It looks like quite a strange week for news in financial services. It has been a little bit muted with the election campaign in full swing but before we see the manifestos.
What will prove interesting is what exactly the Conservatives promise on the state pension and tax more generally and the polls suggest this is likely to be the next government's policy. A lack of an iron clad promise on say national insurance may mean a rise. Labour will be determined to show its manifesto is costed and so that may show just where it will be seeking tax increases for business and perhaps on trading derivatives too. But we’ll leave looking at this until we actually get the documents and include it in next week’s review.
This week sees lots of opinions and demands from industry leaders. Aegon’s boss Adrian Grace calls for more pension transfer clarity from regulators.
A.J. Bell’s Mike Morrison discusses a conversation at the school gates with a fellow parent has led him to believe that DB transfers have gone mainstream.
Phil Young, managing director of 360 sets out the ways to establish clear objectives in suitability reports.
Money Marketing head of news Justin Cash says the FCA should be using the Gabriel returns to crunch the numbers on the PI market and help it bring in reform.
Andrew Warwick-Thompson is to leave role as policy chief at Nest to become chief executive of the Local Government Pension Schemes.
In Money Marketing, Transact boss Ian Taylor states his belief that advisers shouldn’t pay for platforms.
AJ Bell launches a platform due diligence service for advisers.
Interesting that Standard Life’s 1825 is bringing in management from SJP with Mark Toothill to head the North East region.
Neil Woodford has ditched Glaxo for among stocks Lloyds. Separately, the Government is about to offload the final sliver of Lloyds as the Telegraph reports.
In the Observer, Allianz adviser and former Pimco star investor Mohamed El-Erian sees a 50:50 chance of another economic crisis in the next two years. He believes markets are not really pr
