Financial Advisor back issues from June 2008:
CII and PFS honour the best.(Chartered Insurance Institute)(Personal Finance Society )(Brief article)
Jun 05, 2008; ... Byline: Girlie Garduce Newly-qualified graduates achieve recognition at the CII/PFS graduation ceremony More than 2000 newly qualified graduates came together at the Chartered Insurance Institute and Personal Finance Society graduation ceremony to mark a celebration ...
NatWest caught up in broker fee row.
Jun 05, 2008 ... Byline: Stefanie Ives Lender's decision to cancel commercial fees has led brokers' association to claim it is trying to prescribe fees NatWest has come under fire from brokers who are accusing it of trying to prescribe fees following the lender's scrapping of all ...
B&B bosses slammed over rights issue deal.
Jun 05, 2008 ... Byline: James Redgrave Senior executives at Bradford & Bingley have been slammed by industry experts for their handling of the rights issue. According to one significant banking sector figure, the blame lies with "weak management controls" at the bank. The ...
Cases of suspected mortgage fraud 'set to rise'.
Jun 05, 2008 ... Byline: Joy Dunbar Valuation of newly built properties in the spotlight - Solicitors Regulation Authority Hundreds of solicitors may be on the verge of being investigated as mortgage fraud increases, the Solicitors Regulation Authority has claimed. There ...
Question time for B&B.
Jun 05, 2008 ... Byline: Hal Austin Bradford & Bingley needs to provide some answers For months there has been speculation about the medium-term future of Bradford & Bingley, the former building society, following the collapse in the mortgage market and the mortgage bank's exposure, ...
Desperation will see individauls overtake gangs in mortgage fraud.
Jun 05, 2008 ... Byline: James Redgrave Mortgage fraud cases will move from gangs to private individuals, CMS Cameron McKenna Mortgage fraud cases will shift from gangs to "desperate" individuals as a result of the credit crunch, according to the partner of London-law firm that ...
Scottish Life extends its investment proposition.(Brief article)
Jun 05, 2008; ... Byline: Girlie Garduce Scottish Life brings abroad Gartmore and First State funds to extend its investment drive The addition of two emerging markets funds from a duo of fund partners has extended the Scottish Life proposition. The pensions specialist arm ...
AWD prepares for launch in last quarter of '08.(AWD Chase de Vere)(Brief article)
Jun 05, 2008; ... Byline: Stefanie Ives Platform launch expected by end of the year AWD Chase de Vere is adding further providers to its investment platform as it aims to roll out the offering during this year's last quarter. Mike Connolly, who is on secondment from Legal & ...
Group litigation likely to spike, says McKenna.
Jun 05, 2008 ... Byline: Stefanie Ives A change in funding will make group litigation more appealing, CMS Cameron McKenna Increased funding arrangements for group litigation orders could lead to a rise in legal action against those already investigated by the FSA, according to CMS ...
New Star aims to lock in its top players with deal.
Jun 05, 2008 ... Byline: Joy Dunbar Investment house incentivises staff with a new share plan New Star is issuing millions of new shares as a lock-in deal for 35 of its top executives until December 2012 it has announced. The plan comes as the asset manager announced a ...
Darling set to open up global markets.
Jun 05, 2008 ... Byline: James Redgrave Chancellor gets behind calls for opening up of international financial markets Alistair Darling has called for an opening up of international financial markets with the publication of a new report. Embracing Financial Globalisation ...
Schroder to beef up adviser team.(Schroder and Company Inc.)(Brief article)
Jun 05, 2008; ... Byline: Stefanie Ives Financial giant expects adviser stream to play significant role in the future and aims to add further members Schroder aims to increase its IFA team as demand remains buoyant from the sector, according to Robin Stoakley, its managing director. ...
Drop commission to restore confidence - McFall.
Jun 05, 2008 ... Byline: Joy Dunbar Fee-based system will restore consumer confidence, Expo 2008 delegates are told Shifting away from a commission-based remuneration system will restore consumer confidence, according to John McFall, chairman of the Treasury select committee. ...
Stormy times set for mortgage industry.
Jun 05, 2008 ... Byline: Emma Ann Hughes Predictions of improvement are 'wrong', says John Malone The mortgage industry is in the "eye of the storm" with another 18 months to two years to go before conditions improve, warned John Malone. Kicking off the mortgages, ...
FSA outlines limits to inheritance mis-selling compensation.
Jun 05, 2008 ... Byline: Stefanie Ives Insurance companies could be banned from claiming compensation in relation to inherited estates Insurance companies may soon be banned from charging compensation for mis-selling to the inherited estates of with profit funds. The FSA ...
Mortgage approvals hit all-time low.
Jun 05, 2008 ... Byline: Kate McMahon Approval level is now lowest on record, claims Bank of England Mortgage approval numbers are at their lowest levels on record, and have more than halved since the peak of the housing boom in 2006, according to new Bank of England figures. ...
Mform revamps comparison tool.(Brief article)
Jun 05, 2008; ... Byline: James Redgrave Mform has launched a new tool which will compare new and current mortgages. Mform has launched a new tool which will compare new and current mortgages. It enables users to pit their exisiting deal with ...
Newcastle looks to Fearn for development role.
Jun 05, 2008 ... Byline: James Redgrave Newcaslte Building Society has taken on Stuart Fearn as head of product development and third party marketing. Newcaslte Building Society has taken on Stuart Fearn as head of product development and third party marketing. The former ...
Robert Osman heads to National Deposit.(Brief article)
Jun 05, 2008; ... Byline: James Redgrave National Deposit is adding to its team of intermediaries, with Rob Osman joining as a sales consultant. National Deposit is adding to its team of intermediaries, with Rob Osman joining as a sales consultant. He will be responsible ...
Keenen to step down at Prestbury.(Steve Keenan of Prestbury Investment Holdings)(Brief article)
Jun 05, 2008; ... Byline: Maryrose Fison Co-founder to remain large shareholder at mortgage and packaging company Steve Keenan is to step down from an executive role at Cheshire-based mortgage and packaging company Prestbury Holdings. Mr Keenan is a co-founder of the firm ...
Advisers who fail to sell protection with mortgage "deserve to be shot".
Jun 05, 2008 ... Byline: Stefanie Ives Legal & General urge brokers to consider the protection market Mortgage brokers who do not add on protection sales to mortgage fees during the credit crunch "deserve to be shot", a senior IFA has claimed. The curt response from ...
Equity firms circle Bradford & Bingley.
Jun 05, 2008 ... Byline: Stefanie Ives The continuous plummeting housing market is taking its toll on lenders' books, claims expert City experts are claiming that private equity firms are circling Bradford & Bingley as its underlying assets remain strong in spite of the drop in its ...
Crawshaw's departure leads to reshuffle.
Jun 05, 2008 ... Byline: James Redgrave Crawshaw steps down after 20 years in sector The illness of Steven Crawshaw, who has suffered a serious cardiovascular condition, has not only led to a reshuffle at the top of Bradford & Bingley but also at the Council of Mortgage Lenders, for ...
Buy-to-let hit by B&B losses.
Jun 05, 2008 ... Byline: James redgrave Buy-to-let sector will see ripples from B&B The whole of the buy-to-let sector will see a ripple effect caused by Bradford & Bingley, a senior City analyst has warned. Following the panic caused by Bradford & Bingley's announced ...
Stavis takes sabbatical.(John Stavis of Fidelity Investments)
Jun 05, 2008; ... Byline: Joy Dunbar Fund manager John Stavis is taking a six month sabbatical from Fidelity John Stavis is going on a six month sabbatical after 13 years in investment management at Fidelity. He is currently manager of Fidelity's Income Plus and Growth and ...
Lender collusion is rife, claims Atom.
Jun 05, 2008 ... Byline: Maryrose Fison Vic Jannels compares mortgage lenders to cartel Lenders are flouting EU law to boost profits through collusion Vic Jannels, chairman of All Type of Mortgages, has claimed. Speaking in an open letter, Mr Jannels made comparisons ...
Regulator publishes guide for trustees on how to get the most out of advisers.
Jun 05, 2008 ... Byline: Joy Dunbar Pensions regulator unveils guide for trustees The pensions regulator has published Relations with Advisers, outlining how pensions trustees should get the most out of their relationship with their advisers. The regulator said its aim is ...
Post Office protests.
Jun 05, 2008 ... Byline: Maryrose Fison Post Office points finger at low-interest savings accounts providers The Post Office has condemned providers who do not pass Bank of England base interest rate rises on to customer savings accounts. The Post Office has claimed savers ...
Ceta blames FSA for low MPPI protection.
Jun 05, 2008 ... Byline: Maryrose Fison General insurance network launches scathing attack on FSA and media for falling MPPI sales Mortgage borrowers have been put at higher risk of home repossession due to the FSA's lack of clarity over loan protection insurance, David Quirk, ...
FSA fee hike for IFAs.
Jun 05, 2008 ... Byline: Maryrose Fison FSA raises collective fee for IFAs by more than 8 per cent IFAs face a steep increase in fees this year as the FSA raises its regulatory fee and levy requirement for authorised firms. Allocation of the AFR to fee-blocks for the period ...
Pensioners will lose out from Finance Bill - camaign group.
Jun 05, 2008 ... Byline: James Redgrave Refund claimants stand to lose from the HMRC proposals in Bill Taxback claimants are set to lose out from the government's proposed rule changes, a campaign group has warned. According to the Low Incomes Tax Reform Group the maximum ...
Fidelity promotes pair to Income Plus range.(Michael Clark and Matt Siddle of Fidelity International Ltd.)
Jun 05, 2008; ... Byline: James Redgrave Fidelity International has promoted two experienced employees to fund managers. Fidelity International has promoted two experienced employees to fund managers. Michael Clark and Matt Siddle will take over running the company's ...
B&B tight-lipped over further cash injections.
Jun 05, 2008 ... Byline: Stefanie Ives Bradford & Bingley is remaining tight-lipped as the financial services industry openly discusses whether further injections from equity firms are likely. Industry insiders have stated the GBP150m injection from Texas Pacific Group announced ...
Means-testing offers no incentive to save - survey.
Jun 05, 2008 ... Byline: Maryrose Fison Majority of workers believe means-tested benefits are disincentive to save A recent survey, conducted by employee benefits provider B&CE Benefit Schemes, has revealed as many as two-thirds of people in full-time work believe the government's ...
Craig heads to Alliance Trust.(Kevin Craig of Alliance Trust PLC)
Jun 05, 2008; ... Byline: James Redgrave Kevin Craig is set to become an investment manager with investment group Alliance Trust's global emerging markets business. Kevin Craig is set to become an investment manager with investment group Alliance Trust's global emerging markets ...
Abbey looks to trio for exclusive package deal.
Jun 05, 2008 ... Byline: James Redgrave Company offers product through Pink, L&G and Mortgage Intelligence Abbey is offering a new fixed-rate mortgage exclusively through three different packaging companies. The Abbey for Intermediaries product is fixed at 5.69 per cent ...
Friends Prov to help advisers go global.
Jun 05, 2008 ... Byline: James Redgrave Company launches international portfolio planner tool Friends Provident has launched an online tool to help investors create portfolios of offshore products. The Dynamic Portfolio Planner International aims to assess client risk, ...
Big time bond winners.(Brief article)
Jun 05, 2008; ... Byline: James Redgrave Two premium bondholders have scooped GBP1m jackpots this month. Two premium bondholders have scooped GBP1m jackpots this month. A Devon man and a Worcester woman, who both wanted to remain ...
Up to a million headed for negative equity.
Jun 05, 2008 ... Byline: James Redgrave Nearly one million people could be in negative equity by the end of 2008, claims Citibank As many as a million people could find themselves in negative equity by the end of next year, a report has warned. According to Citibank's UK ...
Taking control.
Jun 05, 2008 ... Byline: Hal Austin The appointment of Lord Adair Turner as the new chairman of the FSA sends all the right messages to the sector. The appointment of Lord Adair Turner as the new chairman of the FSA sends all the right messages to the sector. As is said by ...
FSA announces FSCS board appointments.
Jun 05, 2008 ... Byline: Stefanie Ives Further appointments from the City watchdog The FSA has reappointed Terry Connor, Sandy Kinney and Chris Woodburn to the Financial Services Compensation Scheme board with effect from 1 June 2008. Terry Connor began his career as a ...
IFP passes the 2000th member milestone.(Institute of Financial Planning)(Brief article)
Jun 05, 2008; ... Byline: Maryrose Fison Institute announces 2000th member The institute of financial planning reports heightened interest in local branch meetings as it welcomes its 2000th member, following strong member engagement. On 30 May, the IFP announced it had ...
PPF's scaling factor rise 'astonishes' industry.
Jun 05, 2008 ... Byline: Maryrose Fison Industry slams Pension Protection Fund for 'large' differences The pensions industry has slammed the Pension Protection Fund for allowing such a large gap to exist between its estimated and actual scaling factor. Accountancy giant ...
Wealth managers win business at the expense of private banks - Albion.
Jun 05, 2008 ... Byline: Joy Dunbar Wealth mangers are winning business from private banks, according to Albion Strategic Consulting. An elite group of wealth mangers are winning a lot of business that would have traditionally gone to the private banks, according to Albion Strategic ...
House prices on the slide again in April.
Jun 05, 2008 ... Byline: Joy Dunbar House prices fall by 0.2 per cent, according to government figures House prices have decreased by 0.2 per cent in April which indicates a "weakening" housing market, according to official government figures. Land Registry figures show ...
Brewin's profits rise in first half of 2008.(Financial report)
Jun 05, 2008 ... Byline: Joy Dunbar Private client investment managers Brewin Dolphin announces its half year results to 30 March Profits before tax have increased by 4.9 per cent at Brewin Dolphin in the half year ending 30 March 2008. Profits at the private client ...
Investment trusts 'more flexible and more transparent'.
Jun 05, 2008 ... Byline: Stefanie Ives Investment trusts are more flexible, claims to JPMorgan Investment trusts are more flexible and offer greater transparency for investors, James Saunders Watson, head of sales and marketing for JPMorgan Asset Management, has claimed. ...
Dunfermline aims to capture a slice of the growing equity release sector.
Jun 05, 2008 ... Byline: Maryrose Fison Scottish mutual launches lifetime equity release range Dunfermline Building Society has launched a suite of interest roll-up lifetime mortgages to the introducer market. The Scottish mutual - which has more than 350,000 members - has ...
Pensioners without IFAs to feel pinch, says MGM.
Jun 05, 2008 ... Byline: Maryrose Fison Retired people benefit from IFA advice Retired people are twice as likely to be forced to downsize if they have never sought independent financial advice, according to life assurer MGM Advantage. <table class="articleTable" ...
Regnier-Wilson resurfaces at Martin Currie.(Martin Currie Inc. appoints John Regnier-Wilson )
Jun 05, 2008; ... Byline: Girlie Garduce Martin Currie drafts in Axa Framlington's Regnier-Wilson to its sales team. Former Axa Framlington sales manager John Regnier-Wilson is set to join Martin Currie to promote its retail sales drive. After spending 15 years at Axa, Mr ...
Thoresen review is 'laudable but inadequate'.
Jun 05, 2008 ... Byline: James Redgrave Report is inadequate on issue of pensions, claims pension expert The Thoresen Review proposals on generic financial advice are inadequate on the issue of pensions, Ros Altmann has warned. In a paper published last Friday for the CII, ...
Axa, LifeSearch team up for plan.
Jun 05, 2008 ... Byline: James Redgrave Launch to be rolled out in the first quarter of 2009 A 100 per cent payment guaranteed life insurance product which does not require full disclosure of medical information is likely to be "uncompetitive", an adviser has claimed. Axa ...
Brussels moves to widen access to financial institutions and tools.
Jun 05, 2008 ... Byline: Anna Lawlor Financial exclusion is increasing across Europe and seeks urgent national remedy, warns European Commission European-wide legislation could be introduced to limit financial exclusion across member countries if voluntary and national measures fail ....
Get ready for a rocky ride Lord Turner.
Jun 05, 2008 ... Byline: Hal Austin From September the clock starts ticking for Lord Turner, the newly appointed chairman of the FSA, and what better place to start than with tackling the thorny issue of personal accounts Now the breast-beating and lobbying has ended with the decision ...
Extra reserves for Barclays customers.
Jun 05, 2008 ... Byline: Maryrose Fison Bank overhauls current accounts following OFT test case Barclays bank has been praised for introducing a personal reserve which allows customers to dip into an agreed amount for a fee of GBP22, by Which? the consumer magazine. ...
Longevity projections will raise scheme liabilities - PensionsFirst.
Jun 05, 2008 ... Byline: Joy Dunbar Conservative longevity projections will push up scheme liabilities, claims company The use of conservative longevity assumptions will increase the liability of pensions schemes, according to PensionsFirst. The Pension Regulator is ...
Schroder to switch multi range to Nurs.(Schroder and Company Inc.)(Brief article)
Jun 05, 2008; ... Byline: James Redgrave Investment house hope to give products more "investment flexibility" Schroder is planning to change the status of its multi-manager portfolios to non-Ucits retail schemes. The asset manager hopes to provide customers with more ...
Rock rejigs ready for rise in arrears level.(Northern Rock PLC)
Jun 05, 2008; ... Byline: James Redgrave Nationalised bank boosts number of people involved in debt management Northern Rock has hinted mortgage arrears among its customers are set to almost treble by early next year. A report published by it and staff representative body ...
Grumball and Morton join Stonehaven.
Jun 05, 2008 ... Byline: James Redgrave Equity release specialist appoints compliance consultant and sales support manager Kathryn Grumball and Ria Morton have joined Stonehaven as compliance consultant and sales support manager. Kathryn has worked in audit and risk ...
Incentives for health from PruProtection.(Shaun Matisonn)(Brief article)
Jun 05, 2008; ... Byline: Stefanie Ives PruProtections ups incentives to clients Nearly one quarter of PruProtection's clients have improved their lifestyle due to incentives, according to Shaun Matisonn, chief executive of PruProtection. Mr Matisonn has stated clients have ...
The central bankers' Gordian Knot.
Jun 05, 2008 ... Byline: Andrew Clare Central bank chiefs from around the world are contemplating how to best respond to mounting inflation in the face of stagnant economic growth, and are asking: is the oil price bubble at bursting point yet? Many years ago a poor man called Gordius ...
Stop me if you've heard this one before.
Jun 05, 2008; ... Byline: Peter McGahan Blogs can reveal what it is really like to be a client, and a recent online experience has shed some light on the service that some IFAs are offering In a moment of weakness over a cup of tea I decided to chill out for lunch only to be ...
Roberts unveils Mind the Gap.
Jun 05, 2008 ... Byline: Girlie Garduce Expert releases guidance on FSA rules and regulations A fifth set of guide notes has been released to prepare IFAs make sense of the FSA regulation rulebook. Online compliance expert and fellow IFA, Joanne Roberts, has launched her ...
A taste of the East.
Jun 12, 2008 ... Byline: Spinder Dhaliwal The Asian community is the UK has made a bg impact with many memers of this community topping world rich lists having built up successful businesses across all sectors of industry The continued success of Asian entrepreneurs testifies to the ...
Unwanted interference.(Bank of England appoints Charles Bean)(Brief article)
Jun 12, 2008; ... Byline: Hal Austin Nice to see that Bank of England governor Mervyn King has got his choice for deputy, to replace Rachel Lomax. It now looks as if chancellor Alistair Darling is set to appoint Charles Bean as his joint ...