AIFA member exits over pro-RDR 'bias'

Laura Miller
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A member of the AIFA RDR Working Group has launched a public attack on the organisation saying it is disproportionately influenced by pro-fee IFA firms and takes a "Stalinist approach" to crushing dissent.

Doug Johnstone, chairman of Creative Benefit Solutions, says he has lost all confidence in AIFA’s ability to reflect the views of its wider membership and has resigned his firm from the organisation. He says AIFA “largely ignored” the views of a members' Working Group set up to craft AIFA’s submission to the Treasury Select Committee (TSC), after MPs asked for evidence from the industry to scrutinise the rule change. Johnstone says AIFA makes it clear “dissent is not warmly welcomed” and says the Working Group operates the “Chatham House” rules, in which members are not allowed to tal...

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