If you ever needed proof that financial performance doesn’t always mean good value for clients, look no further than St. James’s Place (SJP). While their customers face eye-watering charges, poor-performing funds, and a mountain of adviser debt, those at the top are cashing in—big time. A Bonus Bonanza at the Top In 2024, SJP’s new … Continue reading Bonuses Before Basics: The SJP Scandal That’s Hiding in Plain Sight
Tag: business
Competitor Analysis of Non-FCA Regulated Financial Planners (UK & International with UK Presence)
1. Identification of Competitors Direct Competitors (Non-FCA Regulated Financial Planners): These are firms offering holistic financial planning without intermediating product sales. They provide advice-only or life planning services and do not act as introducers to regulated advisers (i.e. they are not merely lead generators). Key examples include: Second Life Financial Planning (UK): A newly launched … Continue reading Competitor Analysis of Non-FCA Regulated Financial Planners (UK & International with UK Presence)
Lessons Not Learned: The Financial Services Industry Repeats Past Mistakes
Introduction The UK financial services industry is making the same mistakes all over again. This time, it’s with the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) and its decision to introduce a £250 fee for claims management companies (CMCs) referring cases. While this move is supposed to deter frivolous complaints, it doesn’t go far enough—and risks shutting out … Continue reading Lessons Not Learned: The Financial Services Industry Repeats Past Mistakes
£10,000 for a Coffee and Cake? The FCA’s Advice Review is a Farce
So, it turns out that grabbing a coffee and a slice of chocolate cake counts as an "advice review"—at least according to the FCA’s interim executive director of markets, Simon Walls. Yes, you read that right. That £10,000 ongoing adviser charge? As long as an adviser could show that some kind of review took place—no … Continue reading £10,000 for a Coffee and Cake? The FCA’s Advice Review is a Farce
The Financial Planning Crisis: Why We Need a Clear Wall Between Advice and Products
Trust in financial planning is at an all-time low. Scandals like the recent £2m fraud case involving Nexus IFA only deepen the public’s cynicism. But let’s be honest—this isn’t a one-off. It’s a symptom of a broken system that blurs the lines between advice and sales, leaving consumers vulnerable. The solution? A financial planning profession … Continue reading The Financial Planning Crisis: Why We Need a Clear Wall Between Advice and Products
The End of Free Financial Justice? How New Fees Could Undermine Consumer Protection at the Financial Ombudsman Service
Fairness Analysis: The Introduction of Fees for Complainants Seeking Legal Representation at the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) Introduction The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) was founded on the principle that consumers should have free and accessible redress when financial firms treat them unfairly. Historically, its funding model ensured that complainants bore no cost for lodging disputes, … Continue reading The End of Free Financial Justice? How New Fees Could Undermine Consumer Protection at the Financial Ombudsman Service
Solving the UK’s NEET Crisis with the GAME Plan and M-POWER
The UK is facing a crisis. Almost one million young people are not in education, employment, or training (NEET)—the highest figure in over a decade. Government responses focus on tightening benefits and enforcing rigid job mandates, but this is the wrong approach. NEETs don’t need a stick—they need a carrot of opportunity. The truth is, … Continue reading Solving the UK’s NEET Crisis with the GAME Plan and M-POWER
The Silent Epidemic: Financial Mis-Selling and the Stigmatisation of Victims
For decades, victims of financial mis-selling by FCA-regulated advisers have been ignored, dismissed, and even vilified. Instead of receiving the justice they deserve, they are treated as an embarrassment to the system—ostracised, gaslighted, and accused of tarnishing the financial services industry. This is not just an isolated issue; it is an epidemic and a national … Continue reading The Silent Epidemic: Financial Mis-Selling and the Stigmatisation of Victims
The Truth About Regulation, Professionalism, and Consumer Protection in UK Financial Services
The Truth About Regulation, Professionalism, and Consumer Protection in UK Financial Services In the world of financial services, regulation is often mistaken for professionalism. The reality is more nuanced. While FCA-regulated financial advisers may dominate the conversation, they represent only a fraction of the industry. Financial planning is a broad profession, upheld by multiple professional … Continue reading The Truth About Regulation, Professionalism, and Consumer Protection in UK Financial Services
Breaking Free from the Product Sales Trap in Financial Services
The financial services industry has long been fixated on one thing—selling products. Providers, advisers, regulators, the financial press, and even emerging AI agents all seem to be caught in the same endless cycle: product, product, product. No matter how much they talk about helping people, it always comes back to selling something. Providers can’t just … Continue reading Breaking Free from the Product Sales Trap in Financial Services
Academy of Life Planning 