The variety of qualifications available to financial advisers must be simplified and better communicated to consumers if the industry is to succeed in increasing take-up of advice, Which? says.

A high-street insurance broker has been fined £770,000 for "serious failing" in its advised sales of single premium payment protection insurance (PPI).

Tied and multi-tied advisers should consider themselves "very lucky" they may be able to use the term ‘advice' when explaining their offering to consumers.

A Conservative Government will sanction the re-introduction of a 15-year long-stop for the financial advice sector, the Association of IFAs (AIFA) says.

IFA consolidator Succession Advisory Services has selected Investment Funds Direct Limited (IFDL) to power its wrap platform solution.

European shares dipped in early trading on Monday with banks reversing some initial gains after ING unveiled plans to launch a €7.5bn (£6.9bn) rights issue and split itself in two.

Bradford & Bingley (B&B) is to divide its £50bn balance sheet into "good" and "bad" assets in an exercise that echoes similar plans at Northern Rock.

The Association of IFAs (AIFA) says consumers might be willing to pay a monthly subscription to their IFA to cover the costs of both upfront and ongoing services.

IFA consolidator Perspective Financial Group has acquired its ninth firm after securing a refinancing package with Lloyds TSB.

Fee-based IFA Towry Law is set to quintuple its adviser base after acquiring the UK arm of US financial advice giant Edward D Jones.