Unit 1 Flashcards
How does a Mutual organisation differ from a Proprietary one?
MUTUAL ORGANISATIONS HAVE NO SHAREHOLDERS BUT ARE OWNED BY THEIR MEMBERS
Who issues UK Banknotes?
THE BANK OF ENGLAND
What are the 4 main elements of Financial Intermediation as practised by Banks and Building Societies?
- GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION
- AGGREGATION
- MATURITY TRANSFORMATIONS
- RISK TRANSFORMATION
What is the effect of European Union Directives on UK law?
The objectives of the directive must be implemented in each state. Within a specified timescale, typically 2 years. The choice of how they are implemented if left to national authorities of each state
Which of the following are not subject to Income Tax?
A) Income from a Trust
B) A waiter’s tip
C) Educational Scholarships
C) Educational Scholarships
What classes of National Insurance contributions are paid by self-employed persons?
2 & 4
What rate of IHT is payable immediately on chargeable lifetime transfers?
20%
How much stamp duty land tax is payable by a woman who sells her house for £400,000?
None - Stamp land tax is paid by purchaser
It is possible to influence a nations level of economic activity by manipulating the amount of tax revenue and the amount of spending by the government, local authorities and public bodies. What is the name of this Economic Policy?
Fiscal Policy
What is the maximum term for which Maternity Allowance can be paid?
39 weeks
What is the minimum period per week that must be spent as a carer before Carer’s allowance can be claimed?
35 hours
Karen was born in the U.S. while her English Mother was working there on a 2 year assignment. Her father was American but never married her mother and she returned to England with her mother. What is Karen’s Domicile?
UK domicile as parents were not married and Mother’s Domiciles is UK
To what extent can deposit accounts said to be
“Secure”?
Apart from the risk of a Bank or Building Society failing, the capital is secure
What rate of tax is normally deducted at source from
Building Society accounts?
20%
Give two reasons why Offshore Investments may be more risky than similar on-shore ones
- Subject to currency fluctuations
- Local regulatory regime may not be as strong as the FCA in the UK
What is the minimum age at which a person can take out a National Savings and Investments Direct Saver?
16
What is the difference between the taxation of interest on government stocks and of that on local authorities?
Interest on GS is paid gross (but is taxable) LA stocks are paid net of 20% tax
What does the Price/Earnings (P/E) ratio of a share
indicate?
Relates the share price to the earnings (net profits) per share. Profits are not always distributed as Dividends
How can a company raise additional finance for expansion without borrowing?
By a Rights Issue of new shares to existing Shareholders
What is the normal distinction between Debentures and other loan stocks?
Debentures are normally secured on company assets
What change of attitude by lenders led to the establishment of the Buy-to-Let market?
Lenders saw Buy-to-Let business as residential rather than commercial = Different underwriting principles = lower interest rates
What type of tenancy agreement would normally be used for a Buy-to-Let property?
Assured Short-hold tenancy
What are the main advantages of an Investor of collective Investments?
- Skilled investment manager
- Reduction of risk by spreading fund
- Reduced dealing cost
- Wide choice of investment funds
Who owns and controls a unit trust fund’s assets?
The trustees
How would you define “Forward Pricing?”
Clients buy or sell units in a given dealing period at the prices that will be determined at the end of the dealing period
How does “gearing” benefit investment trusts?
A company’s gearing relates to the amount of borrowing it has taken on. Investment trusts, being companies, are able to borrow in order to take advantage of investment opportunities.
Micheal, aged 35, invests £5,940 in an ISA in May 2014 and then withdraws £1,000 in September 2014. How much can he invest in a NISA in Dec 2014?
Up to £5940 (cash) and £11,880 (equity) can be invested up to 30 June with the balance topped up to £15,000 after 1st July
In what circumstances might a terminal bonus be added to a with-profits endowment policy?
On Maturity or on early death of the life assured. Terminal bonuses are not usually added to surrender values
What rate of tax would be payable on the proceeds of a non-qualifying life policy?
Higher rate taxpayers = 20%
For others no tax due.
How much can parents invest in a Child Trust Fund?
Up to £4,000 a year
In what circumstances might a gift inter vivos term assurance be used?
To cover the possible IHT on a gift if the donor dies within 7 years
How does the deferred period on an IPI policy affect the premium?
The deferred period is the length of time before benefits commence. The longer the deferred period, the lower the premium
Which of the following would not normally be excluded from a private medical insurance claim?
- Dental Treatment
- Chiropody
- Outpatient consultation
Outpatient Consultation
What is the definition of “Indemnity”?
In the event of a claim after loss, insured persons should be restored to the same financial position they were in immediately before the loss occurred.
Which of the following would not normally be covered against damage under a buildings insurance policy?
- Garden Shed
- Fitted Wardrobe
- Dining Room Table
Dining room table
What is a “Mortgagee”?
A lender of mortgages
Whose responsibility is it to ensure that an interest-only mortgage is repaid at the end of the term?
The borrower, although the lender is obligated to ensure the borrower’s repayment method is credible and contacts the borrower at least once during the term.
A self-employed Plummer aged 30 takes out a pension mortgage. What is the minimum term for which the mortgage could run?
25 years - because minimum age they can take their cash lump sum on pension plan is 55
What is a “cap and collar” mortgage?
Interest rate cannot rise above a certain rate nor drop below a specified rate
Why do mortgage lenders insist that properties on which they lend should continuously be insured?
If property is damaged the value of the lender’s security is reduced
What is the most common form of “revolving credit”?
Credit cards
What is the max contribution to a stakeholder pension in 2014/15
100% of UK earnings overall limit of £40,000 in 2014/15
What is likely to be the main financial priority of a couple with a young family?
Family protection. Protection of income and assets against the effects of the death or illness or the Breadwinner
What is the main objective of completing a fact find?
To define the Client’s needs accurately
List the employment details of a client that an adviser would normally need to ascertain
-Employed/Un-employed/Self-Employed/Retired/Part-time/Full-time/Permanent/Temporary
- Details of employer: Nature of work/income(basic, overtime, bonuses, commission) benefits, pension
scheme
What details should an adviser request in relation to
loans?
Lender / Purpose of loan / Balance outstanding / remaining term / Secured or Unsecured / Interest rate / Repayment method / Repayment amounts
What risks might apply to investment in a bank or building society deposit account?
- Risk or loss due to collapse (small risk)
- Risk that interest rates fall to less than expected
- Risk of fall in capital value due to inflation
List the factors that an adviser might take into account when deciding on an appropriate solution/product for a client
- State provision / Client’s existing arrangements / Client’s and product’s tax position / Client’s risk profile / Timescale of needs / Flexibility required
The first stage in handling an objection should be to:
- Qualify it
- Agree with it
- Quantify it
Qualify it
What is proactive servicing?
Instigating action by contacting the client to discuss their continuing needs
Why should the life of a dependant spouse be covered by life assurance?
Their death can lead to problems in the family with young children. Could make the widower give up work to look after children or pay for Child care
What main factors affect the calculation of the level of sickness cover needed by a working parent with
children?
- Extent of any sickness benefit from an employer
- The nature and amount available state benefits
- The number and ages of the children
- Availability of any family help with domestic tasks
What is the purpose of a key person insurance?
To mitigate the loss of a company’s profits caused by the death or long-term illness of an important member of
staff
What does the cross-option method differ from the buy and sell method of partnership protection?
It comprises an option to purchase the deceased partner’s share rather than a binding contract, the deceased’s family or heirs are deemed to receive business assets rather than cash, so business relief from IHT can by claimed.
What is the most common reason for remortgaging?
To get a loan with a lower interest rate
What is the relationship between risk and reward?
Greater risk for a greater reward
If the rate of inflation is 2.5% what yield must an investor obtain on their deposit account in order to achieve a real return of 3%?
- 0.5%
- 2.5%
- 5.5%
5.5%
In what sense could a company be described as a “legal person?”
A company is a “legal person” in that it has a separate legal existence and can enter into contracts. The contract is not with the directors but with the company
Harry died without leaving a will. His estate will be distributed by:
- An administrator
- A solicitor
- A probate officer
An administrator
Which of the following statements about a will is correct?
- An executor cannot be a beneficiary
- A beneficiary cannot be a witness
- A witness cannot be a beneficiary
A beneficiary cannot be a witness
Marian was married but had no children although her parents were still alive. She died without leaving a will. If her estate was £600,000 how much will her husband inherit?
£525,000 (ie £450,000 plus half the balance)
What is “consideration” in relation to a contract?
It is the payment, or promise to pay, for the goods or services that are the basis of a contract
Can a contract be made verbally?
Yes, but contracts for sale of land must be in writing
In agency law, what is “Ratification”?
Process by which the principal formally agrees to stand by a contract made by their agent, even though the agent has exceeded the authority granted by the principle
Why do mortgage lenders insist that joint mortgages are always on a joint tenancy basis?
If one borrower defaults the lender will wish to be able to obtain full amount from the remaining borrower
What consent is required before an enduring power of attorney can be revoked?
- The donee
- The donor
- The Court of Protection
The Court of Protection
What is the moral period for which a bankruptcy order remains in force?
12 months
Jon has notes which are accepted as Legal Tender. This is because they have the backing of what?
Backing of the government and the central bank
Up to what % of their liabilities may building societies raise funds on the wholesale market?
50%
What means have large institutions in financial service markets PREDOMINANTLY used to achieve growth and diversification in recent years?
Mergers and Takeovers
Under what circumstances can a nation state opt out of a regulation laid down by the European Council and Council of Ministers?
Only if a specific dispensation has been granted.
Why are bank deposit accounts not generally considered to be the most suitable areas for long term investments?
Over longer timescales they offer less returns than asset-backed investments
Gilt-Edged securities are considered to be safe investments because they:
are British Government securities and the Government will not default on interest or capital repayments
A new gilt issue has been referred to as medium-dated. However the UK Debt Management Office has described it as short-dated. It will therefore be for how long?
Six years
If a company distributes 25% of its profits as dividends to shareholders, what is the dividend cover?
4
A public limited company wishes to raise additional finance by issuing more shares. Therefore they are obliged to?
Make a rights issue
Why could UK equities be considered an inappropriate source of income for non-taxpayers?
Tax credit on dividends paid cannot be reclaimed
A key difference between a debenture and a loan stock issued by a company is that a Debenture..
Is secured on the assets of the company
Richard intends to invest in a money market deposit account. This is most likely to suggest that he?
Has a large amount to invest temporarily
An investment trust is best described as a?
Company that invests in shares of other companies
David has been particularly attracted to investment trusts because of their ability to benefit from gearing. This indicates that David believes the market will..?
Rise
On a with-profits policy, what is a revisionary bonus?
A payment which is declared regularly and once attaching to the policy, cannot be removed
A key difference between a warrant and a call option is that a warrant:
Is generally issued by companies to give the warrant holder the right to purchase that companies’ ordinary shares
Clive, aged 27, starts a stakeholder pension plan in JAN 2008 for the minimum term, which he intended to use to repay the capital under his interest-only mortgage. His stated occupation is office manager. This minimum term of the mortgage will be?
28 years (27+28 = 55)
What is the main advantage of a capped interest rate when taking out a Mortgage?
If interest rates go up, the mortgage is interest rate is limited to a pre-set ceiling
Sue earns 30k per annum. She currently has no pension arrangements. What is the maximum gross amount she could pay into her pension and receive tax relief?
30k
A mortgage protection policy is a type of what term
policy?
Decreasing term policy
The risk of investment fluctuations can be reduced by which feature of the investment process?
Diversification
What is the correct name for a mortgage scheme that allows overpayments, underpayments, and payment holidays?
Flexible Mortgage
In relation to Stakeholder and Personal pensions, the open market option (OMO) enables the plan holder to?
Move the accumulated fund, at retirement to the life office which will provide the highest benefits