In the second article of our series looking into the Platform Market Study, Tom Ellis looks at how vertical integration and commercial relationships affect the platform market and, in particular, how they affect the cost of investing for advised clients
Vertical integration and other such commercial relationships have been a hot topic since the FCA said they raise "questions about competition dynamics and value for money" as a prelude to the release of its market review's terms of reference. The fact the watchdog would raise such issues before it launched its platform market study goes some way to suggest how the FCA will approach this part of its review, as do the two questions it asks stakeholders. Specifically, it wants to know: Are platforms and similar firms able and willing to negotiate a competitive price on investment charges...
To continue reading this article...
Join Professional Adviser for free
- Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
- Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
- Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
- Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
- Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
- Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes