Advised net inflows held steady at £0.9bn for investment platform AJ Bell for the quarter ending 31 March, as advised customers rose 14%.

Acquisitive Chartered Financial Planning firm Fairstone has acquired Dundee-based Findlay & Company Financial Services, its third acquisition this year.

In a special platforms report for the latest edition of Financial Planning Today Magazine, Financial Planners have called for platforms to develop better integrations with the most popular back-office systems.

The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) declared 11 firms in default in March, including several wealth managers and IFA firms.

Adviser network Socium Group has withdrawn its acquisition offer for financial advice firm Beaufort Group.

The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) 12-month rate rose to 0.7% in the 12 months to March, up from 0.4% in February.

Expanding Financial Planning firm Progeny has acquired Ayrshire-based Financial Planner Affinity as it extends its offering in Scotland.

Quilter Financial Planning generated £1bn in integrated net flows for the three months ended 31 March, an increase of 43% from Q1 2020.

Two thirds (66%) of adults retiring in 2021 risk running out of money in retirement, according to a new study.

The M&G Property Portfolio Fund and its feeder fund are to resume dealing next month on 10 May after being suspended for nearly 18 months.