Money Management articles from August 2008

Money Management archives from August 2008

Pensions spotlight - SIPP prom only four-star.
August 1, 2008... Byline: John Chapman The pensions industry is increasingly behaving as if consumers have no voice, suggests John Chapman To industry practitioners the Henry Stewart SIPP conferences may be as dazzling as the Henry Wood promenade...

Networks face member exodus.
August 1, 2008... Byline: Geordie Clarke IFA networks are losing large numbers of members to rival support service providers as advisers move to become directly authorised by the FSA, research from Money Management can reveal. Figures from this month's...

Statistics - August 2008.
August 1, 2008... Byline: Gareth Shaw Click on any of the links below to view this month's statistics in a PDF file UK Registered Investment FundsUK Registered Investment Funds Investment TrustsInvestment Trusts Insurance FundsInsurance Funds...

Tax spotlight - Offshore funds v offshore bonds.
August 1, 2008... Byline: Nick Williams Following the Chancellor's attack on non-UK domiciles who have been resident in the UK for the past seven years, Nick Williams of Clerical Medical highlights an alternative solution to paying the Revenue an annual...

Protection spotlight - Down, but not out.
August 1, 2008... Byline: Helen Pridham Falling sales of critical illness cover in recent years have led some to question whether it is in terminal decline. Helen Pridham considers the immediate past and prospects for its future Like most forms of...

Taking stock August 2008.
August 1, 2008... Byline: Russell Taylor Past success does not guarantee future profit for unit trust managers, says former investment banker Russell Taylor, but stock market history can at least help investors identify opportunity or danger in advance ...

Outside the box.
August 1, 2008... Byline: Janet Walford Outside fund managers as links for personal pensions have become an established practice, but extra charges for specialist management can eat into performance. Janet Walford OBE looks at what's on offer When...

Multi-manager spotlight - Institutional investors poised for sea change.
August 1, 2008... Byline: Maryrose Fison How viable is the latest preference for investment outsourcing through multi-managers for Britain's growing corporate pension funds? Maryrose Fison takes a look at retirement solutions With rising life...

Mortgage spotlight - Cutting down the dispossessed.
August 1, 2008... Byline: Laverne Hadaway Rate rises mean that some remortgagors will face severe financial hardship, but is repossession inevitable, asks Laverne Hadaway? With mortgages, household bills and petrol prices rising and Government measures...

Income protection.
August 1, 2008... Byline: Alan Lakey Why is income protection (IP) the black sheep of the family? Alan Lakey of Highclere Financial Services says it's down to harsh underwriting and complex claims definitions, which make IP even more dangerous than the Wild...

Broker body requests rethink.
August 1, 2008... Byline: Joe McGrath The Association of Finance Brokers (AFB) has called on Barclay's to rethink its decision to clawback millions of pounds worth of commission from mortgage intermediaries. The Association of Finance Brokers (AFB) has...

Payout peril of simplified protection.
August 1, 2008... Byline: Geordie Clarke Insurers defend products, claiming to fill a market gap EXCLUSIVE Concerns have been raised that simplified life insurance products will result in increased non-disclosure because not enough information was...

Platform alters commission strategy.
August 1, 2008... Byline: Joe McGrath Business responds to changing marketplace EXCLUSIVE Wrap platform Transact is to increase the frequency of payments of trail commission to intermediaries from October. Advisers will in future receive payments...

Affordability complaints rise.
August 1, 2008... Byline: Joe McGrath FOS acknowledges increase in affordability related complaints EXCLUSIVE Complaints relating to intermediary affordability assessments are increasing, fuelling concerns that a rise in the number of FSA fines against...

Help! My bonus has been SWiped!!
August 1, 2008... Byline: Janet Walford With profits payouts have been in steady decline over the past decade, as regular readers of Money Management will be only too well aware. With profits payouts have been in steady decline over the past decade, as...

SIPP provider signs golden deal.
August 1, 2008... Byline: Joe McGrath Intermediaries seek alternatives to cash EXCLUSIVE SIPP provider The Pal Partnership has signed a deal with gold bullion dealer Gold Investments to offer clients the opportunity to invest in gold as part of their...

An equitable solution?
August 1, 2008... Will the Government agree to compensate Equitable Life policyholders? Finding that injustice resulted from maladministration, Abraham has recommended that compensation be paid to "remedy any financial losses which would not have been...

Mixed asset ISAs stop the rot.
August 1, 2008... Byline: Gareth Shaw Friendly society sees ISA uptake increase in record numbers EXCLUSIVE Sheffield Mutual has astonished competitors by announcing that its volume of mixed asset ISA funds is up 37% on the past year, despite statistics...

Mutual culls currency loans.
August 1, 2008... Byline: Joe McGrath Mutual adds to broker woes Manchester Building Society (MBS) has withdrawn its intermediary second charge mortgage range for overseas property purchase. The products previously allowed up to 80% loan to value of...

Investment house signs for Port Vale.
August 1, 2008... Byline: Joe McGrath Harlequin Property - the overseas investment business - has signed a two year deal with Port Vale Football Club to be the club's shirt sponsor. Harlequin Property - the overseas investment business - has signed a...

Mutual contemplates P&L changes.
August 1, 2008... Byline: Geordie Clarke Decision could benefit with profits policyholders EXCLUSIVE Foresters Friendly is discussing how with profits policyholders will be affected by profits and losses from other products within the group in the...

Scottish society mulls lending launch.
August 1, 2008... Byline: Joe McGrath "Once in a generation opportunity" claims Scottish mutual EXCLUSIVE Dunfermline Building Society has confirmed that it still intends to launch into the further advance and second charge mortgage market later this...

Autumn adviser seminars planned.
August 1, 2008... Byline: Joe McGrath AIFA and AFB members invited to AMI workshops The Association of Mortgage Intermediaries is planning to run a series of roadshows in September to help mortgage specialists diversify into other areas of financial...

Provider reprices WOL range.
August 1, 2008... Byline: Joe McGrath Assurers believe there is still value in whole of life market Legal & General has revised its protection range, cutting premiums on its whole of life products by an average of 5%. The product pays out the sum...

Fund merger.
August 1, 2008... Byline: Jo Dymock New Star has decided to merge its Tri Star unit trust into the New Star Cautious fund. New Star said that the reason for the merging of the Tri Star fund into the Cautious fund is to allow investors to benefit from...

Olympic prospects.
August 1, 2008... Byline: Jo Dymock China equities fund Blackrock is stepping up to claim its share of the cash from the rapid growth of the Chinese economy with the launch of the BGF (Blackrock global funds) China fund. The fund is co-managed by...

Calming influence.
August 1, 2008... Byline: Gareth Shaw Structured products Barclay's Wealth has launched a limited edition portfolio of structured products available until the end of the summer. Available until 29 August 2008, the bank will offer the Regular Income...

Trust you must earn.
August 1, 2008... Byline: Gareth Shaw IHT planning EXCLUSIVE Lincoln Financial is branching out in the retirement market yet again by launching a discounted gift trust (DGT). Launched at the end of July, the Discounted Gift Bond is designed to...

Top online stories.
August 1, 2008... Byline: Gareth Shaw The most popular MM hits on the web The top 15 most read stories from the month 20 June to 14 July for Money Management, published either online only or in the magazine were as follows: 1) Barclay's halts new...

Long stitch.
August 1, 2008... Byline: Jo Dymock Global 130/30 fund Threadneedle is extending its 130/30 investment style fund range with the launch of the Threadneedle Global Extended Alpha fund. Due to its 130/30 structure, allowable under the UCITS III...

Commercial returns subside.
August 1, 2008... Byline: Geordie Clarke Downturn expands outside residential Commercial property values continue to plummet, falling twice as fast in June compared to May. Total returns on the IPD UK Monthly Property Index were -1.5% in June,...

Funds emerge resilient.
August 1, 2008... Byline: Geordie Clarke Emerging and energy sectors buck the trend EXCLUSIVE Funds in the energy and European emerging markets sectors have proved resilient to the past year's economic meltdown, recording gains when others have posted...

Safe as houses?
August 1, 2008... Byline: Geordie Clarke Structured products Arc Capital & Income is putting its trust in property prices with its latest structured product offering. The Arc Bricks and Mortar plan is linked to the performance of the Halifax House...

All wraps are created equal?
August 1, 2008... Byline: Tom Sheridan Do we understand how platforms work for their clients? Tom Sheridan, chief executive of Seven Investment Management, discusses the market At the millennium, few of us had heard of wrap or investment platforms....

Should there be a cut off for complaints?
August 1, 2008... Byline: Gareth Shaw Disputes over damages and missales have a 15 year time limit in English courts of law. But, bizarrely, this does not apply to financial services. Is this fair or even legal? Gareth Shaw investigates Since its...

Head to head.
August 1, 2008... Byline: Geordie Clarke IFA networks are facing increased competition from support services providers and now they have the RDR to contend with. Can they survive, asks Geordie Clarke? Networks were for years the only place to turn for...

Platforms survey.
August 1, 2008... Byline: Jo Dymock The platforms industry is becoming increasingly competitive in terms of quality of service, accessibility and fees. Jo Dymock takes a look at this dynamic market Despite a rocky economic situation, the UK platform...

Guaranteeing the guarantees.
August 1, 2008... Byline: Tigran Kalberer In turbulent stock markets, guaranteed returns can be attractive to risk averse investors. But how do providers cover the risks of providing such guarantees? Tillinghast's Tigran Kalberer, principal, and Manuel...

Financial strength of life offices.
August 1, 2008... Byline: Joe McGrath Assurers vow to tough it out in equities Only 12 months ago the financial strength of life offices no longer seemed to be a major issue. What a difference a year makes, finds Joe McGrath Assurers now face their...