Opinion

Big = Great. Big = Strong. Big = Safe. Big = Good quality. At least that's what the big banks and investment managers seem to believe - and want you to as well.

With many portfolios suffering losses in 2008, it's natural for investors to look for new ways to generate returns.

On the face of it, £7bn of retail structured product sales in 2007 bodes well for the structured products industry. However, the facts behind the headlines are interesting:

The FSA says it will consider a move to regulate individual brokers after the regulator refused to rule out making brokers subject to its Approved Persons regime.

"History proves that all dictatorships, all authoritarian forms of government are transient. Only democratic systems are not transient. Whatever the shortcomings, mankind has not devised anything superior." Vladimir Putin

As a consumer I often get annoyed about the seemingly daft things that companies do to their products and their services.

Are we finally starting to see some green shoots emerging as lenders cut rates and start fighting for market share again?

With markets lurching around like a ‘tired' uncle at a family wedding, the structured product market is suddenly teeming with new products and providers.

The stranglehold traditional annuity providers have on the market is making a mockery of the principles of treating customers fairly.

It's supposed to be the summer but the weather's been awful and so has the mood amongst most property investors (at least according to the results of Reita's latest industry expert survey).