Jul 21 – A step away from the wild side
Our Senior Policy Adviser Stacy Reeve comments on the impact of the changes to Google’s financial services advertising policy…
Jul 21 – Stamp duty: Homemovers
AMI’s Senior Policy Adviser Stacy Reeve looks at the effect of stamp duty and the pandemic, and how brokers can use this as a springboard to improve customer outcomes…
Jun 21 – Shaken not stirred
The FCA recently released its Policy Statement (PS) on GI pricing practices. The driver behind the shake-up of this market was research from 2018, which showed that six million policy holders paid higher prices but if they’d paid the average for their risk would have saved £1.2bn. The most talked about change is the ban […]
Jun 21 – Cryptocurrency, mortgages and ethics
The value of “cryptos” has been volatile recently, and also its reputation. As they have grown in gross value, countries, tax authorities, central banks, regulators and corporates are all playing catch up to form a view. The opaque way funds are created and the fact they reside in the ether is a challenge for those […]
May 21 – I want some more?
The latest FCA fees consultation is the first tangible sign we have had of how the new ruling regime at the regulator is going to treat those it authorises and supervises. For those looking for a transparent and balanced regulator there is much to disappoint. On the face of it, being tougher on becoming authorised […]
Apr 21 – Looking after the most important asset
In taking out a mortgage, the average consumer invests in a house to build their home in. Most consumers take out insurance to cover their buildings and contents, but it is a harder task to establish in the consumers mind the need to protect their income against the loss of their job, long term sickness […]
Apr 21 – A bit too close to the edge?
I have been hearing a new clamour from the world of Equity Release that consumers need to be made aware of all the products they might be eligible for and an impetus towards the need for holistic advice. There has also been a subtle shift in language by some commentators who have moved from talking […]
Apr 21 – Still no new clothes
For too long we have been aware of the issues facing existing property owners where their property has “cladding”. Mortgage brokers continually face the issue of working on behalf of consumers to find mortgages with the most appropriate lender. Although not directly involved we have been regularly in discussions with our fellow trade bodies, UK […]
Mar 21 – Fair Value for Money
Under the Financial Guidance and Claims Act 2018, Parliament transferred the regulation of Claims Management Companies (CMCs) to the FCA and gave it a duty to make rules about CMC fees for claims relating to financial products and services. FCA’s research has found that conditions in the market allow CMCs to charge fees well above […]
Mar 21 – Tech for Tech’s sake
Press headlines get me intrigued, motivated, disappointed but sometimes genuinely challenged. “Big, dumb mortgage products” was one. Would this be revolution, evolution or innovation? Dr Louise Beaumont, chair of the open finance and payments working group at TechUK, was cited as saying that, ”Open banking has a rich and valuable future, building from humble beginnings […]
