Media
Press Release Archive
DFM Quilter Cheviot now accessible through the Multi-Platform International Open Pension (QROPS)
London & Colonial announce DFM Quilter Cheviot now accessible through the Multi-Platform International Open Pension (QROPS).
DFM Whitechurch Securities now accessible through QROPS
London & Colonial announce DFM Whitechurch Securities now accessible through the Multi-Platform International Open Pension (QROPS).
London & Colonial Appoints Phil Risbridger as Regional Account Manager
With the ongoing success of their competitively priced QROPS, the Multi-Platform International Open Pension, London & Colonial is pleased to announce the addition of Whitechurch Securities Limited to the product’s panel of approved DFMs.
London & Colonial appoints Martin McDermott
London & Colonial has announced the appointment of Martin McDermott as Head of Sales.
Simple Investment SIPP launched
With the ‘Simple Investment SIPP’ from London & Colonial, effective retirement planning for your clients needn’t be complicated.
London & Colonial appoints Nigel Darnley
London & Colonial has appointed Nigel Darnley, who joins them from AGEAS Protect, as Technical Services Manager.
London & Colonial adds Whitechurch Securities to Discretionary Fund Manager panel
London & Colonial announces Whitechurch Securities as the latest addition to its Discretionary Fund Manager panel.
Further budget clarification final nail in the QROPS coffin
Adam Wrench, London & Colonial’s Head of Product & Business Development, looks at the possible future for QROPS in light of the budget announcements earlier this year.
‘Peer-to-Peer’ lending and SIPPS
As long as the loan is not made to a connected party, and the banks’ lending to small businesses continues to fall short of expectations, more and more innovative financing arrangements, such as ‘Peer to Peer’ lending and crowdfunding will undoubtedly become more popular.
London & Colonial believes commercial property assets need to be given a level playing field
Adam Wrench, London & Colonial's Head of Product and Business Development, is surprised by the recent calls by some SIPP providers for all UK Commercial Property to be classified as a non-standard asset...
London & Colonial first to launch Flexible Open Annuity (with “cash out” option)
London & Colonial are delighted to announce the launch of our Flexible Open annuity (with “cash out” option) contract that has been “future proofed”.
Feature for Retirement Planner: 'Peer-to-Peer' lending
Feature for Retirement Planner: Adam Wrench, Head of Product and Business Development, London & Colonial discusses “Peer-to-Peer” lending.
Feature for Retirement Planner: Will the Pension reforms achieve their goals – and what exactly are the goals?
My initial response was, and still is, that these proposed reforms should be welcomed with open arms...
Article for Pensions Age: Options for expats returning to UK
Commissioned Article for Pensions Age: London & Colonial’s Adam Wrench looks at some of the options for Expats returning to the UK.
New Model Adviser Case Study: Opportunities and pitfalls for returning Expats
New Model Adviser Case Study: Adam Wrench, Head of Business and Product Development at London & Colonial, looks at some of the opportunities and pitfalls for returning Expats.
Article for Retirement Planner: Opportunities and pitfalls for returning ex pats
Commissioned Article for Retirement Planner: Adam Wrench, Head of Business and Product Development at London & Colonial, looks at some of the opportunities and pitfalls for returning ex pats.
Opportunities and pitfalls for returning ex pats
Adam Wrench, Head of Business and Product Development at London & Colonial, looks at some of the opportunities and pitfalls for returning ex pats.
London & Colonial celebrates 25 Years
London & Colonial are celebrating 25 years of delivering original and creative new products, whose innovative service features have long enabled advisers to fulfil their clients’ requirements with the minimum of effort.
Investors should take the opportunities offered by QROPS
London & Colonial says Investors should take the opportunities offered by QROPS as liberalisation of UK pensions could be a costly distraction.
London & Colonial adds Creechurch Capital to Discretionary Fund Manger panel
Creechurch Capital’s services are now available across the whole of the London & Colonial product range.
Budget 2014 - London & Colonial considers the new pension planning opportunities
London & Colonial considers the new pension planning opportunities post budget.
The growth of ethical investment
Adam Wrench, Head of Product & Business Development at London & Colonial reflects on the growth of ethical investment.
London & Colonial welcomes Gibraltar confirmation surrounding the income tax charge applicable to QNUPS
Gibraltar has confirmed a 2.5% tax rate on pension income taken from QNUPS...
Article for New Model Adviser: Urgent action needed to overcome stagnation in annuity market
Article for New Model Adviser, March 2014 - Adam Wrench, Head of Business and Product Development at London & Colonial, calls for urgent action to overcome stagnation in the annuity market.
Guaranteed income – is the price always worth paying?
Ken Wrench, CEO of London & Colonial considers the pros and cons of traditional annuities.
FCA’s thematic review on annuities
Following the publication of the FCA’s thematic review on annuities, Adam Wrench, Head of Product and Business Development, London & Colonial says the annuities industry should be careful not to become too fixated on the initial annuity purchase rate as it’s only part of the story.
Feature for Financial Planner - “Permitted Investment List”
Once upon a time SIPPs were about giving small business owners the tools to invest in business premises they understood better than anybody else. Somewhere along the way however the flexibility that made SIPPs such attractive vehicles has somehow offered an open door to opportunistic middlemen pushing dubious esoteric investments to gullible unsophisticated investors.
London & Colonial to offer investors a socially responsible fee-free SIPP
Following on from specialist pension provider London & Colonial’s recently announced tie-up with DFM firm TAM Asset Management, London & Colonial and TAM have now announced the launch of a SIPP where no provider charges will be applied.
Letter to the Editor (Financial Adviser) - Response to ‘Permitted Investment List Could Stifle Innovation’ article
Dear Sir, As you’ll be aware, the pensions industry is unfortunately no stranger to scandal. That is why it is imperative that we, as an industry, work together to prevent pension savers becoming embroiled in further scandals and to help to restore trust and faith in pensions...
London & Colonial teams up with TAM Asset Management to bring investors a socially responsible pensions solution
London & Colonial has joined forces with TAM Asset Management Limited to provide those investors seeking a retirement strategy that fully empathises with their ethical values with a socially responsible pension offering.
London & Colonial adds TAM Asset Management to Discretionary Fund Managers panel
London & Colonial announces TAM Asset Management as the latest addition to its panel of Discretionary Fund Managers.
77% of IFAs surveyed support rebrokable / switchable annuities
In December 2013 London & Colonial polled 2000 IFAs...
The QROPS Bureau and London & Colonial join forces to increase adviser understanding of the benefits of QROPS
Specifically designed to increase retirement income and decrease the dependency upon work-based pension schemes, QROPS’ greater portability and currency flexibility make them the ideal choice for those living outside of the UK.
Retirement income options and the Open Annuity
The London & Colonial Open Annuity has proved a breath of fresh air for the annuities market, offering pensioners unrivalled levels of flexibility...
London & Colonial calls on HMRC to protect investors with permitted investment list
The leading pension provider said a permitted investment list, authorised by The Pensions Regulator, would attempt to clear up grey areas surrounding the wide range of investments available and place the emphasis upon those investments pension savers can invest in.
Article for Intercontinental Finance Magazine - QROPS: Banishing the Mystique
Adam Wrench says that whilst the QROPS market has great potential investors must first overcome the “fear factor”.
Article for New Model Adviser: The unintended consequences of capital adequacy for SIPP providers
Adam Wrench, Head of Product and Business Development highlights the potential unintended consequences which may result from the anticipated changes to Capital Adequacy.
Article for Investment Life & Pensions Moneyfacts: Is the traditional use and promotion of the Open Market Option the correct approach?
Adam Wrench, Head of Product and Business Development at London & Colonial examines whether the use and promotion of the Open Market Option is the correct approach.
London & Colonial adds Brewin Dolphin to Discretionary Fund Manager panel
London & Colonial have recently announced Brewin Dolphin as the latest addition to their Discretionary Fund Manager panel.
QROPS fear factor
Adam Wrench, Head of Business and Product Development at London & Colonial, takes a look at the QROPS market, and calls on advisers to overcome the “QROPS fear factor”.
SIPP cash commissions
Adam Wrench, Head of Business and Product Development, says that while cash commissions may currently be dividing opinion within the SIPP market, not everything is as it may at first seem.
London & Colonial appoints Paul Forman
London & Colonial announces the addition of Paul Forman, to strengthen existing sales team.
Advisers must consider alternatives to rip-off annuities
Reviewable annuities allow IFAs/clients to shop around for the best rate throughout the duration of the contract in a similar way to reviewing your car insurance on an annual basis.
Would differing state pension rates be a fairer way to tackle the Government's increasing pension bill?
The suggestion recently put forward by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) that in the interests of fairness ‘poorer’ people should receive increases to their State Pension, as they tend to live for shorter periods in retirement compared to the better off, and in doing so receive less in pension income than their ‘wealthier’ counterparts who tend to live longer, raises arguments on both sides.
SIPP cash commissions - not as it may at first seem
Adam Wrench, Head of Business and Product Development, explains that whilst the subject of SIPP cash commissions might have some up in arms, not everything is as it may at first seem.
Feature for Retirement Planner: How QROPS and QNUPS can be used to mitigate tax charges for those breaching the UK Lifetime Allowance
‘Retirement Planner’ Feature - Adam Wrench, Head of Business and Product Development, looks at how QROPS and QNUPS can be used to mitigate any potential tax charges for those in danger of breaching the UK Lifetime Allowance.
Official list necessary to protect SIPP investors
‘Official list necessary to protect SIPP investors’ - says Adam Wrench, Head of Business and Product Development, London & Colonial.
International Adviser Blog: Advantages of a QROPS
International Adviser BLOG - As ever increasing numbers of people bid the UK farewell in search of a better life abroad, Adam Wrench, Head of Product & Business Development at London & Colonial, explores the advantages of a QROPS.
Offshore bond sales come under further pressure from QROPS and QNUPS
With the increasing popularity of offshore pensions solutions such as QROPS and QNUPS we can see the competition for offshore investment becoming increasingly more competitive...
London & Colonial calls for at-retirement adviser register to boost OMO
Although a quarter of a century has passed since it was first introduced, the Open Market Option is still failing consumers when it comes to providing them with sufficient choice.
QROPS- When things go wrong
Retirement pension planning for those who are intending to live and work overseas is a very complex area, and whilst a QROPS can provide greater flexibility for overseas workers in terms of investment choices and the payment of benefits, some aspects do require far closer examination...
London & Colonial reduces fees across whole product range
Specialist pension and annuities provider London & Colonial has recently announced a reduction in the fees charged across their whole product range of SIPPs, QROPS, QNUPS, Pensions and Annuities.
International Adviser Feature - “HMRC crackdown on QROPS”
Following an industry-wide crackdown on abuse, it comes as little surprise that HM Revenue & Customs has recently turned its attentions to qualifying recognised overseas pension schemes with last month’s publication of its proposed changes to the regulations surrounding QROPS.
Increased regulatory pressure on SIPPs could be forcing investors into SSAS and QROPs
Continuing scrutiny and increased regulatory pressure on SIPPs could be forcing investors into SSAS and QROPs in order to access more inviting investment options, warns London & Colonial’s Adam Wrench.
Is it time for a Platform of Platforms or simply a Multi-Platform approach?
BLOG - Adam Wrench, Head of Product and Business Development at London and Colonial, asks “Is it time for a Platform of Platforms or simply a Multi-Platform approach?”
London & Colonial calls for greater transparency in the annuities market
Adam Wrench, Head of Product & Business Development, London & Colonial, calls for greater transparency in the annuities market as a Daily Mail investigation reveals insurers can pocket almost a third of retirement savings in profits.
Transact and Platform One join forces with London & Colonial to revolutionise the QROPS market
London & Colonial, one of the UK’s leading pension wrapper providers, has just announced the launch of their latest new product offering – the International Open Pension.
Choosing the correct Platform
Put time and effort into choosing the correct Platform - says Adam Wrench, Head of Product and Business Development at London and Colonial
Don’t be misled by today’s best fixed-term annuity rates
London & Colonial is urging those approaching retirement to avoid locking themselves into a ‘fixed’ rate when taking out an annuity, as the rates which may appear to be the best available now will not necessarily remain the most competitive as they get older.
London & Colonial’s comment to FTAdviser.com article "Withheld SIPP interest could be the next mis-selling scandal"
It is only a potential mis-selling scandal if the client is not made aware of the fact that the provider keeps part of the interest. London & Colonial, along with other providers, already declare this, and are open and completely transparent about it.
The introduction of QROPS
Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Schemes (QROPS) have been gathering momentum in the international pension arena for some time now, as the allure of job opportunities, higher income and a greater standard of living continues to entice people abroad.
London & Colonial announce the launch of the International Open Pension
London & Colonial, one of the UK’s leading pension wrapper providers, has just announced the launch of their latest new product offering – the International Open Pension.
Why advisers need to stop relying on low-cost, off-the-shelf SIPPs
Adam Wrench, Head of Product and Business Development from London & Colonial, examines why advisers need to stop relying on low-cost, off-the-shelf SIPPs in the post-RDR landscape.
A guide to QNUPS
There’s been much talk on QROPS within the pensions marketplace, but altogether less attention has been lavished upon its lesser-known sister QNUPS (Qualifying non-UK pension schemes).
Choose wisely when deciding upon a QROPS jurisdiction
Adam Wrench, Head of Product and Business Development, London & Colonial, says the 55% tax charge recently slapped on ROSIIP investors drums home just how important it is to choose wisely when deciding upon a QROPS jurisdiction.
The Association of British Insurer’s new Code of Conduct on Retirement Choices couldn’t be more timely
This month heralds the introduction of the Association of British Insurers’ (ABI) new Code of Conduct on Retirement Choices, and it couldn’t be more timely.
Platform One and London & Colonial announce sophisticated new pensions options for advised HNW clients
Platform One, the UK and international Wrap service for financial advisers and family offices with high net worth clients, and London & Colonial, the independent financial services group with an enviable track record of delivering original and creative new products, have recently announced two new flexible pensions solutions now available through Platform One.
London & Colonial raises concerns over a loophole which will allow esoteric and overseas property investments to continue to be promoted despite increased scrutiny from the FSA
London & Colonial has expressed concern that some advisers will continue to promote questionable esoteric and overseas property developments because of a loophole that will allow them to move the investments into unregulated environments rather than keep them in a SIPP.
London & Colonial calls for greater client understanding of drawdown to prevent it becoming the next mis-selling scandal
London & Colonial, one of the UK’s leading onshore and offshore pension wrapper providers, is calling for a much deeper understanding of the income drawdown process for those entering retirement in order to prevent it from becoming the next financial mis-selling scandal.
European pensions
Robin Ellison, Chairman of London & Colonial discusses European pensions.
London & Colonial urges all advisers to consider the benefits of Multi-Platform solutions
Adam Wrench, Head of Product and Business Development at London & Colonial, urges all advisers to consider the benefits of Multi-Platform solutions in greater detail, as Investec research reveals over a quarter of advisers plan to increase their use of platforms.
New Multi-Platform product launch
London & Colonial is delighted to announce the launch of two new innovative products, the Multi-Platform SIPP and the Multi-Platform Open Annuity.
“Reviewable v lifetime lock-in” annuities
Adam Wrench, Head of Product and Business Development, When using the OMO to shop around to secure the best deal for clients consideration should be given to “reviewable v lifetime lock-in” annuities.
FSA hands are tied as esoteric investments find new homes
Adam Wrench, Head of Product and Business Development at London & Colonial states "FSA hands are tied as esoteric investments find new homes".
Flexibility is the name of the game
Adam Wrench, Head of Product and Business Development, London & Colonial, says flexibility is the name of the game when it comes to pensions as a Prudential survey reveals that expected incomes have plunged to a six year low.
Platforms are the way forward
Adam Wrench, Head of Product and Business Development at London & Colonial, says Platforms are the way forward as some fund management groups are reported to still be imposing Annual Management Charges at Pre-RDR rates.
Unlocking the drawdown trapdoor
‘Unlocking The Drawdown Trapdoor’ – London & Colonial’s Adam Wrench highlights the opportunities that the recently announced proposed increase in GAD rate will bring for the transfer market, and speculates as to how soon we may see these higher rates made available.
Platforms are the perfect answer to RDR, says London & Colonial
As advisers contend with the issue of proving value to their clients in a post-RDR world, platforms continually come up trumps, says London & Colonial.
London & Colonial announces second platform partnership
Following on from the launch of their latest two product offerings, the Multi-Platform SIPP and Multi-Platform Open Annuity, London & Colonial have just announced AXA Wealth’s Elevate platform as the latest addition to their growing range.
London & Colonial and Cofunds form strategic partnership
Following on from the launch of their latest two product offerings, London & Colonial’s Multi-Platform SIPP and Multi-Platform Open Annuity are now available via the Cofunds Platform.