RDR

Former Skandia CIO Clive Hale, Ex-Saltus partner Dan Kemp (pictured) and former MAM fund manager Sam Liddle have teamed up to launch consultancy business Albemarle Street Partners.

Legg Mason Global Asset Management is set to add clean share classes to its fund range ahead of the retail distribution review.

John Ions, chief executive of Liontrust, has warned asset managers they face a threat from the growing power of distributors as the RDR approaches.

The FSA has told asset managers their own profits must not come as a result of poor treatment of consumers.

The popularity of risk-rated funds has surged as RDR approaches and investors search for greater certainty in tough markets, but research has revealed vehicles sitting within the same risk grade can perform very differently.

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) and Treasury "seem to be in denial of the pending shambles' caused by the Retail Distribution Review (RDR), Lord Flight has argued.

Old Mutual Wealth - which includes the soon to be rebranded Skandia businesses - is planning to take stakes in adviser firms which become restricted as part of a major change in its business plan post-RDR.

While many are hailing the RDR a new dawn for closed-ended funds, John Newlands, head of investment trust research at Brewin Dolphin, warns it could cut both ways.

The Association of Independent Financial Advisers (AIFA) is to change its name to the Association of Professional Financial Advisers (APFA).

At a conference last April, Jackie Beard, director of closed-end fund research at Morningstar UK, was horrified by some investment trust directors' lack of knowledge and awareness of the RDR. Over a year on, has she noticed any change?