Money Marketing’s Weekly Must-Reads: Top 10 Stories
This week’s, top two leading stories: FCA secures jail term for fraudster and Standard Life’s new pensions advice service. These headlines, which point to a changing landscape for digital investment, were among the most-viewed stories on Money Marketing.
Here are the ten most-read stories from the past week:
FCA secures seven-year jail term for £1.3m Ponzi fraudster
Daniel Pugh, 35, has been sentenced to seven years and six months for orchestrating a £1.3 million Ponzi scheme from his bedroom. Through his fake Imperial Investment Fund, he lured 238 investors via Facebook with fantastical returns, pocketing £96,000 for designer luxuries.
The FCA, which led the prosecution, hailed the verdict as a victory against financial crime. Pugh was also banned from directing companies for eight years post-release.
Standard Life unveils ‘affordable’ pensions advice service
A new affordable pensions advice service has been introduced by Standard Life. This will make retirement planning more accessible. Aimed at existing customers aged 54 years and nine months or older with at least £50,000 in a DC pension, the service offered tailored guidance for a flat £1,000 fee.
Led by ten advisers, it promised clarity on tax-free cash, risk and income planning—bridging the advice gap and helping more savers feel financially confident in retirement.
AJ Bell calls on government to guarantee pension tax incentives
AJ Bell has called on the government to guarantee pension tax incentives through a “Pension Tax Lock”, protecting tax-free cash and tax relief for the rest of the Parliament.
Its petition, launched on 1 October, quickly gathered over 7,000 signatures. AJ Bell argued that such certainty would boost saver confidence, encourage long-term planning, and strengthen the UK’s savings culture—while deterring any future government from raiding pension benefits for quick gains.
SJP unveils new range of low-cost funds
St. James’s Place has launched a new low-cost Polaris Multi-Index fund range, priced at 0.20%, following its recent fee overhaul. Designed to offer clients more choice, the funds combined SJP’s active asset allocation with index-tracking strategies.
Partnering with State Street, SJP created four funds spanning different equity exposures. The move reflected SJP’s bid to modernise its offering, balance cost with choice, and shake off its pricey reputation.
Investors urged to ‘challenge’ advisers over where money is held
Greenbank, part of Rathbones Group, has encouraged investors to challenge their advisers about where their money was really held.
In partnership with UKSIF, it launched A Consumer Guide to Sustainable Investment Funds to help people navigate the UK’s new SDR labelling rules. The guide aimed to combat greenwashing, urging investors to ask tough questions and align their portfolios with personal values—reassuring them that curiosity, not expertise, drives smarter sustainable investing.
Titan Wealth targets sports stars with launch of new division
Titan Wealth has teamed up with Premier Sports Network to launch a new division aimed at athletes, executives and high-net-worth individuals. The partnership offered bespoke financial planning, education and career transition support across the global sports industry.
With plans to expand into the UAE, Titan Wealth sought to guide sports professionals through complex international finances—combining expertise, trust and ambition in a market where wealth management meets sporting excellence.
Retirement ‘expectation gap’ widens as cost of living bites
Standard Life’s 2025 Retirement Voice report has revealed that the UK’s retirement ‘expectation gap’ widened to five years, as rising living costs and pension worries bit harder.
While most Brits still hoped to retire at 62, they are now expected to work until 67. Confidence in the state pension remained low, with many feeling unprepared.
Standard Life urged earlier planning, consistent saving, and better guidance to help bridge the growing retirement reality divide.
LV= CEO David Hynam has reflected on nearly three years of steady transformation, aiming to “leave things better than he found them.” Taking charge after challenging times, he rebuilt pride, culture and clarity of purpose at the mutual insurer.
Under his leadership, engagement soared, digital upgrades advanced, and diversity deepened. With humour, humility and a people-first ethos, Hynam kept LV= firmly in its lane—purposeful, practical and proudly mutual.
Gifts out of surplus income – the little known IHT exemption
Peter Ball, tax partner at Bishop Fleming, has highlighted the little-known inheritance tax exemption for gifts made from surplus income. Allowing unlimited, immediate tax-free transfers, it let individuals pass wealth to family without waiting seven years.
With potential reform hinted at in the upcoming Autumn Budget, Ball urged review of gifting strategies. Used wisely, he noted, the rule could save families significant sums—turning surplus income into a tax-efficient legacy.
Families use children’s pensions to cut inheritance tax bills
More families has been turning to children’s pensions to cut future inheritance tax bills, according to Lubbock Fine Wealth Management. Contributions for under-18s climbed to £79.6m in 2022/23, as parents and grandparents used junior pensions to pass on wealth tax-efficiently.
With 45,000 children now holding pensions, the trend reflected both smart IHT planning and early financial foresight—helping the next generation’s savings grow tax-free while keeping family fortunes in the fold.
