2connect
Company news and trade press articles written for professional advisers from 2plan
Technically Speaking - The Unregulated Collectives Debate
The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has been incredibly prolific and industrious recently with their thematic reviews and projects examining areas such as pension switching, structured products and platforms. One of the latest to cause a raft of activity and the production of associated industry and guidance documents focused on another high level risk advice area - Unregulated Collectives (UCIS) The good and poor practice guides are undoubtedly an invaluable source of data, providing clear and useful FSA benchmarks against which firms can assess their own processes. The production of concise and identifiable suitability checklists equally provide valuable further assistance and importantly a framework for firms to ensure that their own procedures are aligned to that of current FSA thinking. But whilst FSA guidance does not establish a set of specific rules to adhere to, it still goes a long way to providing greater clarity of information to enable firms to make a better assessment of their own internal business standards - ensuring they ...
IFAOnline - SMALLWOOD SHOUTS - June 24th 2010
Whilst many a cheer was heard in the pub when England scored their first World Cup goal, fortunately it appears there are also a few other reasons for us to celebrate. The FSA has now confirmed that advisers will be allowed to continue to receive existing trail commission post-2012, even when a firm is sold or joins a network - according to FSA director of conduct policy, Sheila Nicol: "In requiring firms to abandon commission from 2013, we are not challenging your right to continue to receive trail commission for advice given in the past. If, at the end of 2012, an adviser firm has a right to receive trail commission, we will not be seeking to interfere with that. And ...
SMALLWOOD SHOUTS for IFA Online, May 20th 2010
At a time of great uncertainty both for the UK's political future and the broader European economic future, it is perhaps a little reassuring to know that in some areas advisers can at last have a little more clarity to allow them to plan ahead. The FSA has now clearly stated how it expects firms and advisers to behave and work ...
IFA VIEW - Chris Smallwood in Money Marketing, May 6th 2010
Over the past few weeks I have been travelling the Country on what ironically feels very much like the campaign trails of the political ...
SMALLWOOD SHOUTS For IFA Online - Triple Whammy For Pensions
Whilst many would claim that the biggest domestic news at the moment is the arrival of the 2010 Election swingometers, back in 'adviser land' ...
Money today, misery tomorrow? Accessing your pension earlier - TECHNICALLY SPEAKING April 2010
The 6th April this year heralded the end of an era and the beginning of a new 'longevity' regime; one of the most significant ...