The stark difference between big inflows into Aviva and its post-replatforming poor service show a broken platform market according to research from consultancy the Lang Cat.
Actually a look at social media and some of the broader trade coverage, suggests that advisers are still concerned about the way charges information is being disclosed to them by platforms and what they then pass on to clients. This issue should bubble up on to the news sites soon.
Paul Armson of Life Centred Planners takes a rather more critical look at adviser models than most – he suggests that advisers should not be looking to charge for investment services and he says there is pressure on fees from MiFID II. Clearly Paul has a very different take on what advisers should be charging for including coaching. (The twitter row went on a for fortnight last year!). But his point that investment propositions come under pressure in falling markets is obvious but still perhaps uncomfortable reading for some advisers.
Anglo-Dutch Cardano is buying Now:Pensions just in time for Master Trust authorisation which should ease concerns about regulators given the pension firm’s very public admin problems.
It does service 30,000 employers which demonstrates how quickly pension companies become part of the economic and social fabric in the UK. Clearly regulation has worked in the case including a fine though the question will always be - could it have acted earlier.
In Money Marketing, the excellently-named Amyr Rocha-Lima, a chartered planner at Holland Hahn & Wills, argues that financial wellness and employer-funded independent financial advice fit together. He suggests a fixed fee planning service for local businesses to help staff with retirement advice. It’s good to see innovative suggestions like this.
A very big 'overseas' story from FTAdviser. HMRC is pursuing 1,720 individuals outside the UK for a tax settlement under the loan charge rules, FTAdviser reports.
LEBC warns that in its experience most of those not auto-enrolled are women.
James Coney says that property should be left out of the pensions dashboard.
RBS has reported a £102 million impact on its liabilities as a result of GMP equalisation. It has also reduced its equity exposure by two thirds. Interesting to know how much this is tactical and how much strategic.
