Though demand for active management remains high, it does not necessarily benefit the majority of investors. But what is the optimal balance between active and passive?

The question of active versus passive management has challenged investors for many years.

It’s time for advisers to step up to the mark and use the rapidly approaching rule changes to drawdown to develop and offer an enhanced service to clients at retirement

Despite a general industry apathy towards reducing lead times between payment and investment, there could be an obvious fix staring administrators in the face

The FSA has issued a consultation on the regulation of drawdown to address the pitfalls of the product, some of which could lead to retirees running out of money too early

As I write this, my TV is full of the shiny, well-fed faces of Republican Tea Party members celebrating their small-government, low-tax, ultra-free-market success at the US midterms. It’s got me thinking – as I stock up on canned goods and head to the reinforced concrete bunker – about what their Milton Friedman-lite response might be to the ongoing debate about what is a fair charge for a wrap platform.

Unless you’re Apple, launching new products ain’t easy. You’ve got to identify (or create) a market demand, price the thing, build it, launch it, market it, sell enough to make it all worthwhile, and then support it afterwards. Oh, and you’ve got keep within the rules and regulations to make sure your compliance team is happy.

The current wave of pensions market consolidation is no coincidence. Providers are finding it increasingly difficult to make existing business models work. New business is incentivised by the search for new clients rather than building on existing relationships – which, in turn, has led to major churn within the industry.

To add to the current economic woes, the future impact of changing regulation such as the retail distribution review (RDR) will continue to erode margins if current business practices don’t adapt to today’s requirements.

Most of us are aware that our society is ageing dramatically. However, very few are aware of what this will mean for us personally, including the challenges and opportunities this will provide for our businesses. This is not just a theoretical event. It is real and it’s happening now.
First, there will be more people reaching old age. Second, these people will also be living longer.

With the impending influx of low and medium earners into Nest, it falls to employers to ensure a reliable and accurate flow of information to staff as many save for the first time

The at-retirement marketplace knows no bounds when it comes to demand, but the industry must get it right to best serve its own needs and those of its customers

Securing a stable income for retirement is a big problem, but greater portfolio diversification could generate regular levels of return for both investors and institutions

The relationship between sponsors and trustees is being tested, as each grapples to reconcile its own objectives with issues surrounding their co-dependency

Achieving data quality and integrity is no mean task for the pensions trustee – it takes time, effort and greater investment in the processes working behind the scenes

Variable and with-profits annuities can offer retirees a more guaranteed form of income, and the market anticipates even greater innovation from this sector in the future

The state of the economy has triggered a new-found hesitation to retire, and the knock-on effect this might have on financial advisory services could be immense