Chess and Pension Fraud - allegation

[Roger Lancaster]

Roger L>Having spent many years in the pensions industry, I'd endorse Nick's point that there are genuinely valuable products available.<

As a member of the financial illiterati it behoves me to ask how I could take advantage from the acquisition and enjoyment of one of these genuine instruments?

Is it in any way, shape or form like searching for a Stradivarius among a veritable forest of fiddles while a considerable choir of smoothing salesmen serenade - along the lines of sing something for simpletons?

First thing I should say is that I'm now retired from the pensions industry and consequently not authorised [Financial Conduct Authority] to give advice. Second, you should only listen to people who are so authorised - although you might as well listen to these few words from me as I'm not trying to sell you anything. Third, remember the "If it's too good to be true" maxim. Fourth, because it is indeed a little like your violins, deal only with institutions which are as near as possible 100% reliable and where you can reasonably assume you will have redress if things go wrong. Fifth and final, be prepared to seek [and pay for - there's another maxim about free lunches] a second opinion from a disinterested professional if you're in any doubt. Others may be able to add to and/or improve on this list.

[John McKenna]

Thanks for that free and frank advice, Roger.

I'll file it with my collection of Angela Knight apologias.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angela_Knight

I get the impression that breaking into the financial inner circles is the monetary equivalent of joining the hierarchy of Masonic lodges.

[NickFaulks]

I get the impression that breaking into the financial inner circles is the monetary equivalent of joining the hierarchy of Masonic lodges.

You may not be wrong.

[Kevin Thurlow]

"I get the impression that breaking into the financial inner circles is the monetary equivalent of joining the hierarchy of Masonic lodges."

They're probably not mutually exclusive...

[Angus French]

Piece in the FT: English chess body pressed to drop grandmaster in pensions row.

[Roger de Coverly]

Piece in the FT

Also at
https://www.businessfast.co.uk/chess-bo ... nsions-row

in which

“Once this issue has been drawn to their attention, the ECF should cease to have any business arrangements with grandmaster Simon Williams,” said Mick Norris, past president of the Manchester Chess Federation and chartered financial planner with PCFP, a firm of independent financial advisers.

[JustinHorton]

Hang on, have they just ripped off the FT's piece uncredited?

[Roger de Coverly]

Hang on, have they just ripped off the FT's piece uncredited?

I get the impression "businessfast" is an FT brand name. Direct links to the FT have a high failure rate, because they usually provoke a paywall.

https://www.businessfast.co.uk/best-of-ft-money-2019/

[JustinHorton]

Hang on, have they just ripped off the FT's piece uncredited?

I get the impression "businessfast" is an FT brand name.

I very much doubt it. I can find stories from other outiets on their site, which appears to say nothing at all about who runs it and would at any rate be unlikely to carry stories uncredited if it were indeed linked to the FT.