More than four years after the start of the recession, the UK economy is well over 4 per cent below its pre-crisis peak. This persistent weakness is unprecedented, says the National Insitute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR). Read more ...

Tagged under #NIESR #economy

The Investment Management Association has today published its monthly fund statistics for March 2012 showing a significant drop in Isa net sales compared to two years ago and a shift by investors to fixed income funds. Read more ...

Tagged under #IMA #fund statistics

Standards International, a Certification Body, has claimed to be the first in the market to launch its BS 8577 Certification Scheme and will soon be in talks with the British Standards Institute (BSI) about getting it kitemarked. Read more ...

Tagged under #BSI #Standard International #BS8577

The UK economy will see growth resume in the second half of 2012, with faster GDP growth during 2013, according to the latest quarterly CBI economic forecast. Read more ...

Tagged under #CBI #UK economy

The IFP says there are now only a limited number of places available for its exclusive Paraplanner Conference on 24 May.

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Tagged under #Paraplanner #Paraplanner Conference

Gross mortgage lending by building societies and other mutual lenders rose 58% in March 2012 compared to the same month last year, and by 40% in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the first quarter of 2011. Net lending by mutuals was positive for the sixth consecutive month.

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Tagged under #BSA #mortgage approvals #lending

With just nine months to go before RDR, AXA Wealth has seen the first 50 adviser firms through its business transition programme, helping advisers prepare their businesses for the changes that the RDR will demand. Read more ...

Tagged under #AXA Wealth #business transition

IFG Group, the owners of James Hay Partnership, an IFP sponsor, says it is investing in IT and service enhancements for the James Hay wrap platform as well as reducing charges for new and existing clients. Read more ...

Tagged under #RDR #wrap #James Hay #Platform

Prudential has announced details of how it plans to facilitate adviser charging, with the unveiling of its RDR-Day product suite. Under the plans, advisers will be able to receive any adviser charges they have agreed with their clients via Prudential instead of directly from the client, reducing their administration burden. Read more ...

Tagged under #RDR #Prudential #Adviser charging

The Financial Services Authority has fined Christchurch Investment Management Limited (Christchurch), a small firm specialising in financial planning and portfolio management, £26,600 and its compliance officer David Thornberry £11,550 for failings in relation to the protection of client money.

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