Financial Advisor back issues from September 2008:
CML moves to boost transparency of newbuild valuations.
Sep 04, 2008 ... Byline: Fiona Nicolson Industry gives backing to introduction of disclosure of incentives form The Council of Mortgage Lenders has introduced new measures to help ensure that conveyancing and valuation processes capture the true value of newly-built properties. ...
Just too good...
Sep 04, 2008 ... Byline: Simon Lovegrove Advisers need to be in the know when it comes to the latest scams involving recovery firms You may have noticed that the FSA recently issued an alert regarding scams that recovery firms are to actively target investors. Recovery ...
Gov't housing aid is a 'step in the right direction'.
Sep 04, 2008 ... Byline: James Redgrave Industry cautiously welcomes housing plan, but some fear that it will not be enough The GBP1bn package of measures introduced by the government to kick start the housing market is "a drop in the ocean", critics have warned. The ...
Overdraft 'concerns'.
Sep 04, 2008 ... Byline: James Redgrave The Office of Fair Trading has told banks it has "serious concerns" about their overdraft charges. The Office of Fair Trading has told banks it has "serious concerns" about their overdraft charges. A leaked ...
Govt making 'pensions field unlevel', claims Aegon.
Sep 04, 2008 ... Byline: James Redgrave The government is "hijacking the market for pensions" and "creating an unfair advantage" for personal accounts to ensure the scheme is a political success, according to Aegon UK. Rachel Vahey, head of pensions development for Aegon UK, accused ...
Rock layoffs.
Sep 04, 2008 ... Byline: Hannah Benjamin Northern Rock will axe 1300 jobs and close one office as it finalised lay-off plans.The bank will cut its workforce to 4700 from 6000 through redundancies, while a further 200 staff have already left through natural turnover.The reduced size means the ...
Pulling yourself up by the old school tie.
Sep 04, 2008 ... Byline: Bryce Sanders A school or university reunion can be the perfect place to track down new business, even if you take the short or long-term approach A university education prepares you for life. Regardless of your field of study, higher education teaches you how ...
Tough times ahead for B&B, claims analyst.
Sep 04, 2008 ... Byline: Hannah Benjamin The future of mortgage bank Bradford & Bingley hangs in the balance as the current economic turbulence tests its buy-to-let business model, according to a leading analyst. Alex Potter, banks analyst for Collins Stewart, said: "It is going to ...
LaRusse joins Insight.
Sep 04, 2008 ... Byline: James Redgrave Insight Investment has made April LaRusse senior product specialist on its fixed income team. Insight Investment has made April LaRusse senior product specialist on its fixed income team. Ms LaRusse has been a fund manager for 15 ...
Kudos looks to Fallon for senior consultant role.
Sep 04, 2008 ... Byline: Hannah Benjamin Kudos Independent Financial Services has appointed Dean Fallon as senior consultant in its Glasgow office, taking the team there to four people. Kudos Independent Financial Services has appointed Dean Fallon as senior consultant in its Glasgow ...
Barings appoints Bowmar.
Sep 04, 2008 ... Byline: James Redgrave International investment management firm Baring Asset Management has appointed Katie Bowmar as its head of product development. International investment management firm Baring Asset Management has appointed Katie Bowmar as its head of product ...
Nelson, Boyle join FSSC board.
Sep 04, 2008 ... Byline: Hannah Benjamin Two new board members have been appointed to the Financial Services Skills Council, reflecting its increasing responsibility for both accountancy and financial services. Two new board members have been appointed to the Financial Services ...
Sterling falls against euro.
Sep 04, 2008 ... Sterling has tumbled to its lowest ever rate against the euro. Sterling has tumbled to its lowest ever rate against the euro. On Monday, the euro was trading at more than 81p on the foreign exchanges, meaning ...
Holiday homes may soon be 'too pricey'.(vacation homes)(Brief article)
Sep 04, 2008 ... Holiday homes abroad could be made worthless by the credit crunch fallout and rising jet fuel costs, aviation experts have warned. Holiday homes abroad could be made worthless by the credit crunch fallout and rising jet fuel costs, aviation experts have warned. ...
BestInvest widens access to discretionary management.(online discretionary management service )(Brief article)
Sep 04, 2008 ... BestInvest's discretionary management platform is being rolled out to advisers to help them manage client portfolios more cost-effectively. BestInvest's discretionary management platform is being rolled out to advisers to help them manage client portfolios more ...
Tenet to roll apprentice plan out to whole network.
Sep 04, 2008 ... Byline: Hannah Benjamin 10-firm pilot will be widen to take in all 1800 firms Tenet's pilot mortgage broker apprenticeship scheme looks to be rolled out across its whole network of advisers at 1800 firms in the next month. The pilot study at 10 firms ...
Tories rejig IHT policy.
Sep 04, 2008 ... Byline: Hannah Benjamin The Conservatives have announced plans to allow families to inherit up to GBP2m tax-free, according to reports. The Conservatives have announced plans to allow families to inherit up to GBP2m tax-free, according to ...
Lack of confidence in with profits does not surprise.(profits investments)(Report)
Sep 04, 2008; ... Byline: Hannah Benjamin The fall in confidence of with profits investments is nothing new as they have been in decline for a number of years, claims a leading expert. New research by investment management company Managing Partners Limited shows only 13 per cent of ...
IFP gears up for Financial Planning Week.
Sep 04, 2008 ... Byline: Girlie Garduce The IFP prepares for its ground-breaking Financial Planning Week The most important consumer finance initiative looks set to aid millions in financial planning, according to Jane Wheeler, president for the Institute of Financial Planning. ...
Checkmate appoints Stimson.
Sep 04, 2008 ... Byline: Hannah Benjamin Peter Stimson has been appointed commercial director at Checkmate Mortgages Limited, a new lender preparing to launch in the first-quarter of 2009. Peter Stimson has been appointed commercial director at Checkmate Mortgages Limited, a new ...
More wealthy investors are going green.(green investments)(Report)
Sep 04, 2008; ... Byline: James Redgrave Report from Eurosif believes high-net worth individuals will soon account for 12 per cent of green investments. The wealthy are making green investment decisions in growing numbers, a report from the European Social Investment Forum shows. ...
Kalff in MD role for Deutsche.
Sep 04, 2008 ... Byline: James Redgrave Deutsche Bank has appointed Robert Kalff as a managing director. Deutsche Bank has appointed Robert Kalff as a managing director. Mr Kalff joins after nine years at Credit Suisse to lead a new business based in London offering wealth ...
Future look tougher for societies, warns KPMG.(savings and loan associations profit fall by 30 milian)(Report)
Sep 04, 2008; ... Byline: Joy Dunbar The second round of the credit crunch could cause problems for the building society sector, according to a report by KPMG. The report by the accountants, called Building Societies Database 2008, states that building societies have emerged from the ...
L&G doubles immediate cover period.(Legal and General Group PLC)(Brief article)
Sep 04, 2008; ... Byline: Fiona Nicolson Extension will provide 'valuable peace of mind', company believes Legal & General has enhanced its protection product by doubling the duration of its cover period for clients waiting for their applications to be processed. The ...
Jacob takes up listed assets role for Henderson.
Sep 04, 2008 ... Byline: James Redgrave Henderson Group has appointed David Jacob as chief investment officer and managing director of listed assets. Henderson Group has appointed David Jacob as chief investment officer and managing director of listed assets. He is ...
Volatility is pushing more people to building societies, says BSA.(Building Societies Association)(Report)(Brief article)
Sep 04, 2008; ... Byline: Fiona Nicolson Net receipts into building societies doubled to GBP1.4bn in a year Building society net receipts doubled to GBP1.4bn in July compared with last year's figures, according to figures from the Building Societies Association. The trade ...
New Star will turn performance around, says Chelsea.
Sep 04, 2008 ... Byline: James Redgrave Asset manager reports first-half profits of GBP19m, down from GBP34m in 2007 New Star Asset Management's GBP15m loss of profits was "not a surprise" but the company should "turn it around", an IFA has claimed. This follows the ...
Banks come under fire over transfer rates.
Sep 04, 2008 ... Byline: James Redgrave High street names are offering 'uncompetitive' rates when it comes to currency transfers High street banks are costing clients thousands of pounds each in "uncompetitive" rates, an intermediary has warned. Reasearch by foreign ...
Insight adds Market Neutral to Cofunds.(return on equity services)(Brief article)
Sep 04, 2008; ... Byline: Fiona Nicolson Move is 'important step in distribution strategy' according to investment house Insight Investment has announced that its Absolute Insight UK Equity Market Neutral fund has gone live on investment platform Cofunds. The fund aims to ...
Yorkshire adds price comparison option to its web offering.(Yorkshire Building Scoeity has introduced a price comparison website)(Brief article)
Sep 04, 2008; ... Byline: Fiona Nicolson Service is being offered in conjunction with eConveyancer Yorkshire Building Scoeity has introduced a price comparison website following the introduction of its online conveyancing service last year. The price comparison service ...
Pressure on government to overhaul stamp duty increases.
Sep 04, 2008 ... Byline: Fiona Nicolson Brokers not impressed by 'debacle' surrounding recent move to introduce stamp duty holiday Keith McNally, co-founder of specialist home move service Moveme has suggested steps the government should take to kick start the housing market. ...
Advisers flock to join IFA Life website.(Website overview)
Sep 04, 2008 ... Byline: Fiona Nicolson Company reports more than 5000 have joined since new website was launched in July Since the launch of a new website in mid July, more than 500 IFAs have signed up to IFA Life, the online business and financial networking site has claimed. ...
CII witness rush to take up higher qualifications.(Report)(Brief article)
Sep 04, 2008 ... Byline: Joy Institute prepares for huge increase in demand for qualifications after 60 per cent exam rise There has been a 60 per cent rise in people in the financial services industry enrolling for the Chartered Insurance Institute's higher qualifications, such as ...
Gov't must take decisive action, warns RICS.
Sep 04, 2008 ... Byline: Joy Dunbar The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors supports a 15-point plan to tackle the credit crunch's effect on the housing market. Dealing with the current housing market downturn requires significant and decisive action from the government whose ...
Bodies publish cash Isa transfer guidelines.
Sep 04, 2008 ... Byline: Joy Dunbar New guidelines to improve the cash Isa transfer process have been published by the British Bankers' Association, the Building Societies Association and the Tax Incentivised Savings Association. New guidelines to improve the cash Isa transfer ...
Premium bond winners come from Manchester and Somerset.(National Savings and Investments jackpot draw )(Brief article)
Sep 04, 2008; ... Byline: Joy Dunbar Premium Bonds purchased in 2006 created two overnight millionaires in September's GBP1m jackpot draw. Premium Bonds purchased in 2006 created two overnight millionaires in September's GBP1m jackpot draw. In ...
Taylor applies to HMRC for Sipp transfer.(United Kingdom. Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs)(Transferring protected rights)(Brief article)
Sep 04, 2008; ... Byline: Fiona Nicolson Adviser plans to be able to accept protected rights transfer from October Preston-based financial adviser Taylor Patterson expects to be able to accept transfers of protected rights into the three versions of its individual self-invested ...
Bank data shows lending fell GBP8bn in four months.
Sep 04, 2008 ... Byline: James Redgrave Loans on secured dwelling stood at GBP14.6bn, down from GBP22.4bn in April Mortgage lending in July plummeted more than GBP8bn from April, according to Bank of England figures. Some 144,000 loans on secured dwellings, worth ...
Bodies under pressure to tackle annuity transfer delays.
Sep 04, 2008 ... Byline: James Redgrave Research from Virgin Money claims that slow transfer of payments between providers could cost pensioners up to GBP10,000 The FSA and the Association of British Insurers need to take action to reduce delays in annuity transfers after Virgin Money ...
Real rate of inflation hits 9 per cent for elderly.
Sep 04, 2008 ... Byline: Fiona Nicolson Survey from Alexander Forbes highlights issues for this buying pension income from an annuity Real inflation is running at 9 per cent for UK pensioners, according to research by London-based Alexander Forbes Annuity Bureau. A basket ...
Don't panic just yet.(chancellor Alistair Darling)(Brief article)
Sep 04, 2008; ... Byline: Hal Austin Amid the panicking about his opinions on the economy, the chancellor may have a point As the economic seas get rougher it is understandable that a number of people on board the SS GB will become seasick. But the screams and shouts that ...
Hargreaves buck trend while Park Row bemoans 'turbulent' markets.
Sep 04, 2008 ... Byline: Joy Dunbar IFA firms Park Row and Hargreaves Lansdown announce half-year results Park Row, has made an operating loss in excess of GBP1.6m according to Royal Liver which owns the IFA according to its results in the first half of the year. The ...
Reversing the family roles.
Sep 04, 2008; ... Byline: Hal Austin Why is it that one of the obvious solutions to the pensions crisis, even if not a commercial one, is never even whispered in polite company? Why is it that one of the obvious solutions to the pensions crisis, even if not a commercial one, is never ...
Hodge to give GBP150 to Equity Release Club members.(Equity Release Club has teamed up with Hodge Equity Release)(Brief article)
Sep 04, 2008; ... Byline: Fiona Nicolson Offer is available for lump sum and drawdown products Hodge Equity Release will pay GBP150 cashback to Equity Release Club members on its lump sum and drawdown lifetime products on all applications until 31 October. Stuart Wilson, ...
New identity.(New brand identities have been given to the Ascentric and Fundsdirect)(Acquisition of Fundsdirect and Ascentric Wrap)(Brief article)
Sep 04, 2008; ... Byline: Maike Currie New brand identities have been given to the Ascentric Wrap and FundsDirect brands in a bid to clearly communicate their respective activities. New brand identities have been given to the Ascentric Wrap and FundsDirect brands in a bid to clearly ...
Bless this office.(Ascentric's new Indian operation)(Brief article)
Sep 04, 2008; ... Byline: Maike Currie Ascentric's new Indian operation in Bangalore has been given a traditional Hindu ceremony consecrating the office to provide prosperity and success for all those who work there. Ascentric's new Indian operation in Bangalore has been given a ...
Helm to hit acquisition trail.
Sep 04, 2008 ... Byline: James Redgrave In spite of pre-tax profits fall City-based adviser says there is still money in the bank to grow Bruce Wilson, managing director of Helm Godfrey, has promised further acquisitions after the firm recorded profits of GBP335,000 for the first ...
Ipswich FC chairman becomes Coutts' man in East Anglia and Midlands.
Sep 04, 2008 ... Byline: Hannah Benjamin David Sheepshanks, chairman of the Ipswich Town football club, has landed a key role at Coutts & Co, managing client relationships in Norfolk and Suffolk. David Sheepshanks, chairman of the Ipswich Town football club, has landed a key role at ...
Developed world investors are more risk averse than their emerging markets counterparts: Barclays Wealth.
Sep 04, 2008 ... Byline: Fiona Nicolson Study identifies a wide divergence of reactions and attitudes towards risk during the credit crunch In times of economic tension investor behaviour can become exaggerated and irrational in the rush to protect capital or as investors seek to ...
IFA says SNP is talking a "load of nonsense".
Sep 04, 2008 ... Byline: Hannah Benjamin Claims that banks should treat Scottish families more favourably than their English counterparts have been branded "nonsense" by one Scottish mortgage adviser. Claims that banks should treat Scottish families more favourably than their English ...
Blanchflower calls for cut.
Sep 04, 2008 ... Byline: Maike Currie David Blanchflower, a member of the Bank of England's powerful monetary policy committee, has called for a huge cut in interest rates to stave off recession and the accompanying high unemployment.US-based Mr Blanchflower said fears by fellow MPC members that ...
Hiscox, PYV widen liability portfolio for IFAs, brokers.
Sep 04, 2008 ... Byline: Hannah Benjamin PYV has teamed up with specialist insurer Hiscox to provide its management liability portfolio to IFAs and mortgage intermediaries for the first time. PYV has teamed up with specialist insurer Hiscox to provide its management liability ...
Traub is Southeast Asia bound for Castlestone.
Sep 04, 2008 ... Byline: James Redgrave Castlestone Management has made Alexander Traub its director of business development for Southeast Asia. Castlestone Management has made Alexander Traub its director of business development for Southeast Asia. Mr Traub will head up ...
Artemis appoints Keattch.
Sep 04, 2008 ... Byline: James Redgrave Artemis has appointed Ruth Keattch as a fund manager. Artemis has appointed Ruth Keattch as a fund manager. Ms Keattch worked for Granville as head of equities before moving to Ruffer Investment Management and Deutsche Asset ...
UBS appoints Cronje to head UK wealth management.
Sep 04, 2008 ... Byline: Hannah Benjamin UBS has appointed a new chief executive to its struggling wealth management division in the UK UBS has appointed a new chief executive to its struggling wealth management division in the UK Andre Cronje replaces John Pottage in ...
WHO calls for assessment of public health policies.
Sep 04, 2008 ... Byline: Hannah Benjamin World Health Organisation report says UK is trailing on life expectancy A "toxic combination" of bad policies, economics and politics is "killing people on a grand scale", a World Health Organisation report released this week has warned, ...
Gov't care reform talk is a 'step in the right direction'.(carers' rights)(Brief article)
Sep 04, 2008; ... Byline: Hannah Benjamin Overhaul of carers' rights and benefits is long overdue, according to CBK Calls to pay carers up to GBP110 a week for looking after sick and elderly relatives are a step in the right direction, according to an adviser. Peter ...
OBSR makes three key appointments.
Sep 04, 2008 ... Byline: James Redgrave Old Broad Street Research has made three appointments to its research and support teams. Old Broad Street Research has made three appointments to its research and support teams. The research team appointments are Diane Earnshaw, as a ...
Rensburg hopes for a blooming success.(Rensburg Sheppards Investment Management will sponsor Gardens of Scotland handbook)(Brief article)
Sep 04, 2008; ... Byline: James Redgrave Investment manager sponsors guide to Scottish gardens Rensburg Sheppards Investment Management will sponsor this year's Gardens of Scotland handbook. The Scotland's Gardens Scheme charity book lists gardens which would normally be ...
Royal Liver gets aggressive to offset Park Royal.(Royal Liver Group aims to recruit investment advisers)
Sep 04, 2008; ... Byline: James Redgrave Group aims to increase adviser numbers by 40 in the next few months Royal Liver Group is hoping to recoup the losses from its UK advice and distribution arm Park Row with an aggressive expansion into the market. The business, which ...
By 2060 a quarter of Britons will be over 65, says EU.(European Union)(population forecasting)(Report)
Sep 04, 2008; ... Byline: James Redgrave European Union data analysts report says over 80s in Britain will double in 40 years The proportion of the UK population aged over 65 is set to skyrocket to a quarter of the total over the next 40 years, EU figures show. A report ...
Tenth of workforce fearful of redundancy, claims TUC.
Sep 04, 2008 ... Byline: Fiona Nicolson Research from the trade union shows workers in Scotland and Wales are most worried More than one in 10 British workers now fear for their jobs as a result of the economic slowdown, according to the Trades Union Congress. A survey of ...
Northern Rock borrowers are being hit hard.
Sep 04, 2008 ... Byline: Fiona Nicolson Research from Standard & Poor's has found that Northern Rock borrowers are suffering financial problems at a faster rate than the overall market. Research from Standard & Poor's has found that Northern Rock borrowers are suffering financial ...
Fidelity platform-based cash account will 'shake up' sector.(Fidelity FundsNetwork's CashManager account services)(Brief article)
Sep 04, 2008; ... Byline: Hannah Benjamin A new platform-based cash account is set to shake-up the advised platform market by offering clients unrivalled benefits by letting them hold cash and earn interest at the same time. A new platform-based cash account is set to shake-up the ...
Confidence returning to mortgage market, claims Yorkshire.
Sep 04, 2008 ... Byline: Fiona Nicolson Building society has also reduced rates on two and three-year fixed rate deals Yorkshire Building Society believes borrowers' confidence is returning to the market, as mortgage rates fall. While many borrowers coming to the end of ...