Hargreaves Lansdown

Self-directed wealth platform Hargreaves Lansdown has posted record half-yearly revenue and profits as the business noted a "general trend" towards DIY investing as a result of changes brought about by the Retail Distribution Review (RDR).

Barclays analysts have labelled Jupiter, Aberdeen and Hargreaves Lansdown as the three UK asset managers to buy, in its latest note on the sector.

Hargreaves Lansdown has risen 5.8% to top the FTSE 100 leaderboard as the blue-chip index recovers from yesterday's decline.

Inflation may have held steady at 2.7% in the final month of 2012, but this year it is expected to rear its ugly head once more as the impact of falling sterling pushes up import costs.

Although 2013 will be a pivotal year in wealth management as RDR rulings are put in place on 1 January, the past 12 months have also been extremely busy as firms tighten up their business models to meet the deadline.

Hargreaves Lansdown CEO Ian Gorham has sold an interest in 750,000 of the group's shares for £3.35m and reinvested half the proceeds back in the company.

Lindsell Train co-founder Nick Train has said the single best performing stock in his portfolio in 2012 and his stock pick of the year is Hargreaves Lansdown.

Peter Hargreaves, executive director of platform giant Hargreaves Lansdown, has revealed the business intends to move all its clients over to clean fee share classes to meet regulatory changes.

Lindsell Train co-founder Nick Train said he is no longer comfortable increasing exposure to Hargreaves Lansdown, amid fears its share price could suffer a setback as the firm adjusts to the world post-RDR.

Hargreaves Lansdown's widely followed Wealth 150 list of recommended funds has fallen by almost a third amid a lack of decent active funds and some soft-closures.