The prospect of a 'regulatory dividend' for advisory firms - proposed by the Association of Professional Financial Advisers (APFA) - has been all but ruled out by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

Advisers' hopes for the re-introduction of a long-stop on client complaints have suffered a blow after Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) chief Martin Wheatley suggested the regulator's investigation into the matter may have hit a roadblock.

Almost a third of UK adults do not know what changes to pensions were announced in the Budget or how they are affected, according to research.

Provider Aviva's platform is on course to achieve profitability in 2016 and its target of £6bn in assets under management (AUM) by the end of this year, after its AUM has doubled in the last 12 months.

A legal firm, which recently launched as part of the St James's Place (SJP) network, has bought two financial services firms, fueling its plans to reach £500m of assets under management (AUM) in five years.

Size isn’t everything: Local vs national DFMs

Nearly two-thirds of advisers have seen an increase in business enquiries since sweeping changes to pensions were announced in the Budget, according to a survey by Skandia.

Provider LV= has called for the introduction of new retirement solutions which could see providers and advisers split the risks inherent in providing income drawdown to the masses.

Support services provider Simplybiz has said it has taken on more than 50 former Sesame advisers this year, as the firm announced its best annual start since 2008.

Royal London has said it will continue to pay adviser commission on its workplace pension schemes - currently branded Scottish Life - until 2016.