Friends Provident's Trevor Matthews is to step down as CEO and hand over the reins to former Scottish Widows chief Andy Briggs.

St James's Place reported total new business (APE) hit £581.8m in 2010, a rise of 32% compared to £440.8m the previous year.

Another year and yet another guide on how to encourage retirees to shop around before buying an annuity.

Investec Asset Management has widened access to its £300m Multi-Asset Protector (MAP) fund to allow investment through ISAs.

Schroders' Richard Buxton believes interest rates will remain on hold in 2011, despite a record jump in inflation.

Lenders are expecting a surge in demand for fixed-rate mortgages after inflation rose by the fastest rate on record last month.

A hefty bill awaits

Research by mortgage club The Mortgage Alliance (TMA) found 86% of its members believe business volumes will increase in 2011.

Commodities enthusiasts are investing five years too late although gold may still be worth buying, according to Fidelity's Anthony Bolton.

House prices have begun to fall in real terms, with annual house price growth dropping below inflation to 2.9% in December 2010, according to the latest figures.