Skandia

Skandia has called on HMRC to clarify whether pre-A-Day tax free cash will be protected when the new lifetime allowance (LTA) on pension contributions comes into effect in April 2012.

Despite the hegemony of the big three platforms there is still plenty of room for newer players to thrive, according to research house Fundscape.

Skandia has launched a risk-targeted protection fund which will limit losses to 80% of the highest ever share price.

Nucleus CEO David Ferguson has stressed the wrap's ownership structure will remain unchanged after its rights issue which is progressing ahead of schedule.

Skandia has cut a €38m mandate run by Roger Guy in its European Best Ideas fund, with the group taking swift action following the Gartmore manager's decision to retire.

Skandia is replacing Martin Currie's Tom Walker from its team of external managers running the Global Best Ideas fund in favour of a US manager used by Gartmore.

Advisers must consider the likelihood and impact of platform providers' exit strategies on their clients when carrying out due diligence, warns Skandia.

Skandia UK has posted a near 140% surge in sales during the first nine months of the year as RDR drives demand for its SIS platform.

Colin Jelley will step down as head of proposition marketing for Skandia, to be replaced by Graham Bentley.

Skandia predicts consumers will turn to Maximum Investment Plans(MIP) as changes to tax relief drive investors away from pensions.