Regulation

The banning of commission on retail investments and the subsequent revelation of the "true cost" of advice has led some clients to consider the value of what their adviser offers, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has conceded.

About two out of three financial advice clients receive ongoing services but only half understand what they are actually paying for, research from NMG has found.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has found increased professionalism in the advice sector and better disclosure of services and charges, but one firm has been referred to enforcement for "insufficiently engaging" with the Retail Distribution Review...

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has declared the Retail Distribution Review (RDR), its "once in a generation" project to revamp the retail investment advice market, is working, though some concerns remain on the costs and labels of advisers' services....

Financial advice should be grouped by type of service and given price tags to break down the barriers consumers often face when shopping for it, Unbiased chief executive Karen Barrett has suggested.

Less than a tenth of the population has complex enough needs to warrant the fees they would pay for advice, and would be better served by guidance, an IFA has said.

The Money Advice Service (MAS) has published details of the criteria advisers will need to meet before they can be listed on the website's directory.

Small firm consolidation in the financial advice market has yet to materialise as predicted because many owners are "hanging on" to the trail commission they earn on pre-Retail Distribution Review (RDR) business, according to one acquirer.

Wealth management firms say they are being "crippled" by suitability requirements as the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) increases its scrutiny of the sector.

An independent review of the Money Advice Service (MAS) will recommend it cuts more than half its staff and reduce its budget by as much as 38%, according to a report.