Skandia

The importance of platforms to adviser businesses has been laid bare by new research suggesting over 90% of IFA firms now use a wrap or fund supermarket.

Skandia UK has announced gross sales via Skandia Investment Solutions (SIS) have reached £2.5bn this year with the platform now accounting for nearly 80% of the group's sales.

Former Skandia CEO Nick Poyntz-Wright has been appointed as the new head of life insurance at the Financial Services Authority(FSA).

Skandia Investment Group (SIG) has swelled assets in its Strategic Bond fund after merging the Global Fixed Interest Blend and UK Fixed Interest Blend funds into the portfolio.

Skandia International and Fairbairn Private Bank were among the major winners at the Professional Adviser International Fund & Product Awards 2011.

Skandia has teamed up with technology provider Milestone Group to launch a rebates solution module designed to deliver improved accuracy and efficiency in the administration and delivery of rebates.

With so many platforms vying for your business in a saturated market, deciding which one to use can be fraught with difficulty.

Skandia has launched a new investment process toolkit to help advisers comply with regulatory requirements and meet client needs.

Pro-Retail Distribution Review (RDR) financial advisers believe the emergence of higher-qualified practitioners will have a larger bearing on improving consumer outcomes than the ban on commission.

Emerging market economies will "outperform significantly" in 2011 despite the first quarter slow-down in global growth, according to Skandia.