sesame

The UK's largest adviser network has come out strongly in support of an unbundled charging structure for platforms - but warns providing too much information to consumers will be "counter-productive".

Sesame has unveiled details of its annual Symposium, taking place at Park Plaza, Westminster, on 15 November.

Sesame Bankhall Group has launched an online qualifications tool to help members map out an examination route to be RDR-ready.

Firms unable to show they can provide an ongoing service to the clients of an exiting adviser should be forced to let the adviser leave with them, 2plan Wealth Management CEO Chris Smallwood says.

A 2% contribution charge levied on members of NEST suggests the FSA's Basic Advice scheme will fail, Sesame says.

Client complaints could either be investigated several times or not at all under FSA plans permitting alternative bodies to handle grievances about advisers' ‘professionalism'.

Friends Provident returned to profit in 2009 after making a loss of almost £250m in the previous year.

Profits at Sesame Bankhall Group and Pantheon Financial, Friends Provident's UK distribution businesses, fell by £6m last year compared with 2008.

Martin Reynolds, director of business development at PMS, has decided to leave the firm to pursue new challenges.

Adviser network Sesame has announced Royal London and Moneygate IFA Ltd as its top protection provider and protection adviser of the year.