ctf

Foresters Friendly Society says research carried out last autumn indicates grandparents will put most money into Child Trust Funds.

Reactions from the other two main political parties suggest CTFs, launched just this week, are already in serious trouble with their future directly linked to political commitments.

Rare it is that a government actually does give away something for nothing, and so has been proven in the case of Child Trust Funds.

Citing aspiration and choice, chancellor Gordon Brown has officially launched CTFs today by pegging 17 January as the starting date for a series of television, radio and print advertisements making parents aware of the new product.

Few major changes have been proposed in the FSA's final rules covering Child Trust Funds published today - including feedback on original proposals in CP 04/10.

Reactions to Child Trust Fund letters soon to be sent out by the government suggest most people will take a sceptical view of the new type of savings product, says bank Barclays.

A new government website or new pages on the Treasury website should be available by Friday, devoted to the Child Trust Fund, a source has confirmed to IFAonline

Research into awareness of the pending Child Trust Fund, which launches next April, has found most parents and grandparents are unaware of the new savings vehicle, the Association of Investment Trusts says.

The FSA has published its proposed rules governing the sale of Child Trust Fund products, which will be broadly split into stakeholder and non-stakeholder types.

Building Societies Association chairman John Goodfellow has warned government and regulators must not go overboard in implementing new rules to the detriment of consumers.