FSA may publish firms' advice methods to consumers

The move would mean for the first time consumers would have easy access to information about whether their adviser offers independent (i.e whole of market), tied, or multi-tied advice. However, the FSA says it will first carry out cost benefit analysis of the move, pointing out some in the industry believe publishing this information would be of very limited use to – and prone to misunderstanding by – consumers. In addition, it says it intends to examine how doing so would conflict with its plans for a discussion paper on regulatory transparency as part of the Retail Distribution Review (...