UK pensions: Industry experts react to the Treasury’s secondary annuity market plans announcement, cautioning that people should seek advice and not rush decisions December 15, 2015 That’s not festive spirit in the air you’re sensing – people are getting pretty excited about the Treasury’s announcement this morning of plans to create the long-awaited secondary annuity market. However, pensions industry figures are urging the five million people currently receiving income from an annuity not to get too carried away. The changes are [...]
Storm Desmond flooding: As claims creep in, insurers assure consumers they are already ready for winter’s bad weather December 6, 2015 The Association of British Insurers (ABI) reassured consumers on Saturday that the industry had been braced for bad weather. “Insurers expect bad weather during the winter and will be geared up to help customers who have suffered flood and storm damage recover as quickly as possible,” remarked Malcolm Tarling, a spokesperson for the ABI, in a [...]
Financial Conduct Authority proposes last year’s insurance premium information should be published on renewal documents December 3, 2015 The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published proposals today that would require general insurance providers to include details of last year’s premium on customer’s renewal documents. The proposals are designed to address concerns that some customers might be getting a bad deal by sticking with the same company. “We hope the proposals encourage more people to [...]
City Moves for 2 December 2015 | Who’s switching jobs December 1, 2015 TAYLOR WESSING The law firm has appointed Emma Jordan as head of contentious trusts in its private client practice. She joins from Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co, where she was a contentious trusts and litigation partner. Jordan has a particular focus on advising and representing trustees and high net worths in litigation. LV= The insurance, [...]
Autumn Statement 2015: George Osborne’s speech transcript in full including stamp duty, business rates and corporation tax announcements November 25, 2015 Mr Speaker, this Spending Review delivers on the commitment we made to the British people that we would put security first. To protect our economic security, by taking the difficult decisions to live within our means and bring down our debt. To protect our national security, by defending our country’s interests abroad and keeping our [...]
UK pension freedoms could be costing people £104m, as they fail to shop around for the best annuity deal November 16, 2015 People who have purchased an annuity over the last six months without shopping around for the best deal are set to collectively lose out on £104m over the course of their retirement, according to figures released today by Retirement Advantage. The calculation was based on data collected for the first six months of pensions freedoms, [...]
Inside the rock: Gibraltar’s strategic and military importance is complemented by financial and gaming leadership November 12, 2015 Covering an area of just 6.8 square kilometres, the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar punches well above its weight. At the last count, despite a population of only 32,000 people, it was home to 67 insurers with £9.95bn in total assets, 13 banks, 72 trust and company service providers, 14 pension fund administrators, and [...]
Best of the Brokers for 5 November 2015 November 5, 2015 To appear in Best of the Brokers, email your research to notes@cityam.com ASSOCIATED BRITISH FOODS Shore Capital kept its “hold” rating on the group, but downgraded its retail earnings estimate for 2016. “Ordinarily, with such a full valuation being applied to activities and our expectations of the company delivering a flat to small decline [...]
FCA’s Tracey McDermott announces UK Debt Market Forum at ABI Conference November 3, 2015 Tracey McDermott, acting chief executive of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), revealed today that the FCA would be creating and chairing a UK Debt Market Forum. Speaking at the Association of British Insurers (ABI) Biennial Conference, McDermott explained: “This group will bring together the collective wisdom of a broad range of parties including industry, government [...]
Association of British Insurers: Sales of annuities have picked up despite new pension freedoms November 3, 2015 Annuity sales rose to 22,380, worth £1.17bn, during the third quarter of 2015, the first time quarter-on-quarter sales have risen for three years, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) revealed at its Biennial Conference today. By comparison, annuity sales for the second quarter of 2015 where 18,200, worth £990m. Figures from the ABI also revealed that [...]