Aifa names Aviva's Stephen Gay as new director general

and how many years as an IFA ?

What makes you think IFA experience is relevant to the future of AIFA??

Gillian "The clue is in the name?"

I wish him well in the job but he does not need to be a diplomat but someone who is prepared to defend our industry and tell the government and rule makers how it is.

Change for change sake is not a good thing. Raising professional standards is one thing, but for the last twenty years our industry has had no rails to run on. It has been one constant round of change the bulk of which has done the average man in the street no good whatsoever.

In answet to Anonymous 1: Perhaps we should be glad that the appointment is not an IFA with such narrow minded a view. A manager, communicator and proven executive speaking management level comment is what we need and perchance it is what we may well have found. Congratulations to the board and Chairman.

I feel most IFA,s would prefer an IFA background. Most union leaders started on the shop floor. AIFA is supposed to represent IFA,s (im a member) I preferred an individual closer to the sharp end to represent us.

He's clearly a thinker. Some of the stuff coming out of Aviva on the RDR has been surprisingly intelligent...

In answer to Black Kettle: In recent years the industry has suffered an endless number of managers, communicators and those with proven executive speaking management level comment, but look at the mess it is stil in. 'Tis time for change.

It might be useful for all concerned if AIFA could publish a list of its successes over the past 10 years, along with a list of its failures. I would also like to see an itinerary outlining explicitly the issues on which Mr Gay intends to tackle the generally intransigent FSA to secure a better deal for the extremely hard-pressed IFA sector, on whose behalf he envisages such a "fantastic opportunity" now that he's set to take the helm.

According to Dictionary.com, the definition of fantastic is "conceived or appearing as if conceived by an unrestrained imagination; odd and remarkable; bizarre; grotesque". Perhaps that gives us some idea of what to expect.

To Bob Donaldson well stated, succint and to the point!

The worry is of course that the powers to be would love to have "someone who is one of us (establishment)" in the position as they would be easier to deal!

The concern however of many Ifa's is that a person with little experience of the sharp end of being an Ifa might be so pro insurance company rather than a strong independent sector that the damage could be extensive.

Aviva has seldom supported anything that doesnt benefit Aviva and therefore whilst I wish Mr Gay all the best in his new appointment and sincerely hope he proves my fears groundless, the fact that he is a company man rather than someone who understands the market he will be sworn to defend concerns me!

I expect to see more of the same muddled ineffectual thinking coming out of AIFA in the future so no change there.

I dont really see the appointment as Aviva's (the IFA friendly company!!!) as head of our trade body makes that much difference because after all AIFA is as much use as an ashtray on a motorbike .....

Andrew : just check out where the "I" features ... I get the feeling (as per previous comments on this and related subjects) that the "I" has little hope of survival ... happy - very happy - to be proved wrong ... but we might be looking at AFA sooner than any of us would like ...

Possibly because our adviser community has no sensible, singular voice?

Just read the Citywire comments on any article to work out why one of us didn't make it. When have we ever all agreed on something?

I mean, a small-firm peer? So what if I'm not a small firm? In fact, what if I am - vested interests are not a life company phenomenon. We'd have found something to decry, between us all.

So, here we our: we're pro-RDR; we're vehemently against it. Much safer to drop someone else in who has a consistent opinion, and a track record of sharing it. Thus, this is what we get.

"He's clearly a thinker. Some of the stuff coming out of Aviva on the RDR has been surprisingly intelligent..."

Yup.

I am sure the FSA will be delighted with this appointment.

He is Pro RDR & has openly criticised people who have stood up against the FSA .Another good reason not to join Aifa

A very good appointment.

Like everyone, Stephen will need some time to grow into his role. he has worked in the IFa at sesame before AVIVA, and so can see the whole picture one would hope.

He has nailed his future to AIFA and to representing the adviser community. Good for him.

I wish him well in representing at al times the best interests of advisers and the clients they provide advice to.

The question has to be why ?

Would any sane person want this post ?

As others have said here hardly anyone in IFA world can agree on anything much at all.

Gillian

I appreciate your Candid comments unfortunately most of the transgressions in our industry are committed by large salesforces run by you guessed it Banks and Insurance companies!

To put someone in charge of a supposedly "AIFA" oraganisation who is from that background is strange and that certainly is not a comment on Mr Gay who I have virtually zero knowledge about!

I think many had hoped that the appointment would reflect the ideals and ethics of the vast majority of "IFA" practioners who see their role in the advisory world to provide a service and protect their clients from bad advice!

Anyway only time will tell as long as someone remembers that it isnt the IFA that is the enemy.

A

Gillian,

If you are correct in your observation then the appointment of Mr Gay is more of a worry.

On your suggested basis the IFA voice has no chance of being heard.

I am not sure providers understand IFA's well enough to have such a person at the helm of AIFA but i am very happy for Mr Gay to prove me wrong.

Let me be clear - I have no beef with the person.

I have concerns that someone with a network and life company history will be going into AIFA at the same time as it produced a report suggesting Restricted as a valid business option, and to implement policy agreed by the Council and the Chairman.

It is intuitive that an organisation set up to support Independent Financial Advisers (somewhat muddied by the subsequent adoption of mortgage intermediaries and finance brokers for whom independence is not quite the same deal) should be seen to do just that.

The foray into even discussing Restricted as an option is not a good omen.

Previous comments, and just about any discussion on this and other blogs, make it clear that Mr Gay msay need serious expertise in herding cats.

However, the ONE thing that I think all IFAs can agree on is that they place value on being INDEPENDENT. We have spent so long banging on about fees / commissions, active / passive, Level 4 / Level 6, RDR / no RDR, PFS / IFP, rules / principles, etc etc that the ONE THING (sorry to "shout" but this is what is going to get lost) that seems to REALLY matter to any IFA I've ever met is that independence is the thing.

So if AIFA ever considers losing the "I" because "the only thing that's really important is advice" we WILL need a new organisation that is proud and prepared to say that we believe that independence and independents are best.