Platforms

Standard Life Wrap has partnered with eight discretionary firms in a bid to enhance the service it offers advisers facing up to pension freedom challenges.

Zurich has expanded its platform offering to include a discretionary fund management service for the first time.

Transact is to cut platform fees for client portfolios of between £180,000 and £300,000 in an attempt to attract new business.

Ascentric has introduced an inclusive platform charge as it moves to give advisers more charging options for their clients.

Old Mutual Wealth has unveiled a B2B2C top-up service following a trial with advisers last year.

Ascentric managing director Hugo Thorman is to leave the firm this summer following Royal London's buyout of the platform's minority shareholding in the business.

Transact has stated its intention to float following its failure to secure a buyer last year.

Hargreaves Lansdown employee Rayhan Qadar has been sacked after posting a message on social network Twitter which suggested he had been involved in a hit and run incident.

Old Mutual International has completed a rebrand of its business, dropping the historic Skandia brand, and has outlined plans for a new researched fund range following the acquisition of Quilter Cheviot.

Charles Stanley CIO Paul Abberley has been confirmed as the business' new chief executive after the Financial Conduct Authority approved his appointment.