Consolidation. It’s a word used widely in financial circles. Consolidation of debt (translation: combining lots of different credit cards into one seemingly simple yet unmanageable whole). Consolidation of assets (translation: combining liabilities into one seemingly simple yet unmanageable whole). You get my drift.
So, consolidation is not always a good thing. I wonder if this will prove to be the case for a new government-run financial advice service.
Although it has yet to be given a name, this brand spanking new single advisory body will, according to ministers, be more efficient than the organisations it, er, consolidates.
Financial experts agree that we are better off without one of these: the much-criticised Money Advice Service. The scrapping of MAS was announced in the Spring Budget, one of the last acts of former Chancellor, George Osborne. It’s safe to say that this body – criticised for failing to help those most in need and for over-generous staff remuneration – won’t be missed.
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