The Bank of England has left its Bank Rate unchanged at half a per cent and the size of the Asset Purchase Programme at £375 billion following last week's election.

Wealth manager Bellpenny has completed two more IFA acquisitions with combined funds under management of £84m.

Pensions minister Steve Webb has lost his seat in the general election prompting speculation about who will lead government pensions policy in future.

Burnley-based Financial Affairs has made a bid to Aviva's Community Fund to secure up to £25,000 to roll out the Premier League Reading Stars scheme in Burnley and Pendle primary schools, where achievement at Key Stage 2 is 10% below the national average.

The two day annual Morningstar Investment Conference, supported by the IFP, will be held in London next week on 12 and 13 May and is expected to attract more than 400 advisers and professional investors, including many IFP members.

IFP chief executive Steve Gazzard will be among leading figures from the Financial Planning sector speaking at the Morningstar Conference next week.

A major mismatch exists between what advisers charge for their services and what investors are willing to pay, research has suggested.

An increasing need to focus on compliance is leaving the traditional drivers of retirement benefits lagging behind in employers' priorities.

Donations have topped £4,000 for Nick Cann's epic cycle challenge this weekend which he is undertaking to raise money for a stroke charity.

Tavistock Investments has agreed a deal worth up to £506,000 to takeover a Cornwall based advice firm.