Opinion

The Retail Distribution Review's suggestions regarding ‘Customer Agreed Remuneration' (CAR), has sparked intense debate around new client charging models, and that old chestnut of fees versus commission.

It's reassuring for the reputation of the wider industry to see that the FSA are continuing their clampdown on rogue mortgage advisers.

The idea that productivity, sales etc, can be substantially improved, even revolutionised by the use of technology has been around for a long time, so long in fact that many of us have become rather cynical about claims of this nature.

Another bank holiday gave me yet another chance to sample the delights that UK airports have to offer. This time the travel was for ‘pleasure' and I at least had the company of family and friends to sweeten the pill.

I am a great supporter of both pubs and REITs so it's a bit strange why I can't get excited about the recent stories about various pubs companies announcing that they're going to convert to REIT status.

Japan has been a graveyard for investors for so long now that many have simply given up.

The idea that productivity can be substantially improved, even revolutionised, by the use of technology has been around for a long time. So long in fact that many of us have become rather cynical about claims of this nature.

It's a truism that the time to invest is when a market is low or a sector undervalued, but those same conditions tend to worry most individual investors (and not a few professionals) - who are more likely to keep their capital in cash and out of the markets...

The big frightening regulatory issue of 2008 has to be treating customers fairly (TCF).

I always think there are two periods in the year when aside from the usual circular and nonsensical arguments about re-registration and platform ownership, I find myself banging my head against a wall more frequently than might be the norm.