FSA reveals 11.5% drop in adviser numbers since 2011

There are currently 35,899 retail investment advisers operating in the UK, according to the FSA's findings. IFAs make up the largest group with 53% of the population, followed by advisers in banks and building societies at 19%. The findings came from research carried out by the FSA late last summer in which it questioned 1,436 advisers. It found that 89% of all retail investment advisers were definitely or likely to remain in their posts, with 6% - about 2,000 individuals - expecting to leave the industry or take on a non-advisory role. Further research by the FSA in November an...