Tag Archives: FCA

How do you annoy a wealth manager?

Posted on July 18, 2017 by

Question; how do you annoy a wealth manager? Answer; ask him about his fund supermarket.   It may offend your local wealth manager (aka IFA) but that’s what Reuters call these funds platforms the FCA are investigating and if you believe Platforum, … Continue reading →

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

Who wins from platforms?

Posted on July 18, 2017 by

    I enjoyed reading the FCA’s Terms of Reference for its Platform Market Study, it posed many questions and I’m looking forward to the answers. Few investors properly understand what platforms are , what they do and  how much they … Continue reading →

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

Innovative pensions for the mass of us!

Posted on July 14, 2017 by

In its Retirement Outcome Review (interim report), the FCA were clear on  evidence of a problem The blame lies not with thick consumers but with lack of competition If competition is not working effectively and consumers make uninformed retirement income decisions this could lead to … Continue reading →

Posted in advice gap, auto-enrolment, DWP, pensions | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Freedoms;- the Treasury got us into this mess, can the FCA get us out?

Posted on July 12, 2017 by

  It is good that the FCA are looking at the introduction of Pension Freedoms through experience. Here’s what they’re finding. Over half – 52 per cent – of fully withdrawn pots were not spent but were moved into other savings … Continue reading →

Posted in pensions | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

We save for certainty – what LDI can learn from Funeral Plans

Posted on July 7, 2017 by

  There’s controversy over the management and sale of Funeral Plans this morning. Fairer Finance report that many plans are simply no good and that this is often because they pay commissions of up to £1000 to those who sell … Continue reading →

Posted in pensions | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

John Kay – practical solutions to the FCA’s problems – please!

Posted on June 30, 2017 by

Passive management must be valued In a lukewarm response to the FCA’s Asset Management Market study, John Kaye comments.  Greater transparency of charges will do little harm, but will also make little difference. Those customers who do focus on price … Continue reading →

Posted in advice gap, pensions, workplace pensions | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Three cheers for the FCA Asset Management Market Study

Posted on June 29, 2017 by

I  got to read MS15/2.3 last night. It was a good read. It’s long and detailed but it’s key findings and remedies are short enough to be listed here. There are the remedies that need a little more consultation;-  that … Continue reading →

Posted in FCA, Financial Conduct Authority, First Actuarial, pensions | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

A make or break week for UK investors

Posted on June 26, 2017 by

Are fund managers the new bankers? If you’ve read the excellent  (draft) FCA Asset Management Market Study, you’d be forgiven to think they were – (and that investment consultants were their knowing flunkies). The question now is how far the FCA … Continue reading →

Posted in advice gap, consultant, corporate governance, pensions | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

If you see bad advice – say something!

Posted on June 11, 2017 by

  I was very pleased to read Natalie Holt’s article in Money Marketing, we need a better way to deal with bad advice. It deals with public perceptions of financial advisers and is uncompromising. The reality of advice is lost … Continue reading →

Posted in accountants, actuaries, advice gap, pensions | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Ever wondered where those “pension leads” come from?

Posted on June 2, 2017 by

Many financial advisers buy “pension leads”. These are hot prospects keen to take action to change their financial circumstances. Many of these leads are legitimately sourced, but many aren’t. If you spend time on Linked in or Twitter or Facebook, … Continue reading →

Posted in pensions | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments