The Earth died screaming: Mark Polson on platform 'transparency'

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Rebate shenanigans and share class conversions aren't exactly making investors' final 2.8 billion years on Earth any easier, writes Mark Polson...

I've just been reading the FCA's guidance on bulk conversion to clean share classes (FG14/04), because I once enjoyed myself in a past life and have to atone for it now. In amongst AUTs, COLL, COBS, MiFID and all the rest of it, there is some useful narration about clients' best interest and making sure everything is tickety-boo and above board. Specifically, the (5-page, well worth reading) FG says this: "To mitigate the risk that some clients may be worse off, firms should ensure in all cases that clients have sufficient notification of, and information on, the proposed conversion t...

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