IFA mergers expected to increase

Almost one-third of intermediary directors think they may have to merge or sell their business in the next two years, according to research by Pims. The group's third online survey of director-level intermediaries found 50% of respondents felt their business had increased in value over the past 12 months, while a quarter of those asked felt it had decreased. The majority of those asked felt moves by product providers to take a stake in intermediary businesses will compromise the independence of those advisers. In addition, some 80% agreed that the introduction of multi-ties will give p...