Phoenix Group Holdings is planning to buy Standard Life Assurance, the insurance operation, and Vebnet Limited (Standard Life’s employee benefits arm) for a total of £3.24bn.

Synaptic Software, the financial solutions provider, and cashflow modelling software provider CashCalc have both integrated their tools with Intelliflo’s iO (Intelligent Office) Store to provide easier swapping of data and help make the Financial Planning process more efficient.

John Cubitt Chartered FCSI has been appointed President of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI) Northern Ireland branch.

The FCA has warned that fraudsters are claiming to use the name TSB try to con investors.

The Personal Finance Society has called balanced interevention as it warns that MPs attack on some BSPS pension transfer advice will damage the reputation of all advisers.

AJ Bell, the rapidly growing platform and Sipp provider, is considering floating on the stock market, according to Sky News reports.

Lloyds Bank has revealed plans to target the Financial Planning and pensions markets and is aiming for 1m new customers by 2020.

The percentage of financial advisers putting all their business on platforms is up 45% to 16% in the last year but many advisers are unhappy with service levels, according to a report from data provider Defaqto.

A Chartered Financial Planner is making use of her own experience of divorce to launch a new service for separating couples.

Police have raided four homes and businesses as part of an investigation into “poorly-run pension schemes suspected of links to cold-calling”.