Annuities and other retirement products: designing the payout phase »
In the 1990s many emerging economies in Central Europe and Latin
America initiated their pension reforms. While most analysis to
date has focused on the accumulation phase, there are a number of
lessons to be shared as countries start to prepare the retirement
options for their contributors, with this book addressing these
issues from a public policy perspective.
FSSC – Response on RDR professionalism strand »
The FSSC has stated that it supports the RDR professionalism
strand but stresses the need not to lose sight of consumers by
reducing access to advice or making the processes overly
bureaucratic and costly. The full response is available through the
link below.
Pensions at the crossroads »
It may have had a bad press, but the personal pension market
still has a lot to offer, maintains Edward Murray...
This New Year, let’s resolve to establish the financial planning profession in the public mind »
Welfare reform, new pensions rules, spending cuts… advisers
would have plenty on their plates even without the RDR. But Fay
Goddard says the PFS will help members achieve compliance, business
transformation and professional success...
FSA – RDR announcement »
Regulatory News December 2010
Trustees’ Problems or Problems With Trustees? »
Every adviser dealing with trusts is familiar with the important
reasons why trustees need to be appointed in addition to the
settlor of a trust (especially where a trust of a life assurance
policy is concerned) and why great care should be taken when
choosing additional trustees. In real life, of course, things
don't always work out as planned: trustees who have been
appointed may not want to act, there may be disagreements amongst
the trustees or between trustees and beneficiaries; trustees may
die or simply be incompetent. The people who will suffer as a
result of such occurrences will usually be the beneficiaries or the
co-trustees, where unanimity of trustees is required, as under
English law. But often they will not be clear what, if any, action
they can take to resolve the problem. There is evidence that the
amount of litigation in this area is increasing, affecting both
trustees and executors; but going to Court is normally not for the
faint hearted and it should really be the last resort. In this
article we will outline the key legal principles, under English
law, relevant to removing and replacing trustees in different sets
of circumstances.
“No Mr Bond, I expect you to die” Goldfinger »
This is an article I really should have committed to paper a few
months ago. The writing has been on the wall for bond markets for
some time, but as long as they continued to defy gravity, bulls
were able to argue their case with conviction. And it was by no
means an argument without merit. With doubts lingering over the
strength of the global economy and continued concern on whether
banks in the developed world were adequately capitalised, is there
any wonder that the perceived safety of Sovereign debt should have
such a strong following?
FSA - Speeches »
Regulatory News November 2010
FSA – Platform proposals »
Regulatory News November 2010