Good morning and welcome to your Morning Briefing for Friday 5 September 2025. To get this in your inbox every morning click here.
US-based asset manager to launch first ETFs in Europe
Dimensional Fund Advisors plans to launch its first exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in Europe by the end of 2025, subject to regulatory approval.
The asset manager, which is the largest active ETF issuer in the US, has filed to list two UCITS ETFs: a developed markets core all cap fund and a developed markets small and mid-cap value fund.
Both will be available in London (USD and GBP) and Frankfurt (EUR).
Starting Out: The boom in AI should not drown out human voices
Over the past few years, the use of AI has boomed. It’s prevalence within almost every industry is increasing at an unprecedented pace, reshaping how things are done and how we interact with technology.
However, says Finura paraplanner Jasmine Pandey, it is important not to forget the value of a human touch, especially when it comes to matters as personal as financial wellbeing.
MM 40th anniversary: The editors remember – Part 4, Grant Ringshaw
The period from 1997 to 1998 was a turbulent period to be editor of Money Marketing, even though Grant Ringshaw’s time in the role was relatively short.
He recalls navigating the complexities of regulatory reform while also addressing the numerous uncertainties facing financial advisers…
Quote Of The Day
While no specific policy has caused a sell-off in government bonds in isolation, the rush of potential policies is a reminder of how challenged the UK’s fiscal position is
– Marcus Jennings, fixed income strategist for global unconstrained fixed income at Schroders, comments on the pressure chancellor Rachel Reeves is under
Stat Attack
New research from in-person payments expert Aevi reveals that the lack of public trust might be the biggest barrier to digital currency adoption in the UK:
50%
of UK adults say crypto acceptance would make no difference to their shopping habits, while 15% say it would make them less likely to shop there.
29%
of 25–34s trust crypto “a great deal”, compared to just 2% of 55–64s.
28%
of women trust crypto “a fair amount or more”, compared with 45% of men – a near two-to-one difference.
54%
of women and 51% of men cite fraud and security as their biggest concerns.
A third
of 18–24s worried about being tracked, noticeably higher than older generations.
Nearly two-thirds
of UK consumers reject the concept of celebrity-backed coins outright, even most under-35s, showing that gimmicks are damaging credibility instead of advancing adoption.
Source: Aevi
In Other News
Old Mill has promoted Kathryn Mansell to head of corporate finance as the South West firm strengthens its leadership team.
Mansell, 32, joined Old Mill 10 years ago in the Exeter Commercial team, before moving into corporate finance where she has supported clients with acquisitions, management buyouts, fundraising and succession planning.
In her new role, she will lead and develop the corporate finance team, focusing on client relationships and adopting new technology to enhance services.
Old Mill chief executive Mark Neath said the appointment reflected her “talent, commitment and drive” in delivering major projects.
Sharp rise in UK pension lump sum withdrawals over tax concerns (Financial Times)
Revised UK retail sales data show weaker growth than thought (Bloomberg)
France faces sovereign rating test amid political chaos (Reuters)
Did You See?
The financial planning profession is at a crossroads, writes Lee Quinn, a chartered financial planner at IWP Financial Planning Ltd.
With the average UK adviser now in their mid-to-late 50s, it is fair to assume that many will be looking to exit the profession in the coming years.
There are positive signs, with more young people entering financial planning, but it remains unclear whether the inflow of new advisers will be enough to replace those leaving.
This looming challenge is twofold. No adviser ever wants to leave their clients as ‘orphans’, but it also represents a real opportunity for younger talent seeking to build a career in financial services — and one that does not necessarily start from scratch.
