Tag Archives: Investment Association

Is fund management over-rated?

Posted on June 10, 2018 by henry tapper

We’ve got used to thinking of fund managers as the kings of the lot. They are at the top of food chain in terms of pay and the respect offered them by the rest of the financial community. So the … Continue reading →

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

Who owns “value for money”?

Posted on May 15, 2018 by henry tapper

  News from the stalwart Bob Ward that the FCA has dropped the term “value for money” came as a bombshell to participants in yesterday’s Pension Play Pen lunch. Since it’s about the only term left in the financial services … Continue reading →

Posted in auto-enrolment, pensions | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Loch Ness Monster is back (in fact it never went away!)

Posted on January 26, 2018 by henry tapper

  If you didn’t hear last night’s Radio 4 documentary “the Transparency Detectives”, you can listen to it here. It’s a great piece of work and no praise is to high for Lesley Curwen and her team who tackle the subject … Continue reading →

Posted in actuaries, advice gap, IGC, investment, pensions | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

“The belly of the beast” – Con Keating and the Investment Association

Posted on November 18, 2017 by henry tapper

Con Keating is not everybody’s cup of tea, but he’s mine – especially when he’s after  transparency. This shows him with a timely warning to those who think leaving transparency in the hands of the Investment Association is a good … Continue reading →

Posted in actuaries, advice gap, pensions | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Britain leading the way (at last)

Posted on August 14, 2017 by henry tapper

The balance of regulatory geo-politics has changed (did I really write that!) I guess most baby boomers like me grew up thinking that (at least in matters financial), Britain could look to America for progressive policy and practice. This is no … Continue reading →

Posted in advice gap, Big Government, customer service, pensions | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

A make or break week for UK investors

Posted on June 26, 2017 by henry tapper

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 →

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Ignore “bad “; let’s big-up good asset management!

Posted on December 5, 2016 by henry tapper

The asset management industry will get nowhere trying to defend bad practices. It should be celebrating its success stories. We have good active managers in this country and we have good passive managers, protecting bad practice among bad asset managers … Continue reading →

Posted in consultant, corporate governance, customer service, pensions | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Lies, damned lies and trade body PR – Robin Powell

Posted on August 20, 2016 by henry tapper

Robin Powell is a thoroughly decent man with an interest in financial probity who happens to write very well, he’s picked up on a couple of blogs which have been on here and I’m happy to return the favour. Robin … Continue reading →

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The charges of the light brigade

Posted on August 11, 2016 by henry tapper

    The publication by the Investment Association of a report that puts hidden costs in funds on a par with the Loch Ness Monster has been met with elation by fund managers and derision by their customers. Robin’s right; I remember … Continue reading →

Posted in accountants, actuaries, pensions, target date funds | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Searching for the Loch Ness Monster

Posted on August 10, 2016 by henry tapper

  The Investment Association has concluded that hidden charges within funds are like the Loch Ness Monster, much talked about but never seen. Presumably those of us consumers seeking to find the financial Nessie are like the cranks who sit upon … Continue reading →

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