As we hurtle towards the new year, it is worth remembering much of the so-called client-centricity discussed is, in fact, little more than process that will not determine whether you win, lose or draw. Sure, a process needs to be reliable, cost-efficient and to point the right service at the right people. But it is […]
St James’s Place has acquired the Reigate protection advice firm Future Proof. Future Proof, now part of SJP Group, provides specialist advice on income protection insurance, critical illness and live insurance in both personal and business markets and has arranged over £800 million worth of cover for clients since 2011 when it was established. SJP […]
Royal London chief executive Phil Loney is stepping down at the end of 2019 and the new chairman, Kevin Parry, will lead the search for his successor. Parry’s appointment and Loney’s departure were both announced this morning. Parry, will leave his current non-executive director position at Standard Life Aberdeen at the end of December and […]
The Brussels region has made a bid to attract UK-based financial services companies concerned about their post-Brexit fate. Secretary of state for foreign trade at the region of Brussels, Cécile Jodogne, targeted a sales pitch to companies which need to work across EU borders: “Despite the UK and EU establishing in principle, a withdrawal agreement, […]
The financial services could see a business boost by becoming more dementia-friendly, says Alzheimer’s Society. The charity says in the worse cases firms without sufficient knowledge of or accommodation for the disease are leaving people alienated from the their finances. However, it projects businesses could not only care better for clients but also boost their […]
You have to do hard things to be successful in life. The things no one else does. Why? Life coaches will tell you those are the things that define you; the things that make the difference between existing and living. This may well be true but if that does not float your boat, then American […]
Succession Advisory Services managing director Sanjay Shah has stepped down amid a reshuffle of the company’s recruitment team. Sanjay Shah sold his IFA to Succession in 2014 and was managing director of Succession Advisory Services, the platform arm of the group, from 2016. He left his position this summer to become a recruitment ambassador for the […]
It is nearly three years since I hung up my financial planner boots and joined the world outside of financial services. Over that time, I have presented financial wellbeing talks across the UK to a range of people. What has surprised me is how financially disorganised some seem to be. Few have all their documents […]
Legal & General expects to record profits of up to £400m this year due to its customers not living as long as expected. On Tuesday the Office for National Statistics reported increases in average life expectancy at birth and age 65, for both men and women in the UK, slowed dramatically from 2011 to 2016. […]
The parent of Yorkshire Bank and Clydesdale Bank has agreed to buy Virgin Money for £1.7bn. The businesses say the deal will create the UK’s first “true national banking competitor to the status quo”. The new group will serve around six million customers. A notice to investors from CYBG says: “The combined group will have […]
Bankhall has partnered with paraplanning specialists Timebank to launch a service to help firms boost their advice capacity. The service provides firms with access to paraplanners who are qualified to level six and a variety of options to meet their needs. Options for firms range from a full hourly rate bespoke service that replicates an […]
The nine advice firms acquired by Harwood Wealth Management in the first half of the year have added £310m assets under advice to the business. According to an update today, Harwood will pay a total of £10.9m for the acquisitions, completed in the six months to 30 April. Harwood says £6.7m of that total has […]
Three advisers talk to Money Marketing about taking time out to help the community Christmas is traditionally a time for giving, so as our thoughts turn to the festive period, how are advice firms giving back to the community or the profession? The great outdoors As a seasoned mountain walker and scout leader, much of […]
Figures show advisers are not taking on enough clients, but this can be fixed with a closer look at efficiency Back in the day, advisers would often have hundreds, if not thousands, of clients who would receive advice as and when they needed it. But changes in regulation from the RDR and, more recently, Mifid […]
Advice is becoming a more risky business, meaning firms must rethink their approach to the issues they face Given the Financial Ombudsman Service’s compensation limit is set to rise to £350,000, it is time for advice firms to rethink their approach to the risks they now face. The FCA’s plan is for the new limit […]
With all the noise around consolidation, advisers would be forgiven for thinking it is easy. It is not. Here are 10 steps to success There has been no let-up in the pace of consolidation within the intermediary sector this year. Hardly a day goes by without the announcement of a deal. It is estimated there […]
From pension planning guides to rock band biographies, three advisers share why and how they got themselves published Many advisers write books to share their knowledge of financial planning and raise their profile. But what are the joys and frustrations of being an author? Three advisers discuss their experiences. ‘The best business card you’ve ever […]
We must keep focus on quality over qualifications and on excitement over exhaustion Quality is the profession’s Holy Grail, so why is it only now taking centre stage? I have been banging the drum for professionalism and quality standards since the moment I became a financial services coach and consultant over 20 years ago. But […]
Ruth Whitehead Associates managing director on 25 years attempting to right the wrongs of the industry When Ruth Whitehead Associates managing director Ruth Whitehead says she is “proud to be anti-establishment, especially the financial services establishment” you can sense there is a story to be told. Something that runs deeper than the usual dissatisfaction with […]
Do you have some big goals for yourself? If you do, great. But do you have the skills required to actually achieve them? If just doing more of the same is not guaranteed to get you to your goals, then read on. We have all heard the expression “life is a marathon, not a sprint”. […]
Advisers share their tips and experiences in finding the right network There are many benefits of being an appointed representative but choosing the wrong network could cause havoc for a business. Here, three advisers share their tips and experiences. An open mind Simplified Money director Lesley James considered going directly authorised when setting up the […]
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Sign up At the same time as our economic engines are faltering and our politics are less sure than ever, something else has been happening. The mass market is being replaced by multiple micro markets and seemingly infinite choice. The exchange of information creates ever more value, while commodity products and services are ever cheaper. It takes […]
With so much talk of regulatory burden and the big boys starting to push smaller advisers aside, it can seem like there is no hope at all of new entrants breaking into the financial planning space. It is not uncommon, at conferences and in private, to hear veterans of the market say things like “there’s […]
At some point circa 2014 I penned a sorry stanza to illustrate the problem of procrastination in the protection market. It included reference to small will-writing bears, estate planning ninjas and rappers with a penchant for relevant life policies. Terrible as it was, it was my response to my father’s short verse sent to me […]
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 […]
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.
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.
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
By Ruth Chambers, Manager of the Neptune China Fund Along with high oil prices and a strong dollar, the ongoing trade war has been the main driver of China’s underperformance this year. Read more here Investment risks This Fund may have a high volatility rating and past performance is not a guide to future performance. […]
The only surprises about the advice gap are that it is not a lot larger than it is, and that it isn’t a much hotter political potato. Read the full article, and also find out about our adviser workshops. Important information: This information is directed at professional investors and should not be distributed to, or […]
Commenting on recent Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) data, Melanie Baker, Senior Economist at Royal London Asset Management believes the impacts of Brexit are beginning to be felt more strongly as respondents flagged subdued business and consumer spending. Read the blog here Past performance is no guide to the future. The value of investments and the […]