WRITTEN BY ELIZABETH FLYNN: I went to buy a new mattress the other day. Thought I’d treat myself to a good quality mattress from a reputable retail outlet. The latest developments in bedding technology mean that choosing a new mattress requires much soul searching after an incredibly detailed fact find and risk assessment. Naively, I […]
What’s wrong with financial services? Almost as painful and debilitating as what’s wrong with my foot! I’ve just been diagnosed with plantar fasciitis. I write this partly in the hope of getting some (richly-deserved) sympathy, and party because it illustrates what is so terribly wrong with financial services (especially offshore). It all started with a
PLANTAR FASCIITIS and what’s wrong with financial services. Read More »
What is a death bond? Also known as a life bond, portfolio bond, executive bond, offshore bond – or, if you are a commission-based broker – an 8% commission bond. Who provides death bonds? The usual suspects (many of whom also provide ghastly long-term savings plans that ruin savers): Old Mutual International RL360 SEB Lombard
Dolphin Trust is now called The German Property Group. Former founder and director Charles Smethurst has left. Hundreds – possibly thousands – of investors (lenders) are now hung out to dry. Dolphin isn’t answering the phone as people are desperate to find out if and when they will get their money back. Dolphin has a
Dolphin Trust – a matter of serious regret Read More »
Indemnity Insurance is an absolute must for your financial advisor. If he can not prove to you that his indemnity will cover 100% of your pension or investment then you should walk away immediately! Through our studies of numerous scams across the world we have found that many scams operate with below par indemnity. In
John’s Nightmare aboard Scamair Read More »
DEADLY AUSTRALIAN (AND OTHER) TOXIC INVESTMENT FAILURES LM Management Performance Currency Protected Australian Income LM First Mortgage Income Premier Eco Resources LM Wholesale First Mortgage Premier New Earth Recycling Solutions Institutional Currency Protected Australian Income New Earth Solutions Recycling Facilities Axiom Legal Financing Kijani We could write thousands of pages about these toxic, risky, illiquid
LM and other monstrous failed funds Read More »
A High Court Judge has called for an investigation into the FCA’s dismal failings over the lack of action prior to the collapse of the London Capital & Finance bond. More than a dozen MPs have also called for Andrew Bailey – £600k a year head of the FCA – to go. High court judge
FCA head Andrew Bailey must go (over London Capital & Finance bond scandal) Read More »
An elderly lady consulted Hollingsworth International Financial Services in Malta about her life savings in 2011. She told Hollingsworth’s employee Paul Tilbrook she wanted her funds invested safely and cautiously. Her savings amounted to over £400,000 and she wanted to move them to a safe pair of hands to make sure her capital was protected. The adviser promised her that her money would not only be protected, but that it would be “actively managed” to ensure diversity and growth. In reality something very different happened.
Is your IFA a snake in the grass? Read More »
Hope for Continental Wealth Management victims. Meet John Smith who is in a spot of financial bother. But who will come to the rescue?
Most qualified advisers want nothing to do with pension scams. Many offshore firms employ advisers who have not passed the required exams. Even if an adviser has qualified, he or she must still be registered. Meet John. He has been scammed and is desperatedly seeking to find out how this can happen.
Fighting pension scams – Qualifications Investigation Read More »
Fighting pension scams needs to be done logically and methodically. Decent advisers need to use high standards to help fight scams. If these standards become the norm, the scammers won’t survive and flourish so easily. Fighting pension scams – Qualifications Most qualified advisers want nothing to do with pension scams. Many offshore firms employ advisers
Fighting pension scams – Qualifications Read More »
Fighting pension scams: Regulation If it was easy to stop pension scams, everyone would be doing it. Clearing up the mess left behind a pension scam is a huge challenge. This is why clear international standards need to be recognised and adopted. The scammers are like flocks of vultures. If people only used regulated firms,
Fighting pension scams: Regulation Read More »
