Tag Archives: FAMR

RDR review – long on problems – short on answers

‘Advice firms appear to face little competitive pressure to innovate and offer new, more affordable services, or to try to attract less wealthy consumers. Competition does not appear to be operating effectively in the interests of consumers.’ If you were … Continue reading

Posted in pensions | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Do YOU need a financial adviser in retirement?

The argument is central to most pension debates at the moment. There are some who would have everyone who reach 55 meet with an adviser. Others who would limit the pension freedoms to those prepared to pay advisers to manage … Continue reading

Posted in advice gap, pensions | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

“Reductio ad absurdum” or a financial “must have”?

Today is a big day for funds disclosure in the UK. It is the day hands to the FCA, the template created by the Institutional Disclosure Working Group. This template  will facilitate the collection of data on the costs and charges … Continue reading

Posted in advice gap, pensions | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Fintech must Bee for a clear purpose

I’m looking forward to a breakfast meeting at the CSFI to hear a conversation between Romi Savova and several sceptics who don’t get the Pension Bee proposition. As I’ve mentioned on this blog several times, I admire Pension Bee and … Continue reading

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The FCA can excel; the “non-workplace pension” paper’s a model of its kind

Henry Tapper and Pension PlayPen response to FCA’s paper DP18/1 Effective competition in non-workplace pensions This is the response of Henry Tapper and the Pension PlayPen. It is not a response on behalf of any other organisation that Henry Tapper … Continue reading

Posted in advice gap, BSPS, dc pensions, drawdown, Henry Tapper blog, pensions, PLSA, Retail Distribution Review, Retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

£500 “wealth cheques” written by those “just getting by”.

First the facts The Treasury has upped the amount savers will be able to draw from their pensions to pay for financial advice from £500 to £1,500. In August, the Government set out plans for a £500 “pensions advice allowance” … Continue reading

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Tax-subsidies on retirement advice; a waste of public funds!

The Government intends to extend tax breaks on pensions to allow those with pension pots to use them to pay for advice. The details are in this consultation document. The fundamental premise is that taking financial advice on retirement matters … Continue reading

Posted in advice gap, consultant, dc pensions, de-risking, defined ambition, pensions | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Research and Development in Financial Advice

The Financial Conduct Authority has published the results of its survey of firms providing financial advice. The results make for depressing reading. Of the sample, 72% of firms said that customers’ preference for personal interaction with an adviser was a … Continue reading

Posted in pensions, robo-advice | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

What price advice?

The principal purpose of the Financial Advice Market Review carried out by the FCA and sponsored by Harriet Baldwin (Chief Economic Secretary to the Treasury) is to broaden the availability of advice to ordinary people. Critical to the purchasing of … Continue reading

Posted in Payroll, pensions | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Britain unproductive? Small wonder!

“Now is not the time to change pensions tax relief”. The words of the Treasury’s press release that spelt the end of radical pensions reform (for now). Oh what an opportunity missed – and for what? To keep a party … Continue reading

Posted in pensions | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments