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Sharing Benefits: business and consumers
 By
Jill Stevens, Director of Consumer Affairs, Experian Ltd
To many UK citizens, joined-up government is an attractive
proposition. The suggestion that millions of taxpayers' cash
is wasted each year as disparate departments duplicate effort
is one that gives grist to this particular mill. But there
are others, some of them powerful people, who are less than
comfortable with the idea of joining up different sources
of personal information...
Full article
Platforms for the People
 By
Holly Mackay, CEO, HM Consulting
To date in the UK, fund supermarkets and wrap platforms
have tended to be targeted at high net worth (HNW) individuals
who use the services of an IFA. Conservative opinions put
the current UK industry at some £60 billion, but this
has grown exponentially over the last 18 months. Estimates
put assets under administration at only some £20 billion
at the end of 2005. Consequently, the industry is buzzing
with optimistic assessments for wraps and platforms...
Full article
Pure and Simple: why the ICOB review is overdue
 By
Tom Baigrie,
Managing Director, LifeSearch
It has already been two years since the FSA introduced ICOB, the insurance
conduct of business rules which determine how all general insurance and pure
protection policies are sold and administered. Now, inevitably, it’s
time for a review – though unlike some of the regulator’s other
recent interventions, one could argue that this review is long overdue...
Full article
Long-term fixed rate loans:
Government outpaces industry innovation
 While
the housing market waited in trepidation for the impact of
the introduction of Home Information Packs, the new Brown
Government has set to work on the development of a raft of
new home loan market initiatives which will place the sector
towards the top of the Treasury's agenda in coming months...
Full article
Retail financial services: can the EU deliver integration?
 After
almost a decade of major EU regulatory reform across all
aspects of the financial services market, common consensus
suggests it is now time to examine how the Single Market
serves the interests of retail consumers. The EU’s
consumers enjoy ever-increasing affluence, they are part
of a more highly educated and mobile workforce. Demand for
financial services – banking, electronic payments,
savings and insurance – is all set to grow
and as people become more mobile, they will demand more flexible
and more portable financial products. Yet the way we regulate
retail financial markets has failed to keep up...
Full article
“Don’t panic, the new Prime Minister’s
in charge!”
 For
more years than I can remember, political punditry has predicted
choppy waters for both Britain and the Labour Party if Gordon
Brown ever became Prime Minister. Many have forecast open
civil war between the defenders of the Blairite New Labour
flame and the Treasury Brownites. But, with the country’s
infrastructure and resolve being severely tested by both
climate change and attempted terrorism – the “two
compelling narratives of the 21st century” – we
have witnessed what I believe to be one of more self-assured
and statesmanlike starts by a British Prime Minister. Where
are the naysayers of the broadsheet comment columns now?...
Full article
Home Extension: Government reveals plans for more affordable
housing
 Housing
is once again at the top of the political agenda. Rising
interest rates and the number of borrowers potentially facing
payment shocks have dominated the commentary recently. However,
the structural mismatch between supply and demand will continue
to cast a shadow over the housing market long after the impact
of higher interest rates has manifested itself in higher
arrears and repossessions...
Full article
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