Steven D. Levin

1 week ago | moneymarketing.co.uk | Rob Burdett |Steven D. Levin |Momodou Musa Touray |Darius McQuaid

As another quarter draws to a close, attention turns to the assets that soared and those that stumbled. Among the standout performers was the seemingly weighty and unwieldy gold, which rose 19% in USD terms — its best quarterly gain since 1986. In contrast, Bitcoin, often dubbed ‘digital gold’, fell more than 12%. With headlines dominated by tariffs, conflict zones, DeepSeek’s AI launch and the Magnificent Seven slipping into bear territory, perhaps gold’s tangible solidity offered some comfort.

1 week ago | moneymarketing.co.uk | Andy Bell |Scott Spencer |Steven D. Levin |Darius McQuaid

I’m writing this Isa article to distract myself from the looming drama of the Grand National. This year marks a milestone – our first ever runner in the big race. And while the nerves are mostly about ensuring he gets around safely, I’ll admit there’s the occasional daydream about a fairytale ending. Still, deep down, I know how this will end: with hope turning to disappointment.

2 months ago | moneymarketing.co.uk | Tom Browne |Greg Neall |Majid Hussain |Steven D. Levin

Nearly 20,000 financial promotions were withdrawn or amended in 2024 following intervention by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). This was almost double the number from the previous year. The FCA raised concerns over promotions related to cryptoassets, debt solutions and claims management companies (CMCs). A significant number of withdrawn promotions (9,197 in total) were linked to CMCs, many involving housing disrepair and motor-finance claims targeting vulnerable consumers.

2 months ago | moneymarketing.co.uk | Steven D. Levin |Kimberley Dondo |Darius McQuaid

Last year, the FCA set out three proposals for reforming the boundary between advice and guidance: clarifying the advice/guidance boundary, introducing a simplified advice option and establishing a targeted support regime. We now have consultation focusing on the latter related to pension planning. These proposals are undoubtedly a step in the right direction. But for the financial-advice profession, they carry both opportunities and risks.

Dec 13, 2024 | moneymarketing.co.uk | Steven D. Levin

Labour’s decision to bring pensions into the inheritance tax (IHT) framework marks a significant policy shift but also introduces considerable complexity into an already overburdened system. The challenge now lies in implementing this change without exacerbating existing inefficiencies or undermining trust in long-term financial planning. While there is no general exemption from IHT for pensions, various provisions in the Inheritance Taxes Act 1984 have exempted pensions in specific circumstances.