News
You will see us providing commentary in many mainstream media outlets as leading experts in the fund management industry on all things fund oversight, ACD, the regulators role and all the fund supporting functions.
We are and always will be completely independent, therefore feel like we provide a balanced, objective and expert knowledgable view which is hopefully to the benefit of all interested parties.
Our aim is to heighten the understanding and awareness for investors, clients and the various relevant stakeholders. We hope our input leads to raising standards in what can sometimes be complex matters in financial services.
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Media Stories - Providing Lloyd Expert Commentary...
Ignities Europe: Costs rise for fund houses looking to bring ACD in-house
Financial Times: Outlook for Odey and issues with remaining funds
RBS International: Merits of Independent Depositary Oversight
Financial Times: Marketplace Consolidation
Citywire: FCA to get tough on ACDs
Money Marketing: In-House ACD Model Enquiries on the rise after faith in external ACD Model is questioned by Managers
Financial Times: Fund Managers Under Pressure, focus on Liquidity
Citywire: Concerns around the FCA review of ACDs
Financial Times: Issues with the ACD model that the Woodford case has exposed
BBC: Due Diligence Requirements and Increase in scrutiny
Investment Week: FCA Probe into ACDs
Financial Times: FCA review into the role of the depositary
Top 10 areas of consideration IFAs/Wealth Managers and Sponsors use when finding a fund manager to run thier mandate
Wednesday 27th October 2021
Ryan Johnson
Having advised a number of IFAs, wealth managers over the years and carried out a selection process of fund managers to run the money, we have combined, created, the top 10 consistent areas and considerations used when selecting the right manager to run the money. What may surprise some is that previous performance is a lot further down the list than many may expect... Full article available to clients, to subscribe and receive access to all articles please email, requests@lloydexpert.co.uk
Thinking of launching a fund range, what is the viability level...
Saturday 9th October 2021
Ryan Johnson
Full article available to clients, to subscribe and receive access to all articles please email, requests@lloydexpert.co.uk
UK Regulator FCA v European Regulator ESMA
Thursday 30th September 2021
Ryan Johnson
The key differences we have come to learn in attitude and approach to regulation of the fund management industry. As Europe look to adopt the Assessment of Value (AoV) on the fund ranges what else will follow. Full article available to clients, to subscribe and receive access to all articles please email, requests@lloydexpert.co.uk
FCA S166 - Reputational or Financial Damage for Fund Managers / Sponsors?
Saturday 25th September 2021
Ryan Johnson
Having been asked by a number of managers recently about the ACD market review and been told that they have had an indication the FCA were taking a stronger stance…
Challenges of total ESG exclusions and what is acceptable to investors
Saturday 11th September 2021
Ryan Johnson
Full article available to clients, to subscribe and receive access to all articles please email, requests@lloydexpert.co.uk
Fund at risk due AoV which is dependant on the ACD...
Friday 10th September 2021
Ryan Johnson
Unfortunately we currently find ourselves in the situation that sponsors and managers AoV of the fund and its remedies are down to which ACD the fund is with. This is due to the different interpretation, quality and understanding that the regulator is trying to address with the ACD marketplace. The result in difference can be significant as fund buyers start to consider the AoV across the marketplace and…
UK Investors in European Funds what will the future hold as a result of Brexit
Sunday 8th August 2021
Ryan Johnson
Full article available to clients, to subscribe and receive access to all articles please email, requests@lloydexpert.co.uk
Assessment of Value - Key areas Funds need to take note
Friday 16th July 2021
Ryan Johnson
Full article available to clients, to subscribe and receive access to all articles please email, requests@lloydexpert.co.uk
FCA ACD industry review...
Wednesday 30th June 2021
Ryan Johnson
FCA ACD Review Publication https://www.fca.org.uk/news/press-releases/fca-review-finds-weaknesses-some-host-authorised-fund-management-firms-governance-and-operations In response to the FCA ACD findings and publication today (see link above), as leading experts in the ACD market place, much of the FCA findings will come as no surprise to the industry regardless of how strong the wording used is 'significant findings'. Whilst the FCA is right to identify the concerns and lack of sufficient due diligence performed by the ACD, it must recognise the lack of understanding or support in providing guidance and advice to the standard that an ACD must employ when taking on a new manager or reviewing an existing manager in that…
ACD Review, the FCA needs to go deeper and spend more time understanding the industry
Monday 1st March 2021
Ryan Johnson
Following the FCA engagement into the host ACD marketplace in December 2020, it can only be seen as a positive step that they are starting to try and understand the industry and how it has developed over time. However we would like to see them engage with industry experts and fund managers as part of a wider stakeholder engagement piece. We do maintain that for the investigation into current high profile individual cases some of these maybe better outsourced to an independent judge or judiciary function to ensure independence and effective learning which includes for the FCA. The concentration on fees and effectively lowering of fees is not the answer, the charges…
Recommendation: Fund failures, ACD take over, Fund suspension or put on risk, what can the FCA do
Sunday 7th February 2021
Ryan Johnson
We believe in order to best serve the investor, industry credibility and integrity as a whole, when a fund is put at risk or suspended the ACD who manages the oversight of that fund should resign as the ACD and a new ACD be allocated for the fund which has been placed into a category of suspension or failure. This will immediately remove any further conflict or damage to both the fund manager and ACD but we appreciate this is easier said than done. By…
A definitive guide to determining if MPS managers no longer need to pay VAT on an MPS service
Tuesday 12th January 2021
Ryan Johnson
Brooks MacDonald, Brewin Dolphin, 7IM and AJ Bell are just a few familiar names you may recognise as recently and successfully removing the VAT from the MPS service it provides. In this guide and referring to these companies we provide a step by step guide in order that managers can determine if VAT can also be cut from the MPS service…
FCA ACD change predictions for 2021
Tuesday 22nd December 2020
Ryan Johnson
With the FCA engaging with all host ACDs over the December period there will be a raft of changes and recommendations that will be concluded over 2021 which sole aim should be to protect and act in the best interest of the investor. We detail what we believe the FCA will…
How confident are investors that there money is safe with a fund manager?
Tuesday 1st December 2020
Ryan Johnson
After conducting a poll sample we explore what a group of investors think and feel about how safe their money is by fund managers in todays climate... Full article available to clients, to subscribe and receive access to all articles please email, requests@lloydexpert.co.uk
ACD Fund Value Assessment - Challenges
Sunday 8th November 2020
Ryan Johnson
The majority of issues in relation to the value assessment is the conclusion of the assessment that results in the Authorised Corporate Director (ACD) insisting that the fees, Annual Management Charge (AMC), to which the fund manager receives, minus the ACD costs, is reduced to ensure it is providing value for money in line with the ACD expectations, according to the market data. The problem with this is the difference in quantifying and assessing value for the overall investor within any particular fund. It is not as simple as comparing 'apples v apples' as each ACD within a fund category will be applying the criteria in a different way with varying rationale. The ACD as legal and regulatory owner…