The many ways in which providers are remunerating advisers are "restricting choice and pushing up costs" for clients, according to the director of one advice firm.

Scottish Life's illustration rates have been "significantly better" than they were in January 2012, indicating "advisers are coping well" with the transition to the new regulatory regime, according to one director.

Lloyds Banking group has announced 940 redundancies in an ongoing bid to reduce costs by £1.5bn by 2014.

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has appointed two new non-executive directors to the board of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).

The regulator's vastly improved thematic communication and knowledge sharing means advisers should view it as a valuable resource, according to RSM Tenon's head of wealth management John Porteous.

Advisory businesses will see a marked reduction in the amount they contribute to the Money Advice Service (MAS) in 2013/14 if proposed changes to the way it is funded are approved.

A network allowing de-authorised advisers to continue to claim trail commission is to launch in March this year.

The Financial Standards Authority (FSA) may be forced to reconsider the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) threshold when the impact of the Retail Distribution Review (RDR) on adviser revenues becomes more apparent, APFA has said.

The Financial Services Authority (FSA)is considering introducing a time limit for Payment Protection Insurance (PPI) complaints after being approached by the British Bankers' Association (BBA).

Newcastle Financial Services (NFS), a subsidiary of Newcastle Building Society has renewed its contract with the Openwork network for a further five years.