News by: William Robins
Markets
Ofqual criticises CII level four diploma over gaps and easy questions
Exam regulator Ofqual has criticised the Chartered Insurance Institute for failings in its retail distribution review level four qualification.
Why a new model annuity push is needed
The Association of British Insurers has promised an annuity shopping-around directory, but its listing of ‘experts’ does nothing to address the wide variety of client needs nor to match clients with a suitable adviser.
AXA calls for consultation on Sipp and GPP charges
AXA Wealth has called for a consultation on clarifying defined contribution pension charges to be extended to group personal pensions and Sipps.
Eversheds warns of TPR auto-enrolment intervention
Law firm Eversheds has warned advisers that The Pensions Regulator (TPR) will look to use a set of tell-tale risk factors when investigating compliance with auto-enrolment.
Steve Bee: Workplace advisers must link with accountants to survive
Advisers must team up with accountants to launch workplace focused businesses in order to survive a ‘perfect storm’ of regulatory change.
Sargisson on a mission to revive James Hay’s fortunes
James Hay’s Tim Sargisson is confident the provider’s recent revamp will boost business.
Biofuel firm attack on SFO dismissed as 'fanciful'
Claims by a collapsed £40 million Sipp biofuel investment scheme that it was it was shut down unfairly have been dismissed as ‘fanciful’ by the firm responsible for retrieving investor’s money.
Webb unveils plans for contracting out offset
The pensions minister has revealed private sector employers will be allowed to cut the payments of contracted out defined benefit scheme members when the government's proposed flat rate state pension is introduced.
HMRC faces top brass exodus
HM Revenue & Customs is set to be hit by a wave of exits this summer with four of its top five tax collectors due to leave.
Canada Life makes dual hire in reshuffle
Canada Life has made two hires to its wealth and retirement divisions following management changes.
Aviva UK pension sales rise 12% despite drop in life business
Aviva UK pension sales have jumped 12% over the first three months despite an overall fall in life and pension business.
Pica calls on gov't to back annuity adviser index
The Pensions Income Choice Association (Pica) has called for government support for its plans to build a search engine of annuity advisers.
Adviser Week: Collapsed investment fuels FSCS fears
New Model Adviser® news editor Alex Steger and chief reporter Will Robins discuss the implications for advisers from the collapse of unregulated investment Sustainable AgroEnergy.
NAPF calls for clearer DC pension charges
The National Association Pension Funds has gathered members of the pension industry to launch a consultation on how to make pension scheme charges clearer to employers.
JLT freezes all ETV exercises after gov't and FSA clampdown
JLT Wealth Management has suspended all enhaced transfer value excerises after FSA rule tightening.
Regulator’s pension plans will create 'perfect storm' for Sipps
Sipp providers are bracing themselves for extra workload and mounting costs as they struggle to implement changes to key features illustrations, and have appealed to the Financial Services Authority to hold off while the regulator pursues several other reforms expected to affect projections.
LV= adds enhanced break clause to fixed-term annuity
LV= will allow fixed-term annuity members to exit early so they can buy an enhanced annuity or enter flexible drawdown.
What do providers really think about ETVs?
A letter from Aviva shows providers may be ducking for cover over enhanced transfer value exercises.
Unregulated investment fiasco sparks IFA fears over FSCS bill
Advisers could be landed with yet another hike to their Financial Services Compensation Scheme levy due to plans to recoup investors’ money from a £40 million unregulated investment being investigated by the Serious Fraud Office.