Business Development Updates

16 October 2019

Octopus Titan VCT is open

Open for business
The UK’s most popular venture capital trust (VCT) by funds raised, Octopus Titan VCT, is open for new investment. The fundraise capacity is £120 million.
 
Titan invests clients’ money in a portfolio of more than 75 businesses across a diverse range of sectors.

It’s backed some exciting businesses such as Zoopla, Graze and Secret Escapes, helping them to become household names and has exited companies to the biggest names in tech such as Amazon, Google, Microsoft and Twitter.
 
You can find out more about Titan here
 
A powerful planning tool
A VCT can be a great way for a client to invest in early stage companies while benefiting from tax reliefs.
 
That’s because VCTs offer tax free dividends and capital gains, and up to 30% income tax relief on the first £200,000 invested each year. Please bear in mind that VCTs are high risk investments, for key risks see below.
 
Discounts available
Clients who get in by the next application deadline of Friday 18 October should be able to benefit from the dividend of 2p due to be paid out around 15 November. This is subject to the allotment taking place on the 21 October. Clients who invest before 1 November are eligible for the early bird discount of 1%.

As a thank you to clients who are currently holding shares in any Octopus VCT, Octopus offer a 1% loyalty discount should they choose to invest in this fundraise.
Visit the Titan webpage >>
 
Key risks to consider:

The value of an investment in Octopus Titan VCT, and any income from it, can fall as well as rise. Investors may not get back the full amount they invest.  Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and may change in the future. Tax reliefs depend on the VCT maintaining its VCT-qualifying status.

VCT shares are by their nature high risk, their share price may be volatile and they may be hard to sell.

15 October 2019

Introducing bite-sized pointers to help drive profitability for your business

Many financial advisers are running small to medium sized businesses, in addition to offering financial planning services to clients. It’s therefore unsurprising that they face the same challenges, typical to business owners and managers.

Research from FundsNetwork shows that business management issues, such as training new staff and succession planning, are a key challenge for over one quarter of financial advisers.

So, to help you in these areas, they’ve pulled together some practical hints and tips. From recruiting the right people to increasing productivity, their range of bite-sized pointers and insights from your peers have been designed to help you drive greater profitability for your business.

Take a look – includes videos of adviser workshops 

09 October 2019

Update your Sustainable Investing skills - with 2 hours CPD

More and more individual investors want to know what impact their investment capital is having on society and on the environment. Around a quarter of global assets are managed on the basis of sustainable principles*. Are you ready for this shift in thinking? Are you able to discuss the principles of sustainable investing with your clients? There is no need to devote days away from the office to get up to speed.

The Essentials of Sustainable Investing 

This is a convenient online educational module for investment professionals. In just two hours you will develop an overview of this new field, and will have a framework with which to review your clients’ sustainable investment goals. Financial professionals participating in this course are invited to digest the information and then take the online test. To enhance the learning experience, the module is delivered using clear language, charts, a video and case studies.  

Access the two-hour CPD sustainability course now!

 

Important Information: This publication is intended for professional investors. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. has a license as manager of UCITS and AIFs of the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets in Amsterdam and is subject to limited regulation in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority. Details about the extent of our regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority are available from us on request.

* Source: Global Sustainable Investment Alliance Report, 2016  

08 October 2019

Take a look at the changes Aegon has made to One Retirement including a half-price annual charge on new accounts for a limited time

Take a look at some of the changes Aegon has made to One Retirement, to help make saving easier for your clients.

Lower annual charge - limited time only

The standard annual charge is reduced from 0.3% to 0.15%. Rate reduces further to 0% for any additional investment over the price cap of £250,000. Applies to new accounts opened by midnight on 30 April 2020, when this offer ends and the rate will then return to 0.3%.

Open an account with only £1 initial investment

The minimum amount for single and regular contributions is reduced to £1. Minimum transfer values are also now lower, at only £250.

Why One Retirement?
It’s simple, flexible and managed from a single account. So your clients can move seamlessly into retirement without having to move their plan.

Your clients can grow their savings then choose from a range of flexible income options when they retire. The Aegon Governed fund range offers quality funds across the asset classes, including access to our value-focused, easy-to-use Core Portfolios range. It offers you integrated tools and reporting to help save you time, identify opportunities and demonstrate the value of advice.

To help you when speaking to your clients about One Retirement, Aegon has created sample letters that you can use.

Remember that the value of an investment can fall as well as rise and investors may get back less than the amount invested.

Find out more about the changes made to One Retirement

What next?

Speak to your usual Aegon contact. Or get in touch with the team on 03456 100 083 (choose option 1, then option 1 again), or email: [email protected]

02 October 2019

Are you missing out on referrals from accountants and solicitors?

Working collaboratively with accountants and solicitors is a double win for your business: 
 
1. It can lead to better outcomes for existing clients. 
2. It’s a great way to grow your business through referrals.
 
But how do you go about finding these referral relationships?
 
You won’t be surprised to hear that it’s not always straightforward and that it can take some time. 
 
The Power of Collaboration

Octopus Investments has put together an interactive guide called ‘The Power of Collaboration’ (it’s a PDF you can click to find your way around). It will help you refine your own approach to setting up and nurturing referral relationships. 
 
Inside, you’ll read about the four ingredients needed to grow through referrals. You’ll find short, helpful webinars embedded in the guide. There are also two videos – from SIFA and ICAEW – offering expert insight into the opportunity for advisers to collaborate with other professionals.

Download the interactive guide >> 

27 September 2019

Whats the value in a DFM? Rathbones launch the third and last chapter of the Value of DFM research

While partnering with a Discretionary Fund Manager is an established option for advisers, there’s been virtually no hard data on how advisers who’ve adopted it have performed against non-adopters.

How has adoption impacted client investment performance? How has adoption impacted client trust? How has adoption of a DFM affected the adviser’s use of time? Have adopters enjoyed greater revenues over non-adopters? 

Rathbones commissioned research specialist Coredata to undertake an adviser survey to understand these (and more) key issues.
 
You can see the results for yourself in the final chapter of ‘The value of discretionary fund management’, which has just been released.

Download the report now

25 September 2019

You are invited to join Aegon for two business protection webinars with structured CPD

Session one – Business protection and professional connections, 16 or 17 October at 10am (30 minutes) 

Makes the case for business protection for the UK’s 5.7 million businesses*. Did you know that only 47% of adviser firms have business protection in place**? Offers a step-by-step guide to engaging your business clients and developing your professional connections. 

register here for 16th Oct 10am >>

register here for 17th Oct 10am >>

 

Session two – Business protection continuity planning, 16 or 17 October at 1pm (30 minutes)

Using sales tools to highlight the importance of continuity planning for your clients. Articulating the risks business owners face. Understanding the tax position for key person cover.

register here for 16th Oct 1 pm >>

register here for 17th Oct 1 pm >>

 

Catherine Trimble– Aegon Business Development Manager – will lead both webinars and answer your questions along the way.

 

Register Now on the above links - You can register for one or both sessions on the day you prefer.

24 September 2019

Register for the RLAM sustainable webinar series

With the sustainable sector’s newly-fashionable status has come some blurring of the terminology in the scramble to launch new products. Distinct and clearly-defined investment approaches have been stretched and morphed to appeal to an even wider investor base. Much of this comes from inexperience, as some of the new kids on the block seek to claim some ground on the RI landscape.
 
Royal London Asset Management (RLAM) has been providing sustainable investment options since 2003, and this year marks the 10th anniversary of two of the funds in their risk profiled range of five sustainable funds: Royal London Sustainable Diversified Trust and Royal London Sustainable World Trust.
 
To mark the anniversary, Mike Fox (Head of Sustainable Investments at RLAM) will be offering the benefit of almost 20 years’ experience as he traces the development of the sector, demystifies the current landscape and explains how sustainable investing is applied across the RLAM range in a series of webinars this autumn.
 
If you would like to join Mike for RLAM’s autumn series of sustainable webinars, simply register below to secure your place.
 
Is sustainable investing ethical? -  27 September, 2pm
 
Responsible investing has grown considerably in recent years, and with that growth has come increasing complexity in the names by which it goes. Do you know your ESG from your RI, or your sustainable from your impact? Mike Fox demystifies the boundaries and describes the sustainable investing landscape.
 
Sustainable investing – the past, the present and the future – 24 October, 2pm
 
The last decade has seen huge developments in sustainability across much of the globe, and this is having a growing influence on the way investments are managed. The key change has been a growing acceptance that applying ESG factors and looking at sustainable themes is beneficial for returns – it doesn’t require investors to make costly choices. But what do the coming years have in store? Mike Fox examines how sustainability will develop over the next coming years.
 
So Mr Fox, what is sustainable investing and how is it applied in your funds? – 20 November, 11am
 
Distinct and clearly-defined investment approaches have been stretched and morphed to make sustainable investing appeal to a much wider investor base. But what does sustainable really mean, and how do Mike Fox and his team put it into effect at RLAM (including some stock stories that might surprise you)?
 
To find out more about the RLAM range of sustainable funds please visit www.rlam.co.uk/sustainable

If you have any queries, please contact [email protected] 

21 September 2019

Adviser Academies - Responsible Investing: The choice of the new generation

You are invited to join Brooks Macdonald at their Cheshire Adviser Academy with an excellent line up of industry experts speaking from JP Morgan, Impax Asset Management, Aberdeen Standard Investments. They will be also joined by the explorer Levison Wood for a keynote speech.

The theme is responsible investment – which they believe is arguably the largest growth opportunity for advisers and millennial investors.
      
Date and time:

15th October
08:45 Registration and breakfast
Up until
12:50 Lunch and networking
 
Speakers:

Harry Boyle, Associate Director, Portfolio Specialist, Impax Asset Management Katy Grant and Jamie Govan, Aberdeen Standard Investments Robert Hardy, Head of EMEA Corporate Governance, UK, JP Morgan Ben Palmer, Head of Responsible Investment Research, Brooks Macdonald  Robin Eggar, Managing Director Co-Head of UK Investment Management, Brooks Macdonald 

 

Register >>

 

 

Key note speaker: 

Levison Wood* 

 

Where? Adlington Hall, Mill Lane, Adlington, Macclesfield. SK10 4LF

Register Now – please note these are very popular events and we suggest you secure your place now.

22 August 2019

You are invited to the Invesco 2019 Investment Intelligence Seminars - with 80 mins structured CPD

Register now for Round 3 of the Invesco 2019 Investment Intelligence Seminars, running from September to December with over 70 venues and dates to chose from. These are amongst the most popular events in the market - spaces go fast, so make sure you sign up! Register here>>
UK housing – in the doldrums?
 
With the housing market now seemingly in the doldrums, Invesco will revisit the main drivers of the UK housing market, look at the reasons behind the slowdown and consider what the future might hold, along with our usual macro update.
 
Secure your place
 
Visit the Invesco event page for further details and to find the nearest seminar to you.
 
CPD
 
Attendance will qualify you for 80 minutes structured CPD, so don’t miss out!

22 July 2019

Active Ownership - how asset managers can influence companies they invest in

With media and action groups calling on large asset managers to use their voting powers responsibly and to support actions on climate change, we invite you to watch this Robeco Webinar as their engagement specialists discuss why this is important and the impact asset managers can have. 
 
By engaging on behalf of their investors, Robeco can help make changes to business to promote a positive, long-term approach, one that is better for financial performance, for your clients and better for society as a whole.
 
Hosted by Andy Kirby, Adviser Home Director, with Kenneth Robertson, Robeco active ownership specialist and Tim Gorden, Director, Robeco UK who will discuss the power of engagement covering:- 

What is active ownership? Best practices for engagement Case studies of where Robeco action has had real world impact – starting with Royal Dutch Shell 

About Robeco>>

 

 

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22 July 2019

Register for the RLAM CPD accredited multi asset webinar series

We are pleased to provide you details of this upcoming CPD-accredited multi asset webinar series from RLAM. These online events will take place over the course of three separate sessions during September, where experts from the RLAM multi asset and fixed income teams will share with listeners an insight into their multi asset offering and portfolio management in this space. Defaqto’s Paul Tinkler will be hosting these webinars and putting your questions to the specialists. 

Save the dates and register now:

Webinar one: Paul Tinkler of Defaqto, Nersen Pillay, Investment Director and Ewan McAlpine, Senior Client Portfolio Manager explore multi asset investing and how to build the optimum mix of asset classes within portfolios.

Wednesday 4 September, 2pm

Webinar two: Paul Tinkler of Defaqto, Paola Binns, Senior Fund Manager and Ewan McAlpine, Senior Client Portfolio Managercontinue the webinar series with a discussion on which fixed income strategies tend to perform best at each stage of the economic cycle.

Wednesday 11 September, 2pm

Webinar three: Paul Tinkler of Defaqto, Nersen Pillay, Investment Director and Ewan McAlpine, Senior Client Portfolio Manager wrap up the series by discussing tactical asset allocation and risk frameworks within multi asset funds.

Thursday 19 September, 2pm

If you have any queries, please contact [email protected]

17 July 2019

New webinar with Aegon - living and dying with the lifetime allowance. Earn 40 mins CPD

Join this Aegon webinar on Tuesday 23 July to hear Martin Haggart,  Technical Pensions Manager, and Elaine Cruickshank, Tax and Trusts Manager, discuss the various opportunities to consider with the lifetime allowance, including:  

how the lifetime allowance applies during lifetime under defined benefit and defined contribution schemes, and potential tax mitigation strategies; how it applies on death, it’s impact on legal personal representatives and the key decisions for beneficiaries, and alternative savings options and protection strategies for those affected.  

 

Register here

 

 

Date: Tuesday 23 July 2019 Time: 11.00am Duration: 40 minutes

The webinar can qualify for 40 minutes of structured CPD time, subject to verification, and Aegon will send a certificate to participants after the webinar.

12 July 2019

A consumer guide to fixed income investing from Aberdeen Standard Investment

Access this consumer guide to Fixed Income Investing from Aberdeen Standard Investments 

Clear, balanced - and compliant.

The guide is written in simple, jargon-free language - careful to explain both the potential downsides and upsides of investing. 

Throughout the guide, stress is given to the importance of speaking to a financial adviser before making any investment decisions. So the Guide is designed to add real value to your client activities. 

 

Try this fixed income video:

 

11 July 2019

Prudentials FinTech Webinar Week

05 July 2019

Octopus Apollo VCT now fundraising

Octopus Apollo VCT is now open for new investment.

This fundraise has a capacity of £20 million.

Apollo invests in proven businesses, which have already brought a product or service to market successfully and have a growing, diversified customer base. The VCT targets a dividend yield of 5%. Please remember, dividends are not guaranteed. 

This new fundraise will allow Octopus to add some exciting new investments to the portfolio and support the existing portfolio companies.

Recent additions to the portfolio include:

Rotolight, which is already exporting its innovative LED lighting for photographers to 41 countries. City Pantry, a corporate food delivery service. It brings food from exciting local caterers direct to offices, serving more than 700 companies, including the likes of Google, Amazon and Paypal. Natterbox, a provider of cloud telephony that integrates seamlessly with the software and systems customers already use.

You can find all the key information on the webpage. That includes a short video in which the Octopus Investments team explain their approach, as well as the brochure and application form.

It’s worth noting, any clients who currently hold Octopus VCT shares are eligible for a 1% loyalty discount when applying for new shares as part of this fundraise.

Visit the Octopus Apollo VCT webpage >>
 
Some risks to keep in mind:

The value of an investment in Octopus Apollo VCT, and any income from it, can fall as well as rise. Investors may not get back the full amount they invest.  Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and may change in the future.  Tax reliefs depend on the VCT maintaining its VCT-qualifying status. 

VCT shares are by their nature high risk, their share price may be volatile, and they may be hard to sell.