South West-based Chartered Financial Planning firm Goodmans has become the latest Financial Planning firm to move to employee ownership.

The Financial Conduct Authority has avoided potential trouble in identifying firms as it begins to allocate the first seven-digital Firm Reference Numbers (FRNs).

The Financial Conduct Authority has halted business at 627 regulated firms in the past year to prevent consumer harm - 30% more than the previous year, according to its annual report and accounts

Five firms - including platform and investment provider Hargreaves Lansdown - have achieved Corporate Chartered status from the CII in the latest quarter.

The Financial Conduct Authority will make its Digital Sandbox fintech initiative permanent from 1 August and open it up to all firms.

Quilter has introduced three new features to its platform to support potentially vulnerable customers.

Annuity rates increased by 20% in the 12 months to June, according to a new report.

The legal changes required for the extension of pensions auto-enrolment have been pushed back until September.

Total advised customer numbers for platform and SIPP provider AJ Bell rose 10% year-on-year to 156,368 for the quarter ending 30 June.

The Government is threatening to remove the ability to inherit an untouched pension pot tax free into a drawdown account if the deceased is under 75.