March 2010

Skandia’s range of risk rated Spectrum funds has broken through the £500 million funds under management barrier just under two years since launch.

Skandia has added AXA’s platform charging data to the Platformwatch tool, enabling financial advisers to easily compare the cost of investing on seven major platforms at portfolio level, as well as by product and by fund.

Skandia is urging investors to consider making maximum use of higher rate tax relief on pension contributions before the Budget on 24th March just in case further restrictions are made to this valuable tax break. The current restrictions to higher rate tax relief for those with income over £130,000 may not be the final goal for phasing out higher-rate tax relief on pensions, warns Skandia, and the forthcoming Budget may bring more people into the net.

Skandia continues to better the number of critical illness and death claims paid annually, according to the latest figures.

Millions of Brits are gambling with their future by relying on a lottery win or inheritance to fund their retirement, according to a new study.

New research shows that financial advisers have carried out suitability reviews for three-quarters of their clients that are invested in with-profits funds, with a significant number of investors choosing to transfer out.

Equities have continued to be the most popular ISA funds in February, with fixed interest seeing the biggest fall (3%) since the previous month, reports Skandia.