Regulation

The managing director of Sense Network has said that he has "grave concerns" regarding the readiness of product providers for the Retail Distribution Review (RDR).

Financial advisers in the UK "lag their US peers" in making use of softer skills, according to life coach Maria Nemeth.

Aegon has declared its "full support" and confidence in the future of its national IFA brand, Positive Solutions, despite a number of high-profile departures and disruption caused by an exit clause introduced last year.

The banning of marketing "packages" between providers and advisory groups would bankrupt most networks and support service providers, Threesixty managing director Phil Young said.

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) is fighting a proposal by Lloyds Banking Group to pay its first dividend since the government acquired a 43% stake in 2008, according to reports.

FIVE THINGS

Linda Woodall, the head of investment intermediaries at the Financial Services Authority (FSA), has admitted there is an "ongoing underlying tension" between advisers and the regulator, but claims this is "as it should be".

A barrister representing advisers fighting the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) over Lifemark compensation has insisted the products were not high risk.

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) is consulting on a change to its adviser charging rules to ensure advisory firms do not receive any kick-back payments from discretionary investment managers (DIMs) in exchange for recommending their services.

The Institute of Financial Planning (IFP) has warned the government that the threat of retrospective regulation is preventing advisers from recommending enterprise investment schemes (EIS) to clients.