Spot the difference: Comparing the advice sector’s major training grounds
Money Marketing speaks to graduates from the three largest financial adviser academies
Outgoing RBS chief heads to troubled Australian bank
Royal Bank of Scotland chief executive Ross McEwan will take the top job at National Australia Bank. The move follows the resignation of NAB’s former leader, Andrew Thorburn, in the wake of the nation’s Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry. While NAB is headquartered in Melbourne, it has not […]
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FCA: Advice is one of the UK’s greatest success stories
The FCA is confident in the future of the advice industry but will need further feedback as it sets about reviewing the success of the RDR and the effectiveness of the Financial Advice Markets Review. Speaking at an Adviser Home/Octopus Investments event this week, the regulator’s head of customer distribution policy Alex Roy said the […]
Iain Anderson: Johnson vs Hunt on personal finance policy
By the end of this month, either Boris Johnson or Jeremy Hunt will take up residence behind the world’s most famous black door. The race to succeed Theresa May gets more interesting by the day. And if it were supposed to be a virtual coronation for Boris, then someone should have told Jeremy Hunt, who […]
How are advisers using technology?
Technology is playing an ever bigger role in the day-to-day running of advice firms and provides a way for firms to position their businesses for the future. How are advisers using technology and what pieces of software can they not do without?
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Regulator’s whistleblowing framework labelled ‘charade’
The FCA’s whistleblowing framework is paying lip service to supporting whistleblowers, but does little to protect them or act on disclosures, informants fear. Some whistleblowers labelled the policy as “window dressing” and “a charade” when they shared the experience they encountered with the FCA for a report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Whistleblowing published […]
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Tony Wickenden: Put life assurance back at the heart of planning
Supercharge clients’ invested funds by building life assurance in to the core of a financial plan
Liontrust appoints non-executive director
Liontrust has appointed Mandy Donald as an independent non-executive director. Subject to regulatory approval, she will join the board on 1 August and become chair of the audit and risk committee on 20 September. A trained chartered accountant, Donald spent almost two decades at EY before she turned her focus to the growth of new […]
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UK robo advice solutions lags despite investment
The development of robo initiatives in the UK advice market have hit a wall despite increasing investment in the sector, according to Octopus Investments. Speaking at an Adviser Home event this week, Octopus Investments chief executive Ruth Handcock said the £1.4bn invested in the global robo market has yielded lukewarm results in the UK at […]
Artemis most viewed fund group, Square Mile reveals
Artemis has held pole position as the “most viewed” fund group for a third consecutive quarter, Square Mile Investment Consulting and Research has revealed in its latest market intelligence report. It accounted for 10 per cent of all views in the second quarter of the year, ahead of Fidelity International with a share of 6.6 […]
Claire Trott: Is salary sacrifice losing its appeal?
Salary sacrifice arrangements could now have a knock-on effect on the annual allowance
Market perspectives
Paul Niven – manager of the F&C Investment Trust – discusses the state of the world economy and assesses the prospects for markets from here. Following the significant correction in the final quarter of 2018, the first three months of this year saw broad-based positive returns for almost all asset classes, led by equities. Despite […]
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Short term thinking does not deliver in the long-term
Capital is at risk. We live in a world of 24-hour news with information feeding instantly to screens that bombard us from walls, desks and our phones. As a result, we’re increasingly connected to the wider world we live in – a trend that’s broadened our perspectives in some ways but can narrow them in […]
What Does The Future Hold For Multi-Asset Strategies?
If only we had a crystal ball, investing would be so much easier. Particularly in the past year, it has often seemed as if uncertainty is the only certainty for asset managers, advisers, and their clients. Amid geopolitical developments and a slowing global economy, an increase in market volatility is a significant possibility. That’s why we […]
How to make protection mean more to your clients
In 2018, Scottish Widows paid out 98% of all claims, helping 9,499 customers and their families*. But what do these figures really mean to your clients? Psychologists refer to the term ‘statistical numbing’ to explain why we tend to find one person’s personal story more powerful than abstract statistics. So, this year, Scottish Widows are […]
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FNZ acquires wealth management software firm JHC
Platform technology firm FNZ has acquired software provider JHC Systems, which serves the wealth management industry, for an undisclosed sum. The deal will bolster FNZ’s position in the UK and comes hot on the heels of it completing the purchase of German investment platform, ebase. JHC is headquartered in London and provides the “core technology […]
Attracting new talent ‘low priority’ for Women in Finance charter
More than a third of finance firms say they joined the government’s HM Treasury Women in Finance Charter because it is “the right thing to do”. In a new update on the WFC, signatories say attracting good talent into their firms was one of the lowest motivations for signing up. Three years on from the […]
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Planners must overcome ‘fear of advice’
The planning profession must work hard to overcome the “fear of advice” many consumers have, a new guide from retirement planning veteran Billy Burrows says. In the guide, entitled Retirement Advice: An Art or Science?, Burrows notes that while some individuals with modest wealth have benefited from direct investment options, the complexity and importance of […]
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Origo marks 20% rise in pension transfer volumes
Pension transfer volumes have increased by 20 per cent year on year between 30 June 2018 and 30 June 2019 to more than £680,000 through the Origo Transfer Service. The pensions technology firm says this has been driven by new companies, such as Nest signing up to the service at the end of 2018 and […]
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Aegon snaps up long-serving Standard Life employee
Aegon has appointed Leigh-Ann Plenderleith as its chief actuary and financial strategy director to drive the strategy for capital management, asset/liability matching and market consistent value across the business. Plenderleith joins this month from Standard Life where she has worked for 19 years and will report to chief financial officer Stephen McGee. She replaces James […]
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UK investors draw a blank on investment exit strategies
A quarter of investors in the UK are unsure of how to liquidate the investments they hold, figure show. Property investment company Experience Invest found 32 per cent of respondents to a survey said they have tried to exit an investment, but ultimately did not after learning they would incur unexpected fees for doing so. […]
FNZ acquires German investment platform
Platform technology firm FNZ has today completed the acquisition of German investment platform company, ebase. Edinburgh-headquartered FNZ has purchased ebase (the European Bank for Financial Services) from German bank Comdirect Bank for €154m (£139m). The sale was first agreed to last year, and has since received regulatory approval. FNZ Group said that under its ownership, […]
Nine advice firms make latest FSCS default list
Nine of the 11 firms declared in default by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme this month are wealth management or advice firms, latest figures show. The newest firms to make the lifeboat fund’s list bring the total number declared in default since mid-May to 26. The FSCS putting a firm into default means the lifeboat […]
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FCA: Advice boundary ‘almost impossible’ to define
The boundary of where financial advice starts and information begins is “almost impossible” to define, the FCA has said. Speaking at the FCA’s annual public meeting this morning, chair Charles Randall noted the difficulties of defining the advice perimeter in the context of the recent collapse of mini-bond provider London Capital & Finance. Treasury to […]
BlackRock launches ESG tax-transparent funds
BlackRock has launched two funds with an environmental, social and governance focus, citing growing appetite among UK pension schemes for sustainable investment options. The funds are tax-transparent or authorised contractual scheme funds; these types of funds allow investors to benefit from the same tax treatment in respect of their income and gains as they would […]
VitalityInvest brings in 0% charges
VitalityInvest has unveiled the next stop in its proposition, allowing accessibility to discounted fees to its customers. From 22 July, all new clients to VitalityInvest will be given automatic access to its Healthy Living Programme, regardless of any qualifying criteria such as being a customer of Vitality health and life insurance policies. New customers could […]
Editor’s note: Investment management needs its own watershed moment for professionalism
What are the hallmarks of a true profession? A robust qualifications framework? A rigorous code of conduct? A genuine commitment to continuing development? These are undoubtedly noble indicators, but I would throw one more into the mix: an attitude that welcomes criticism in order to better itself. A profession does not surround itself with yes […]
Tom Baigrie: Sales culture is stopping income protection going mainstream
I’m feeling old just now, recovering from a hip replacement and thus spending too much time watching TV and despairing at the modern world! Apart from a propensity to shout at the TV, another thing old age brings is a longer-term, broader view of life. Well, I hope so. You be the judge. You could […]
Martin Bamford: How the next recession will test planning
Changes to the landscape mean next time there is a recession it will come with unprecedented challenges for the profession
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Why artificial intelligence won’t replace advisers anytime soon
The robots are coming and they are after our jobs, so we’ve been told. Huge advances in artificial intelligence mean machines are now capable of doing many of the tasks once carried out by humans. That’s good news for employers, who will benefit from greater efficiencies, but it could potentially mean bad news for less […]
Adrian Boulding: Difference between inflation measures balloon over time
If you’re building an investment portfolio for retirement savings, it’s a good idea to include some assets with returns that are linked to inflation. Index-linked gilts and National Savings Certificates are two examples. However, increasingly some of these assets remain linked to the older RPI while others link to the newer CPI. The selection of […]
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Clive Waller: Investment values – calling out the lies
Old wives’ tales persist in the face of uncomfortable truths about the value of investments
Malcolm McLean: What would Boris Johnson PM do for pensions?
The likely future premier has yet to prove his skills in pension policy
Do your clients really understand LPAs?
Client education on LPAs must come before a decision about whether to include them in a financial plan
Phil Jeynes: Insurers must prepare for a deluge of health data
Many insurers use wearables and online tools to encourage and reward customers who live a healthier life – be that through exercise, diet or mental wellbeing. But better technology, allowing customers increased health awareness, presents challenges in the coming years. Many underwriting measurements are fast becoming outdated and blunt. For example, body mass index has […]
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Ian McKenna: Tech tips from a trailblazing sole trader
The winner of Money Marketing’s award for use of technology explains how even small firms can use it to transform their business
Altus: Matching a DFM to your advice model
This article first appeared on the DFM Centre. Click here to discover more. Avoid bad DFM relationships and confusing your clients by ensuring the service has the right soft skills and fits with the advice you provide Discretionary fund manager. The term gets a different reception depending upon who you are talking to. For every […]
High stakes: Can the asset management sector get itself future-fit?
With growing demands from investors, the investment management industry is bracing itself for a make-over in a changing world. Is it up to the task?
Show me the money: The Wellesley Grove Journal
A weekly account of the curious goings-on in the world of financial services Show me the money! When this WGJ correspondent was a little ’un they used to ask adults why the production of more money couldn’t solve all the world’s financial problems. Despite being shot down, WGJ knew there was some merit to the […]
Protection Brief – Making sense of the income protection and state benefits link
Advisers and clients need to grasp how the mortgage disregard is applied
Flexible working in the East of England
With firms competing against those in London, flexible and remote working have become key recruitment differentiators
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Investment Insight – Can monetary authorities counter economic fallout?
Time to stop believing central banks can generate lasting growth
Jacqueline Clezy: Don’t let lump sums blind clients
The right advice is crucial to avoid instant gratification at the expense of long-term income needs
Investment Uncovered – Minimising risk in a contradictory world
We may have entered a phase in markets where some strategies cannot deliver on their objectives
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Inside Fundsmith’s new investment trust
Last month, star manager Terry Smith announced he was throwing £25m of his own money behind a new investment trust, Smithson. Ahead of its launch, Money Marketing editor Justin Cash sat down with Simon Barnard and Will Morgan, the fund’s managers, to talk strategy, as well as their thoughts on some of the hottest topics […]
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Fixing the FSCS: Experts weigh in
PFS chief executive Keith Richards, Threesixty managing director Russell Facer and financial planner Susan Hill sit down with Money Marketing editor Justin Cash to discuss what’s wrong with the FSCS, and how it can be reformed.
Wired on-demand: The politics of Brexit – What investors need to know
Welcome to the on-demand version of our latest Wired event: The politics of Brexit – What investors need to know. Exclusively for UK Edge members!
Good life gurus: Kate Shaw – going the distance
Welcome to the third instalment of our good life gurus series. We talk to Kate Shaw, an IFA and ultra runner, to find out how she got started with an exercise regime and how a healthy lifestyle helps her with her work-life balance.
Election Fever
Election fever hit India and Australia in May. The former, the largest democratic election in the world, resulted in a comfortable win for the incumbent – Narendra Modi and his Hindu Nationalist Party (Bharatiya Janata Party). Mr Modi comes from a humble background and this appears to have resonated with millions of voters aspiring to a […]
MM Wired on-demand: The impact of a Corbyn govt on investments
Catch up with last week’s Money Marketing debate on what Labour would mean for financial planners with former pensions minister Steve Webb and three leading advisers.
Q2 2019 review: stock rebound continues
Trevor Greetham, Head of Multi Asset at Royal London Asset Management presents his review of Q2: Equities continued their stellar start to the year, despite a May sell-off, bonds performed strongly, but property is slowing. Read the article Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. The value of investments and the income […]
What price sterling credit?
What price sterling credit? Despite narrowing sharply in recent months, Jonathan Platt, Head of Fixed Income at Royal London Asset Management argues that sterling credit spreads could narrow further, given dovish central banks and the ongoing hunt for yield. Read the blog Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. The value of […]
Trump tweets and market retreats
As President Donald Trump again uses social media to praise the record performance of US equity indices, Nersen Pillay, Investment Director at Royal London Asset Management investigates how stocks have behaved after earlier, similar Trump tweets. Read the blog Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. The value of investments and the […]
The new protection conversation. How do you tailor yours?
Jennifer Gilchrist, Protection Specialist, Royal London When it comes to the protection conversation, there’s a new trigger emerging that could help you target a different type of customer. Some advisers look out for homebuyers, while others look for the pregnant couples. But there’s a new protection trigger in town: our latest State of the Protection […]
Brazil: valuations remain compelling
“We don’t think the market is really giving Brazil a huge amount of credit for the new government & reforms that we’re starting to see.” Watch Thomas Smith, Fund Manager, argue why investors should not assume the Brazilian market is trading at a premium. Disclaimer: Investment risks This Fund may have a high volatility rating and […]
Investment Clock Economic report: trade versus stimulus
Read the latest Investment Clock Economic report from Royal London Asset Management’s Senior Economist, Melanie Baker. Trade tensions threaten the outlook, but stimulus looks set to help steer the economy away from trouble. Read the report Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. The value of investments and the income from them […]
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Profile: ‘Selecting the top 50 to 100 funds you use is not difficult’
Advisers have traditionally doubled up as stock pickers and for Filip Slipaczek staying on top of the market is still central to the service he offers
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Profile: ‘SimplyBiz backing will speed up what we bring to the market for advisers’
Defaqto chief executive discusses the benefits of its acquisition by support services firm SimplyBiz
Profile: ‘It is important for advisers to recognise their own biases’
Finura Partners managing director Nathan Mead-Wellings on using behavioural science in financial planning