Stock broker and fund manager Christows is to rebrand as Williams de Broe from the start of next month as part of the integration of the two businesses.
Christows parent company the Evolution Group bought Williams de Broe in June
this year.
Christows director of sales and marketing Robin O’Grady says: “We believe the combined organisation will best benefit from the heritage and brand awareness of the Williams de Broe name, a business founded in 1869. The organisation will retain the strong Christows management, ethos and culture which generated a 34 per cent increase in funds under management last year.”
Kensington to offer free valuations on direct business
Kensington Mortgages is offering free valuations on all products in its core range placed direct with the lender, and is working with its key packager partners to provide incentives on packaged products.Brokers placing business direct with Kensington on its Simple and Extra Choices ranges will be able to offer their clients a free valuation. Kensington […]
Meeting of minds
Time is probably the most precious commodity in people’s lives today. Who would not like a few more hours to themselves each week?
Product matters
There has long been talk regarding an income protection/PA & sickness plan hybrid. Now, finally, one has been launched by British Insurance under the name Safetyfirst. In truth, the plan is an amalgam because the initial 52 weeks’ payments are under- written by Hitachi Capital Insurance Europe, with the Original Holloway Friendly Society underwriting after […]
Mystery shocker
Advice: Compliance consultant Adam Samuel says the FSA’s mystery-shopping results underline the fundamental importance of asking the full range of questions for a fact-find and carefully considering the answers to fit the pieces together to make an accurate assessment of understanding clients’ attitudes to risk before giving investment advice
Graphic content – October; Italy and the global economic downturn
By Kacper Brzezniak As the International Monetary Fund (IMF) downgrades the global growth outlook YET again (which is becoming a recurring theme, as we discussed here a year ago), we turn our eyes to Italy’s current economic disaster. Italy has recorded exceptionally weak growth in recent years but, in order to get a better understanding […]
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Succession gets back on IFA acquisition trail with two deals
National consolidator Succession has acquired Inverness-based MacKenzie Investments, co-directed by former Institute of Financial Planning director Phil Billingham. It has also purchased Cheltenham IFA Warwick Butchart Associates. Both firms were acquired in August and brought a combined £350m of assets under advice to Succession. Chartered financial planner McKenzie Investments has four planners including one trainee […]
Sipp provider to pay out over non-standard investments
The Financial Ombudsman Service has ruled in favour of five individuals who lost nearly £100,000 after transferring their pensions into non-standard investments using Sipps. In June, law firm Anthony Philip James & Co issued five cases against Sipp administrator Guinness Mahon Trust Corporation over allegations it worked with unregulated introducers to facilitate non-standard investments. In […]
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Editor’s note: Why an all-passive world will never materialise
Passive investing now accounts for nearly half of all global assets under management. Fifteen years ago, that was close to zero. It’s clear where the flows have come from as well: out of active funds, as we have become accustomed to keeping a closer eye on value for money from those we trust with our […]