'Clarity remains polarisation's greatest asset'

The Association of Independent Financial Advisors (AIFA) fired a shot across the bow at the FSA yesterday. AIFA cautioned the city regulator that if its intention "was to muddy the waters in the area of polarisation, then it will need to introduce more stringent rules on status disclosure in order to counter act consumer confusion". The warning came as AIFA director general Paul Smee commented on consumer research carried out by both AIFA and the FSA, which he said consistently showed "the majority of consumers understand the difference between independent and tied advisers and ...