Financial Advisor articles from October 2002

Financial Advisor archives from October 2002

Dear delegate,.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2002... A very warm welcome to this guide to Financial Advisers Expo 2002. Financial Adviser has joined forces with sister FT Business publications Investment Adviser, Money Management and FTAdviser.com to bring you the UKs leading trade fair for...

What is FA Expo 2002?(Financial services industry trade show offers exhibitions and seminars)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 2, 2002... FA Expo 2002, free to anyone working in financial services, is a one-stop exhibition and seminar forum helping advisers to make the most of opportunities in the market and leading debate on the future of financial advice. Keynote speakers...

Seminar programme.(Financial Adviser Expo 2002 )(International Pages)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2002... The Financial Adviser Expo 2002 seminar programme will address recent and proposed changes to legislation and industry practices. It will provide a forum where speakers and advisers can lead discussions on the future of the financial servises...

Meet the speakers.(National Association of Pension Funds conference)(International Pages)(Statistical Data Included)
October 2, 2002... Simon Chamberlain, national recruitment director of Zurich Financial Services Simon joined the industry in 1989 after graduating from the University of Central England in politics and economics. He was in the top 1 per cent of his first...

A commitment to raising standards in the industry.(The Institute of Financial Planning is delighted to be associated with Financial Adviser Expo 2002.)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2002... The Institute of Financial Planning is delighted to be associated with Financial Adviser Expo 2002. The involvement of the IFP in this event has been to research and construct an informative speaker programme for all keynote and concurrent...

The keynote speakers.(Dr. Oonagh McDonald of University of Leeds)(International Pages)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2002... Harrogate Dr Oonagh McDonald Director of the Retirement Income Reform Campaign Dr Oonagh McDonald CBE is a Visiting Fellow of the International Institute of Banking and Financial Services at the University of Leeds. She is...

How to get there.(Yorkshire Event Center near Harrogate, England)(International Pages)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2002... Harrogate 15 October 2002 The Yorkshire Event Centre Great Yorkshire Showground Harrogate HG2 8PW www.eventcentre.co.uk The Yorkshire Event Centre is ideally situated on the outskirts of Harrogate, about a mile from...

Exhibitor information.(At the Financial Advisers Expo 2002)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2002... Abbey National for Intermediaries Launched in July this year, Abbey National for Intermediaries unites Scottish Mutual, Scottish Provident, James Hay and Cater Allen under this new umbrella brand. Its objective is simple: to support and...

Question Time; The questions that need to be answered.(UK financial industry faces new legislation challenges)(Government Activity)(International Pages)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2002... Use our panel of experts to spark a debate on issues that you need unravelled. With current changes to legislation and industry practices, the financial industry is at a crossroads. If you would like to raise an issue for discussion or...

Depolarisation.(A review of proposals designed to make straightforward and standardised financial products more easily available to more of the population)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2002... Howard Flight The biggest market in equities has turned into a bear market and government pressure is growing for people themselves to save for a relatively greater proportion of their incomes in retirement. But the first point to...

Pensions technology.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2002... Stewart Ritchie Technology is not my strong point, but there are some pensions developments relevant to IFAs which I know could not happen without technology. An example of one which is available now is group scheme software. In the...

FSA must up staff skills for regulation takeover; Mortgage board calls on FSA to ensure staff gain lending experience before 2004.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2002... By Clare Bettelley THE FSA is unprepared for its role as mortgage regulator, it has been suggested. Luke March, chief executive for the Mortgage Code Compliance Board, said that he estimated that there were fewer than five advisers...

Support for endowments revealed.(Benefit and dangers of endowment policies)(International Pages)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 2, 2002... TERRY OHalloran, insurance practitioner for OHalloran & Co, and former president of the LIA, has hit back at suggestions that endowment policies are dead. Mr OHalloran was indignant at speculation over the end of endowments, which, he...

Mortgages plc strengthens its market position.(Advantage Mortgage Services allowed to sell Mortgages PLC's products)(International Pages)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2002... MORTGAGES plc has strengthened its position with an alliance with mortgage packager, Advantage Mortgage Services. The non-conforming lender has agreed a correspondent lending deal with the packager, allowing it to sell Mortgages plc...

Extra News.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2002... Pink revamps cost-cutter mortage with GBP250 cashback Pink Home Loans has re-launched a mortgage product in a bid to ease the costs associated with obtaining a mortgage. The product, funded by Leeds & Holbeck Building Society, now offers...

Self-certification may be the latest mortgage craze; Self-cert business increases for IFAs as more high street lenders enter the market.(UK's self-certification mortgages rise to 93% in 2002)(International Pages)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 2, 2002... By Clare Bettelley SELF-CERTIFICATION mortgages could be the next craze to hit the mortgage industry. The percentage of intermediaries dealing with self-certification mortgages has increased from 77 per cent in 2001 to 93 per cent this...

Growth of UK market is fastest, claims CML.(European Code of Conduct for Mortgages)(Government Activity)(International Pages)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 2, 2002... THE UK mortgage market is the most dynamic, innovative and competitive in Europe. According to Michael Coogan, director general of the Council of Mortgage Lenders, the British markets proactive approach has enabled it to top international...

Pink launches three products.(New exclusive buy-to-let mortgage products in UK)(International Pages)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)(Statistical Data Included)
October 2, 2002... PINK Home Loans is riding on the back of the success of the mortgage industry with the launch of three new products and three new partnerships. David Copland, sales and marketing director for Pink, said that these recent developments...

Halifax shows commitment to insuring against flood risk.(Rate increase on policy premiums possible for flood insurance)(International Pages)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 2, 2002... HIGH street mortgage lender Halifax has announced it will continue to provide flood risk for customers until the end of the year. However, it did not deny that there would be an increase to policy premiums for this commitment. Joanne Gill,...

People on the move.(National Guarantee names Frank Eve as non-executive director)(International Pages)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2002... Specialist mortgage firm, National Guarantee, has appointed Frank Eve as a non-executive director. Mr Eve will offer the company strategic advice about business development. He will also be involved in preparing National Guarantee to meet the...

Brokers: use your brainpower; In todays sophisticated mortgage market, brokers are relying too heavily on sourcing systems to pick a mortgage.(FSA mortgage regulation will begin in early 2004)(Government Activity)(International Pages)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2002... Ray Boulger WHILE sourcing systems are an excellent method for filtering out the most suitable mortgage deals for a client, there is still a lot to be said for good old-fashioned brain-power. This is certainly relevant for more...

Stamp duty is costing us dear; If the government is serious about attracting first-time buyers to the housing market, it should rethink the rules on stamp duty.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2002... Simon Dice IREALISE the subject of stamp duty seems to get trotted out only in the weeks running up to the Budget, with the usual "buy now before stamp duty rises" stories. So I have decided to break with convention and raise the...

Its an equitable life for some; The rising value of property, combined with longer time in retirement, means huge potential for equity release.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2002... Graeme Hartop ALTHOUGH equity release schemes have been around in one form or another for more than 30 years, never before has the market represented such an attractive business proposition for IFAs. According to the Council of...

Equity release is the next big thing.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2002... EQUITY release is set to boom. This is not surprising and it is about time that intermediaries sat up and took notice. The market is expected to double to GBP10bn in terms of value of loans over the next year, according to figures from the...

Searching for signs of a slowing market; There may be signs that the housing market is approaching a slowdown but it is early days, and despite the changing pattern it is still running at a good pace.(Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors survey shows price rise, slowdown in growth)(International Pages)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 2, 2002... Barry Naisbitt IT CAN be easy perhaps too easy for economists and commentators to jump on the latest economic data and proclaim that a new trend has emerged. Figures for one or two months, or from just one source, rarely provide...

Buyers beware future changes; Things may look sunny now but borrowers must be careful in the future.(Mortgage interest rates, prices, competition)
October 2, 2002... Peter Mounty WITH mortgage interest rates reaching their lowest level for 40 years, buyers are snapping up properties priced way beyond what they could afford in a higher-rate environment. But high demand is fuelling price rises and,...

A crucial year for mortgages.(UK mortgage regulatory agency publishes annual report)(Government Activity)(International Pages)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2002... Luke March THE Mortgage Board was pleased to publish its annual report on 18 September and this allows us a moment to reflect on the regulatory year and highlight some significant achievements and issues for the industry. As you will...

It pays to advise on right to buy.(Growth of housing associations in UK)(International Pages)(Statistical Data Included)
October 2, 2002... Andy Linnett RECENTLY, the subject of right to buy made front-page news, when it was reported that John Prescott was drawing up proposals to end the right of tenants to buy their rented homes from their local authority. The reason...

Overhauling an adverse image; Gren Folwell, chairman of Preferred Mortgages, talks about changing perceptions of the non-conforming sector.(Non-conforming mortgage lenders sector in United Kingdom)(International Pages)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 2, 2002... Clare Bettelley RETIREMENT is to Gren Folwell what a nine-to-five office job is to an entrepreneur: best left for the enjoyment of others. Hence his decision to take up his new position as chairman of non-conforming Preferred...

IFAs must embrace lower rates; It is time for IFAs to take advantage of the lower rates available today when advising their buy-to-let clients on remortgaging.(UK mortgages rates running at 5.39% to 5.75%)(International Pages)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 2, 2002... Dominic Toller THOSE people who entered the buy-to-let market three to five years ago are more than likely to be more than happy with their investment. With property prices having risen by 48 per cent in some parts of the country over...

Best-Buys.(Mortgages' fixed and discount rates)(International Pages)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 2, 2002... This month there are 6 pages of mortgage facts and figures to help you select the best mortgage for your clients. On this page the graphs show the average of all discount, fixed rate, and first and second time buyer fixed and discount rates...

Heartland restricts share offer.(Heartland Independent Advisers anticipates GBP50,000 in losses for September)(International Pages)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 2, 2002... Birmingham-based Heartland Independent Advisers is to restrict the number of shares offered to staff. Tony Weaver, chief executive, said the company which expected to lose GBP50,000 in September alone was finalising the share offer to...

Widows offered client incentive to shun OMO; IFA claims life office waived MVA as long as client did not shop around.(Company will waive market value adjustment)(International Pages)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2002... By Simoney Girard AN IFA has alleged that Scottish Widows offered to waive a market value adjustment if a client opted out of the open market option. Ian Smith, director of Central Financial Planning, said Scottish Widows had imposed...

Housing shows no sign of significant slowdown.(Nationwide expects 23% price growth in UK housing market)(International Pages)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 2, 2002... THE housing market is showing no sign of significant slowing prices rose 2.1 per cent in September, according to Nationwide. In its latest report, Nationwide predicted a 23 per cent price growth over the year and said there was "no...

Opra publishes guide to stakeholder charges.(Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority guide outlines legislative requirements)(Government Activity)(International Pages)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2002... The Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority has published a guide to the charging requirements for stakeholder schemes. The guide is aimed primarily at stakeholder scheme managers, trustees and their advisers. It describes the legislative...

Pensions industry left to worry over tax-free sums.(National Association of Pension Funds asks UK government to support tax law)(Government Activity)(International Pages)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2002... The Treasury has failed to put the minds of the pensions industry at rest after rumours the tax-free lump sum was to be scrapped. The National Association of Pension Funds wrote to Ruth Kelly, financial secretary to the Treasury, asking for...

Tenet stages workshops on the pensions market.(Seminar called "Maximising Opportunities in the Retirement Market")(International Pages)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2002... The Tenet Group is this month staging workshops for M&E and Interdependence members looking at the pensions market. Maximising Opportunities in the Retirement Market, presented by Bob Bullivant, will look at FSA regulations and annuity reform...

National Guarantee appoints Frank Eve for strategic advice.(Appointment of non-executive director)(International Pages)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2002... National Guarantee has appointed Frank Eve as a non-executive director. Mr Eve will offer the company strategic advice on business development. He will also be involved in preparing National Guarantee to meet the demands of the new...

Moving On.(Winterthur Life expands corporate sales team)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 2, 2002... Tim Curry has joined Cap Gemini Ernst & Youngs insurance group as an executive consultant. Mr Curry specialises in the application of information technology solutions, claims management and outsourcing in the financial services sector. He has...

Industry concerned over stakeholder sales; Despite Stakeholder sales hitting a million, worries over take-up continue.(UK pensions market)(International Pages)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 2, 2002... BY Holly Thomas WHILE the industry should be celebrating the sale of the millionth stakeholder personal pension this week, experts have little to cheer about. The take-up of stakeholder has been slow due to the lack of new incentives...

Kelland gets technical with fee-based advice.(Kelland and Partners joins fee-based advisers group)(International Pages)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2002... FEE-Based Advice, an affinity group for fee-based advisers, has added Bristol-based Kelland & Partners to its membership. Ash Patel, managing director of Fee Based Advice, said many IFAs were not facing up to the choice of opting for fees...

Genesis creates buy-to-let trackers; NEW PRODUCT: tracker rates.(New tracker rates for Prospector buy-to-let mortgage)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 2, 2002... GENESIS Home Loans has launched new tracker rates for its Prospector buy-to-let mortgage product. IFA clients taking out loans up to 75 per cent loan-to-value will pay a rate of 4.76 per cent. This consists of three months at London Inter...

Halifax answers call over further advances; Intermediaries allowed to take a share in the sale of further advances.(United Kingdom mortgage brokers sector)(International Pages)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 2, 2002... By Bjorn Sodeland Halifax has responded to a call from a broker to give intermediaries a share in the sale of further advances. The scheme, the first of its kind in the UK, will be piloted through Mortgage Intelligence, one of the UKs...

Exclusive/Express mortgage formed; NEW PRODUCT: mortgage.(New mortages fixed rate of 4.65% until December 3, 2004)(International Pages)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 2, 2002... The mortgage packaging network Exclusive Connections has joined forces with Mortgage Express to launch two 100 per cent plus mortgages. The first product has a fixed rate of 4.65 per cent until 3 December 2004. The second product has a...

Annuity rates defended despite industry criticism.(Research on UK annuity market)(International Pages)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 2, 2002... A report has defended the annuity market, claiming rates are not unfairly low. Research by Dr Edmund Cannon and Professor Ian Tonks, of the Centre for Market and Public Organisation at the University of Bristol, argued that although...

Hacker Young raises turnover.(Personal accountancy division reports 30% rise in turnover)(International Pages)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 2, 2002... The personal accountancy division of Hacker Young, the national accountancy firm, has grown its turnover by 30 per cent. The increase, mainly down to sale of products related to capital, income and inheritance tax planning, was for 12...

No scandal in endowments; Norwich Union disputes claims of mass mis-selling.(Consumers Association criticizes Norwich Union PLC's sales method for endowment mortgages)(International Pages)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 2, 2002... By Jason Corcoran NORWICH Union has dismissed claims by the Consumers Association that 5m people have been mis-sold endowment mortgages. The CA alleged in a report last week that 5m householders may be due compensation totalling...

BSkyB deal boost for advisers.(Moneysupermarkets financial comparison service offered on BSkyB's Skys digital service)(International Pages)(Internet/Web/Online Service Information)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2002... MEMBERS of the Professional Advisor Alliance hope to boost the number of leads it receives following a deal between Moneysupermarket.com and BSkyB. Moneysupermarkets financial comparison service is set to become available on Skys digital...

Premier launches Extra Income Plan; NEW PRODUCT : protected fund.(New plan has growth potential of up to 34% for 5-year period)(International Pages)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 2, 2002... PREMIER Fund Managers has launched the Premier Extra Income Plan linked to the value of the Dow Jones Eurostoxx50 Index. The plan has a growth potential of up to 34 per cent over a five-year period. It offers investors an annual income of...

Switching could slash MPPI costs.(Prices of mortgage payment protection insurance)(International Pages)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 2, 2002... SWITCHING mortgage payment protection insurance provider could save the average borrower more than GBP2300. According to MPPI provider DMS, switching a policy away from the lender could provide substantial savings over the term of a...

Spotlight on scandal of womens pensions; Conference told female pensioners receive as little as 7p a week.(Millions of women live in poverty in UK without adequate pensions, Liberal Democrats)(Government Activity)(International Pages)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 2, 2002... By Holly Thomas THE Liberal Democrats have claimed that millions of women are being forced to live in poverty. At the LibDem conference in Brighton last week, Steve Webb, the partys spokesman on pensions, said some women received...

New virtual network hopes to net top IFAs; Virtual Net online IFA network hopes to succeed where others have failed.(New IFA network allows intermediaries to market services online)(International Pages)(Internet/Web/Online Service Information)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 2, 2002... By Simon Falush AN INTERNET-BASED IFA network has been launched to compete with existing networks. Hoping to cash in on dissatisfaction with existing networks, Virtual Net is looking to attract a broad range of IFA firms. ...

Sandler and Pickering slated over saving advice.(Consumers demand pension funds simplification)(International Pages)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2002... A LEADING consumer champion has condemned the Sandler Review and Pickering Report for failing to suggest practical measures to help consumers save. Speaking at a recent Compliance Institute Conference, Marie Jennings, president of the...

Norwich Union ups its with profits MVR from 7 to 13%.(Insurance company's market value reduction)(International Pages)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 2, 2002... NORWICH Union has almost doubled its with profits exit penalty. NU has increased the market value reduction on with profits funds to an average 13 per cent. In August, the average penalty was dropped to 7 per cent from 11 per cent....

Key data offers FTSE Isa; NEW PRODUCT: capital-protected isa.(New Capital Plus account offers no annual initial charges, management fees)(International Pages)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 2, 2002... KEY Data Investment Services has launched a capital-protected Isa that invests in options derived from the FTSE 100. The Capital Plus Account carries a fixed return element. Around 80 per cent of investors initial contribution is invested...

Prus move to India sparks quality fears; IFAs fear transfer of call centre could worsen already-poor service.(Prudential Assurance Company Ltd. moves call center to India)(International Pages)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 2, 2002... By Holly Thomas IFAs have raised concerns about the Pru moving its call centre to India, saying it could disrupt services and damage service levels. Customer service levels are already a bugbear of advisers but the insurer has...

Too many passwords put IFAs off websites.(New digital certificate solves problme of online passwords)(International Pages)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
October 2, 2002... AN E-TRADE developer claims to have come up with a solution to the plethora of passwords on the web. Origo Services said provider websites were suffering as IFAs shied away from constant logging in. The firm has developed Unipass, a digital...

B&W offers buy-to-let remortgages; NEW PRODUCT: mortgage.(Fixed interest rate at 5.75% mortgages offered to December 31, 2007)(International Pages)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 2, 2002... BRISTOL & West Mortgages has launched two new buy-to-let remortgage products. Borrowers can fix their interest rate at 5.75 per cent until 31 December 2007, after which the rate reverts to the Bank of England base rate plus 1.75 percentage...

IMA figures reveal a slump in Isa sales; Overall retail sales remain stable but investment funds have suffered.(ISA net sales drop 18% in August)(International Pages)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 2, 2002... By Simon Falush ISA sales slumped again in August, according to the Investment Managers Association. Net Isa sales in August of GBP272.8m were down 18 per cent from the same period last year. Similarly, gross Isa sales were down 14 per...

Lone parent benefits guide aimed at IFAs.(Royal Bank of Scotland releases guide on new tax credit system)(Government Activity)(International Pages)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 2, 2002... IFAs can learn about lone parent tax and benefits with a new guide from the National Council for One Parent Families. The guide, funded by the Royal Bank of Scotland, gives advice on how to deal with the new tax credit system. The new...

Merrill Lynch to launch two funds; NEW PRODUCT: structured funds.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 2, 2002... TWO structured products will be available from Merrill Lynch Investment Management from 14 October. Investors in the Merrill Lynch Stepped Growth and Income funds will be eligible for 7 per cent or 8 per cent a year unless the FTSE 100...

Royal London bonds with Dublin; NEW PRODUCT: High Income Bond.(New high-income bond fund focuses on corporate bonds)(International Pages)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2002... ROYAL London Asset Management plans to offer a high-income bond fund and is awaiting approval for a Dublin-based open-ended investment company. The offshore high-income fund will primarily invest in corporate bonds, including unrated...

Aberdeen to slash its fat cat payouts; Fund manager cuts pay to cut costs and appease its split caps investors.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2002... By Sam Dunn FUND manager Aberdeen has tightened its belt by slashing boardroom pay and deferring bonuses for its highly paid executives. Its cost-cutting exercise is aimed at saving money as levels of new business fall. It also...

Society offers extra 1% on with profits; NEW PRODUCT: with profits bond.(New profits growth bond has basic rate of 5.2%)(International Pages)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 2, 2002... LIVERPOOL Victoria is offering an extra 1 per cent allocation on its with profits growth bond for purchases through IFAs. The friendly society is extending this allocation for purchases and top-ups until 18 October for investments of...

Equitable Life to offer compromise payouts; Provider in talks with FSA to launch compensation plan for policyholders.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2002... BY Holly Thomas EQUITABLE Life is to examine a new compromise scheme for former policyholders to compensate those who lost out. A new independent report from B&W Deloitte confirmed that, as suspected, groups of former policyholders...

Insight aims to be first choice; Asset managers revamp of fund range is positive step.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2002... By Susan Butterworth INSIGHT Investment this week launched nine investment funds and revamped 14. The asset manager of HBOS said that over the next five years it aimed to position itself as "a first-choice player" for IFAs in the...

Manager braves UK equities; NEW PRODUCT: investment fund.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2002... INSIGHT Investment launched its UK Equity Fund this week. The Oeic sub-fund, managed by James Grieve, will hold between 65 and 80 stocks. It aims to achieve a combination of income and long-term capital growth with a portfolio primarily...

Britannic attacked over appalling service levels; IFAs speak out in anger over the treatment they have received from Britannic Money.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2002... By Bjorn Sodeland BRITANNIC Money has come under attack for what intermediaries describe as "appalling" service levels. One IFA, Mark Ryan, director of IFA Professional Solutions, alleged the service he had been receiving from the...

New roles for Invesco retail fund managers.(Investment management operations restructured)(International Pages)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 2, 2002... INVESCOS retail fund managers are to take on extra responsibilities after the restructuring of its investment management operation this week. The fund management operation is to cut 15 staff from its institutional fund management staff and...

McGovern rewarded for best marks in K20 exam.(PHIL McGovern, of MPA Pensions)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2002... PHIL McGovern, of MPA Pensions and Investment Advisers, has scooped the K20 distinction award. The award is for achieving the highest marks in the K20 exam. Scottish Widows, sponsor of the Chartered Insurance Institutes K20 Pensions...

IFA admits overstating by GBP6.7m.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 2, 2002... IFA Inter-Alliance Group has admitted overstating shareholders funds by GBP6.7m before 2002. The revelation was made last week in its interim results for the six-month period to 30 June 2002. The 2001 adjustments reduced turnover by GBP4m...

Mortgage Business launches campaign.(Announces increase in self-certification mortgages)(International Pages)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 2, 2002... THE Mortgage Business has introduced larger loan sizes and higher loan-to-values on its self-certification range. TMBs "Autumn Campaign" aims to open up its products to more potential customers with the changes to its range of mortgages....

Charity pushes for finance in curriculum.(Personal Finance Education Group wants personal finance issues in U.K. National Curriculum)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2002... Personal Finance Education Group is stressing the importance of including personal finance issues in the citizenship element of the National Curriculum. Charity PFEG is worried that citizenship, which became part of the statutory national...

Bradford & Bingley wins GBP650m business.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2002... Bradford & Bingley has acquired GBP650m worth of mortgage business with the acquisition of General Motors Acceptance Corporation loan book. The loan book is made up of 6000 mortgages and it will bolster the GBP19.1bn of managed assets by 3 per...

No change on the pension saving front.(Data reveals more people over 60 than children under 16)(International Pages)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 2, 2002... The pensions time-bomb is still ticking after the Census report, which revealed there are more pensioners than young people for the first time. The report for 2001 showed there are now more people aged 60 and over than children under 16. The...

Challenger annuity accepted in market.(Australian financial services firm's Open Annuity)(International Pages)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2002... Challenger, the Australian financial services giant, has had its Open Annuity accepted on to the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. The provider had trouble being accepted on what used to be called the Investors Compensation Scheme. Annie...

Kent Reliance buys Jersey fund book.(Jersey Home Loans )(International Pages)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2002... Kent Reliance Building Society is setting up a new company after buying Standard Chartered Grindlays Jersey mortgage book. Jersey Home Loans will cater for the needs of the Jersey borrowers and will offer internet access. Mike Lazenby, chief...

FSA reveals radical plans for insurance regulation; Regulator report revealed as concerns over capital requirements and liabilities rise.(New UK insurance regulation reform report)(Government Activity)(International Pages)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2002... By Susan Butterworth THE FSA has revealed the way it will radically reform the regulation of insurance. The report coincides with sharp falls in equity markets and concerns have risen over the capital requirements and liabilities of...

IFAs welcome efforts by FSA.(United Kingdom's Financial Services Authority monitors insurance industry)(Government Activity)(International Pages)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2002... IFAS welcomed FSA efforts to move the insurance industry towards greater openness, but warned that implementation could prove difficult. Tom McPhail, pensions research manager of IFA Hargreaves Lansdown, said: "What really counts is how you...

Canada Life increases fund manager numbers in gallery; NEW PRODUCT: gallery of funds.(External fund manager links reach seven for wealth management business)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2002... Canada Life has added three new fund managers to its open architecture gallery of funds. The new links, which will add 10 funds to Canada Lifes range in the gallery, are with Threadneedle Investments, Schroder Investments and JP Morgan...

B&B duo relaunched.(Bradford & Bingley's new advertising campaign)(International Pages)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2002... The Market Place at Bradford & Bingley is relaunching two old advertising icons under a new guise. Mr Bradford and Mr Bingley familiar characters before the company demutualised are set to return as the Advice Squad. Bradford and Bingley...

LIA extends services with offers to mortgage intermediaries.(Workshops and newsletters on UK mortgage regulation)(Government Activity)(International Pages)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2002... The LIA is extending its offerings to include services for mortgage intermediaries. Over the coming months the organisation will roll out a number of services of direct relevance to mortgage brokers. This will include workshops,...

Mortgage experts discuss the market.(UK government's role in housing mortgage market)(Government Activity)(International Pages)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2002... The government should re-think the rules on stamp duty if it really wants to encourage first-time buyers into the housing market, an expert said. Simon Dice, of Savills Private Finance, makes the case for a change in the way banding is applied...

Top 100 IFAs to be revealed next week.(Special report provides detailed analysis)(International Pages)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 2, 2002... The FA/Matrix Data Top 100 IFAs survey be published next week. The top 100 IFA firms in the UK will be ranked by turnover by Matrix Data, exclusively for Financial Adviser. The special report will feature detailed analysis of the results, as...