to suspend Northern Rock shares.

  • Swiss land banking company ordered into compulsory liquidation

    28 Nov 2007

    A Swiss land banking company has been ordered into compulsory liquidation for a scheme in which it sold land in South England which left investors owning useless plots bought at inflated prices.

  • Swiss Life to buy AWD

    3 Dec 2007

    Swiss Life looks set to buy the German financial adviser firm AWD, parent company of AWD Chase de Vere, for £824m.

  • System switch brings Origen problems

    29 Nov 2007

    Origen is reckoned to have had to recalculate its business figures after problems with integrating its legacy back-office technology systems on to one software provider which has led to difficulty in tracking business flow and sales figures.

  • T1pped to perform

    29 Nov 2007

    T1ps Investment ManagementSF T1ps Smaller Companies Growth Fund

  • Taking care of small business

    29 Nov 2007

    What are the key points for smaller IFA firms in their response to the FSA's plans set out in the retail distribution review?

  • Tenet support teams to focus on TCF

    4 Dec 2007

    Tenet's support and development teams will be focusing on treating customers fairly with a view to teaching advisers to spot the business opportunties associated with the principle.

  • The Asian alternative

    29 Nov 2007

    Asia has not been immune to the recent market turmoil but does hold growth opportunities for prudent investors.

  • The FSA’s coming after you

    30 Nov 2007

    If you thought before that the FSA was not focusing heavily on the mortgage market you had better think again.

  • The good, the bond and the ugly

    29 Nov 2007

    Over the past few weeks, I have been looking at the potential impact that the pre-Budget report proposals on the taxation of capital gains might have on the most appropriate choice of investment wrapper for individuals. Similar considerations need to be applied for trustees, on tax grounds at least. Trustees can in effect be viewed as higher-rate taxpayers with a smaller annual CGT exemption.

  • Thinc aquires Chambers Morgan James and Cavendish Financial Management

    29 Nov 2007

    Thinc Group has announced the acquisition of high-profie financial planning firms Chambers Morgan James and Cavendish Financial Management.

  • Tidy transfers

    29 Nov 2007

    In my last article, I discussed reasons why a client might expect to profit by transferring a pension fund from one money-purchase contract to another. More pertinently, I suggested an outline format for a suitable recommendation letter which should ensure the client is made aware of the possible advantages and disadvantages of such a course of action.

  • Treasury draws up emergency plan for Northern Rock

    4 Dec 2007

    The Treasury and the Bank of England are believed to be drawing up contingency plans to pay Northern Rock's depositors their money if the lender has to be put into administration.

  • Two thirds of advisers do not fear Personal Accounts

    1 Dec 2007

    There is a wide split in the anticipated effect on pension business from Personal Accounts and auto-enrolment, according to research carried out at the Corporate Adviser Summit last month.

  • Unum re-launches consumer claims guide

    29 Nov 2007

    Unum has re-launched its ‘Your guide to claiming group income protection’ guide which aims to explain the claims process and ensure it is as straightforward as possible for claimants.

  • Venture Preference buys THIG

    1 Dec 2007

    Axa subsidiary Venture Preference has entered the private medical market with the acquisition of The Health Insurance Group (THIG).

  • Vigil of the victims

    29 Nov 2007

    Will Henley reports from an all-night vigil in the long battle for pension justice for thousands of people who were left desolate when their companies bust.

  • Virtue of Paragon

    29 Nov 2007

    The fact that Paragon's warehouse lines were due to roll over in February has been well known for some time, so its half-year announcement should have come as no surprise. The near halving of its share price as a reaction shows yet again that common sense has gone walkabout. The position was compounded by the latest update from Northern Rock and the Treasury. The odds on Chancellor Alistair Darling presenting the next Budget must be shortening by the second.

  • Widows stops offering protection quotes through portals

    28 Nov 2007

    Scottish Widows has stopped offering protection quotations through industry portals prompting speculation it may follow Standard Life and abandon the protection market.

  • Winterthur delivers 36 per cent growth in pensions business

    28 Nov 2007

    Winterthur's wealth management business has reported a 36 per cent increase in new individual pensions business in the first nine months of this year.

  • Wise after the event

    29 Nov 2007

    Ours is an industry that depends on people being aware of the possibility of their own death, ill-health or disability and also being stimulated somehow into looking at how they might mitigate the financial implications for them and/or their dependants through insurance.

  • Woolwich emails mortgage brokers over service troubles

    3 Dec 2007

    Woolwich has been forced to email brokers detailing its current service troubles after numerous complaints about the lender.

  • Wrap proposition is outdated, says Parmenion

    3 Dec 2007

    Traditional wrap services leave clients under-serviced and advisers over-stretched, according to Parmenion Capital Partners.

  • Yorkshire Building Society increases equity to 32.5 per cent on HomeBuy scheme

    29 Nov 2007

    Yorkshire Building Society has launched a new exclusive Open Market Homebuy scheme that will see the interest free equity element increase to 32.5 per cent for the first five years.

  • Zurich appoints Cooper as pensions manager

    30 Nov 2007

    Zurich has appointed former Winterthur product development manager Nick Cooper to the position of pensions proposition manager

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