Posted on by Tolu Akisanya

Press Release

PIMFA Comments on Government’s heavy defeat on Brexit Withdrawal Motion

Wednesday 16th January 2019

 

Following the heavy Government defeat on the Brexit withdrawal motion, PIMFA, the trade association for the personal investment management and financial advice sector, re-emphasises the requirement for legislators and Government executives to keep uppermost the interests of individuals and families as they develop alternative proposals for parliamentarians to consider in the days ahead.  The private clients of PIMFA member firms, who come from all parts of society and not just the wealthy sector, have around £1.5 trillion of personal investment and savings, including pensions, under advice or management by these firms and preservation of the value of their personal assets, so they benefit rather than suffer from decisions about the UK’s relationship with its EU partners, is a paramount concern.

In order to achieve this, it is vital to maintain continuity of business practice and certainty in the framework within which firms and their clients make investment decisions. Whatever political path is chosen over the next few days, PIMFA stresses the need to preserve established approaches to business and avoid a cliff edge so as to help ensure that the personal financial interests of private investors, who are also the voters, are fully protected.  The opportunity to step back and rethink the Brexit process affords the chance to put individuals and their families, and their financial interests, at the heart of policy development. This will strengthen the possibility for whatever decisions are made about Brexit to be based on the principle of benefiting the lives of people.

PIMFA welcomes the Prime Minister’s intention to form an all-party committee to decide on the next steps and looks forward to seeing the outcome of this approach.

John Barrass, PIMFA’s Deputy CEO, comments: “We want the chances for rethinking Brexit to be used with the need to protect and improve the financial situation of individuals and their families, and the ability of our firms to help in this area, uppermost in the minds of decision-makers. It is our strong view that a ‘no deal’ situation and a cliff edge should be avoided at all costs, and we look forward to reading and commenting on the alternative proposals to be presented to Parliament over the coming period.”

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Notes for Editors

About PIMFA – the Personal Investment Management & Financial Advice Association

  • PIMFA is the leading trade association for firms that provide investment management and financial advice to everyone from individuals and families to charities, pension funds, trusts and companies.
  • PIMFA represents both full and associate member firms. Full members provide a range of financial solutions including financial advice, portfolio management, as well as investment and execution services. They assist everyone from individuals and families, to charities and pension funds, all the way to trusts and companies. Associate members provide professional services to the PIMFA community.
  • PIMFA leads the debate on policy and regulatory recommendations to ensure that the UK remains a global centre of excellence in the wealth management, investment advice and financial planning arena.  Our mission is to create an optimal operating environment so that its member firms can focus on delivering the best service to clients, providing responsible stewardship for their long-term savings and investments.
  • PIMFA was created in 2017 as the outcome of a merger between the Association of Professional Financial Advisers (APFA) and the Wealth Management Association (WMA) with a history as a trade association going back for 27 years – read more.

Contact

For further information on this release or other press matters please contact:

  • Sheena Gillett – PIMFA Head of PR & Communications, sheenag@pimfa.co.uk
    +44 (0)20 7011 9869