People who were thinking about setting up a trust for their children and grandchildren should consider doing it now whilst asset values are low following the blow to the economy from lockdown, says Wilsons, a private wealth law firm.

This week’s new ETF launches include a couple of crypto-related firsts – the launch by 21Shares of the first short bitcoin ETP on Xetra and the admission of the first bitcoin ETP on the official ‘regulated’ market of the Vienna Stock Exchange. Elsewhere, Rize launched two new thematic ETFs – food production and digital learning – Vanguard debuted three new bond funds, and AdvisorShares launched the Pure US Cannabis ETF.

UK savers put GBP1.6 billion into retail funds in June, according to latest figures published by the Investment Association (IA). 

With men anticipating that they will have an annual retirement income of GBP19,748 and women suggesting their income will be GBP14,833 in later life, new analysis from the Cebr, commissioned by equity release lender more2life, suggests that when life expectancy is taken into account the basic ‘gender pensions gap’ could be as much as GBP108,130. 

Later life lending specialist Responsible Life has reported a 52 per cent annual surge in lifetime mortgages sales, as retirees increasingly look to equity release as part of their financial planning.

Wealth Enhancement Group, an independent wealth management firm that oversees USD19.4 billion in client assets, has acquired CJM Wealth Management, a hybrid registered investment adviser (RIA) based in Deer Park, New York, with more than USD440 million in client assets. 

Veteran wealth adviser Jonathan Dane has launched Defiant Capital Group, a boutique asset management firm providing select individuals, families and institutions with strategic investment advice and wealth advisory services.

FIDx, a product-agnostic platform that connects insurance solutions with wealth management platforms and other providers, has formed a strategic partnership with financial planning software provider Envestnet | MoneyGuide that gives insurance-licensed financial professionals the capability to plan, research, propose, and manage annuity products from within MoneyGuide. 

Independent Wealth Planners UK (IWP UK) has acquired the financial planning firm Gilmour Hamilton Wealth Management (GHWM), boosting the company’s existing presence in Scotland.

German insurance company R+V Versicherung has relaunched its popular PrivatRente IndexInvest, a flexible pension product specially designed for conservative private investors.