National adviser financial adviser Continuum has recruited ex-Paraplanner James Barber as a new Chartered Financial Planner for its St Albans office.

The Financial Services Compensation Scheme, the safety-net scheme for retail investors, declared nine firms in default in April and May, it confirmed this week.

With any detail regarding pension tax allowances missing from the Labour Party manifesto, retirees could see a Labour government cut back allowances to raise funds, according to pensions industry experts.

The Labour Party has promised to carry out a review of the UK pensions landscape in its manifesto released today.

Specialist SME advice firm K3 Capital Group has acquired commercial property tax specialist HMA Tax for an undisclosed sum.

Birmingham-headquartered investment manager EFG Harris Allday has been awarded CISI Chartered Firm status.

Victims of the Hartley Pensions collapse have moved a step closer to having their funds unlocked with the appointment of a firm to receive transfers from the Hartley SIPP business, which is currently in administration.

A new industry campaign group has been set up to tackle failings and shortcomings in the Letter of Authority process, which it says is costing the industry £442m a year.

Wealth manager St James’s Place (SJP) has recruited Caroline Waddington from UBS to be its new chief financial officer (CFO).

Michelle Scrimgeour, chief executive of Legal and General Investment Management (LGIM), is to step down as the firm merges its asset management divisions.