Annuity advice should be made as widely available as possible, before the industry starts pushing direct-to-consumer options, according to Living Time.

US equities finished higher in another round of fairly quiet trading on Wednesday, underpinned by upbeat economic data out of China and Japan overnight.

Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) coverage for SIPPs is overly complex, and should be simplified to make it easier for advisers to understand, according to John Moret.

Sales at Resolution, owner of Friends Provident, have fallen 28% so far this year.

The FSA says it is not blocking self-employed and contract workers from getting a mortgage by banning self-cert products.

Aviva is introducing a money-back guarantee for new with-profits customers.

The next Pre-Budget Report will be published on Wednesday 9 December, the Chancellor has confirmed.

Two Bear Stearns hedge fund managers have been found not guilty of fraud.

The FSA has proposed implementing a minimum £1,000 fee for all regulated firms, as part of reforms to its levy calculations.

Few financial advisers have been able to establish profitable relationships with accountants, claims Mark Lee, chairman of accountants' group, the Tax Advice Network.