pensionsandsavings.com

  • PENSIONSANDSAVINGS.COM

    From Ros Altmann:economist and pensions,
    investment and retirement policy expert

    • pensionsandsavings.com

    pensionsandsavings.com

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    Category: Insurance Industry

    Implications of the Woodford debacle

    Implications of the Woodford debacle

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    Woodford Funds collapse highlights inadequate protections for ordinary investors.  Regulatory actions too little too late – funds with rising risks, falling liquidity and daily pricing need more timely intervention.   Clear warning signs in 2017 – Guernsey ‘listing’ for illiquid holdings was obvious red flag.    Does FCA have adequate powers to suspend management charges or penalise managers?    Loss of confidence in retail fund management industry may increase use of lower cost passive funds.    Inadequate protections for ordinary investors:…

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    Shocking failings at Financial Ombudsman uncovered

    Shocking failings at Financial Ombudsman uncovered

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     Shocking failings uncovered at Financial Ombudsman.  Channel 4 Dispatches undercover investigation finds major flaws in Ombudsman operation.  FOS staff who don’t understand financial products, are pressured to turn down complaints and side with banks or financial providers.  Urgent action needed to ensure financial customers have proper system of fair redress. Tonight at 8pm a Channel4 Dispatches programme will show shocking evidence of failings at the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS). Members of the public are told to complain to the Ombudsman…

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    Work and Pensions Select Committee call for better consumer protection

    Work and Pensions Select Committee call for better consumer protection

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    11 December 2017 Work and Pensions Select Committee presses Government for action to ban cold-calling House of Lords has paved the way for MPs to improve consumer protection Must not miss this chance to ban cold-calling and offer automatic free guidance before pensions transfers, to protect people’s pensions against scams or fraud The Work and Pensions Select Committee is calling on the Government to urgently improve protection for people’s pensions. This is absolutely right. Too many people are losing their…

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    Government facing Lords defeat tomorrow over refusal to protect consumers

    Government facing Lords defeat tomorrow over refusal to protect consumers

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    23 October 2017 Government faces Lords defeat tomorrow over refusal to protect financial consumers Hard to understand why Ministers are resisting changes that have widespread support Policy needs action not words – let’s not miss this opportunity to introduce cold-calling ban Cross-party amendments to Financial Guidance and Claims Bill call for: Ban on cold-calling for pensions Mandatory guidance for pension savers before transferring money out Breathing space to protect people with huge debts (vital as interest rates set to rise)…

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    Finally, a ban on pensions cold calling

    Finally, a ban on pensions cold calling

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    20 August 2017 WELL DONE TO THE GOVERNMENT FOR DECISION TO BAN PENSIONS COLD CALLING AT LAST Great to see DWP will act, not just keep consulting Protecting people’s pensions from fraudsters is so important Can give clear message to the public that anyone who contacts them out of the blue about their pensions is a criminal This issue has clear cross-party and industry support Banning cold calls and tightening protection against transfers to fraud schemes: The Government has bowed…

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    Banning cold calling

    Banning cold calling

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    4 July 2017 Government needs to urgently ban cold calling not just keep consulting Clear support across political parties and pensions firms for a ban Protecting the public from fraudsters needs higher priority Cold call ban could make it clear for the public that reputable firms will not approach them unless they have specifically asked  The Government is about to issue yet another consultation on banning pensions cold calling – asking yet more questions about protecting the public, rather than…

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    Pension Freedoms need to work better for customers

    Pension Freedoms need to work better for customers

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    12 July 2017 I welcome the FCA Retirement Outcomes Review and its focus on the customer but I am disappointed that the pensions industry has so far failed to radically change its approach. The pensions industry needs to wake up to the tremendous new opportunities offered by pension freedoms and auto enrolment. This is the time to show real, innovative thinking in the customer interest but sadly the industry has so far failed. Where are the new products or default…

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    Great news on Chancellor banning cold calling and protecting pensions better

    Great news on Chancellor banning cold calling and protecting pensions better

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    19 November 2016 Treasury set to ban pension cold calling in Autumn Statement Well done Philip Hammond – this is a great start to help clamp down on scams Clear signal for people that such calls are illegal so they should Just Hang Up or delete email Further measures to stop scam schemes setting up and clamp down on transfers also welcome We must do all we can to protect people’s precious pension savings and this is a positive step…

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    FCA study of annuity selling highlights worrying failings

    FCA study of annuity selling highlights worrying failings

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    14 October, 2016 FCA finds clear evidence of annuity mis-selling to customers in poor health but process of investigation and redress is painfully slow Seriously ill customers short-changed for the rest of their shortened life – need swift action Tens of thousands in line for redress At least one in three firms have failed customers and will have to compensate FCA findings welcome but customers need urgent action not still more reviews FCA findings from its investigation of whether annuity…

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    What’s wrong with UK insurance industry

    What’s wrong with UK insurance industry

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      28 March 2014 Insurance industry under fire – what’s gone wrong? Insurers failed to realise who their customers were – relied on inertia Flawed profit models rewarded intermediaries then recouped costs from end-customers Now is the time for change – modernised, flexible products and services UK insurers have been under fire in the past few days and many must be reeling from the shock of it all.  Suddenly the landscape seems to have changed.  As an observer who has for so…

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