Return of the Provider: A vertical integration story

The return of life and asset management companies to financial advice has been somewhat overshadowed by the blinding influx of private equity money in the last few years. But, after Aviva's purchase of Succession Wealth, the providers are becoming unmistakably much more intent on controlling distribution - to use the uglier, provider-preferred term for financial advice and planning. Indeed, Natalie Holt, content editor at the lang cat, echoes a similar view in response to Aviva's mammoth deal: "We wonder whether this [Aviva's acquisition of Succession] is a symptom of something much b...