'Expert' IFA invested half of 97yo's cash in Keydata

Laura Miller
clock

An IFA who writes a weekly money advice column for a regional newspaper is contesting a complaint that he wrongfully invested more than half of a 97-year-old woman's assets in Keydata.

The woman's daughters hired Christopher Marsham of Exeter-based RK Shipman Financial Planning to invest the proceeds from a maturing NS&I bond to pay for their mother's care home, after reading his column in the Western Morning News. He advised the 70-year-olds to use their power of attorney to invest £230,000 in a single life settlement-backed product, the five year Keydata Defined Income Plan 8. This was around 56% of their mother's total assets. Just 52 days after the daughters acted on the advice, on 8 June 2009, the FSA put Keydata into administration, suspending all interest pay...

To continue reading this article...

Join Professional Adviser for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
  • Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
  • Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
  • Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
  • Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes

Join

 

Already a Professional Adviser member?

Login

More on Investment

Decoding the conflicting investment advice of Warren Buffett

Decoding the conflicting investment advice of Warren Buffett

'He leaves us with a wealth of opinion and information about markets and investing'

Laith Khalaf
clock 09 December 2025 • 5 min read
Private assets in wealth management: The time for talking is over

Private assets in wealth management: The time for talking is over

'The first barrier to adoption is accessibility through existing infrastructure'

Russell Andrews
clock 08 December 2025 • 4 min read
China: Beyond trade tensions and tariffs

China: Beyond trade tensions and tariffs

'So what do you think about China?'

Gabriel Sacks
clock 05 December 2025 • 4 min read