Nearly 2,400 delegates are expected to attend the Personal Finance Society’s four Financial Planning Symposiums around the country which start next week.

Bristol-based investment and advice provider Hargreaves Lansdown has voiced concerns about the shrinking open market annuity rate sector and says the ABI should reinstate ‘annuity window’ rate tracking.

The ABI is urging the Chancellor to announce a freeze on any further rises in insurance premium tax, warning that recent rises have added £100 a year to household bills.

The CISI has struck two major deals on overseas qualifications to spread recognition of UK designations.

The Bank of England has held its base rate at 0.25%, it announced at midday.

A new “Portfolio Cloning tool” designed to help advisers and Discretionary Fund Managers has been launched by Ascentric.

The cost of regulation for smaller adviser firms is £32,000 a year, with each client paying £160 on average, research has suggested.

Mortgage market rules should be used as a blueprint for banning pensions cold-calling, a pensions firm has proposed.

Financial Planning CII Diploma holders will be able to become qualified pension transfer specialists through a new pension transfers qualification.

The State Pension is not fit for purpose and should be replaced with a Workplace ISA and a new residency-based Senior Citizens’ Pension, a think tank says.