High net worth earners will be hit by a set of “Robin Hood initiatives” in chancellor Alistair Darling’s pre-Budget report (PBR), a tax expert said.

The freeze on lifetime allowances to pensions will be another blow to high earners, in addition to a 45% tax rate cut announced in the

The retail distribution review (RDR), has attracted positive feedback from the financial advice industry after it called for improved clarity of services and modernisation of payment.

It has been suggested that the independent nature of advisers may be at risk if they use wrap platforms.

Access to institutional asset management approaches for high net worth private client investors continues to develop. And it’s not only asset managers doing it, with family offices now getting in on the game.

PILinvests has launched Private Opportunities in Property, a closed-ended fund aimed at private investors allowing self-invested personal pension and small self-administered scheme investors access to Valad Property Group’s European funds.

Volatility and the security of financial institutions are among the primary concerns of investors in a turbulent financial market, according to this year’s High Net Worth cash balance survey (p15).

Cash is a core element of all portfolios but requires management (see the Sipp & SSAS cash balance survey on page 15 if you’re not sure why), even if the government has stepped in with guarantees and increased compensation limits.

Hodge Lifetime has launched a guaranteed pension annuity that can be fully accessed online, making it the first small provider to enter the conventional annuities market for 30 years.

A new breed of award is here – NBAs 2008

The popularity of cash funds has fluctuated almost as much as the markets of late. But which ones are still worth their salt?

Product: SSGA GBP Liquidity Fund
REVIEWER: Dan Farrow - director, sbn financial

Product: Schroders Cash Fund
REVIEWER: Adrian Kidd - ifa, unleash advice partnership

A turbulent year for the markets has left investors worried, yet demand for better rates and service has rocketed. But what does the future hold for Sipp and SSAS cash, asks Pádraig Floyd

Guernsey’s well-established rivalry with neighbour Jersey is slowly fading, and with its sights set firmly on the Asian market, the Channel Island is finally beginning to mature, believes Ruth Emery

For Julie Lord, job satisfaction comes from working with four generations of the same family

Advisers who are up to speed on the issue of inheritance tax mitigation can offer a range of solutions and have a great opportunity to add real value to both existing and new clients, says Gerry Warner

Transparency, liquidity and cost-efficiency are the watchwords of today’s investor, making exchange traded funds one of the most valuable products available on the market, says Eleanor Hope-Bell

Credit spreads should decline significantly when more orderly conditions return to markets and, deep recession aside, this will more than compensate for rising defaults, making corporate bonds cheap, says Tim Brown

Lord David Lipsey has left his post as chairman of the Financial Services Authority (FSA) consumer panel.

Jardine Lloyd Thompson (JLT) has appointed Diane Pepler as regional director of its private clients division.

The Association of Member-directed Pension Schemes (AMPS) has elected its new committee, with Robert Graves of Rowanmoor Pensions taking over as chairman from Winterthur’s Mike Morrison.