The company has been through many transformations and witnessed many changes since its formation in 1971. Not least of these changes was the economy which saw raging inflation through the 1980s with interest rates peaking at 17%, and the FT All Share Index fluctuating between 66 in 1974 to 3478 in 1999. We have also seen annuity rates fall dramatically as economic conditions change and people live much longer.

The next 10 years promise to be extremely interesting, particularly as the FSA are rolling out the biggest change to our profession in our 40 year history, the heart of which is the Retail Distribution Review. The RDR’s aim is to improve the clarity by which firms describe their services, address issues regarding adviser firms’ remuneration and increase the professional standards of financial advisers.

This is brilliant news for companies like us who have always treated our customers fairly. Additionally we have championed improved standards and created our own “centre of excellence” which is rolling out initiatives to raise standards in our profession across the region.