Network IFA Sesame has confirmed it is in talks with Skandia to acquire its Bankhall and Premier Mortgage Services (PMS) businesses.

Acquirers of adviser firms favour those which have at least 30% of their revenue coming from recurring business, a J.P.Morgan report suggests.

Firms wishing to obtain Corporate Chartered status will need to meet broader and stricter criteria after the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) toughened its eligibility rules.

'Restricted' advisers must make clear their limitations both in writing and orally using a "specific" script before any advice takes place, the FSA suggests today.

The FSA says it fears some firms may focus more on sales of pure protection policies to maintain a commission income post 2012.

German pensioners who lost $4m in savings in a Florida property investment scheme reportedly kidnapped and tortured the financial adviser responsible.

The Association of IFAs (AIFA) says proposals tied and multi-tied advisers will have to call themselves ‘restricted' are "lovely".

The FSA today clarified firms will still be able to call themselves independent even if they specialise only in a "narrow and distinct" field.

Incorporating life cover with Personal Accounts would cut an estimated £2.3trn protection gap by 20% in one fell swoop, Friends Provident CEO Trevor Matthews says.

Aegon is launching a guaranteed income investment product it says reflects the growth of the third-way annuities market in the UK.