Another year, another FSA paper. This time the regulator is once again raising concerns about risk-profiling tools.

Professional Adviser is pleased to unveil the shortlists for our adviser awards for 2011.

Labour has slammed the coalition government for dithering over plans to introduce a flat rate state pension after it shelved the launch of a consultation last year.

Prime Minister David Cameron has hinted the rise in VAT from 17.5% to 20% will be permanent but he hopes other measures to tackle the budget deficit such as the 50p tax rate for top earners would eventually be scrapped.

Taxpayers have been the biggest victims of a surge in large fraud cases, losing nearly £600m last year, according to KPMG.

While many of us prefer to ease ourselves gently into a new year, the same can't be said of Grant Shapps. The housing minister has been busy causing a stir, tackling the controversial topics of house prices and mortgage availability.

Q: I am keen to start charging my clients fees and am not sure how to start, particularly with customers who end up with a direct deal recommendation. Can you offer any tips?

Nearly 4,000 more people remortgaged in November than October last year, according to Bank of England figures.

City analysts believe the FTSE 100 could hit an all-time high of almost 7,000 points this year as the global economic recovery gathers pace.

Britain's property boom could be over for good and homeowners should no longer rely on their houses to fund retirement, housing minister Grant Shapps has warned.