Tag Archives: Independent Financial Adviser

The next General Election cannot come soon enough! – guest blog from Ralph Frank

  The next General Election in the UK is scheduled for 7 May 2015. That date can’t come soon enough, bringing a little respite (if only temporarily) from what seems to be some sort of popularity contest between the Chancellor … Continue reading

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The RDR has scotch’d the snake not killed it!

the FSA has “scotched the snake not killed it”. Continue reading

Posted in actuaries, governance, Martin Lewis, pensions, poetry | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Do investment consultants need qualifications?

failure cannot be attributed to poor investment consultancy, more to an absence of investment consultancy where it matters Continue reading

Posted in actuaries, auto-enrolment, Bankers, corporate governance, dc pensions, de-risking, Financial Education, Liability Driven Investment, mallowstreet, pensions | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The New Dawn Fades (for IFAs)

For twenty five years we have been sold the need for independent financial advice. I was an IFA once and never for a moment reckoned I was offering independent advice – one product looked pretty much like another and if product … Continue reading

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Controlling wealth is not the same as generating wealth

IFAs Control £591bn of Britain’s wealth. That’s a whole lot of moley. Continue reading

Posted in Bankers, corporate governance, Fiduciary Management, Horse racing, Management, Retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Don’t tell me what to do – give me advice!

In a recent polldaddy poll I asked whether people would pay for advice to get information, find out their options or to be told what to do. 60% of people wanted options , 30% wanted to be told what to do and 10% … Continue reading

Posted in corporate governance, customer service, dc pensions, de-risking, pensions, Retail Distribution Review, Retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

IFEs not IFAs

If you’ve followed my posts over the past few days, you’ll l know I’ve referred to a debate between advisers, insurers, pension managers and trustees which started out discussing the ethics of incentivizing  enhanced transfer values and has moved toi discussing how and when advice … Continue reading

Posted in annuity, corporate governance, dc pensions, de-risking, EU Solvency II, Liability Driven Investment, pensions, Retail Distribution Review, Retirement, Treasury | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

Be aware – IFAs at work!

In order for employers to get value from their employee benefit plans they had better be absolutely sure that they are delivered by advisers that need carry no wealth warning!
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Posted in corporate governance, dc pensions, de-risking, Retail Distribution Review, Retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Buy now while IFAs last?

Commission comes at a cost and a cost that is rarely counted Continue reading

Posted in corporate governance, Retail Distribution Review, Retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Could we find a truly independent financial adviser?

The Playpen met for lunch as they do every first Monday of the month to discuss a question posed to us by Paul Bradshaw- serial entrepreneur and the inventor (according to Alan Smith) of the £50,000 pa PEP. In attendance Bill … Continue reading

Posted in pension playpen, Retail Distribution Review | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments