Safe and sound: Has RDR de-risked advice?

Can investors seeking financial advice relax now? Are they safe? Here's the pitch: Advisers are (generally) better qualified than they used to be, run business models free from product or provider bias (if they're independent) and are preparing to hold more spare capital. So you, Mr investor, are safe. Come right on in. But is he safe? Have changes introduced following the Retail Distribution Review (RDR) de-risked the advice process? Some are unequivocal: A spokesperson for Towry, for instance, had the following to say: "We absolutely feel that it is safer [now] for consumers to s...