The difficulties in defining an investment 'complex'

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An interesting problem has arisen concerning attempts to regulate investment instruments which has the potential to blow the existing understanding of investment ranges sky high.

According to the IMA, while investment intermediaries are unlikely to be subject to new UK regulations which have to comply with the EU’s Markets in Financial Instruments Directive, there is a complication in the process which means investments such as guaranteed equity bonds or structured products could force advisers to comply with ‘appropriateness’ rules because these products are considered complex. It’s a development which some advisers might agree with, having argued for some time structured products are not as safe as everyone thinks, because they invest in derivatives and still car...

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