Almost half of UK adults (48%) are shunning financial advisers despite 88% of advised clients saying they were financially prepared for retirement.

Acquisitive Financial Planning-led wealth manager AFH has bought the client book of Midlands IFA firm Groom Associatates in a deal worth up to £615,000.

The independent Financial Services Consumer Panel, which advises the FCA, has announced three new members.

Tracey Davidson has been appointed chairman of investment manager Heartwood from today and will also assume the new role of deputy CEO of Handelsbanken, Heartwood’s parent company.

Wealth manager and Financial Planner Brewin Dolphin has completed the takeover of the wealth arm of Investec Group in the Republic of Ireland for just under £40m net.

The Financial Planning Standards Board Ltd (FPSB), the global body for Certified Financial Planner certification, has appointed UK compliance consultant and lawyer Adam Samuel as one of two new directors.

I remember a few years back when I worked at another media business that we had a presentation from a senior bod about the exciting technological future awaiting the company.

I’ve often wondered exactly how many people regularly use an IFA and now we know - it’s about 8%, at least of the key so-called Generation X segment of the population, the important 39-54 year-olds.

The mighty St James’s Place juggernaut seems to defy negative forces as the number of advisers working for it grows and grows.

For Financial Planners, working with clients over many years and helping them plan towards a better, more secure and comfortable life in retirement must be one of the most rewarding aspects of the job.