'A-day' will widen the gap between rich and poor pensioners

Britain's pension system is about to undergo its most radical overhaul of the past 50 years. From April 6, 2006 - 'A-Day' - the current eight sets of pension taxation rules will be replaced by one. It is widely held that the simplified system will be attractive to those with some disposable income or who wish to make retirement provision but were deterred by the complexities of the former system.

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'Green' or ethical financial services set to become more mainstream

Socially responsible investing or ethical funds have never been so popular. The European ethical wealth management market is now worth E1 trillion, and ethical wealth management looks set to grow in popularity. Indeed, it appears ethical wealth management is not just a fashionable fad, and impressive returns suggest it will become a significant feature of Europe's wealth management landscape.

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3i: a move away from tech might be wise

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7IM: SIPPing in groups makes sense

As the UK government's reform of the pensions market approaches, there is increasing interest in self-invested pensions. 7IM is the first company to reach the market with self-invested group pensions, which offer flexibility and transparency. The product is likely to appeal to the executives of small and medium sized companies but high costs will make it unsuitable for ordinary workers.

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A new breed of hedge fund enters the market

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Abbey National: another chink in the armor

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Abbey National: banking on online investments

Abbey National has an immediate audience for it's the new fund supermarket service through its retail customer base. However, its success is dependent on the bank's ability to cross-sell to existing account holders: something that retail banks have struggled to do in the past. Abbey will have to market its product carefully.

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Abbey National: going back to the future

Abbey National likes to use the slogan 'because life is complicated enough'. Life certainly seems complicated for the UK bank at the moment, as it searches for a new CEO, refocuses on its core mortgage and savings business, and is the subject of takeover rumors. One bright spot is its online unit, Cahoot, which has slashed its losses and grown customers.

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Abbey National: more mass affluent movers and shakers

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Abbey: short-term solution

By cutting the payouts to its life insurance policyholders, Abbey [ABBE.L] has avoided the wrath of its investors. The move may have plugged the financial gap in the short-term but it has not solved the underlying cash flow problems faced by Abbey's life division.

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