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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Financial Services Authority has launched a three-month consultation today to establish a consumer redress scheme for those affected by the failure of CF Arch Cru.

Rayner Spencer Mills, a financial research company, has launched an adviser guide on sustainable and responsible investing (SRI).

There is less than a week to go for advisers to send in applications for the Institute of Financial Planning’s David Norton ‘Building Excellence’ award.

Aberdeen Asset Management, a sponsor of the Institute of Financial Planning, has seen pre-tax profits increase by 14 per cent according to its interim results.