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FCA draws red lines against Sipp providers in judicial review
Michael Klimes looks at the FCA’s increasingly tough stance on Sipp providers and unregulated investments
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Just 17% of adviser websites list fees, study finds
Only 17 per cent of adviser websites mention their fees, new analysis has shown, reigniting debates over online disclosure. Of the 300 firms assessed by adviser marketing firm The Yardstick Agency, only just five gave sufficient detail to tell clients what fees they would be likely to pay. The results are down from last year, […]
Adviser to football star Shearer banned for taking insolvent company’s assets
IFA directors Kevin and Cheryl Neal have been banned from being company directors by the Insolvency Service for six and four years, respectively. The married couple ran the now-defunct Hertfordshire-based Kevin Neal Associates Wealth Management. They were disqualified for taking assets from an insolvent company. The firm had been incorporated to take over the business interests […]
Hartley Pensions buys collapsed Sipp firm’s asset book
Hartley Pensions has bought the “untainted” assets of the Lifetime Sipp Company, which went into administration earlier this year. An update published today on the website of Lifetime’s administrators Kingston Smith & Partners says Hartley Pensions has also agreed to administer the tainted Sipps held by Lifetime Sipp. The administrator described tainted assets as those where […]
150 investors pursue Sipp provider over Harlequin investments
Around 150 investors are pursuing legal claims against GPC Sipp over allegations it is responsible for losses incurred from risky investments. FS Legal Solicitors says all the claimaints lost money when they invested in the Harlequin property fund through the provider’s Sipp. A spokesman for the firm told Money Marketing the issues in the case are […]
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Claire Trott: Can pension contributions paid in error be refunded?
Refunds are not always possible, so what can be done to unwind the overpayments? I am often asked if pension contributions paid in error can be refunded to the client or their employer. In most cases, the answer is no, so we need to be sure that any contributions paid are made and calculated correctly. Let’s […]
SJP reveals fund range shake-up
St James’s Place has announced a raft of management changes to its fund ranges. Steve Gorman of Wellington Management will be appointed lead manager for the Alternative Assets fund. Meanwhile, Ken Hsia from Investec Asset Management will take over the Continental European fund and will co-manage the Greater European Progressive fund. The Axa Framlington Managed […]
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Carney: Market chaos from Brexit could see interest rates cut
Bank of England governor Mark Carney has told economists that rate-setters will be forced to make harsh cuts to support the economy if Brexit is not smooth. Speaking in London last night, Carney says the bank is ready to act in the face of a messy exit from the European Union, warning that the contingency […]
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Pimfa urges FCA against contingent charging ban
The FCA should not be under the illusion a ban on contingent charging will necessarily improve the quality of advice, an adviser trade body has said. The Personal Investment Management and Financial Advice Association warns any contingent charging ban could have unforeseen consequences. According to Pimfa removing contingent charging could push consumers to either become […]
Moneyhub signs integration deal with Intelliflo
Technology provider Moneyhub will now use Intelliflo’s application programming interface for its advisers. Integration onto the API will allow for advisers to access real-time information of client’s managed pensions and investments. Advisers will also be able to link investments they manage and see clients’ spending and savings patterns. The Big Interview: Moneyhub chief executive on […]
Who benefits from risk-rating partnerships?
The past few years have seen a rapid rise in the number of fund managers linking with risk profilers to launch new ranges. Determining risk is a central part of the advice process. But risk-profiling tools have been subject to criticism over the wildly different asset allocations they produce and their lack of consistency when […]
AJ Bell adds to passive range with global growth fund
AJ Bell is expanding its passive range to target a higher expected return for investors with a new global growth fund. AJ Bell launched its first range of own-brand funds last year with five risk-targeted multi-asset passive funds. The platform and Sipp provider said it has launched the Passive Global Growth fund in response to […]
Advisers pinpoint growth segments post-freedoms
Just over two-thirds of advisers expect most business to come from at-retirement clients with assets ranging from £100,000 to £250,000 this year, according to research from consultants AKG. The online survey of 100 advisers conducted in March looks at how advisers are dealing with the opportunities and challenges of pension freedoms. It is one of […]
Fidelity defends harassment complaint as legal battle set to continue
An internal investigation has found that a Fidelity International director did not bully or harass one of the firm’s employees. Legal action could still continue, however, as both the employee and company contest each other’s claims. Money Marketing reported last month that Fidelity had opened an investigation into a senior manager after an associate director […]
Investors pour £4bn into new ESG ETFs
Eight exchange-traded funds that prioritise environmental and social targets entered the market in May alone, according to the London Stock Exchange, driving record levels of flows into ESG strategies. LSE says 2018 has been a record year for passive funds prioritising socially and sustainable companies. A total of 31 ESG ETFs holding £3.97bn in assets […]
Just launches TVAS service
Retirement product provider Just Group has launched a digital platform that will offer transfer value analysis services. Just Group is starting the wholly-owned HUB Pension Solutions to provide support services for trustees, scheme sponsors and appointed advisers. The launch of the new services comes two months after the FCA’s policy statement on defined benefit transfers […]
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Liberty Sipp faces fresh claims over unregulated investments
A law firm is set to issue more than 30 cases against Liberty Sipp in what it believes is the largest number of claims issued against the provider to date. Anthony Philip James & Co alleges the Sipp provider is responsible for the misselling of Sipps between 2011 and 2013. It says it has up […]
Trade body refuses to post ‘misleading’ KIDs on its website
The Association of Investment Companies will not be hosting the new key information documents on its website saying to do so would be irresponsible. Since 1 January, Priips legislation has meant advisers have to publish a stand-alone, standardised KID to their client including performance scenarios, risks, and the total cost of products. However, trade bodies […]
FSCS pays out £5.7m compensation to Strand Capital customers
The Financial Services Compensation Scheme has paid out £5.7m so far to nearly 800 customers of collapsed discretionary fund manager Strand Capital. The payments were made to 796 investors over the past two weeks. The payments related to client cash only. The compensation was paid directly into customers’ self-invested personal pensions. An administrator’s report published in […]
Money Marketing Interactive Harrogate is back! Our top five picks
After a record attendance for the London leg of our Money Marketing Interactive conference earlier this month, we are delighted to say that we will be returning to Harrogate in September. After a hugely successful launch last year, we are escaping the London bubble once more to bring you a top day of insight and […]
Keith Richards: The win-win of social impact investing
We were proud to publish a good practice guide on social impact investing last month as part of an initiative started by an independent advisory group chaired by Allianz Global Investors vice chair Elizabeth Corley. The group had been set up by the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to increase choice in this […]
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Has the FCA forgotten about the advice gap?
Robos came under fire this week, with an FCA review finding serious failings in terms of suitability and disclosure. Adviser comments soon followed, praising the regulator for finally getting tough on automated advice. Here are a few extracts from the FCA: Some firms did not make clear whether their service was advised, non-advised, discretionary or […]
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Editor’s note: Orphaned clients are safe… for now
It’s amazing how strongly the subject of commission still inflames adviser passions. The debate is obviously far more nuanced than many give it credit for. Legacy pensions flogged only because of the commission they paid can hardly be put in the same ballpark as vital protection products that simply would not be commercially viable to […]
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Blog: What happened to Selectapension’s DB transfer partner?
When Selectapension stopped executing defined benefit pension transfer advice last year, eyes quickly turned to its key partner firm: CFPML. A previously unknown entity, the FCA reviewed CFPML as part of its work, and a little big of digging from Money Marketing uncovered it was actually a two-man band advice firm just down the road from […]
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Steve Bee: Employers tied in knots by red tape on pensions
Many of my friends are ex-teachers, having retired from the profession. We were recently talking about how valuable the teachers’ pension scheme has been to them in building a decent amount to retire on and bemoaning the fact the next generations are unlikely to have such benefits provided through the generosity of their employers. Our […]
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Phil Wickenden: Reasons to be cheerful on GDPR
One week out from implementation, our research shows only around half of advisers are 100 per cent confident they are ready for the General Data Protection Regulation. GDPR represents the biggest ever change to how personal data is collected and handled. The fundamentals are quite simple: to give individuals more control over how their personal […]
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Dennis Hall: Advisers can all too easily embarrass their clients
I recently experienced an uncomfortable encounter, which led me to take a more difficult path than some of the easier options available. It followed several months of kicking the tyres on various back-office and customer relationship management systems. Most meetings with software providers left me feeling uninspired. You know how it goes: there is the […]
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Blog: Where are all the contrarian investment calls?
Fund managers like to trade off having a unique style. There thousands of funds out there to choose from – the question I often hear from advisers is: what makes this person different? Sometimes this can be a really tough one to answer. “We invest for the long term” is all fine and good, but […]
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Editor’s note: Sipp providers must avoid the web of DB transfer scandals
I apologise if you are bored of hearing about defined benefit transfers by now. Really, I do. There are plenty of times when I wish I didn’t have to dedicate hours of my day to covering negative developments in the market. But, yet again, I feel like my hand has been forced this week. New […]
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Paul Lewis: FSCS funding row misses crucial point
The wrong people are paying the levy and the fund is not going to enough of the right consumers Consumers of financial services firms are not being given enough compensation when they are missold, misadvised or out-and-out cheated. Or, rather, not enough clients are being given compensation. We know that because, in most cases, they […]
Roger Edwards: Protection is back on the road to simplicity
The day on which my career as a marketer in financial services started back in 1987 also happened to be the day the stockmarket crashed. The people at the investment company taking me on as a graduate had no time to welcome me with a chat and a cup of coffee. They were trying to […]
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Cast adrift: Two years on, has the sunset clause left clients orphaned?
Two years on from the sunset clause, advisers remain concerned over client poaching and how platforms deal with clients they have deemed “financial orphans.” The FCA banned platforms from retaining rebates from fund managers in 2014, but allowed the payment of commission to advisers to continue. The introduction of the sunset clause in April 2016 […]
Tony Wickenden: Don’t write off residence nil rate band just yet
The rise in IHT takings has prompted complaints around the new residence nil rate band’s impact
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Neil MacGillivray: Death benefit disparity
The ability to cascade funds tax efficiently down through the generations is a key driver behind demand for DB transfers
Investment Uncovered: The Trump effect on gold
Gold prices historically have maintained a tight, inverse relationship with real yields on 10-year US Treasuries, but this relationship has weakened in the past year, suggesting the precious metal’s price is now being driven by other forces. Real yields are adjusted for inflation, so the real yield on 10-year US Treasuries, for example, is the […]
Ian McKenna: Think outside the box on affordable advice
Last week’s Finovate Spring conference shone a light on the new ways of working required to reach the mass market
Your last-minute checklist for GDPR
With implementation just around the corner, time is running out to get compliance right
Roderic Rennison: 10 steps to a solid strategic plan
A well-written, well-executed strategic plan is key to enhancing the value of an advice firm
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Steve Webb: Let people pay transfer advice costs from DB pension rights
Offsetting the cost of advice this way would benefit clients and advisers alike One of the multiple barriers to better take-up of financial advice is that some people are unwilling or unable to meet the upfront cost. In response to this, the government has allowed people to take small chunks (three lots of £500) out […]
Investment Insight: Helping clients ride the volatility wave
With market instability expected to continue, advisers must ensure clients fearing short-term losses do not forfeit long-term gains “The value of your units may fall as well as rise.” We are all familiar with the risk warnings that have jumped to the front of any document linked to investment post Mifid II, but have we […]
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Revealed: The FCA’s findings on ongoing advice
Money Marketing obtains results from regulatory enquiry into what advisers are offering for their ongoing fees
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Compliance tip: Beware email scams against advice firms
All firms run the risk of being used by criminals for fraudulent activity, so it is vital to remain vigilant. Fraudulent emails are becoming more sophisticated and we recently became aware of a new scam targeted at financial intermediaries. The scam revolves around your client’s email account which has been hacked. You receive a request […]
Which regions have the highest risk ratings?
Money Marketing crunches the numbers with Dynamic Planner to paint a comprehensive picture of average risk ratings around the UK.
Ian Browne: Making the most of the marriage allowance in retirement plans
Advisers can help clients make some substantial tax savings The beginning of April heralded a new tax year and this brings updated tax allowances. Some of these new allowances can offer little gems to create value for clients and launch wider conversations about retirement planning in general. One such allowance is the marriage tax allowance, […]
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BoE meeting: Rates on hold amid mixed signals on the economy
Karen Ward discusses the Bank of England’s (BoE) decision to hold its base rate of interest unchanged at 0.5% at its meeting today.
The death of the high street, or just a new era?
Watch Andrew Robbens as he talks about how the high street has changed over the decades and gives his views on how adapting and changing will be the key to success for consumer businesses.
Behind The Headlines: Local elections with Danby Bloch
Money Marketing Editor, Justin Cash, and Helm Godfrey Chairman, Danby Bloch, sit down to discuss the outcomes of the recent local elections and the potential consequences for the UK economy.
How UK is your UK equity fund?
Chris Skinner, portfolio specialist, takes a closer look at UK equity portfolios and finds that many funds have less exposure to UK companies than you may think.
ESG: A nice to have, or an important consideration?
Watch Joanna Crompton’s three short videos on investing with an Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) approach to find out what ESG means, why it’s important, and how her team puts ESG investing into practice.
Investment committees: Top tips
After our recent roundtable on investment committees we sat down with the attendees to find out what their key take-aways from the debate were.
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.
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How are your FSCS levies calculated?
FSCS levies are one of the biggest bills advisers have to pay. But how are they calculated? Watch our video to find out Advisers slam levy increases as FSCS bills hit desks Solving the FSCS’ long list of problems FSCS chief executive Mark Neale’s blog
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FCA chief Bailey: 12 months in power
FCA chief executive Andrew Bailey has just marked his first year at the top of the regulator. Money Marketing asks: Who is the man running the financial services show? Watch: Where do your FCA fees go?
MM Wired: Beyond the election – On demand
Title: MM Wired: Beyond the election Date: Thursday 15th June Time: 11am Money Marketing Wired returned in association with The UK Edge on Thursday 15 June with a topical debate on the election results. To see the full on-demand version of this session, please watch the video above. Panelists Stephanie Flanders – Chief Market Strategist (UK […]
Unleashing the full potential of investment bonds using SPS
Investment bonds have many virtues and some restrictions. However, it is possible to get far more from them if you take the right approach. Why choose an investment bond? The use of different tax wrappers can produce different outcomes for investors and with increasing awareness and knowledge, advisers are seeking more variety in the assets […]
Residence nil rate band keeps on helping – even after downsizing
In addition to the standard nil rate band (£325,000), from 6 April 2017 each person is entitled to a residence nil rate band (RNRB) to use against the value of their home if it is left to direct descendants on death. Currently the rate is set at £100,000, to increase by £25,000 each year until […]
Responsibility Matters
Read the latest issue Responsibility Matters, our quarterly newsletter update from our responsible investing team. This issue includes a focus on sustainable development goals, the effectiveness of some long-term incentive plans and how green bonds are still the tip of the iceberg. Read the article here Past performance is not a guide to future performance. […]
ESG: Unlocking the benefits for credit investors
Matt Franklin, Credit Analyst at Royal London Asset Management discusses the possible benefits of integrating Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) considerations into credit portfolios. He explains why ESG analysis combined with an appropriate approach from asset managers is key to unlocking these potential benefits. Read the article here Past performance is not a guide to […]
Paying for the long-term – Alternative models of pay
Sophie Johnson, Corporate Governance Analyst at Royal London Asset Management discusses growing concern regarding the alignment of pay in the UK with long-term, sustainable investment performance. She explains why our specialists are open-minded about considering alternative models when it comes to pay and shares an insight into our views and expectations on the matter. Read […]
Identifying remortgage opportunities
With a record number of mortgages maturing, many of your clients may benefit from remortgaging. To help you identify new remortgage business opportunities in your area, we’ve updated our hotspot map. This uses nationwide data on maturing fixed-rate mortgages to show you the potential volume of remortgage business near you. Find out more at Scottish […]
Profile: Telford Mann boss on how an MBO raised the firm’s profile
When grown-up children fly the nest to stand on their own two feet, their parents can take pride in a job well done. And although the apron strings have been cut the bond remains. It is similar for advice firm Telford Mann and its joint managing director Jon Telford, and the relationship with its former […]
Profile: Magenta Financial Planning boss on encouraging more women to become advisers
Magenta Financial Planning managing director on the difficulties of diversity and promoting the profession There are a couple of misconceptions about Magenta Financial Planning. One is that it must be specifically targeting female clients because it has a pink logo; the other that because all its current staff are women, it must be a female-only firm. Not […]
Profile: Smart Financial boss on his lifestyle planning lightbulb moment
Smart Financial chief executive on his lifestyle planning epiphany and how it led to his training academy Before becoming a certified financial planner in 2005, Smart Financial chief executive Steve Martin admits to not having the skills and tools to join the dots between what people had and what they wanted. With the certificate, everything changed. […]