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).

26/02/2016 | Download PDF

DFM Whitechurch Securities now accessible through QROPS

London & Colonial announce DFM Whitechurch Securities now accessible through the Multi-Platform International Open Pension (QROPS).

26/01/2016 | Download PDF

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.

22/01/2016 | Download PDF

London & Colonial appoints Martin McDermott

London & Colonial has announced the appointment of Martin McDermott as Head of Sales.

01/05/2015 | Download PDF

Simple Investment SIPP launched

With the ‘Simple Investment SIPP’ from London & Colonial, effective retirement planning for your clients needn’t be complicated.

01/04/2015 | Download PDF

London & Colonial appoints Nigel Darnley

London & Colonial has appointed Nigel Darnley, who joins them from AGEAS Protect, as Technical Services Manager.

01/12/2014 | Download PDF

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.

01/10/2014 | Download PDF

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.

01/09/2014 | Download PDF

‘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.

03/08/2014 | Download PDF

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...

02/08/2014 | Download PDF

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”.

01/08/2014 | Download PDF

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.

01/07/2014 | Download PDF

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...

01/06/2014 | Download PDF

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.

02/05/2014 | Download PDF

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.

01/05/2014 | Download PDF

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.

04/04/2014 | Download PDF

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.

03/04/2014 | Download PDF

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.

02/04/2014 | Download PDF

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.

01/04/2014 | Download PDF

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.

06/03/2014 | Download PDF

Budget 2014 - London & Colonial considers the new pension planning opportunities

London & Colonial considers the new pension planning opportunities post budget.

05/03/2014 | Download PDF

The growth of ethical investment

Adam Wrench, Head of Product & Business Development at London & Colonial reflects on the growth of ethical investment.

04/03/2014 | Download PDF

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...

03/03/2014 | Download PDF

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.

02/03/2014 | Download PDF

Guaranteed income – is the price always worth paying?

Ken Wrench, CEO of London & Colonial considers the pros and cons of traditional annuities.

01/03/2014 | Download PDF

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.

02/02/2014 | Download PDF

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.

01/02/2014 | Download PDF

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.

06/01/2014 | Download PDF

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...

05/01/2014 | Download PDF

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.

04/01/2014 | Download PDF

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.

03/01/2014 | Download PDF

77% of IFAs surveyed support rebrokable / switchable annuities

In December 2013 London & Colonial polled 2000 IFAs...

02/01/2014 | Download PDF

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.

01/01/2014 | Download PDF

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...

02/12/2013 | Download PDF

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.

01/12/2013 | Download PDF

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”.

02/11/2013 | Download PDF

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.

01/11/2013 | Download PDF

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.

03/10/2013 | Download PDF

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.

02/10/2013 | Download PDF

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”.

01/10/2013 | Download PDF

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.

05/09/2013 | Download PDF

London & Colonial appoints Paul Forman

London & Colonial announces the addition of Paul Forman, to strengthen existing sales team.

04/09/2013 | Download PDF

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.

03/09/2013 | Download PDF

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.

02/09/2013 | Download PDF

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.

01/09/2013 | Download PDF

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.

04/08/2013 | Download PDF

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.

03/08/2013 | Download PDF

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.

02/08/2013 | Download PDF

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...

01/08/2013 | Download PDF

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.

02/07/2013 | Download PDF

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...

01/07/2013 | Download PDF

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.

06/06/2013 | Download PDF

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.

04/06/2013 | Download PDF

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.

03/06/2013 | Download PDF

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?”

02/06/2013 | Download PDF

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.

01/06/2013 | Download PDF

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.

04/05/2013 | Download PDF

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

03/05/2013 | Download PDF

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.

02/05/2013 | Download PDF

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.

01/05/2013 | Download PDF

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.

05/04/2013 | Download PDF

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.

04/04/2013 | Download PDF

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.

03/04/2013 | Download PDF

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).

02/04/2013 | Download PDF

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.

01/04/2013 | Download PDF

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.

05/03/2013 | Download PDF

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.

04/03/2013 | Download PDF

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.

03/03/2013 | Download PDF

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.

02/03/2013 | Download PDF

European pensions

Robin Ellison, Chairman of London & Colonial discusses European pensions.

01/03/2013 | Download PDF

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.

04/02/2013 | Download PDF

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.

03/02/2013 | Download PDF

“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.

02/02/2013 | Download PDF

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".

01/02/2013 | Download PDF

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.

02/01/2013 | Download PDF

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.

01/01/2013 | Download PDF

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.

04/12/2012 | Download PDF

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.

03/12/2012 | Download PDF

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.

02/12/2012 | Download PDF

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.

01/12/2012 | Download PDF