Give savings the KISS of life!

Give savings the KISS of life! The government must act to make savings simpler says MX Financial Solutions. KISS - keep it simple, stupid! An old adage that the government has ignored at investors' peril. Leading independent financial adviser MX Financial Solutions says too many of the government's initiatives aimed at boosting savings and investments have only left people more confused. Against a background of a black hole in pensions savings and slumping shares, two major reports on how we should save for our future are due out this week. Ron Sandler's report on the long-term savings industry is expected to be highly critical of complex, expensive investment products while Alan Pickering's review of pensions could suggest the return of compulsory membership of company pension schemes - something that was scrapped back in 1988. Whatever the reports' recommendations, Robin Amlôt, of MX Financial Solutions says, "The government has got a duty now to get it right. It is up to them to create the right climate to make it worthwhile for all of us to save for our future instead of creating confused and confusing product regimes." Robin Amlôt is available for comment from tomorrow (Tuesday, July 9th) on the report by Ron Sadler into the long-term savings industry being produced for HM Treasury. He will also be happy to comment on the Pickering Report into pensions legislation that will be published later this week (Thursday, July 11th). For further information, please contact: Shakila Ahmed Robin Amlôt Communications Manager Senior Editor MX Financial Solutions MX Financial Solutions Tel: 0870 191 5637 Tel: 0870 191 5626 shakila.ahmed@mxfs.co.uk robin.amlot@mxfs.co.uk Notes to editor MX Financial Solutions (www.mxfs.co.uk) was created through the merger of two award winning financial services groups, Willis National - corporate IFA of the year* - and Moneyextra , one of Britain's most comprehensive financial websites. MX Financial Solutions is part of the Bristol & West plc group a major financial services group dating back to 1851 MX Financial Solutions has more than 200,000 personal clients as well as 2,500 corporate clients ranging from small enterprise to multinational concerns. MX Moneyextra is the online service of MX Financial Solutions. It has more than 350,000 registered users and an additional 400,000 regular visitors to the site. It allows customers to compare and apply online for personal loans, credit cards, cash ISAs, general insurance, current accounts and deposit accounts. There are: 1215 ISA Products by 72 fund managers 276 cash ISA's available from 103 providers 133 credit cards from 57 providers 48 current accounts from 31 providers 831 deposit accounts from 156 providers 69 personal loans from 45 providers. 6882 mortgage products from 149 providers The website also offers an Investors' Centre service Incorporating online share-trading, portfolio tracking services, stock market tools (price and news feeds, power charts) editorial/news content. MX Moneyextra Mortgage Service is a leading-edge web- based mortgage comparison service able to access 6882 mortgages from 149 providers. Service is supported by a Contact Centre providing product advice and step-by-step guidance. MX Moneyextra website also offers a comparison service for utility, telephone providers. Life, household, motor and travel insurance. Also an extensive range of guides on a wide range of financial matters. * Money Marketing - Willis National was named corporate IFA of the year for the second time in 2001. ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/07/08/20020708BIT00900/wkr0001.doc http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/07/08/20020708BIT00900/wkr0002.pdf