Tag: finance

Financial Planning is a Profession, Financial Intermediation is an Industry: Why the CII and PFS are in Trouble

The Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) and the Personal Finance Society (PFS) have long stood as pillars in the world of financial services. Yet, their recent struggles indicate a fundamental misunderstanding of the evolving landscape of financial planning and intermediation. As a Chartered Insurer since 1989 and a Chartered Financial Planner since 2017, I have witnessed … Continue reading Financial Planning is a Profession, Financial Intermediation is an Industry: Why the CII and PFS are in Trouble →

Retire from Work You Dislike, Not from Meaningful Projects You Love

Recent research from Medius reported in FT Adviser has highlighted a significant trend within the financial sector: almost three quarters (72 per cent) of finance professionals in the UK are actively seeking jobs outside their current field. Moreover, 75 per cent would not recommend a career in finance to Generation Z, attributing this sentiment to … Continue reading Retire from Work You Dislike, Not from Meaningful Projects You Love →

Evolving Financial Advisers: The AI Revolution at the 2024 Artificial Intelligence in Financial Advice Conference

LONDON, July 10, 2024 – Gather round, dear financial advisers, as we delve into the delightful dystopia unveiled at the 2024 Artificial Intelligence in Financial Advice conference today. Held at the charmingly impersonal Pullman Hotel in London, the event revealed a future where half of the advisers aged 58 and above are frantically plotting their … Continue reading Evolving Financial Advisers: The AI Revolution at the 2024 Artificial Intelligence in Financial Advice Conference →

The Great British Financial Adviser Dilemma: An Ode to Overload and Obsolescence

Ah, the United Kingdom, land of tea, crumpets, and, apparently, a grossly overburdened financial advisory sector. Let's break this down: with 28 million households and a whopping 28,000 financial advisers, each managing a maximum of 100 clients, only a mere 10% of households are graced with ongoing financial services. Yes, just 10%. That leaves 90% … Continue reading The Great British Financial Adviser Dilemma: An Ode to Overload and Obsolescence →

Reimagining Retirement: Why Gen X Should Look Beyond Traditional Investments

As the oldest members of Generation X (individuals born between the years 1965 and 1980) approach the milestone of 60 next year, the reality of retirement looms large. The recent Natixis Global Survey of Individual Investors highlights the financial anxieties this cohort faces. Nearly half of Gen Xers surveyed believe it will take a miracle … Continue reading Reimagining Retirement: Why Gen X Should Look Beyond Traditional Investments →

The Difference Between FCA-Regulated Financial Planners Who Outsource Wealth Management and CMA-Regulated Financial Planners

Introduction In the UK, financial planning services can be regulated by different authorities depending on the nature of the advice provided. This article clarifies the distinctions between FCA-regulated financial planners who often outsource wealth management to discretionary fund managers (DFMs) through model portfolio services (MPS), and financial planners regulated by the Competition and Markets Authority … Continue reading The Difference Between FCA-Regulated Financial Planners Who Outsource Wealth Management and CMA-Regulated Financial Planners →

Ongoing Advice Review: Could the FCA Follow Australia’s Nuclear Option?

As we enter H2 2024, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is on the verge of announcing the results of their much-anticipated advice review involving the UK's top 20 financial advice firms. The whisperings from the regulatory grapevine suggest that some of these big boys have been more than a little naughty, with at least two … Continue reading Ongoing Advice Review: Could the FCA Follow Australia’s Nuclear Option? →

Breaking the Financial Advice Barrier: Why Empowerment, Not Intermediation, is the Future

You’ve probably heard it before: “It’s not possible for advisers to serve those in the advice gap.” Sounds dramatic, doesn’t it? Like something straight out of a financial apocalypse movie. But let's cut through the noise and get to the heart of the matter. The financial advice industry is in turmoil, and not for the … Continue reading Breaking the Financial Advice Barrier: Why Empowerment, Not Intermediation, is the Future →

Navigating Retirement with a Disabled Child: The Planner’s Perspective

Picture this: You’re a parent, juggling the relentless demands of caring for a disabled child. The financial adviser’s perspective is that causes a pension gap, their solution? Save more in pensions. But is that really the whole story? Let’s dive into a more comprehensive, realistic approach. The Adviser’s Take: Save, Save, Save Real-Life Impacts: The … Continue reading Navigating Retirement with a Disabled Child: The Planner’s Perspective →