Industry news and views from Panacea and our partners.
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Cows will teach you a lot about human behaviour
You can learn a lot from animals, particularly their character, moods, idiosyncrasies, and the way they respond to the world especially in a group.
Wheres your glasses ref
I was listening with some interest to radio and TV reports concerning the state of sport in UK schools. It would appear that a recent survey has suggested that 75% of schoolchildren would cheat at sport if it meant they or their team would win.
London woman names daughter 'Hashtag'
There are always new ways to innovate, but was this a step too far? It was Bill Gates who said, The Internet is becoming the town square for the global village of tomorrow.
Its about the Money, money, money
We recently noticed some very interesting tweets on How to build a super-profitable advisory firm and after reading and digesting them we felt it was worth a conversation with the Tweet source- a forward thinking accountancy firm, the WOW Company.
Mines bigger than yours!
It was reported a week or so ago that IFA network Best Practice has raised the bar for its would-be members, requiring them to be QCF level 6 qualified. The posting outcry that followed highlighted the adviser qualification schism that has developed both leading up to and beyond RDR.
The Panacea Top Ten
Panacea brings you the chance the top ten most viewed Bento stories from March 2013, in case you missed them the first time round.
Stinking badges removal. CMC update.
At long last Parliament has entered into the debate regarding claims management fraudsters.
Generation Game
In the world of social media, there is nothing more compelling than a client endorsing your brand. Social media endorsers are seen to give all their friends, families and colleagues trusted advice that is far more credible than any source of advertising.
FSCS partners with Metro, Mail Newspapers and Absolute Radio. Grrrr.
A definiton of profligate is Recklessly wasteful; wildly extravagant.
The Panacea Top Ten
Panacea brings you the chance the top ten most viewed Bento stories from February 2013.
Noel Coward was a charmer
For those of you familiar with the punk genre, the lyrics of Ian Dury can throw up some interesting inspiration.
An "App a Day" not "Apple a day keeps the doctor away
A big factor in the protection business today is the cost and accuracy of underwriting and the impact on the bottom line if it is wrong
So thats how you do it?
We hear often about adviser firms looking at risk rated portfolio building and this adviser insight of how it takes place may be of interest to many.
Smell the coffee
It started in coffee houses....The second half of the seventeenth century was an era of burgeoning trade, in the absence of mass media, the coffee houses emerged as the primary source of news and rumour.
Should five per cent appear too small, be thankful I don't take it all
Jimmy Carr is not alone; Starbucks Google, Amazon and a raft of other global mega-businesses have recently been accused by the Public Accounts Committee of immorally minimizing their UK tax bills.
Life is a cabaret old chum, so come to the cabaret
We are only 4 weeks into the brave new world and already we are seeing the first examples of politico-regulatory Told you so and You couldnt make it up.
Chaos
Fears are mounting, as they do every time this country grinds to a halt because of snow, that our fragile economy could quite quickly reverse the signs of recovery and plummet toward recession again.
An App a day...
At the end of 2012 smartphones reached a 50% penetration within the UK, with tablets poised to do the same soon. Additionally, according to Ofcom, 36% of internet users in the UK access the web using a smartphone.
Wet boots, but its not raining?
After reading the weekends Sunday Times, it continues to amaze me (though it really should not) that the appointment of individuals in the Is this role really necessary category
Does it make sense for IFAs to assume discretionary powers?
A vital factor for many advisory firms is to ensure that, as far as possible, they maintain control of their investment proposition and how it is delivered to their clients
Nightmare or Sweet Dreams on PI Street
It feels as if no one can escape the words PII at the moment. Many of you have commented to me about the trials and tribulations surrounding PII and I wanted to provide some information and guidance for our members.
Always look on the bright side....
So 2013 has arrived, the RDR has become reality and many advisers of all pursuasions could have had this song lyric ringing in their ears.
Panacea Unsung Hero
At Panacea we regularly hear positive stories about the great but unrewarded work that many within our industry do for the benefit of others.
Seasons Greetings
From all of us at Panacea Adviser, many thanks for the support you have given us in 2012. We wish you a peaceful Christmas, and a happy & prosperous New Year.
Hector off to Barclays- Grrrrr
For many advisers out there this news has been met with a mixture of anger and incredulity.
Can somebody put this in Plain English
They are quoted as saying the guidance is not specific or exhaustive. then add: Although a specific business model threshold does not currently exist, when assessing a firm against the threshold conditions as a whole, the FSA does ask for information about a firms business model.
What do I do when lightning strikes me?
The phrase pigs can fly means something that you say which means you think there is no chance at all of something happening.
Shelter from the storm. PPI Madness continues with the not sold
Lloyds has set aside yet more money, a further £1 billion in fact to cover its payment protection claims. It has also made provision for £2.07billion (yes billion) to be set aside to cover a positive tsunami of potential PPI claims on their way.
Dogs Breakfast?
So now we have it, the FSA has been given the EU nod of approval to ban commission payments from providers to advisers in its implementation of RDR next year.
The Magic ISA Pot
A young, recently FPC qualified adviser knocked on a door promptly for his appointment, he knew the prospect, as they had been school pals
We are delighted to announce that Panacea has been shortlisted for Best Support Services Award at the Professional Adviser Awards 2013
The shortlists have now been unveiled for the Professional Adviser Awards 2013.
FSA and FOI requests, what's good for the goose?
Linda Woodall recently affirmed that there was tension between regulated firms and the FSA and that this is how it should be.
We are delighted to announce that Panacea has been shortlisted for Best Support Services Award at the Professional Adviser Awards 2013
The shortlists have now been unveiled for the Professional Adviser Awards 2013.
The only way is Ethics
We are pleased to confirm that with our site refresh complete, we have launched our new Ethical Zone to provide community members with information and resources about sustainable and responsible investment (SRI).
Panacea Shortlisted for the Professional Adviser Awards 2013
The Professional Adviser Awards give you the opportunity to have your say on which providers and support services businesses deserve a special accolade for their work throughout the past year.
Crime and Punishment?
Last week the FSA issued a consultation paper on it being given yet more powers.
Don't wanna confuse nobody, don't wanna be confused
European politicians reject plans for commission ban, making the FSA look increasingly isolated in Europe.The final version of Mifid expected early next year, will combine the European Parliaments amendments with those from the European Council
Should I dress like a woman and act like a man?
The highly successful 1982 film Tootsie starring Dustin Hoffman, is about an unemployed actor who disguises himself as a woman to get a role in a soap opera. As it is Women in Financial Services month, this got me thinking..
100- everyone on your marks .
One hundred is the square of 10 One hundred is the basis of percentages with 100% being a full amount. It is the sum of the first nine prime numbers thus 100 is a Leyland number. 100 is a Harshad or Niven number.