For professional adviser use only
Adviser firms are businesses in every sense of the word, says Tim Sargisson, and like everything in the modern world of commerce, the key to delivering a customer value proposition is a modern, digitally-enabled practice Last month’s blog in Professional Adviser picked up on the supposed comments made by Bob Geldof about advisers and the […]
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There’s a revolution going on in financial services technology. The scale of the revolution is extraordinary with investment in fintech topping as much as $15 billion in 2016*. Much of the technology will have very particular functionality and claim to be the answer to solving all types of adviser process and customer service problems. Much […]
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In 2012 the FSA issued consultation guidance on centralised investment propositions and the need to demonstrate robust risk management processes, to mitigate against exposure resulting from the provision of unsuitable advice leading to poor client outcomes. The guidance still stands, and since then we’ve seen a rise in the use of multi-asset funds, model portfolio […]
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As we all know, late 2012 marked the point when the centre of power between advisers and clients shifted. Not only did the Retail Distribution Review (RDR) change the way advisers serve clients, it also redefined the way a majority of clients were to pay for that service. Since RDR, advisers have had to develop […]
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Whatever Sir Bob Geldof’s actual view of financial advisers may be, says Tim Sargisson, the recent comments attributed to him are a reminder the sector still has work to do on its public image I don’t like Mondays … but they can be made more enjoyable when the usual morning routine is pepped up by […]
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The 2017 Spring Budget will be the last of its type. Probably. The publication of the Finance Bill in the spring/summer of this year will presage a change in Parliamentary proceedings. A second Budget in autumn 2017 followed by a Spring Statement in 2018 marks the start of a process enabling Parliament to scrutinise tax […]
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The Financial Conduct Authority appears worried pension freedom may be encouraging some advisers still to focus on transactions rather than outcomes so, asks Tim Sargisson, could the regulator have a point? In the last few weeks, the financial press has been awash with headlines shouting out warnings. “FCA issues suitability warnings over DB transfers and […]
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Restricted and independent firms both have their place in the advice landscape, says Tim Sargisson – and both must realise there are many factors beyond cost that influence value and customer engagement. We may only be a couple of weeks into 2017 but already there is plenty going on to rouse us from our post-Christmas […]
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The Christmas break offers the perfect chance to respond to the FCA’s proposals on overhauling the FSCS – and respond the adviser community must, says Tim Sargisson, to ensure its combined voice is heard on this critical matter Looking back on the various blogs and articles that I have penned in 2016, one topic has […]
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The continuing chronic lack of understanding about risk in our industry. This is evidenced by the annual reports of our regulators, ombudsman and compensation scheme showing that the total cost of trying to protect people from bad financial advice, deal with complaints and recompense them when bad firms go bust is now an eye-watering £1.4bn […]
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For the majority of people requiring financial advice, Tim Sargisson suggests, there is only one thing wrong with the restricted model – the name. Last month, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published the latest edition of its Data Bulletin. The regulator’s focus was on the retail intermediary sector, based on a newly published analysis of […]
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Advisory thought leaders are starting to flesh out the ways human advisers create value for clients but, warns Tim Sargisson, the sector still has some hard thinking to do. The 10th annual Platforum Conference took place earlier this month, taking as its theme ‘The year of the customer – putting customers at the heart of […]
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