ifs School chief hits out at RDR

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The Retail Distribution Review's (RDR's) consumer-heavy mantra will impair the financial advice arena before it strengthens it, according to the ifs School of Finance.

Gavin Shreeve, ifs School chief executive, says the Review "could not have come at a more problematical time" and advisers will be wondering how its proposals will "make a jot of difference" to their businesses. He adds new qualifications and titles for advisers, proposed as part of the RDR's bid to improve professionalism and standards in the industry, can never replace experience and an earned reputation. "The financial services sector is facing its worst crisis for 80 years," he tells Financial World magazine. "Public confidence in the sector, never really that high, has taken an alm...

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