Our regular round-up of the latest insights on investment distribution

Uber, Airbnb, Amazon, Facebook. These are all examples of platforms. Platforms are not ordinary businesses scurrying after customers. Instead, they are so-called “multi-sided markets” that connect users on one side and suppliers on the other. Hence Uber puts as...

Does the merger of Rathbones and Smith & Williamson mark the beginning of a consolidation phase for wealth managers? Probably; because there are a number of common challenges that they share with asset managers, advice firms and platforms which are already...

With advisers saying that over 80% of their revenue is coming from investment business, the idea of outsourcing this crucial function seems counter-intuitive. Why would advisers pass over to another business the activity that appears to drive their main revenue...

Our recent research on the adviser market has proved a fascinating exercise, and we have been privileged to speak to many business owners from a wide range of firms. Our glimpses into the inner workings of advice businesses prompted us to try to think about what...

Among the avalanche of ‘terms of reference’, consultation papers and policy statements coming from the FCA this summer (a little light reading for the train to Cornwall on this Friday’s staycation weekend!) is CP 17/16: Advising on pension transfers. The current...

Some advisers claim that outsourcing investment selection reduces risk and the requirement to give suitable advice. We think that is wrong. Today I’ll make the case that regulatory responsibility sits with the adviser. I’ll also tackle MiFID II and the new duty to...