Skandia is calling for simplification of income drawdown rules to ease the "administrative nightmare" on advisers and simplify calculations for consumers.

Ascentric has united with adviser support services group True Potential.

IFAs are set to be hit with a hike in professional indemnity insurance (PII) premiums as increasingly selective insurers respond to a sharp rise in claim values, warns Tenet.

Buckles is launching a new streamlined remote advice service in a bid to take financial advice to the mass market.

The FSA has confirmed the merger of Stroud & Swindon Building Society with Coventry Building Society.

Transact has welcomed Towry's claim to have sorted out the transfer delays of former Edward Jones clients, but warns the saga has yet to be "put to bed".

Manx Financial Group has acquired Isle of Man-based IFA Edgewater Associates as the firm looks to diversify beyond the lending arena and develop its wealth business.

Architas Multi-Manager, part of Axa UK, has appointed ex Barclays Wealth man Hans Georgeson as managing director.

HSBC reported profits doubled to £7bn for the first half of the year, with gains in every region apart from North America.

The ABI has appointed Aviva Investors chief executive Alain Dromer as chairman of its Investment Committee, effective from 15 September.