After last week's welfare reform debacle, the consequence appears to be tax rises. The problem for advisers is that it probably also means months of speculation about variously pensions tax relief, IHT, CGT and more.
That is unless the Government dares to break its manifesto pledge and put up some of the main tax rates.
We should brace for speculation and, frankly dubious sources. So for example, a thinktank suggesting a policy option doesn't mean it's policy but some national papers have done used that for feverish headlines.
Best perhaps to focus on actual quotes. To that end, the rather embattled Chancellor has been talking to the Guardian, perhaps a slightly less hostile newspaper title than some of the others.
Rachel Reeves now says it is impossible for her to rule out tax rises in the autumn budget while insisting she never thought about quitting despite a turbulent week for her and the government.
She adds that “there are costs” to the watering down of the welfare bill and acknowledged it had been a “damaging” week for Downing Street. Well indeed. Advisers may need to focus on calming client nerves.
Gen Zers, working in protection, believe artificial intelligence will be a valuable asset to the protection industry if it is embraced and effectively used to make data-driven decisions as Money Marketing reports.
More than 70% of participants at this year's ProtectZ event said they expect AI to enhance their career opportunities over the next decade rather than restrict them.
A positive outlook, though I still think it is important to ask the rest of generation Z and indeed all the other generations of customers about their attitudes and particularly whether they have any concerns about the computer saying: 'No'. In other words will customers be happy if they think they have been turned down for cover by the AI machine?
This is an interesting article in FTAdviser. Daniel Lurch is the portfolio manager of the JSS Sustainable Equity — Green Planet fund, which sounds about as green as it gets. He argues that ESG investments are now outperforming especially when currency movements are taken into account by UK investors.
The financial advice profession must shift its thinking from filling an “advice gap” to addressing a “financial help gap” which considers how support is delivered, who receives it, and what counts as value, according to Altus Consulting insights director Robert Holford. He discusses this in Professional Adviser.
Advisers are not buying into FCA's ‘once-in-a-generation’ reforms despite the regulator hoping for a big take up of targeted support. Some were not aware of the plans, while others are concerned that efforts, sentiment reported in New Model Adviser.
