Scottish Widows has launched ‘drip-feed drawdown’, a phased retirement income capability, which is available through its retirement account.

The new feature allows consumers to have a tax-optimised, flexible way to manage and control their withdrawals, whilst helping to increase long-term fund sustainability, which helps retirees income to last longer.

Scottish Widows head of individual propositions Catherine Stewart: “We are underlining our commitment to supporting advisers to serve their clients through this flexible, easy to use proposition. In particular, the integrated flexible payments option and tax-optimising ability makes it easier for advisers to offer a long-term, sustainable withdrawal strategy that fits with each client’s personal circumstances.”

Foundation Home Loans upgrades its online portal

Foundation Home Loans has upgraded its online portal, to improve the user experience for brokers.

The new version of the portal has undergone a series of improvements, including better clarification concerning client documents that have been received or are outstanding. The portal also allows brokers to copy Decisions In Principle (DIPs) certificates.

Foundation Home Loans director of marketing Jeff Knight: “Having listened to feedback from the pool of brokers we currently work with, we have taken the initiative and upgraded our portal to better suit those engaging with it. The improvements ensure brokers have a far better overall view of their clients’ cases, allowing them to prove value and offer a more efficient service. We are constantly looking at ways to adapt to the changing requirements of brokers and enhance their experience when registering with Foundation Home Loans.”

Leek United Building Society joins lending panel for TMA

TMA and Leek United Building Society have announced that the society has joined the TMA Club lending panel.

The move will provide TMA’s broker members instant access to a range of “competitive, value for money products” from the society.

Leek United Building Society head of mortgage sales Clare Beardmore: “Our reputation as ‘the friendlier face of finance’ is built on a commitment to providing the highest standards of personal service. We individually assess every mortgage application, we don’t credit score – and we take the time to consider the individual merits of each application brokers submit.”

When You Move joins PRIMIS conveyancing panel

PRIMIS Mortgage Network has announced that When You Move has joined its conveyancing panel.

Advisers belonging to the PRIMIS network will now have direct access to When You Move’s services and “innovative” technology, providing them with market-leading tools to make the conveyancing process as “efficient as possible”.

PRIMIS mortgage network COO Toni Smith commented: “At PRIMIS, we are constantly looking for ways to support and invest in our brokers to help them develop their business whilst achieving the best possible customer outcomes. When You Move does just that, connecting the dots to provide exemplary customer service. Both the platform and app will benefit PRIMIS mortgage brokers greatly, safe in the knowledge that they can access trusted conveyancers, effortlessly manage progress and receive live updates to further enhance the service they already provide to their clients.”

Columbia Threadneedle launches global focus (OEIC) fund

Columbia Threadneedle has launched the Threadneedle Global Focus Fund (the fund) which will be managed by David Dudding.

The new fund will be an onshore version of the £456m Threadneedle (Lux) Global Focus Fund, a Luxembourg SICAV and will follow the same process.

Duddiing commented: “We believe that well governed companies can sustain high returns for longer periods than the market assumes. We look for quality growth companies with high returns on invested capital that can be sustained over time.

“We identify economic moats; how likely companies are to keep competitors at bay for an extended period, and apply Michael Porter’s Five Forces Framework to assess the sustainability of those competitive advantages.

“The advantage of having this global approach is that if we think about a particular industry, we are not limited to own the leading business in a particular region: we can own the leading business in the world.”

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