Latest News
Rising requirement for comfortable retirement opens door for advisers
By Ahmed Bawa, CEO of Rosemount Financial Everyone wants to enjoy some level of comfort in retirement, to be able to make the most of our later years without having to worry too much about meeting our bills. However, the reality is that many of us are not putting...
UTB Mortgages Announces New Roles for Key Sales Staff
United Trust Bank (UTB) Mortgages for Intermediaries has announced new roles for three key members of the Sales team, to ensure tailored support is given to Introducers as the Bank continues to grow distribution. Chris Pedlar and Jigar Patel have become Heads of...
18% more property sales agreed in February as buyers look to beat mortgage rate hikes and rising property prices
Property buyers are being spurred into action by the prospect of mortgage rates rising further in the near future, according to London estate agency Chestertons, whose data shows that 18% more property sales were agreed in February compared to January of this year. A...
Regulated firms exposed to serious red flags without new business verification checks
Regulated firms that take on new business clients are leaving themselves exposed to serious red flags by not completing critical verification checks on the people running the business, new survey data has uncovered. More than half (59%) of the regulated firms...
Business & Development
Newly Launched Website Leads the Way in Vulnerable Customer Support Training
In an ambitious stride towards enhancing support available for vulnerable customers, Helen Pettifer Training Ltd announces the launch of...
St. James’s Place launches its first nationwide brand campaign
St. James’s Place (SJP) unveils a new campaign that celebrates the importance of tailored one-to-one financial advice in life. ‘Invaluable...
Financial services leaders optimistic about business outlook and a general election
Business leaders in the financial services sector are feeling confident about business growth for the second quarter of 2024 (April-June),...
Quilter announces next instalment of platform enhancements
As part of its ongoing roadmap of improvements and its commitment to improving adviser and client experience, Quilter has today announced...
Question Poll Results Revealed
As part of GBI & IFA Magazine’s weekly question series polls, we recently ran another series of questions across our Twitter platforms...
Economy
Vanguard’s BoE Preview: We maintain our view that the Bank will start cutting rates in August
Shaan Raithatha, senior economist at Vanguard Europe, provides preview commentary ahead of the Bank of England’s Thursday meeting. He...
AllianzGI: Caution and patience for the Fed
Franck Dixmier, Global CIO Fixed Income at Allianz Global Investors, has commented ahead of the Fed meeting this week. He said:...
“Inflation will hit 2% target this year but not for long, predict 1 in 2 UK bank savings professionals” source: Flagstone base rate poll
Findings from Flagstone’s six-weekly base rate pulse check, surveying senior savings professionals at UK banks on interest rate and...
Bank of England is damaging UK financial services and economy, says former Deputy PM
For the UK economy to grow substantially this year, the Bank of England must end its over-regulation of financial services, says...
Is the UK recession over? Latest UK GDP stats show growth uptick in January: investment experts warn against complacency
We're sensing a slight whiff of positive sentiment in the air this morning, following the news from the ONS of the latest UK GDP...
Insurance and protection
The Exeter announces new CIO and Head of Insurance Solutions
UK protection and health insurer The Exeter has announced the appointments of Ali Law as Chief Information Officer and Toby Bainbridge in...
DLA Piper expands Insurance capabilities with appointment of new Insurance M&A partner
DLA Piper has appointed a new partner in its insurance team. Effective 18 March 2024, Carl Hotton will join the firm’s London office. ...
MetLife UK supports on almost 24,000 claims in just 12 months – Dominic Grinstead, MetLife UK
● MetLife approved almost 24,000 claims in the last 12 months to Individual Protection (IP) customers...
Mental health referrals rise by half a million in past three years
Statistics from NHS England released today find that 1.89mn in Jan 2024 had an open referral to any secondary mental health service...
The impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the Pensions and Insurance Industries
Looking forward to 2024, the trajectory of AI technology and how it will transform innovation, trust, security, and efficacy in financial...
Mortgage & Property
UTB Mortgages Announces New Roles for Key Sales Staff
United Trust Bank (UTB) Mortgages for Intermediaries has announced new roles for three key members of the Sales team, to ensure tailored support is given to Introducers as the Bank continues to grow distribution. Chris Pedlar and Jigar Patel have become Heads of...
18% more property sales agreed in February as buyers look to beat mortgage rate hikes and rising property prices
Property buyers are being spurred into action by the prospect of mortgage rates rising further in the near future, according to London estate agency Chestertons, whose data shows that 18% more property sales were agreed in February compared to January of this year. A...
Trillions in investor cash pile could find home in back books ahead of Consumer Duty July 2024 deadline, says Phoebus CEO
An unprecedented $2.6tn (£2.4tn) in a cash pile of investors’ money could be used to buy mortgage lenders’ back books in advance of the July 2024 phase two Consumer Duty deadline. Paul Hunt, CEO at Phoebus Software, says that a stagnation in private equity release...
MPowered Mortgages reduce rates across entire fixed-rate mortgage range
MPowered Mortgages has reduced rates across its entire fixed-rate mortgage range. Rates reductions Rates for purchase on two years now start at 4.52% for 60% LTV (4.90%) with a £999 arrangement fee. For those looking to remortgage, rates start at 4.57% for...
MagiClick partners with Nomo to launch new intermediary website
MagiClick, the award-winning digital agency, has announced a new partnership with the Sharia-compliant digital bank, Nomo, with the launch of the bank’s new intermediary website. The website launch forms the first part of a phased functionality roll-out, as the bank...
These are the most profitable buy-to-let hotspots
Start Up A-Z have compiled a data-led study below, to find out which locations in the UK are the most profitable for buy-to-lets. If you’re looking to take the buy-to-let property market by storm, choosing the right location is crucial. Perhaps you’re looking to...
Regulation & Compliance
FCA sets out plan for the year ahead
In its Business Plan for 2024-25, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has set out an ambitious programme of work for the final year of...
Regulated firms exposed to serious red flags without new business verification checks
Regulated firms that take on new business clients are leaving themselves exposed to serious red flags by not completing critical...
Why transforming data management to meet compliance regulations can help wealth management firms unlock wider business benefits
Written by Tim FitzGerald, Financial Services Manager, InterSystems UK & Ireland Wealth management firms are facing a constantly...
Investment companies deregulation: the rise of Skywalker? JB Beckett analyses talk of reform to sector regulation
Advisers may be becoming increasingly aware of a rising voice in the corridors of power, one to reform the regulation of U.K. investment...
Lifetime Allowance: How the transitional tax-free amount certificate can make a big difference
As we approach the new tax year, Justin Corliss, Senior Pensions Development Manager at Royal London, explores the upcoming changes to the...
Digest
The UK worker stress index: Where are we more likely to burn out as stress-related absences soar?
StaySafe, a leading provider of lone worker safety solutions, has conducted an in-depth analysis of official data sources to identify the most stressed workforces in the UK. By examining various factors, including average earnings, property prices, social activities,...
Unlocking Financial Efficiency: A Preview of the Latest Trends in Business Prepaid Cards
The increasing pressure from rising living costs has prompted businesses to rethink their spending strategies. Volopa, a reputable financial solutions provider, emphasises the practical role prepaid business cards play in adapting to the current economic landscape....
Just one in seven Brits use their full ISA allowance, survey shows
It’s currently ISA season, which takes place from February to the end of the financial year in April, a period in which many British savers will be attempting to use up any remaining ISA allowance before they lose it on 6 April. But how much do Brits really know...
A Closer Look: Why Companies Are Now Outsourcing IT and Cyber Security Services
In an era defined by rapid technological advancements and evolving cyber threats, the outsourcing of IT security services has emerged as a prevailing practice among organisations seeking to fortify their defenses. From network security to threat detection, businesses...
These are the most profitable buy-to-let hotspots
Start Up A-Z have compiled a data-led study below, to find out which locations in the UK are the most profitable for buy-to-lets. If you’re looking to take the buy-to-let property market by storm, choosing the right location is crucial. Perhaps you’re looking to...
One in five Brits treat their plants like children, but why?
This mother’s day, parents across the UK will be showered with well-deserved gifts, but now there’s a new type of mum to buy for. With searches for “plant mums” increasing by 40% in the last month1 and over 1.6 billion views on #plantmum TikTok content, Brits are...
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