fee-based advice

The outcome of the Retail Distribution Review (RDR) should not matter as advisers must change their business models to succeed anyway, according to transition planner FP Advance.

The current strength of the retail investment market can largely be attributed to those firms that operate on an agreed fee basis, the Securities and Investment Institute (SII) argues.

One in four IFAs sees the transition to a fee-based model, treating customers fairly (TCF), and working with legislation as the biggest issues for them in the near future, a survey suggests.

Calls from the Financial Services Consumer Panel and Towry Law this week to ban commission have sparked outrage in the IFA community.

Everyone in the industry has an opinion on the FSA, particularly at the moment with the regulator's push toward a more principles-based system for delivering advice.

IFAs wanting to move to a fee-based business model are often told they should segment their client base and concentrate on those clients who are likely to be most profitable.

Axa last month confirmed it was in exclusive talks to buy financial adviser group Thinc Destini, and given the time scales usually involved in a merger or takeover, it wouldn't be unreasonable to think the deal could be completed at any time.

A flurry of emails has arrived in the IFAonline inbox in response to the ABI's report into commission bias, and the double standard shown by one major life company.

Another IFA comment - following publication of the depolarisation menu - suggests some intermediaries welcome the move to introduce documents revealing the earnings from advice.

This latest comment from a fee-based IFA suggests consumers will be confused, rather than enlightened by the raft of FSA regulations hitting the financial services sector.