News:Conference call reminder
January 6 2009
If you’d like to join Rob Burdett and Gary Potter in their update on the recent market turmoil and how they have positioned their portfolios to deal with these issues, you can still register!
more...
What a silly measure
December 19 2008
The FTSE 100 index is generally a rotten measure of investment success. Over the decades it has been made up of a hotch potch of various companies and sectors which have come and gone as regularly as an estuary tide. more...
Thames River's Christmas cracker
December 19 2008
more...
Resources Compliance Seminar
December 17 2008
Many commentators and regulators talk of the need to foster a good 'reputation'. But what does that mean? How can investment firms protect their most valuable asset? more...
Wizard Learning - December discount and the RDR
December 17 2008
We are offering you a 5% discount this month to mark our achievement in becoming an award winning education website. more...
A bigger and better online resource, just when you need it!
December 17 2008
Since Panacea launched last year we have been in constant touch with our IFA members and sponsors to find out what IFAs and Product Providers want to achieve together.
more...
Resources Compliance - Retail Distribution Review: Feedback Published
December 16 2008
The FSA has published its long awaited feedback statement (FS) following its review of retail distribution (the RDR). It is important to note that no detailed draft rules have been published, as a consultation paper containing these is not due to be published until June 2009. more...
RDR Question Time LIVE today at 11am
November 26 2008
Today at 11am, Asset.tv is hosting a live online Masterclass to tackle the big questions in RDR. more...
Third Way Plans - free adviser guide
November 10 2008
In response to requests from Advisers for more information on Third Way plans we have produced a guide to Retirement Income Options and this is available free to all UK Advisers. more...
What has been learned since the 2005 CPS Review?
November 5 2008
The Financial Services Authority, which came into formal
existence in 2001, is one of the most powerful, and one of the
least accountable, institutions created in the UK since the war.
more...
Wizard journey soon to visit online awards
October 31 2008
Thanks to all the Wizard Learning users that voted for us in the category of Best Online Educational Initiative, the shortlist is detailed below and the winner will be announced at the awards on 19th November 2008.
more...
Thames River - Examining the case for equities
October 30 2008
Frantic markets have led us to contact you three times this month with up-to-the-minute thoughts and details of our investment strategy and how it is adapting to prevailing market conditions.
more...
Thames River - Conference call invitation
October 30 2008
Rob Burdett and Gary Potter would like to invite you to participate in a conference call:
Time: 10.30am
Date: 12th November 2008
more...
Wizard Learning - Making CPD simple
October 24 2008
The FSA’s emphasis on regulation becomes more and more principles based focusing on outputs from firms rather than imposing the contents of telephone directory sized rulebooks on us all.
more...
FREE eServices Workshop in Bristol, 6th November - hosted by Clerical Medical
October 17 2008
To confirm your place or to find out more about the free eServices event, please follow this link: www.adviserwise.com/NovemberWorkshop more...
LV= wins 'Individual Income Protection' Award
October 10 2008
Insurance and investment group LV= has won the Individual Income Protection category at this year’s COVER Excellence Awards. more...
Wraps – free Due Diligence Toolkit for Advisers
October 9 2008
Given the continuing FSA focus on the growth of wraps and the importance for advisers to complete Due Diligence, Rayner Spencer Mills have developed a Due Diligence Toolkit which is free to all advisers who register on their dedicated website at www.therightwrap.co.uk more...
Compliance tip - October 2008 - Don't lose sight of the currency crunch
October 7 2008
Those firms which were caught by the changes that came in with the arrival of MiFID last year have had to adapt to meeting and ensuring that their financial resources are maintained at a designated level of Euros rather than the previous levels measured in sterling. more...
LV= have you met the new kid on the MPPI block?
October 3 2008
If you're tired of traditional MPPI, visit www.LVmlp.co.uk to
learn about our revolutionary, 5 star Defaqto rated
Mortgage & Lifestyle Protection.
more...
Regulation & TCF - a different take
October 3 2008
We have seen some master classes from John Cleese over the years in regard to treating customers fairly and have all suffered frustrations with the relationship between small IFAs, the FSA and FOS. more...
Thames River Capital: Buying time - but not necessarily a time to buy!
October 3 2008
They say a week can be a long time in politics. Well, whether or not it is conference season in the political world, a week in these markets feels like a lifetime. In the last couple of weeks we have experienced one of the most extraordinary periods in financial markets for a generation. Unprecedented volatility in both equities and fixed income assets by the hour has made fundamental investing extremely difficult for any rational investor. more...
LV= wins Best Protection Service Award
October 3 2008
Insurance and investment group, LV= has won the Best Protection Service award at this year's Investment Life & Pensions Moneyfacts awards. more...
The end of an error
October 3 2008
A recently spotted American bumper sticker read as follows: “20th January 2009 – The End of an Error”. This really only makes sense if you realise that 20th January is the inauguration day for the new US President, and the last word is pronounced as era – but nonetheless is an interesting commentary on the 8 years of Mr Bush. more...
LV= launches 'large case’ service for protection cases
October 2 2008
Protection specialist LV= has announced a brand new ‘large case’ service across its range of protection products for financial advisers’ high net worth clients. more...
New Tax Guide Published - How to Beat the Credit Crunch
October 1 2008
TaxCafe have just published a brand new tax guide called How to Beat the Credit Crunch, by Toby Hone. more...
The Squirrel and The Grasshopper
September 30 2008
The squirrel works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building and improving his house and laying up supplies for the winter.
The grasshopper thinks he's a fool, and laughs and dances and plays the summer away.
Come winter, the squirrel is warm and well fed. The shivering grasshopper has no food or shelter, so he dies out in the cold. more...
Wizard Learning releases 10 new products
September 26 2008
We thought we would issue a quick round up the 10 new products that we have released in the last 3 months in case you have missed any.
more...
A Whiff of Cordite
September 25 2008
Forgive me this week for a bit of personal commentary – but the events and feelings of the past few days I think should be recorded for more proper recollection once the dust of this destruction has had time to settle. more...
Thames River - Walking through Cold Treacle
September 19 2008
That’s exactly how it feels investing in the market right now and Financial Advisers are rightly confused about what they should be telling clients. So what do we think and what observations can we make? There are many interrelated factors that are affecting current investor sentiment, but to try and simplify matters, share prices are determined largely by future earnings and the confidence investors place in them. This is where the problem lies at the moment. more...
Sheer capitalism reveals a Bear’s tender spot
September 19 2008
In the good old days Russia would not have had this problem. If you had trouble with a tiresome neighbour or a stroppy ally, you could always go in and park your tanks on their lawn, and frankly there was little anyone could do apart from bleat and protest for a while. UN votes and demonstrations had little impact on a communist totalitarian nation. Only in Afghanistan did a ruthless (and mostly Western armed) resistance army have any real effect and finally throw the Russians out. more...
Wizard Learning launches final financial planning elements
September 19 2008
Following the great success of our Practice Exam Packages (PEP) for CII Diploma subjects, we are delighted to introduce our CF5 Integrated Financial Planning PEP and CF4 Retirement Planning text revision course.
more...
Don’t jump back in just yet
September 19 2008
For investors, fund managers and equity traders, it has been clear for a while that the UK economy was grinding to a halt. For those not involved in the workings of the City, however, the real severity of the economic downturn has been limited until now to rising food and energy costs – unless they have had to remortgage recently. more...
Oriental Discounts
September 11 2008
“Its growth Jim, but not as we know it” would be the Trekkie’s description of what has been happening in Asia. Asian stock markets, excluding Japan, have for the most part been the darlings of the equity investment world over the past few years. The mantra from advisers has become almost a creed and as a result I have heard of some significant investments being made based on the view that this was a one way escalator going up and that one would be a fool to miss out. Such blind complacency never ceases to amaze me, especially when dealing with other people’s money! more...
Thames River Multi-Manager Conference Call
September 10 2008
Walking through Cold Treacle - That’s exactly how it feels investing in the market right now. more...
Compliance Tip - September 2008 - The coming of GABRIEL
September 10 2008
By the 1st October all regulated firms will have migrated to the GABRIEL system (GAthering Better Regulatory Information ELectronically) for submitting their regular FSA reports (e.g. the RMAR or specific data item). The FSA will provide the “principal users” of the previous reporting system (Firms on-line or the Early Reporting System) with log-on details which they can use to access the new GABRIEL system. Once these details have been received the user can log onto the system and begin to familiarise themselves with the new reporting processes. more...
Win A Luxury Break For Two In Boston
September 10 2008
Traditionally, the most common product advisers have turned to has been Mortgage Payment Protection Insurance (MPPI), however issues have been raised about its suitability. But there is a new kid on the block - new Mortgage & Lifestyle Protection from LV=.
more...
Panacea commentary - Don't jump in just yet
September 8 2008
For investors, fund managers and equity traders, it has been clear for a while that the UK economy was grinding to a halt. For those not involved in the workings of the City, however, the real severity of the economic downturn has been limited until now to rising food and energy costs – unless they have had to remortgage recently. more...
Wizard Learning - Free Qualification Planner and CPD core advice tool
September 8 2008
Not sure what exam to take next? Do you need help to calculate the credits you need to reach Certificate, Diploma and Advanced Diploma/Chartered Financial Planner level?
more...
Wizard Learning - 07 Supervision in a regulated environment
September 8 2008
With the conclusion of the RDR looming on the horizon, it has never been more appropriate for supervisors and those aspiring to be so, to have an appropriate industry benchmark qualification. We are please to announce the launch of our J07 subject knowledge questions.
J07 Supervision in a regulated environment.
more...
Wizard Learning - Protection online course launched & 8 new products coming soon
September 8 2008
Our second new course this month is an online course for Financial Protection. The learning outcomes are appropriate both for someone wishing to supplement their studies for the CF3 exam or for professionals looking to brush up on their knowledge. This extends the range of online courses available having recently launched online courses for CF1, CF2 and J05. more...
