Wealth manager St James’s Place has dropped plans to acquire Dublin-based Irish Financial Planner firm Harvest Financial Services Limited.

Chancellor Sajid Javid has confirmed that consultation on the future of the Retail Prices Index - used to set many annual pension scheme increases - will begin when he presents his Budget on 11 March.

One in 3 over 55s with a private pensions have more than one pension pot but this group are the least likely to consider consolidating multiple pensions, according to new research.

Quilter Private Client Advisers has bought national IFA firm Prescient, adding £800m of assets under advice.

Optimism in the financial services sector is improving at the fastest pace since June 2015, according to the latest CBI-PWC Financial Services Survey.

Bancroft Wealth, an IFA and wealth manager, has launched a £500 flat-fee advice service it claims will challenge traditional wealth managers charging a percentage fee.

 The London Institute of Banking & Finance has today launched a new Level 4 qualification in Paraplanning designed to be completed within 9 months.

The Financial Conduct Authority has begun High Court proceedings against alleged unauthorised deposit takers and secured an injunction freezing £1.3m in assets.

Low cost fund manager Vanguard is mulling plans to enter the UK financial advice market and, at the same time, boosting its team working with advisers and engaging direct with consumers.

The newly-merged Premier Miton Group saw net outflows of £222m in its first quarter, figures for its first three months in business revealed today.