Three quarters of IFAs determined to stay independent - survey

Carmen Reichman
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Around three quarters of IFAs plan to stay independent despite a tougher stance from the regulator on the definition of independent advice, according to an industry survey.

Financial services consultancy Harrison Spence Partnership's IFA View Survey found 15% of IFAs intend to become restricted in the next year, while a further 5% will become restricted within the next year and 6% within three years. The figures fly in the face of widely held expectations that there would be a rush to become restricted among IFAs post-Retail Distribution Review (RDR) to avoid the extra requirements necessary to remain independent, such as the need to be prepared to advise on unregualted collective investment schemes. However while managing partner Brian Spence called the...

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