Business Development Updates

14 April 2014

Protection Zone - Pipeline in your pocket

25 March 2014

How the 2014 Budget creates opportunities for advisers

From Octopus Investments.

George Osborne’s 2014 Budget was one of the most significant ever for savers and investors – so here are answers to some of the key questions advisers have been asking us so far.

How will the stricter EIS and VCT rules affect Octopus products?
After the Finance Bill receives Royal Assent, renewable energy companies that receive Renewable Obligation Certificates will no longer qualify as new EIS or VCT investments.

The change will not be retrospective so it does not affect previous investments or anyone investing in the latest tranche of Octopus EIS before the closing date of 26 March. We are also considering opening another EIS tranche after 26 March, which we will invest before the Finance Bill receives Royal Assent. The Octopus Eureka EIS Portfolio Service, our VCTs and the Octopus Inheritance Tax Service won’t be affected by this change.

What will happen with Octopus EIS after this change takes effect?
Our investment team is experienced in adapting to changes made by successive governments.  We expected that a new policy would be announced at some point and have been exploring other EIS-qualifying investment opportunities for some time.

How will the change to VCT dividend payments affect investors?
The restrictions on VCT dividends only apply to shares issued from 6 April 2014, so they do not affect existing shareholders in our VCTs. This change ensures all VCT shareholders are treated fairly and that VCTs remain attractive for investors.

Will the option to hold VCT shares in a nominee account make a real difference to investors?
This change is great news as it means advisers and investors can buy new VCT shares through platforms. We were already in discussion with a number of platforms and will keep you updated.

What opportunities are created by the changes to ISAs and pensions?
It’s pleasing to see the government showing increased commitment to ISAs. And the changes to pensions – particularly the ending of the requirement to buy an annuity – will give investors more flexibility in how they plan for retirement. We look forward to working with advisers as they help clients take advantage of the options that will now be available to them.

Want to know more?

If you have any questions, please call us on 0207 768 0041 and we’ll be delighted to help.

24 March 2014

Budget reaction from City Trustees

25 February 2014

Tax Planning Tools and Scenarios

At Adviser Home we are always looking for ideas or fresh approaches to help support advisers in their business.

We think this toolkit falls into this category. It's new - interactive and includes some excellent tax planning case studies.Take a look - we think it could be helpful.

Further details can be found in the Tax Planning Investment Zone.

25 February 2014

New Investment Software from Selectapension - Join the Webinars

Adviser Home has worked with Selectapension from the start and we are pleased to see it expand its scope to include new investment tools. In brief: 

• The new Asset Reviewer allows you to compare new and existing products and funds all in one place
• The tools allow you to use your existing risk assessment software
• You can use Asset Reviewer to conduct your research and generate an audit trail for future review and compliance
• You control the input and the software generates the client report
• You make more efficient use of your time and ensure that your clients portfolios match their requirements
Choice of Webinar

A live demo is really the only way to see what Asset Reviewer can do for you and your business. And a webinar is the most time- efficient way to get that demo! These webinars will last no more than 30 minutes and we have a choice of dates for you...

Tuesday 4th March 10am
Wednesday 5th March 11am

To register just email [email protected]  indicate your choice of session and include your telephone number, thanks.

If any of your colleagues would like to attend then please feel free to forward this invite on to them.

 

25 February 2014

New product launch - Long Term Care

Just Retirement have launched into this relatively ill served sector with a new tax efficient plan. Join their Webinar on 27th February to see how it could fit with your business and help your clients. The Webinar covers:

• An insight into the market today and the typical care recipient
• The Care Bill and its implications
• Tax benefits of an immediate needs annuity
• Advice – what’s required
• The Just Retirement Care Funding Plan – how it works
• Adviser views - a leading long term care adviser shares his thoughts
• Q&A session so that you can put your questions to presenters and adviser guest.

Join Just Retirement on 27 February 09.30 or 11.30 for 45 mins with CPD points. For more details and to Register>>
 

09 February 2014

Developing your bespoke pensions practice

One way to achieve sustainable growth in your practice is to develop services less likely to be offered by other distributors. A prime example is the more tailored end of the pensions market where our new strategic partner, City Trustees (part of Mattioli Woods), provides specialist support and expertise at your disposal.   We have created a Bespoke Pension Centre on site to act as a gateway to the City Trustees services. There is a new Help Line – why not call to see how they can help with technical assistance, business generation ideas and the benefits of harmonising business finance with pensions arrangements.   And ... we will be bringing you more ideas, from City Trustees, over the coming weeks and months.      

13 January 2014

Adviser Resolutions Book 2014

Adviser Resolutions 2014: view here>>

07 January 2014

Social Media Trends - 2014

  Alterra, our Social Media partner has put together a brief document on likely trends in the social media world in 2014.

14 November 2013

The benefits of full underwriting

Just Retirement ran a highly popular Webinar for Adviser Home on full underwriting and the difference expert tele- underwriting ( from Morgan Ash ) can make to your client’s retirement incomes. If you were not able to make the Webinar worry not, you can catch up here with this video.

Research findings  

Just Retirement looked at the use of specialist telephone medical assessment service and asked some questions of those advisers who took part in the webinar. A large majority were unaware of the service, and a large majority were very positive about it. 

Have you ever used an external medical assessment service for annuities?*

Didn’t know it existed

239

76%

Have considered it and ruled it out

37

12%

Yes

38

12%

Total

314

100%

* Poll results from Just Retirement Limited webinars hosted on 8August and 7 November 2013 (292 and 22 responses respectively, total responses 314). 

Having heard from Morgan Ash, how useful do you think their service would be to you?**

Limited benefit

59

17%

No benefit

4

1%

Significant benefit

95

27%

Something to look at trying in the near future

190

55%

Total

348

100%

** Poll results from Just Retirement Limited webinars hosted on 8August and 7 November 2013 (326 and 22 responses respectively, total responses 348).

We draw all this to your attention because we believe there are important benefits to both you and your clients with a full underwriting process, and we know that using medically qualified staff to carry out tele- medical assessments can help your clients get the best result for their retirement income.

Check into our At Retirement zone here>>

 

12 November 2013

A Census of post RDR Adviser Incomes 2013

Download here>>

This is a really valuable piece of work from BWD – Adviser Home partners for professional qualifications and a leading specialist recruitment firm.

It covers adviser incomes pre and post RDR and looks at the way in which revenues are taken- fixed fees, fund percentage etc. It compares income levels between self employed and employed advisers, restricted and independent. Also included in the report is an analysis of the financial consequences of different levels of qualification.

The report will be of interest whether you are looking at your own earnings or whether you are concerned with recruitment.

We hope you find it useful.

More details on qualification support from BWD Development. View here>> BWD recruitment enquiries [email protected] 

31 October 2013

Webinar November

During the month of November we have arranged a series of Webinars, covering different subjects, but all designed to help you run, develop and market your business.  

Further details can be found here>>

If you are unable to attend any of these but would like more information then please let us know on [email protected]

Thanks

17 October 2013

Support for your Protection practice

Our recent survey of advisers’ requirements in the protection market showed a big demand for reasons why letters, model client approach letters and sales aids.

If you go to our Protection Zone you will find a lot there to help you build your business:

Infographics on client life stages from just starting out, building a family, right through to retirement eg – here’s one focussing on the issues around grown up kids For each stage there are sales aids, adviser check lists and a series of key stats For CI marketing there’s an excellent client mailer and a choice of sample client letters Sample client letter 1  Sample client letter 2 

There’s also some good case studies View Christian’s story   View Greg’s story  all designed to help you build this important market.

Part of what we are trying to do at Adviser Home is highlight where the best support can be found – we hope this helps.

For further support and your free supply of client mailers and DVDs, please speak to your Zurich consultant on 0500 546 546.

04 October 2013

Five guides, all useful, all at no cost

Defaqto produce an excellent range of material to help advisers with their due diligence on several issues. Here are links to just five recent publications:

Outsourcing investment: What advisers need to consider. View here>> A Guide to Unit Linked Guaranteed Products. View here>>  Risk Targeted Funds: Market Update 2013. View here>>  Investment Linked Annuities – Case Study. View here>>  Multi-Manager: Market Update 2013. View here>> 

25 September 2013

NEW - Guide to ETF's

(* this is quite a large file so may take a few moments to download)

The big trend in investments is the move to passive / ETF solutions. But Advisers can’t afford to be passive in their choice of ETF provider. This is a clear, comprehensive, readable guide to ETF’s from LYXOR ETF- Societe Generale Group. We think you will find it useful.

It covers the basic principles of ETF’s, the choices between physical and synthetic structures and the range of investment opportunities available. With almost EUR 30 billion. Lyxor is the third largest ETF provider in Europe, and the sixth globally.
 

If you would like to make contact with Lyxor call 0800 328 1199 and you can find out more details at www.sglistedproducts.co.uk including information on the “True Performance” of ETF’s.
 

Read more in the Lxyor Guide to ETFs - download above.
 

23 September 2013

Win an Amazon Kindle Fire

Just complete a few questions on the protection market – Click here>> and tell us what kinds of support would help you in that market. Then we will enter you for a prize draw to win an Amazon Kindle Fire, courtesy of Zurich. We will also let you have a summary of the findings. Would you complete the questions by the 27th September ? – thanks.   *Survey T&Cs