The Association of Independent Financial Advisers (AIFA) has hailed the increase in the ombudsman's free case fee threshold as a positive move for IFA firms.

The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) today proposed a modernisation of its funding model which could increase the number of free cases for small businesses from three annually to as many as 25.

Trade union Unite has branded plans by the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) to axe staff from its investment banking division as "appalling".

Advisers have been warned that failure to set up trusts correctly could land their clients - and themselves - in hot water.

An outspoken critic of the new qualification requirements for advisers has revealed he considered 'passporting' his business into the UK from Dublin in a bid to bypass the rules.

Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has appointed Lazard to manage an auction of parts of its investment bank in a move which may lead to as many as 10,000 job cuts.

Transact has told advisers it is not looking to expand into the direct to consumer (D2C) or workplace savings markets and will instead focus solely on the IFA space.

Fidelity FundsNetwork has added Hawksmoor Investment Management to its discretionary management service.

Wrap Transact suffered a £3m drop in profits last year after it was hit by an FSA fine for client money breaches.

John Simmonds has stepped down from his role as chairman of Bluefin Corporate Consulting and Bluefin Wealth Management to pursue other interests.