Adviser / Broking

Network Openwork is seeking to attract and develop the next generation of financial advisers through the launch of a training academy.

Simplified advice should not be restricted to those who have cleared their debts and had other ‘priority needs' met if the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is serious about closing the advice gap, according to a law firm.

MetLife and Openwork have agreed to the transfer of up to 930 of MetLife's self-employed advisers and a new agreement enabling the network to distribute its protection proposition more widely.

Advisers have overcome the biggest hurdles they were confronted with as a result of the Retail Distribution Review (RDR), according to a poll, with the number reporting they are still in "survival mode" having halved.

Martin Wheatley, the chief executive of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), said he has confidence the Money Advice Service (MAS) is a "competent organisation", though said it faces a huge operational challenge to deliver the free financial guidance...

Network Sesame has again come out top as the most complained about advice firm, although numbers of cases against it were down, according to the Financial Ombudsman Service's (FOS) half yearly figures published today.

All regulated financial advisers could be included on a new directory being set up by the Money Advice Service (MAS) after the industry and consumers gave the green light to the project.

Membership of the Personal Finance Society (PFS) has reached more than 35,000, with more than 1,000 people joining in the past year.

Product provider Aegon has distanced itself from a view attributed to its head of marketing that advisers have been "disintermediated" and that its future lies in direct relationships with consumers.

Another five new or returning mortgage lenders will launch into the intermediary market this year alone excluding the Bank of Ireland, predicted Legal & General Mortgage Club bosses.