Money Management articles from May 2008

Money Management archives from May 2008

Multi-manager - dumping ground or solution?
May 1, 2008... Byline: Stephen Ellis Multi manager funds are either 'dumping grounds for financial advisers to park money whilst relinquishing responsibilities' or the quick acting, perfect solution in current troubled times. Both views have recently...

A guide to our new website tools.(Website overview)
May 1, 2008... Byline: Chris Traulsen Money Management has introduced a suite of new tools on its new website to help make it more efficient to research funds and monitor a portfolio. Chris Traulsen, director of research at Morningstar, explains. ...

Lifetime enhancements.
May 1, 2008... Byline: Laverne Hadaway Widespread apathy and ignorance means that the takeup of enhanced annuities is less than it should be. Laverne Hadaway takes a look at the market to see what's on offer Although their share of the market is...

The job just got harder.
May 1, 2008... While multi-manager funds still allow advisers to outsource underlying fund selection and day to day monitoring, the growing number of funds and investment strategies mean that advisers must look deeper when selecting which funds are right for...

Payments reinstated.
May 1, 2008... Byline: Geordie Clarke Closed life office corrects mistakes and responds to criticism EXCLUSIVE The FSA has refused to disclose whether it has acted on the chorus of complaints that arose when Windsor Life left pensioners temporarily...

SMArty pants.
May 1, 2008... Byline: Jo Dymock Australian company Praemium claims to have launched a unique UK product by adapting the separately managed account (SMA) structure commonly used in the United States and Australia. Australian company Praemium claims...

Mortgage spotlight - Offsetting expectations.
May 1, 2008... Byline: Laverne Hadaway With more advisers accounting for sales of offset mortgages, is the offset concept likely to become more mainstream, wonders Laverne Hadaway? Offset mortgages have been around in the UK since the late 1990s. A...

Waiting for hedge riches.
May 1, 2008... Byline: John Chapman The FSA is inching towards Funds of Hedge Funds for retail consumers, but is more needed to level the playing field, asks John Chapman? If there was an award for investment product of the 2000s, hedge funds would...

Taking stock - don't be greedy!
May 1, 2008... Byline: Russell Taylor Patience and courage is what makes for investment success, says former investment banker Russell Taylor The US Treasury and the Fed showed, with their rescue of Bear Stearns, that they have understood the dangers...

Impaired life annuities.
May 1, 2008... Impaired life annuities are intended to allow those with shorter life expectancies to receive a greater pension income than they would with a standard annuity Enhanced and impaired life annuities The main difference between enhanced...

Q&A with Laurence Boyle.(Interview)
May 1, 2008... Byline: Geordie Clarke Geordie Clarke spoke with Laurence Boyle, investment director and head of the Assetmaster division at Williams de Broe, about its range of multi-manager funds Q: Can you give me an overview of your team at...

Q&A with Simon Mungall at Resolution.
May 1, 2008... Jo Dymock asks Simon Mungall how multi-managers are setting themselves apart as the market develops Resolution's joint venture multi-manager operation, Maia Capital, began only in October last year, with the launch of three new funds: the...

Q&A with Matt Trott at LV.
May 1, 2008... Jo Dymock asks Matt Trott of LV whether the growth of impaired life annuities is another nail in the coffin for standard annuities Q: Can you explain the difference between enhanced annuities and impaired life annuities? MT: The main...

Q&A with Peter Meany.(Interview)
May 1, 2008... Byline: Geordie Clarke Geordie Clarke talks to Peter Meany about infrastructure funds, his investment strategy and the benefit that these products provide to investors First State Investments launched its Global Listed Infrastructure...

Get the facts straight.
May 1, 2008... Byline: Ian Owen With increasing consumer choice, it is becoming more common to research the best options available before buying anything. So why do we not do the same with our retirement income, asks Ian Owen, chairman of Partnership...

One size does not fit all.
May 1, 2008... Enhanced annuities are gaining in popularity, but are they the be all and end all for those with medical conditions? Kin Lerche Thomsen, chef executive of Living Time, looks at alternatives Retirees with health issues or poor lifestyles are...

Dual pricing angers brokers.
May 1, 2008... Byline: Joe McGrath Halifax has confirmed that it has begun pricing some mortgages in its direct to consumer arm more favourably than those available through mortgage intermediaries. Mortgage brokers and IFAs were furious at the...

Too much, too young.
May 1, 2008... Byline: Gareth Shaw Pension providers still writing contracts too early Lord Adair Turner has labelled pensions companies 'irresponsible' for continuing to ignore the number of Britons retiring later in life when drawing up pension...

New broker for IFA deals.
May 1, 2008... Byline: Kylie Harrison IFA consolidation gets a helping hand EXCLUSIVE Three Sixty, the outsourced services provider, is to launch a broker service to help businesses that are looking to buy and sell IFA businesses. Three Sixty...

Ignorance is bliss.
May 1, 2008... Byline: Jo Dymock Consumers unaware of need for IHT planning Advisers' clients do not fully understand the implications of inheritance tax (IHT) according to a survey from Close Investments. The survey of just under 200 advisers...

Hacked away from home.
May 1, 2008... Byline: Gareth Shaw Outsourced software security overlooked by financial sector Financial services companies that outsource software development risk lapses in IT security, according to a new report carried out by technology research...

Legal threats a surprise.
May 1, 2008... Byline: Geordie Clarke Investors said to be angered by limits on withdrawals EXCLUSIVE Financial advisers and insurers have said that they were blindsided by rumours that investors who lost money in commercial property funds intend to...

Baltic estates.
May 1, 2008... Byline: Kylie Harrison New fund claims that the Baltic states are still hot property Stellar Asset Management is entering the market later this month with its first property fund investing in the Baltic States. The Stellar Baltic...

House prices fall sharpest in 16 years.
May 1, 2008... Byline: Geordie Clarke House prices saw their sharpest monthly decline in 16 years, falling by 2.5% in March, according to the Halifax house price index. House prices saw their sharpest monthly decline in 16 years, falling by 2.5% in...

Markets keep people awake.
May 1, 2008... Byline: Geordie Clarke Nearly 40% of investors believe that a recession is the biggest threat to their finances, while nearly half of people aged 55 or older are concerned that market turmoil will hurt their pension, two surveys have...

Paraplanner website.
May 1, 2008... Byline: Geordie Clarke A website has been launched as an online resource for paraplanners who need information and advice in their profession. A website has been launched as an online resource for paraplanners who need information and...

Financial Planner of the Year 2008.
May 1, 2008... Byline: Gareth Shaw Promoting professionalism - 2008 Financial Planner of the Year awards The time has come to enter this year's Financial Planner of the Year Awards, as Money Management publishes the 10 case studies that will see one...

More mortgage withdrawals.
May 1, 2008... Byline: Joe McGrath Future Mortgages led another wave of lenders pulling mortgage products this month, fuelling further speculation of a rapid slowdown in the housing market. Future Mortgages led another wave of lenders pulling...

Q&A with HSBC.(Interview)
May 1, 2008... Kylie Harrison talks to Cara MacGregor and James Hughes about their investment approach, how they work together as a team and what the future holds for HSBC's multi-manager offering. HSBC launched its OpenFunds proposition in 2006 following...

Retirement market matures.
May 1, 2008... Byline: Kylie Harrison Advisers could reap benefits of retirement boom The at retirement market for financial products will more than double to over GBP30bn a year, creating huge opportunities for advisers, according to Watson Wyatt....

Protection predictions.
May 1, 2008... Byline: Kylie Harrison Survey uncovers room for improvement Advisers have pinpointed harsh underwriting as the most frustrating thing about dealing with life offices, according to the first annual protection report from Lifesearch. The...

Could try harder.
May 1, 2008... Byline: Jo Dymock Platforms have significant improvements to make, say reports A report from Defaqto has criticised platform providers, stating that their products need to have greater transparency, both in terms of product proposition...

VCT Investments fall.
May 1, 2008... Byline: Jo Dymock Investment in venture capital trusts (VCTs) fell to GBP219m in the 2007/08 tax year, down 18% on the GBP267m raised in 2006/07. Investment in venture capital trusts (VCTs) fell to GBP219m in the 2007/08 tax year, down...

Sign of the times.
May 1, 2008... Byline: Geordie Clarke Lack of technology could hamper TCF abilities Advisers who still operate a paper based back office could be caught out by the newly implemented treating customers fairly (TCF) regulations, experts say. The...

Very niche advice?
May 1, 2008... Byline: Geordie Clarke CII to bring Islamic education into the fold The Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) is to launch a module on Islamic finance in September 2008, covering Takaful insurance and Sharia practice and perspective. ...

Base rate reduction.
May 1, 2008... Byline: Jo Dymock The Bank of England reduced the base rate by 0.25% to 5% on 10 April. The rate cut followed a rise in the consumer price index (CPI) to 2.5% in February, 0.5% above the Bank's target of 2%. The Bank of England reduced...

Small packages.
May 1, 2008... Byline: Geordie Clarke American investment firm Brown Advisory intends to generate above average returns with its new US Smaller Companies fund. American investment firm Brown Advisory intends to generate above average returns with its...

In high demand.
May 1, 2008... Byline: Geordie Clarke The third tranche of Blue Sky Asset Management's Protected Income Plan (PIP) has hit the market, offering double digit annual returns. The third tranche of Blue Sky Asset Management's Protected Income Plan (PIP)...

Structurally sound.
May 1, 2008... Byline: Geordie Clarke Fixed income product ties capital protection to index performance The latest structured product from Arc Capital & Income targets adventurous and cautious investors by offering a choice of two income levels. ...

Jupiter goes green.
May 1, 2008... Byline: Emma Howard Boyd Emma Howard Boyd, head of Jupiter's socially responsible investing recounts the past 20 years of investing for green. The last few years have seen the environment rise up the agenda for investors, with momentum...

projected returns and actual performances.
May 1, 2008... Byline: John Chapman The FSA can redeem itself for inept regulation of SIPPs by requiring much-needed transparency on SIPP products, says John Chapman Four questions are central to the FSA's current investigation of SIPP selling...

Protection spotlight - PPI on the ropes.
May 1, 2008... Byline: Helen Pridham The forthcoming report on the payment protection insurance industry from the Competition Commission is likely to be damming but remember, says Helen Pridham, PPI still has its good points This month (May) the...

FSA - 20 years on.
May 1, 2008... Byline: David Severn April 2008 is the 20th anniversary of the Financial Services Act. What has 20 years of regulation achieved and how have IFAs and the personal finance industry fared under it? David Severn looks at the record Those...

Beyond the Budget 2008.
May 1, 2008... Byline: Nick Williams Together with the Pre-Budget Report 2007, there were a number of substantial changes to the tax system. All will have a major impact on advisers and clients alike. Nick Williams of Clerical Medical highlights the...

CRM of the crop.
May 1, 2008... Byline: Geordie Clarke Client relationship management software has become a necessary tool for most advisers in today's TCF environment. But choosing the right one can be a confusing process. Geordie Clarke reports Specialised front...

Making inroads.
May 1, 2008... Byline: Alice Ross Funds that invest in infrastructure are only just beginning to register on advisers' radar. With performance statistics so new, how are they to be assessed? Alice Ross examines the case for infrastructure funds Why...

Statistics - May 2008.
May 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...

Have PIBS got the power?
May 1, 2008... Byline: Gareth Shaw PIBS are relatively unknown even though they currently pay 7% interest. But they are not completely without risk. Gareth Shaw looks at what they have to offer Given the volatility of the current investment arena,...

Tracker funds.
May 1, 2008... Byline: Kylie Harrison Do tracker funds provide better results than their higher charging active counterparts? Yes and no, finds Kylie Harrison. Tracker funds are a cost effective way to gain diversified exposure to the stock market,...