The Bank of England today increased its base rate by 25 basis points from 4.25% to 4.5%. The rate is the highest since the height of the global financial crisis in October 2008. The rise was expected by many experts and comes as the Bank continues to make curbing inflation a priority. The latest rise […]

The Financial Conduct Authority has warned regulated firms who ignore its upcoming Consumer Duty deadline to expect “swift action.” The regulator’s new Consumer Duty will come into force from 31 July and will introduce new requirements for firms to avoid “foreseeable” harm to consumers. In a speech at financial consultancy EY this morning, Sheldon Mills, FCA […]

Wealth manager and Financial Planner Succession Wealth – recently bought by Aviva for £385m – has acquired £170m AUA Edinburgh-based IFA Spence & Spence for an undisclosed sum. The deal is subject to regulatory approval. Spence & Spence was founded in 1994 and provides holistic financial advice to clients on pensions and retirement planning, investments, […]

Prime minister Rishi Sunak surprised quite a few people this week with an unexpected announcement direct from No.10 that financial cold calling will be banned. We are still short of a few details but he at least seems determined to grasp the thorny, but increasingly painful, nettle of financial fraud. The move is a timely […]