Investment authorities and professional bodies

Association of Independent Financial Advisers (AIFA) - association promoting the concept of independent financial advice and representing IFAs. The site includes a directory of services, a newsflash service on topical issues with headline summaries/AIFA responses, and a library of full text resources. Full text resources available in this section include relevant FSA and Treasury Papers, as well as a slideshow presentation on Stakeholder Pensions Presentation from The Adam Smith Institute.

Association of Investment Trust Companies

Association of Private Client Investment Managers and Stockbrokers - the trade association for the private client investment managers and stockbrokers. The APCIMS website features a members directory (searchable by location and area of specialisation), frequently answered questions, a guide to share dealing and an archive of press releases.

Association of Unit Trust and Investment Funds

CFA Institute - (formerly Association for Investment Management and Research) a global association for investment professionals based in the USA with members in 77 countries.

Financial Services Authority - the FSA has asked us to include the following statement: 'General information about financial services is available from the Financial Services Authority (FSA). The FSA is an independent watchdog set up by the government to regulate financial services and protect your rights. It provides free and independent information about financial matters on its website at: http://www.fsa.gov.uk'. The FSA website provides a wealth of information, including a background briefing to the role of the FSA, information about the FSA handbook, a wide selection of documents in pdf format, and an archive of the Handbook Developments serial. The selection of documents provided online includes annual reports of the FSA, consultation papers, policy papers, speeches, Banking Act List amendments, and rulebook amendments. The site also acts as an entrance point for the Central Register.

Foresight: Financial Services - click on the option for Financial Services in the left frame. The site includes the four papers that make up the Financial Services Consultation Report and contact details for the Financial Services Panel.

International Financial Services London - private sector organisation which promotes UK-based financial services around the world. Their site includes market summaries for countries, in relation to the financial services sector, in association with Trade Partners UK. Additional areas include trade policy, key facts and messages plus sectoral reports in the City Business series. Every 6 months the BI publishes two statistical documents, which are available as free downloads from the site (in Adobe PDF format) - City Indicators Bulletin and Financial Market Trends Europe vs. US. (N.B. This company used to be known as "British Invisibles".)

Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority - the OPRA site contains press releases, guidance on procedures and publications (including OPRA Bulletins)

Regulatory Approach - information from the FSA on the transition to a single regulator in the UK: 'We became the single regulator for financial services in the UK on 1 December 2001, when the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA) came into force.'. This special section of the FSA website includes a full archive of documents, speeches, progress reports and the full text of the FSA publication 'A New Regulator for the new Millennium' (48 pages, PDF format).

Sandler Review: Medium and Long-Term Retail Savings in the UK report, which was published by HM Treasury on 9th July 2002.

Securities and Futures Authority (SFA) - the archives of the body formerly responsibility for regulating members of the organised City investment markets from 1986 to 2001, including the full text of press releases from 1999 to 2001 now appear to be contained within the main FSA website. The FSA became the single regulator for financial services in the UK on 1 December 2001.

UK Listing Authority - official website of the UK Listing Authority, a part of the FSA since 1st May 2000. Includes background information on the role of the UKLA, listing rule checklists, the UKLA Official List and downloadable support documentation.

United Kingdom Society of Investment Professionals (UKSIP) - now CFA UK, was formed by the merger of the Institute of Investment Management and Research and the London Society of Investment Professionals. Information available through the site includes information on investment management qualifications (with a set of questions based on the IMC exam), online access to articles from Professional Investor and IIMR Journal, an events diary and list of publications.

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