The Personal Finance Society is lobbying the FSA to tighten the way providers market their products to advisers.
Members are increasingly concerned that there are few consequences for providers for their marketing of products to IFAs. Aifa is also in talks with the regulator on the issue. Members have raised concerns that they often have to identify potential problems they may face with products. The PFS gives examples of split caps, often marketed as “low risk”, and precipice bonds, described as “guaranteed”. Chairman Bob Bullivant says if providers become more accountable, there will be fewer calls on the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. Bullivant says: “I would like to think we can work with providers and get to a situation where marketing to IFAs must be transparent. Members should not have to spend their time picking out the flaws in products.” Aifa acting director general Fay Goddard says: “Pro-gress is being made with the regulator, especially with rec-ent comments made by chairman Callum McCarthy showing a desire for more provider transparency.” Johnston Financial Services managing director Adrian Johnston says: “Shareholder pressure means product prov-iders must invent products to sell but that are not necessarily safe for our clients. IFAs have to treat anything they get from providers with a healthy degree of scepticism.” IFA Woman of the Year Saran Allott-Davey is determined to use the cachet of the award to encourage other women into the financial planning businessView more on these topicsNews
The One Account launches intermediary exclusive
The One account is announcing a new 12 month discount on its Flexible Mortgage Option product. The new offer will be exclusive to intermediaries giving customers a discount of 0.46 per cent off the long term rate. This will mean a discounted rate of 5.24 per cent for loans of less than or equal to […]
Home brew
Despite a brief interruption by my ramblings on the pre-Budget report, I have recently been concentrating on the important subject of inheritance tax planning using the principal private residence. On the face of it, this may seem like a subject of only passing importance to financial advisers as it does not involve any financial product but this would be a short-sighted view.
Hopwood quits Bankhall
Former Bankhall IT director Nigel Hopwood is leaving the firm after two years following a merger of its IT and operations departments. Hopwood is assisting new IT and operations director David Scott with the merger. Bankhall says that the move is an indirect result of the new environment created by the regulation of the general […]
The whole truth
Jason King’s recent letter exemplifies the same arguments that were put forward in the 1970s, by the “buy a term and invest the rest” brigade who used bland figures to substantiate equally bland arguments. Term insurance was the foundation of all insurance but the foundation of life insurance and the concept of whole-life insurance acknowledged […]
Protection, health and wellbeing benefits help 1,500 employees back to work
New research has proven the positive impact that protection, health and wellbeing (PH&W) benefits have upon a business.
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Beaufort Investments appoints new CIO
Discretionary fund manager Beaufort Investment has promoted internally to fill the position of chief investment officer and has also appointed a new funds research executive. Beaufort Investment is part of the vertically integrated Beaufort Financial group. Head of portfolio construction Shane Balkham has been appointed as CIO and investment analyst Emma Clarke has been named […]
Profile: ‘We could be facing a constitutional crisis in the UK’ says Leodis chief
New Leodis Wealth chief executive on supporting clients through the chaos caused by the UK’s exit from the EU The long and tortuous road to Brexit has taken us from a political soap opera to what many regard as a tragedy over the past two-and-a-half years. Whatever drama is yet to unfold, the message that […]
Five minutes with…The Lang Cat’s Steve Nelson
Consulting director at The Lang Cat Steve Nelson talks making sure clients know what they’re buying and the joys of research ahead of his appearance at Money Marketing’s flagship conference. What one word or phrase do you think sums up the state of the financial planning profession today? I’m going to defer to our adviser […]
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