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IQ & Spectator Business Magazine agree
Date Posted: 2008-07-23
Having argued for many years that service and expertise trump large brand inefficiencies we are extremely pleased to see that that the new quality business magazine from the Spectator has published an article on wealth management bemoaning the offerings of many larger banks and institutions but praising the very ideals and qualities we strive to offer clients. We were also extremely honoured to be asked to comment on these issues for the magazine. more details are available by clicking on the link. |
| Brokers urged to not add to confusion about availability of special mortgage deals
Date Posted: 2008-05-12
Brokers could be confusing the very people they want to help, said a leading adviser this week, and it's all down to what they see as lenders leapfrogging the middle man and offering special deals direct to borrowers.
Lenders have always had special rates and schemes that they only offer to direct applicants, and they have always had schemes that only brokers can access, said Jeremy Davies of Investment Quorum, the intelligent wealth managers.
'Claiming that this reduces options for borrowers is a moot point,' he explained. 'Suggesting that brokers are being denied access to certain attractive mortgage schemes is effectively promoting the idea that better deals are more likely to be available by going direct to one lender, and that could mean that people won't stop to consider what might be available across the whole market. From an independent point of view, most good brokers - if they are truly independent and well connected - will still be able to offer a mortgage that's better than just going direct to one lender.'
Investment Quorum has long argued that taking middle to longer term view is as important in mortgage planning as it is in other areas of personal wealth creation and protection. 'That doesn't necessarily mean staying with one lender long term, but it does mean projecting further ahead than the current special offer and implementing a strategy to become mortgage free,' said Davies. |
| Substantial numbers of investors may have money languishing in closed funds when it could be working harder elsewhere, and it's time to get advice
Date Posted: 2008-03-27
This Investment Quorum article has been widely covered across the online personal finance media.
'These endowment funds might still be making projections of growth that bear absolutely no relation to what they have been achieving historically, and there's no prospect of their doing anything,' said Lee Robertson, CEO of intelligent wealth managers Investment Quorum.
He explained that there were options available - such as checking the policy to see if you can get out free from penalty on certain dates - and that it was a mistake to write off any lost growth. Taking advice from an independent expert will be an investment in itself, he said.
'It's important to get an up to date statement from your product provider to ascertain performance over the last 12-18 months, for example. Then consider whether to transfer, but you have to be mindful of transfer penalties.'
Estimates put the figures currently tied up in closed funds as GBP85 billion, invested in equities, fixed interest and managed or pooled investments, cash and property. In comparison, firms that were still open to new business had funds under management of GBP300 billion.
'There may be better suited investments out there, particularly if you have a long time to go before you want to get at the money,' said Lee. 'Advances in technology mean that there is a much wider investment market and more choice. There's a greater depth of information, which allows better assessments to be made.'
But he warned investors thinking of changing to be careful of tax implications: changing the status of a plan could mean that the tax status may also change. |
| Is now the time to pull money out of banks?
Date Posted: 2008-03-25
Amid rumours, counter rumours and reassurances, banks are going through a troubled period and investors are becoming increasingly jittery. But simply stashing savings under the bed is not the answer says Lee Robertson, CEO of Investment Quorum.
‘Now more than ever a balanced approach to investments is essential,’ Robertson advises. ‘There are banks where money will do very well. Some of the smaller banks might not be the right choice, prudence may dictate limiting amount committed to smaller or lesser-known banks. And not having all your money in one bank would be a smart move, if only to keep cash on deposit at banks below the deposit protection scheme upper limit. But there are other better performing investments to consider that can blend accessibility with security and growth.’
Investment Quorum pioneered what it calls Intelligent Wealth Management, where sophisticated cash flow modelling clearly shows the decisions needed to enable people to meet their financial objectives – from the immediate to the long term, and stages in between. ‘Doing this exercise once, reviewing the blend and balance of investments and even doing things like unlocking flat investments in dormant funds can have an almost life changing effect,’ says Robertson.
Its own approach to intelligent wealth management has brought Investment Quorum major accolades in recent months. The company became the first ever organisation to attain the highest level of award – the three star - after its Investor in Customers assessment, and it also received a Gold Standard Award for Independent Financial Advice, acknowledging excellence across the board in terms of service and ability. |
| Gold Standard Award winners
Date Posted: 2007-11-30
We were awarded our Gold Standard Award for independent financial advice at the House of Commons ceremony by John Greenwood MP and Julian Marr, Editorial Director of the Investment Division of Incisive Media.
The awards, which are run by Incisive Media, seek to go further than any other set of financial services awards by assessing the performance of companies in five key areas - trust, fair value, financial strength, service and capability to do business well. Since these awards were introduced only 48 have been awarded across banking, mortgages, pensions, fund management and independent financial advice.
The whole IQ team is extremely proud to have been awarded a Gold Standard Award in this highly demanding and rigourous judging process. |
| Spreading The Word on Wealth Management Award
Date Posted: 2007-11-26
Such is the importance and standing of the Gold Standard Awards that our recent award for Independent Financial Advice has already been noted and carried by many and varied industry news outlets. Investment Adviser, IFAOnline, EUBankers, Wealthnet and Business Uncovered are amongst the the first carriers of the news.
We are all extremely proud to have made the news for such a good reason. |
| What a Year - another top award for Investment Quorum
Date Posted: 2007-11-21
We are all extremely proud to announce that we have just been awarded a Gold Standard Award for independent financial advice for 2007.
Championing a new era in consumer confidence, The Gold Standard Awards aim to identify financial services companies that excel not just in service but in all five key areas important to consumers of financial products and services - financial strength, capability of the company to conduct business, service, fair value and trust. No other awards consider all these elements, making The Gold Standards the hardest, most sought after awards in the financial market place. Only 38 such awards have been announced over the 5 years since they were launched to recognise excellence amongst banks, fund managers, insurance and pension companies and independent financial advisers. We are extremely proud to have received the full award this year which builds upon our 'Highly Commended' award of last year. |
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