MOST PEOPLE SPEND a lot of time deciding where to invest their money. They compare funds, research performance, weigh up risk and often seek professional advice before making a decision.

Very few ever stop to ask a much simpler question: “When will my money actually be invested?” Most of us would assume the answer is obvious: once the money leaves your account, surely it starts working for you. However, recent reports surrounding the Central Bank’s investigation into delays in processing certain pension and investment transactions suggest that assumption may not always hold true.

It’s important to stress that this relates to certain pension and investment products rather than life assurance policies, and the Central Bank’s review is still ongoing. No findings have been reached yet, and no wrongdoing established, but what has emerged so far raises an important question about how investment transactions are processed and, ultimately, who carries the financial risk when delays occur.

We’re hearing anecdotal reports within the financial services sector that some investors may have lost thousands of euros........

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