There’s a silent deception happening in the financial advice industry—one that blends the lines between advice and product sales. This is where advisers, who double as product distributors, create what they call "adviser alpha." The supposed value they claim to add often revolves around investment management. Yet, retail investment management has long been commoditised, with … Continue reading The Comfortable Lie of Bundling Advice and Product
Tag: personal-finance
Exploring the Threshold Hypothesis: Can More Money Really Buy Happiness?
For years, we’ve been told that money can’t buy happiness. But if that’s the case, why do so many of us strive to earn more, save more, and invest more? What if there’s a point where income does contribute to happiness, but only up to a certain level? This question has been explored in depth … Continue reading Exploring the Threshold Hypothesis: Can More Money Really Buy Happiness?
What the Financial Advice Industry Can Learn from MiFID II’s Unbundling of Research and Trading
In 2018, the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II (MiFID II) brought about significant reforms in the institutional investment world by mandating the unbundling of research and trading costs. Before this, asset managers often paid for both services through opaque, bundled fees, which obscured the true cost to clients. MiFID II forced these costs to … Continue reading What the Financial Advice Industry Can Learn from MiFID II’s Unbundling of Research and Trading
AI in Financial Services: A Double-Edged Sword for the Underserved
The firms regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) play a critical role as manufacturers and distributors of retail financial products. However, only 8% of the population can afford to access these services via intermediaries, leaving 92% underserved. This gap has led many distributors to explore new ways to reach this community, and artificial intelligence … Continue reading AI in Financial Services: A Double-Edged Sword for the Underserved
Stamping Out Investment Fraud: The Case for Separating Advice and Product Sales
Investment fraud remains a serious problem, with millions of pounds lost to fraudsters every year. In the first half of 2024 alone, £56.4 million was stolen, despite a 29% drop in the number of investment scams compared to last year. While some progress has been made, the truth is, we're not moving fast enough. The … Continue reading Stamping Out Investment Fraud: The Case for Separating Advice and Product Sales
The Finfluencer Dilemma: Navigating Social Media Advice Safely
In today’s digital age, social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube are buzzing with financial tips and investment strategies from a new breed of content creators known as finfluencers. While it’s fantastic to see financial topics becoming more accessible, it’s crucial to understand the difference between information and advice. This distinction can help you … Continue reading The Finfluencer Dilemma: Navigating Social Media Advice Safely
The Rise in Scams: How Holistic Wealth Planners Offer a Refreshing Alternative
In today’s world, financial scams are alarmingly on the rise, affecting millions of people across the UK. In fact, recent research revealed that one in nine adults has lost money to a scam in the last year alone. That equates to over 6 million people losing an average of £1,111 each. And despite the growing … Continue reading The Rise in Scams: How Holistic Wealth Planners Offer a Refreshing Alternative
Become a Certified Holistic Wealth Planner (HWP®) with the Academy of Life Planning
Are you looking to make a real difference in the world of financial planning? At the Academy of Life Planning, we offer you the chance to take your career to the next level by becoming a certified Holistic Wealth Planner (HWP®). This certification goes beyond traditional financial advice, without product distribution, and empowers you to … Continue reading Become a Certified Holistic Wealth Planner (HWP®) with the Academy of Life Planning
Holistic Wealth Planning Advice Without Product Recommendations
The traditional financial advice model, long reliant on product recommendations, has failed to serve a large portion of the population. It’s outdated, restrictive, and neglects the broader needs of today’s diverse financial landscape. As the world evolves, so must our approach to wealth management. A holistic, comprehensive financial planning strategy that looks beyond investable assets … Continue reading Holistic Wealth Planning Advice Without Product Recommendations
Financial Planning is NOT Needs and Shortfall Analysis
Financial Planning is NOT Needs and Shortfall Analysis There’s a version of “financial planning” that dominates the financial services industry, but let’s be clear: this is not real financial planning. What I’m talking about is a relic from the insurance sales methods of the 1980s, where the sole focus was selling products under the guise … Continue reading Financial Planning is NOT Needs and Shortfall Analysis
Academy of Life Planning 