Simon Read

Ipswich

Journalist at Financial Planning Today

Owner/Principal at Suffolk Coast Sailing. Yacht charters, RYA training near Ipswich, UK. RYA Yachtmaster Instructor. Love sailing, blues, rugby and Thai food!

Articles

Number of low-deposit mortgages available at highest since 2008 financial crisis

1 week ago | thesun.co.uk | Simon Read

MORE low-deposit mortgages are available now than at any time since the 2008 financial crisis. There are 442 home loans with a five per cent deposit to choose from, more than double the number from two years ago. Borrowers able to stretch to a ten per cent deposit have the pick of 845 deals — up by a third in two years. It makes it the highest number of such offers in 17 years, according to analysts from Moneyfacts.
Record net inflows of £3.7bn for Tatton

1 week ago | financialplanningtoday.co.uk | Simon Read

Investment manager and IFA support firm Tatton Asset Management has reported record net inflows of £3.7bn for the past year. The figure represents 22.3% of opening AUM, the firm said in a trading update published today. Total assets under management as at 31 March was £21.8bn, up from £17.6bn in March 2024.
Transact FUD climbs 8% to £65.9bn

1 week ago | financialplanningtoday.co.uk | Simon Read

Integrafin, parent company of adviser platform Transact, has reported funds under direction on the platform of £65.9bn for the three months to the end of March. The figure was the same as the previous quarter but climbed 8% over the past year. The group revealed the figures in its Q2 trading update published today. The company also reported a record average daily FUD of £67.1bn for the second quarter, up from £58.6bn over the same three months a year earlier.
NS&I boosts British Savings Bonds rates

1 week ago | financialplanningtoday.co.uk | Simon Read

HomeNewsInvestors advised to remain 'calm' as markets slide NS&I has boosted the rates of its British Savings Bonds to up to 4.1% AER and has relaunched one and five year fixed-rate bonds. British Savings Bonds are fixed-term Issues of NS&I’s Guaranteed Growth Bonds and Guaranteed Income Bonds. It will be the first time in more than 15 years that savers can buy four different fixed-rate income or growth bonds from NS&I.
PFS appoints new chair as Elliott steps down

1 week ago | financialplanningtoday.co.uk | Simon Read

In the latest senior role turnaround at The Personal Finance Society, President Carla Brown has taken on the additional role of chair to replace Christine Elliott, who has left after only seven months in the role.
Former Mars project man charged with unauthorised trading

1 week ago | financialplanningtoday.co.uk | Simon Read

The FCA has charged Mansfield-based John Burford for carrying on an unauthorised business and dishonestly misleading investors. Mr Burford is an 85-year-old former NASA physicist, where he was involved in a Washington-based project to land men on Mars. he was the sole director of Financial Trading Strategies Limited (FTS) and is suspected of generating more than £1m.
Raymond James appoints new CEO

1 week ago | financialplanningtoday.co.uk | Simon Read

US-owned wealth manager and Financial Planner Raymond James and Charles Stanley has appointed Kim Jenson as interim CEO, subject to regulatory approval, after CEO Paul Abberley stepped down. She will assume immediate responsibility for overseeing the Raymond James UK wealth management business while an external search for a permanent CEO is underway.
Chartered Planner appointed chair of FVT

1 week ago | financialplanningtoday.co.uk | Simon Read

Chartered Financial Planner Robin Melley has been appointed chair of the Financial Vulnerability Taskforce (FVT). Mr Melley is managing director of Shropshire-based Matrix Capital Financial Planning. He has more than 30 years’ experience in the Financial Planning profession and his qualifications include being a STEP Registered Trust and Estate Practitioner, Fellow of The LIBF and PFS, and a SOLLA Accredited Later Life Adviser.
19% of IFAs expect clients to move to cash

1 week ago | financialplanningtoday.co.uk | Simon Read

One in five (19%) independent financial advisers (IFAs) expect an increase in their clients moving money from investments to cash savingsdue to increased volatility within the market. Research agency Opinium said its latest IFA Barometer showed that four in five (81%) IFAs expect investments to be more volatile in the next twelve months compared to the last.
FCA raps trading apps over lack of adequate checks

1 week ago | financialplanningtoday.co.uk | Simon Read

Some trading apps lack adequate checks, which could leave consumers exposed to unnecessary risks, the FCA has warned after a review of the sector. The review assessed the business models, product offerings and services of 12 trading app firms, identifying both positive practices and areas needing improvement.