Good morning and welcome to your Morning Briefing for Thursday 17 April 2025. To get this in your inbox every morning click here.
FCA likely to ramp up ongoing advice work if firms fail to act
The Financial Conduct Authority may use regulatory tools such as sanctions and voluntary requirements if firms fail to adequately take steps to ensure they can justify their ongoing fees, Isio strategic adviser Ritchie Thomson has warned.
Thomson joined Isio in March, having worked as a supervision projects manager at the FCA for 20 years.
When it comes to client reviews, common sense is best
This time of year is always our busiest. We complete annual reviews for all clients in the first quarter (Q1) through a process we call surge meetings, writes chartered financial planner Sam Sloma.
It does cause us some stresses and some capacity challenges, but it enables the rest of our year to be more focused on different elements of the business.
HALO Invest unveils investment research tool
HALO Invest has unveiled an investment research product tool to help individuals find better investment opportunities.
The HALO Global investment research tool offers institutional grade content and is made accessible to everyday investors.
Quote Of The Day
As a result of climate change, we expect to see an increased impact on investment returns and client outcomes, specifically through increased revenue losses and stranded asset risk
– Schroders active ownership manager Katie Frame on its collaboration with Cornell University’s Global Labor Institute, with published guidance for engaging with companies on climate resilience
Stat Attack
Research from Opinium’s IFA Barometer has found the amount of advisers who expect clients to move money from investments to cash due to market volatility.
19%
of IFAs expect an increase in their clients moving money from investments to cash savings.
81%
of advisers expect investments to be more volatile in the next twelve months compared to the last.
73%
of IFAs noted concern about the geopolitical environment.
34%
believe the total amount invested will decrease.
57%
expect investors to be more engaged with investments if market uncertainty does increase.
Source: Opinium
In Other News
Quilter Cheviot, the discretionary wealth manager, has appointed Peter Gorogh as its head of proposition.
Gorogh will lead Quilter Cheviot’s proposition function, working closely with the distribution team to drive a strategy for propositions aimed at high net worth clients.
The role will support both the firm’s investment management and financial planning offerings across the UK as well as its international footprint.
Gorogh previously spent nearly a decade at HSBC Private Bank, heading the UK investments business management, product development and product management functions.
Most recently in a consulting capacity with Solve Partners, Gorogh worked with JM Finn as interim head of proposition, and with Rathbones on the merger between Rathbones and Investec Wealth & Investment.
He will report into Michelle Andrews, managing director – distribution, proposition and marketing.
Xi urges ‘Asian Family’ unity as Trump seeks to confine China (Bloomberg)
Donald Trump’s tariffs put Federal Reserve’s jobs and inflation goals at risk, says Jay Powell (Financial Times)
Trump hails ‘big progress’ in Japan tariff talks (Reuters)
Did You See?
Five financial planning firms have achieved chartered status from the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) in the first quarter of 2025.
Chartered status is a symbol of technical competence and signifies a firm’s public commitment to professional standards.
In receiving chartered status, firms declare their adherence to the CII code of ethics, and commitment to supporting initiatives that build public trust, ongoing people development, a customer-centric approach, and the development of the profession.
The firms that gained Chartered status between January and March 2025 are; Eva Capital Management, Ocaris Wealth Management, One Four Nine Wealth, Parker Kelly Financial Services, Path Financial Ltd.
