Breaking down the barriers to financial advice

The world of financial advice can be a difficult one to navigate for those seeking support with their finances. The choice of services, advisers and products is vast, and people may feel overwhelmed with where to start. Misconceptions about the advice industry may also put people off seeking professional financial advice. Many exclude themselves from seeking advice because they wrongly assume it’s only necessary for complex investments or pension planning. Millions don’t deem themselves ‘worthy’ of needing advice – considering themselves too ...more

Closing the female financial adviser gap

There is no doubt that great strides have been made in recent years to increase gender diversity in the workplace. However, much more needs to be done in the financial services arena. The Government’s Women in Finance Charter, first launched in 2016, is one notable attempt to build a more balanced and fair industry. The Charter reflects the Government’s aspiration to see gender balance at all levels across financial services firms and particularly in senior jobs. Gender balance in the workplace is good for business – it is good for customers ...more

the growing demand for financial advice

The demand for financial advice in the UK has increased exponentially in recent years as more customers recognize the need for expert independent support with their finances. They need the help as current stock market volatility is making investment decisions more complex while low interest rates make getting the most from your money more difficult. Pension freedoms, enabling everyone aged 55-plus to access their pension when they want plus the growing numbers of people starting pensions and investing for their future, means the demand for f ...more

Finance departments fail to share information

A recent Gartner study shows that only every second finance department successfully communicate its own service needs. The rest have to struggle with disruptions, delays and other IT problems more. These problems are mostly due to a lack of support from Finance. They fear a loss of control - instead of a gain in information. ...more on cfo.com

Mobile Customer Engagement and the Rise of the App-Based Banking Landscape

Traditionally SMS-based services have been the mainstay of mobile banking, but this has changed in developed markets with the advent of smartphones and the rise of the app economy. As mobile apps become ever more sophisticated, mobile banking is being touted as a more convenient alternative to online banking. The Bank of America was one of the first banks to catch on to mobile banking. Its iPhone app lets its customers pay bills, transfer funds and locate ATMs and banking centers across the country. Due to the functionalities offered by such ap ...more

Branching out - How banks can grasp the digital future

Banks are on the cusp of seizing a great opportunity. Organizations in the sector have made significant progress towards delivering a seamless digital customer experience but they are missing the final piece of the jigsaw. This paper will demonstrate how to become a digital leader and guide you through: • The essential checkpoints that any retail bank must address if it is to perfect the customer journey • How to gain a critical competitive advantage in the market • The three key considerations that will allow you to get the most out of ...more

The Risk Landscape of Treasury – Are non-traditional Vendors the Solution?

Technology is evolving at a bewildering speed. As a result, organizations face a tough feat of keeping up with a highly dynamic environment. It involves adopting the changes in technology as they plan or craft their development strategies. Consequently, treasury leaders also bear the brunt of rapid changes because they are key partners of these organizations. Since organizations transform at different levels, more specialized, flexible and scalable solutions are needed. This heaps pressure on traditional banking partners and vendors. They are l ...more

FINANCE study: FinTechs and banks – stronger together?

How have the many new FinTechs proven themselves in the market after the financial crisis and what is the relationship between established banks and the new financial technology companies? FINANCE magazine, in collaboration with ING Bank and CMS, a tax and legal consulting firm, has carried out a study on this subject – with the result that a change in thinking seems to be in the offing.  ...more

Taboo: Company succession

According to Reinhard Mohn (1921-2009), who once led the medium-sized Bertelsmann company to the media group, "securing the succession is the greatest entrepreneurial achievement. Mohn's quote could be a summary of the "Financing Monitor 2019" study. In cooperation with TU Darmstadt, Creditshelf surveyed 200 financial decision-makers from medium-sized companies in various industries. One catch in the implementation of succession planning is often the tabooing of the problem. Only a few companies deal with the matter openly and in good time. ...more