Assetz® News - ASSETZ RAMPS UP CALL FOR REGULATION WITH LAUNCH OF IFA PROPERTY QUALIFICATION

ASSETZ RAMPS UP CALL FOR REGULATION WITH LAUNCH OF IFA PROPERTY QUALIFICATION

8th October 2009 |

Assetz has now launched the ‘Property Focus Group’ (PFG) as part of their ongoing campaign to persuade the FSA to regulate property investment.

The PFG has been created to enable financial advisers to broaden their expertise to include detailed property investment advice and planning. One of the main aims for PFG is to design and deliver an accredited property investment qualification for financial advisers, the training syllabus for which is currently being finalised.

The PFG is expected to have its first 100 advisers by the end of 2009 with an overall objective of 300 trained advisers nationwide by December 2010. Membership includes access to the training courses, latest property investment market information, and a license for the unique MyPortfolio software for retirement and financial planning through property.

Stuart Law, Chief Executive of Assetz, comments on the launch:

“We have formed, and now launched, the Property Focus Group in order to deliver education, skill and understanding of property investment into the financial adviser domain. The launch of the property investment training syllabus in January 2010 will be one of the first steps in helping to have the property investment sector regulated. Regulation on its own will not be enough and a comprehensive training course with corresponding qualification is the only way to bring better quality advice to investors and we intend to do this through regulated advisers in anticipation of regulation of this sector in due course.

“With the FSA’s proposals that independent financial advisers will need to advise on all asset classes in the future, we are helping those that wish to remain independent prepare in advance, rather than being labelled as only providing restricted advice.

“Over the past nine months alone we have seen ever-increasing numbers of cash rich investors entering the property investment market. However, in almost all of these cases it has not been possible for the investors to approach financial advisers for any assistance in this part of their investment diversification due to most advisers having a lack of detailed experience of the property investment market.

“Instead, investors are approaching unregulated investment firms of varying quality. We intend to provide the tools and education to raise the knowledge and skill levels of financial advisers to a point where they can provide a balanced property investment advice service to these types of investors in the context of overall financial planning.

“It is essential that people move away from property speculation and towards true property investment and this will be achieved through better understanding of the sector.”

Membership of the Property Focus Group is open to all financial advisers. To find out more about becoming a member please contact Katy Hepworth at Assetz on 0845 400 9000 or register interest at www.assetz.co.uk/ifa.

-ENDS-

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