Go-to guys: How to carve a niche for your advice firm
Specialise wisely is the advice for firms wanting to secure profitable clients
Buffett cuts stake in scandal-hit Wells Fargo
Berkshire Hathaway has reduced its stake in scandal-hit Wells Fargo ahead of the US bank’s results due Thursday morning. But Warren Buffett says not to read too much into the transaction, which has been prompted by increased scrutiny from regulators, the Financial Times reports. Following share buybacks last year, Berkshire’s stake in the bank, which […]
Hargreaves Lansdown to boost adviser ranks
Hargreaves Lansdown is looking to boost its adviser numbers amid frustrations that only a few “good-quality” professionals are available to hire. Hargreaves chartered financial planner Danny Cox says the complexity around pension tax allowances, pension freedoms and changes to inheritance tax planning is driving the firm towards a hiring spree. Money Marketing understands the Bristol-based […]
LV= pours cold water on merger plans
LV= has poured cold water on reports than it is seeking a merger with another provider. Reports suggested last month that LV= had held talks with Royal London about a potential deal, but talks ended when the pair could not agree terms. It was also suggested the LV=’s general insurance business had received a number […]
Retirement Advantage chief steps aside amid raft of board changes
Retirement Advantage group chief executive Chris Evans is to step aside at the start of May Evans will make way for chief operating officer Craig Fazzini-Jones after nearly 10 years at the head of provider, but will retain non-executive roles within the group. Retirement Advantage chairman William Proby said Evans’ leadership had helped the firm […]
Standard Chartered to hike minimum wealth required for private banking clients
Standard Chartered is looking to more than double the minimum wealth needed to become a private banking client at the firm. In a pitch to ultra-high-net-worths, the London-based bank is planning to hike its investable asset minimum from $2m (£1.6m) to $5m (£4m), while focusing its attention on clients above the $30m (£24m) mark, according […]
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Phil Young: A word of warning on VCTs and EISs
As we approach tax year-end and with pension tax allowances continuing to shrink, I have noticed an increased interest in alternative income tax relief investments such as enterprise investment schemes/seed enterprise investment schemes and venture capital trusts. But while these products can be the right recommendation, they should not be seen as the next-in-line investment […]
Hornbuckle parent acquires DFM research business Discus
Embark Group, the owners of Sipp provider Hornbuckle and platform Avalon, has bought discretionary fund management research business Discus. The price of the deal was not disclosed. Discus will sit alongside The Adviser Centre and Scopic Research, Embark’s other investment research businesses. Embark said the move was targeted at helping advisers make better investment decisions. […]
Old Mutual sells $446m stake in asset management arm
Old Mutual has agreed to sell a 24.95 per cent stake in Old Mutual Asset Management to HNA Capital US for $446m (£355m). Following the sale, Old Mutual’s shareholding will halve from 50.8 per cent to 25.9 per cent. The initial part of the transaction, expected to take place in 30 days subject to US […]
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Trade bodies in six-way merger pick name for new organisation
The new financial trade association representing a merger of six bodies in the finance industry has been named as ‘UK Finance – Representing UK Finance and Banking’. The name for the new body comes after it was announced last year that the Asset Based Finance Association, British Bankers’ Association, Council of Mortgage Lenders, Financial Fraud Action UK, […]
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Standard Life and Aberdeen announce split chief executive role
Standard Life chief executive Keith Skeoch and Aberdeen Asset Management’s boss Martin Gilbert will share the role of chief executive following the merger of the two businesses. Skeoch and Gilbert will be co-chief executive, sharing responsibility for the executive committee, the combined group’s strategy and objectives and will oversee operational performance, strategic direction and the […]
Consolidator looks to raise acquisition funds in new share offer
Consolidator AFH Financial Group is planning to raise £10m in acquisition capital through a new share placing. The firm says net proceeds of the 175 pence per share placing will be used to “execute the company’s acquisition pipeline and for general corporate purposes”. In February, AFH made its fourth acquisition of 2017, acquiring Honiton-based IFA […]
Why advisers should be excited about Facebook ads
Facebook ads should be a crucial part of an advice firm’s strategy for increasing website traffic
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Danby Bloch: Why are advisers overlooking the safety of limited liability?
The costs of unlimited liability can be catastrophic, so advisers who are sole traders or in full partnerships should reconsider their position
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Ten tips for the perfect suitability report
How to ensure you keep on the right side of the regulator and achieve the best outcomes for clients
Phil Bray: Does your website pass the split-second test?
It is vital an adviser’s website tells visitors quickly what it is they do and who they do it for
The science of segmentation: How to cut clients to make a profit
The real power of segmentation is in designing a proposition that meets the needs of clients and makes a profit for your business
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Brett Davidson: Unlocking advice firms’ true value
Delivering a positive emotional experience is the key to happy client relationships
The formula for future advice firm success
Now is the time for business owners to be thinking about the future of their firms and how to attract and serve the next generation of clients
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Three ways to ensure the fair treatment of vulnerable clients
The FCA has recently updated Occasional Paper No. 8, within which it explains a vulnerable consumer as such: “… someone who, due to their personal circumstances, is especially susceptible to detriment, particularly when a firm is not acting with appropriate levels of care.” The focus on this area seems to be continually increasing. So what […]
Phil Bray: Perfecting your web presence for the Age of Google
I remember giving a presentation to a group of advisers a couple of years ago. The subject was one I can happily speak about at length: how advisers can create effective websites. My audience were an extremely positive and engaged bunch. All except for one chap at the back. While others listened carefully, he sat there, […]
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Lisa Winnard: Mind the age gap at your firm
As our younger generations return to school, college and university, September is a time of the year when some of us older ones also consider going back to college; maybe to study a new course or add new skills to our toolkit; or go even further and completely retrain. With the UK heading for skills […]
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Kim North: Make social media an advice business priority
Advisers should aim to get to grips with two platforms in particular: LinkedIn and Twitter
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Malcolm Kerr: What makes the perfect adviser?
I have met many advisers in my career, starting as a broker consultant back in the 1970s (when they were product salesmen) and continuing as a “big four” consultant since, working for those involved in the long-term savings, investment and protection sectors. In that time, I have also moderated dozens of adviser workshops at various […]
The active/passive choice: determine the right blend for your clients
Creating investment portfolios for clients is a key role for advisers. The choice between active and passive investment strategies is at the heart of this role. Ankul Daga, senior investment strategist at Vanguard, explains a framework for blending active and passive that can help you and your clients. Read more about the active/passive framework, as […]
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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 […]
Standard Life/Aberdeen merger: What we know so far
MM takes stock of the mega-merger set to shake-up the asset management industry
The best of both worlds
Business Development Manager Kim Nelson and Lead MPS Manager Steven Rooke discuss the direction of traffic towards investment solutions in the adviser market and the increased use of models as a complete client investment solution in an adviser’s business. They then discuss the active/passive debate, looking at both the history, investment process and implementation considerations […]
What’s behind Japan’s corporate earnings surge?
Japanese corporates reported record earnings growth in the second quarter of 2017, with nearly 70 per cent of companies beating expectations, leading to the biggest round of upgrades witnessed in over a decade. Watch Chris Taylor, Head of Japanese Equities, discuss the key drivers behind the surprise surge in corporate earnings. In the video, Chris discusses: Why […]
Under the microscope: Do trusts deserve their unpopular status?
To a lot of people, the concept of a trust carries an air of mystery. According to Canada Life’s most recent IHT survey, trusts were the second most unpopular estate planning tool, with 40 per cent saying they had no intention of using them. Nineteen per cent said setting up a trust was too time-consuming or […]
