The Morning Briefing: CFA Institute Warns on Tokenised Market Rules; The Wealth Transfer Nobody Is Talking About
The CFA Institute is urging UK regulators to provide clearer legal frameworks for tokenised wholesale markets, building on the FCA and Bank of England’s recent roadmap that touts faster, more resilient settlement via distributed ledger technology. At the same time, a looming $6.35 trillion wealth transfer from baby‑boomers to heirs by 2050 is exposing a shortage of advisers, with only 31,000 professionals overseeing roughly $1.27 trn of assets. The FCA’s 2025 survey highlights this capacity gap, while firms such as Royal London are modernising client communications to retain adviser engagement. Together, these trends signal a pivotal shift in how the UK financial services industry will operate and advise in the coming decade.
CFA Institute Urges Legal Clarity on Tokenised Markets
The CFA Institute called for clearer legal and regulatory frameworks to enable the UK’s tokenised wholesale markets to scale. While the FCA and Bank of England have released a joint roadmap promoting distributed‑ledger technology for assets like shares and bonds,...
Weekend Essay: Is It Right to Rein in D&I?
The UK Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority opted not to impose formal diversity and inclusion (D&I) rules on financial firms, prompting a noticeable dip in sector‑wide discourse. In contrast, HSBC is rolling out a British Sign Language training...
The Big Picture: Faulty Communication – Do Post-Issue Underwriting Audits Put Customers at Risk?
The article examines how post‑issue underwriting audits—reviews conducted after a policy is issued—can suffer from faulty communication between insurers and policyholders. It highlights that unclear or delayed notices often lead to retroactive changes in coverage, premium adjustments, or claim denials....
Boards Perform Better with Diversity, Says Former NDA Chair
Former Nuclear Decommissioning Authority chair Ros Rivaz argues that board diversity directly boosts performance. Citing research, she notes that companies with gender‑balanced boards achieve stronger financial results and better risk management. Rivaz, who now chairs Companies House and Anglian Water,...
Advisers Increasingly Turning to Onshore Bonds, Report Finds
Advisers are increasingly incorporating onshore investment bonds into client portfolios, according to a Chesnara Life UK study. In the last tax year, 26% of advisers said they significantly raised their onshore bond usage, and one in six (16%) wrote more...
FCA Targets Scaling Firms with New Support Unit
The FCA has opened applications for a new Scale‑up Unit aimed at solo‑regulated financial‑services firms that are expanding rapidly. The unit will assign each firm a dedicated regulatory contact and provide tailored guidance on product launches, market entry and technology...
Clients Rethink Retirement Plans Ahead of Pension IHT Changes
Rathbones warns that the UK government's decision to count unused pension pots in inheritance‑tax (IHT) calculations from April 2027 is already prompting wealthy families to draw pension income earlier and accelerate lifetime gifting. HMRC projects the change will pull roughly...
Inflation Falls to 2.8% but Experts Warn Respite Will Be ‘Short-Lived’
UK consumer price inflation fell to 2.8% in the 12 months to April 2026, the lowest rate since early 2022. The drop reflects easing food and services price pressures, while energy costs have remained volatile. Data released on May 20 show the...
‘More Action Needed’ to Keep Pension Schemes Invested in UK
Pensions UK’s new report warns that despite £1 trillion (≈$1.25 trillion) already invested in the UK, pension schemes need stronger coordination to sustain growth‑asset exposure. The paper follows the Mansion House Accord, where 17 major providers pledged to boost unlisted‑asset allocations, but...
FCA and Bank of England Set Roadmap for Tokenised Markets
The FCA and the Bank of England have released a joint roadmap outlining a long‑term approach for tokenised wholesale markets in the UK. Regulators argue that distributed‑ledger technology can boost efficiency, speed and resilience by allowing digital representations of shares,...
Gilt Yields Hit 2008 High as Political Turmoil Rattles Westminster
UK gilt yields spiked to 5.13% on the 10‑year benchmark, the highest level since 2008, as political turbulence in Westminster intensified investor anxiety. The surge follows speculation that Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham may re‑enter Parliament via a by‑election, stoking fears...
Dan Marsh: AI Won’t Replace Advisers, but It Could ‘Supercharge’ Them
Dan Marsh, CEO of Octopus Money, argues that AI will not replace financial advisers but will "supercharge" them by automating back‑office tasks. He highlights that 30 million UK adults already use chatbots for money advice, yet the human element remains crucial...
Foster Denovo Appoints Lovett to Drive Strategic Growth Plans
Foster Denovo, a UK‑based wealth management and corporate advisory firm, has promoted Helen Lovett to a newly created group managing director position. In the role, Lovett will work side‑by‑side with chief executive Roger Brosch to shape the firm’s strategic direction,...
HMRC Under Pressure over Pension IHT Guidance Delays
HMRC announced that from 6 April 2027 unused defined‑contribution pension pots will be subject to inheritance tax. The agency’s technical note outlines that personal representatives must calculate IHT using a new online tool and that schemes could be required to withhold up...