Balancing the Rhetoric: The Reality Behind Financial Adviser Recruitment

When financial advice giants recruit fresh talent, they present a polished, alluring image of the industry. However, behind the glossy brochures and motivational career talks, the reality often paints a more nuanced picture. This article seeks to balance their claims with a fair and clear explanation of what aspiring advisers should consider before stepping into … Continue reading Balancing the Rhetoric: The Reality Behind Financial Adviser Recruitment

Post-Growth Objective: Can We Believe Anything the FCA Tells Us About SJP?

Last Tuesday, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) made a startling revelation to the Treasury Committee: internal decisions will now be filtered through its shiny new secondary growth objective. In simpler terms, if transparency threatens the City’s competitiveness or disturbs a “too big to fail” institution, silence prevails. Their justification? Future consumers will supposedly benefit. What … Continue reading Post-Growth Objective: Can We Believe Anything the FCA Tells Us About SJP?

Presencing in Financial Planning: Shifting from Ego to Soul for Meaningful Client-Centred Solutions

In today's rapidly evolving financial landscape, there's a growing movement towards a more holistic, client-centred approach known as "presencing." This method shifts the focus from traditional, ego-centric financial planning—which often prioritises assets and transactions—to a soul-centric model that emphasises genuine human connection and the client's overall well-being. Understanding Presencing in Financial Planning Presencing, a concept … Continue reading Presencing in Financial Planning: Shifting from Ego to Soul for Meaningful Client-Centred Solutions

Empowering Employees for a Secure Future: Why Financial Planning from Age 45 Matters

As a Defined Contribution (DC) pension provider or employer running a DC scheme, you play a pivotal role in your employees’ financial well-being. Supporting them to make informed, confident decisions about their financial future isn’t just good for them—it’s great for your organisation. Here’s why it’s critical to encourage employees to start financial planning from … Continue reading Empowering Employees for a Secure Future: Why Financial Planning from Age 45 Matters

Take Control of Your Retirement Finances with HapNav – The Future of Financial Confidence

Are you one of the 75% of over-45s who don’t have a financial plan and worry about outliving your capital? You’re not alone—and the good news is, you don’t have to be an ostrich anymore, burying your head in the sand when it comes to your finances. At HapNav, we’ve created something truly revolutionary just … Continue reading Take Control of Your Retirement Finances with HapNav – The Future of Financial Confidence

Pensions at Risk: Are Consumers Being Let Down by the FCA’s Latest Proposals?

The Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) recent Consultation Paper CP24/27 – Advice Guidance Boundary Review proposes reforms to deliver "targeted support" for pension savers. At first glance, this initiative seems to promise much-needed assistance for the millions of UK pension savers navigating complex retirement decisions. However, a closer examination raises important questions about who these changes … Continue reading Pensions at Risk: Are Consumers Being Let Down by the FCA’s Latest Proposals?

The Fight for Justice in UK Financial Services: A Call to Action

When it comes to protecting consumers in UK financial services, one thing has become abundantly clear: the system isn’t working as it should. With the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) bound by a framework that prioritises growth and international competitiveness, achieving genuine consumer justice seems increasingly out of reach. The FCA’s balancing act between protecting market … Continue reading The Fight for Justice in UK Financial Services: A Call to Action

Why We Need a Wall Between Regulators and the City

By Steve Conley, December 12, 2024 Trust is the foundation of any healthy financial system. Without it, people hesitate to invest, plan for their future, or participate in the economy. Yet, in the UK, the relationship between our financial regulators and the City raises serious questions about whose interests are being prioritised—and at what cost. … Continue reading Why We Need a Wall Between Regulators and the City

The Case for a Wall Between Advice and Product Sales

“There should be a wall, between advice and products, between advice and large institutions, and between our regulators and large institutions. We need an integrity that is impeccable. Until we actually institute a way of bringing good heart, great integrity, and a fiduciary relationship that is sustainable into the industry, we are going to fail. … Continue reading The Case for a Wall Between Advice and Product Sales

Is Ethical Investing Good for Our Security?

When we think of ethical investing, we often imagine aligning our financial decisions with our values. Avoiding harm, promoting sustainability, and supporting positive change are powerful motivators for investors who want to make a difference in the world. But what happens when those values come into conflict with pressing national and global security concerns? This … Continue reading Is Ethical Investing Good for Our Security?