At their January meeting, the first sponsored by Investec, Cotswolds branch members heard firstly from Jim Wood-Smith, Investec's head of investment strategy.
He provided a very positive outlook for the coming year and prospects for the markets in 2013, highlighting the influence that Mr Draghi has had on the prospects for Europe as well as forecasting a soft landing for China which should be positive for the markets.
Malcolm Murray of Transact then talked about the effects of RDR on platform administration with the advent of the new share classes that fund providers are launching now that trail commission has finished. This also led to a lively discussion about rebates and how these would be treated by the FSA following their new consultation process.
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Transact's Ian Taylor has been active in trying to inform the FSA about the complications that this will provide for platform providers. The roundtable discussion then moved on to the wider implications of RDR and how it was affecting members' individual businesses which was very worthwhile.
Chairman Diane Weitz CFP^CM said: "We'd love to welcome more members to our next meeting on 17 April at our new venue at the Holiday Inn when we look at Quantitative Easing and Portfolio Theory – do join us then."

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