
Business Orientated
© 2025 20/80 LIMITED
Financial Services
The industry covers: (1) accountancy; (2) asset management; (3) banking and capital markets; (4) equity financing; (5) infrastructure financing; (6) insurance; (7) legal services; (8) management consultancy; and (9) wealth management.
Information from a London perspective can be found in a document called 'The Global City', which was last updated in October 2024 and can be found from using the link below:
One way or another, the investment area of the financial services industry engages with all of the 9 areas shown above. For that reason, that's where we concentrate our focus, and mostly from an investor perspective, whether that be institutional, retail, or some other category. ​
Over the last 2 years, significant regulation changes have been taking place in the financial services industry, some of which will affect the vast majority of investors, including those called retail investors with below-average personal wealth.
The changes even affect many of those who have been able to self-certify as 'Sophisticated Investors' in the past, demoting them to retail investor status and, potentially, forcing them to make choices that they really do not want to make.
​
For their own protection, perhaps investors should first prove that they can make sound investment decisions.
Perhaps they should be required to pass an exam if they invest more than a limited amount of capital; one way to gain first-hand experience is to have skin in the game.
Investors at all levels would do well to learn the ropes rather then to totally rely on third parties or compensation schemes. That way, they can take on some responsibility for the decisions that are being made on their behalf.
​
The future looks grim for the many who will be reliant on the State in retirement.
In the UK an 'Old Age Pension' was first introduced in 1909 and it was paid only to those with annual means (income) below a set level. Many more 'pensioners' started to benefit in 1948, with the introduction of a National Insurance retirement pension. From the 5th of July 1948, there was a guaranteed weekly pension of 10 shillings (50p), without conditions, payable from the age of 65.
​
Since July 1948, the State has paid pensions that have largely been unaffected by each individual's income or wealth. In recent years, however, the introduction of Workplace Pensions has created an opportunity for future Governments to side-step any responsibility to help those with annual means (income) above any new, periodically reviewed, set level.
Welcome to 'The Workplace Pensions Arena'
Most folks don't like to talk much about their pensions, but if more did, in very general terms, they could gain the attention of their generation.
Back in the Day!
State Pensions came about in a bygone era when there was a Nation-building focus. At its best, women could claim state pension at 60 and men could claim at age 65.
​
Safety net 'benefits' were needed to help support the vulnerable in society, but not to support lifestyle choices.
​
Times change!
​
Today, the exercising of rights often supersedes commitment or obligations, and pensioners who have paid into the system throughout their working life are now seen as 'benefit takers' when drawing their State Pension.
​
Workplace Pensions
​​
The traditional 'State Pension' is not what it used to be, and much of the responsibilty for providing pensions has been shifted to employers, who are now required to provide employees with access to a workplace pension scheme.
.
Workplace Pensions - Auto enrolment
​​
Most employers are not in the business of running pension schemes; none the less, 'automatic enrolment' has become a requirement. Employers must provide a workplace pension scheme into which employees can be automatically enrolled.
​
The Government's Solution (for employers)
​​
NEST (the National Employment Savings Trust), which is run by a Trustee, the Nest Corporation, which has up to 15 Board members, supported by the employees of Nest Corporation.​
​
What will happen to those who achieve poor returns from their Workplace pensions?
Arguably, a future Government might give the greatest support to those who only choose a default option for their Workplace pension. Many of those of a similar age could be biannually means-tested in retirement, a method that might be used to decide what level of Government help will be provided.