Regulation

The Association of Independent Financial Advisers (AIFA) has called for claims management companies (CMCs) to be regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

The new financial regulators will have the power to discipline individuals for activities outside of the controlled functions they perform, under rules proposed by the Financial Services Authority (FSA).

PanaceaIFA, the online community for IFAs, is rebranding to Panacea Adviser to reflect the changing advisory landscape ahead of the implementation of the Retail Distribution Review (RDR).

WHAT I REALLY THINK

The High Court has dismissed an appeal by Thinc Group - now Bluefin - against a ruling which said it could not claim back goodwill payments worth more than £243,000 from two self-employed advisers whose contracts with the business were terminated.

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has defended its decision to warn providers and advisory groups about securing "distribution agreements" which may appear to be commission by another name, saying it has evidence of deals which have raised its suspicions....

In the most recent of our series looking at coverage of the Retail Distribution Review (RDR) in the national media, we came across this piece from Money Mail...

Providers will scramble to buy distribution ahead of the Retail Distribution Review (RDR) and will buy up IFA businesses "left, right and centre", delegates at this year's Institute of Financial Planning (IFP) conference heard today.

Firms offering restricted advice are spreading "propaganda" about the apparent difficulties of meeting the Financial Services Authority's (FSA's) new independence rules, according to consultant David Severn, a former head of investment business policy...

Accredited Financial Planning firms are to be offered wider professional indemnity insurance (PII) cover, including full legal liability, under a deal arranged by the Institute of Financial Planning (IFP).