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Each month we ask leading industry figures to answer one big question...

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As the deadline for the Retail Distribution Review swiftly approaches, Helen Morrissey looks at how prepared advisers are and asks what support they are being offered.

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Colin Godfrey looks at the different inheritance tax mitigation strategies available to those looking to fund long-term care.

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Andrew Tully highlights the growing importance of the enhanced annuity market

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Fiona Murphy asks whether we will see a resurgence in SSAS schemes as a result of changing market conditions.

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Richard Espley highlights the role solicitors play in the equity release process

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Mark Hendricks asks what discretionary managers bring to a retirement planning strategy.

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The potential reform of pensions tax relief could provide several opportunities for advice. The potential reform of pensions tax relief could provide several opportunities for advice...

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A trio of advisers reveal which products they use for their Asian income exposure. A trio of advisers reveal which products they use for their Asian income exposure.

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MPs have expressed concerns over Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs' decision to hired the former chief executive of the UK Border Agency (UKBA).

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The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has successfully resolved a conflict with Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) over the rules around adviser charging on annuity business.

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Barclays Stockbrokers has partnered with Fidelity FundsNetwork to launch an enhanced version of its platform.

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Advisers have been urged to remind clients they could shelter more than £58,000 from the taxman this ISA season.

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Doctors have hit back at proposals that would force them to encourage patients to stay in or go back to work as soon as possible.

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About two years ago, a retired ‘adviser’ invited me for lunch. He wanted to discuss today’s advisory market and compare it with his 1970s “heyday” (with Sun Alliance & London). I accepted. About two years ago, a retired ‘adviser’ invited me for lunch. He wanted to discuss today’s advisory market and compare it with his 1970s “heyday” (with Sun Alliance & London). I accepted.

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Lazard’s Aaron Barnfather explains why it is important to focus on how and why fund managers outperform rather than simply relying on the headline figures. Lazard’s Aaron Barnfather explains why it is important to focus on how and why fund managers outperform, rather than simply relying on the headline figures.

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With less than a year before the ECJ ruling on gender discrimination comes into effect, there is still confusion as to how insurers should respond, according to specialists.

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Rachel Dalton finds out why more adviser firms are turning to white label SIPPs to boost their service proposition. Rachel Dalton finds out why more adviser firms are turning to white label SIPPs to boost their service proposition.

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Tom Murray, head of product strategy at Exaxe, explains why advisers need to embrace social media to make waves in the auto-enrolment space. Tom Murray, head of product strategy at Exaxe, explains why advisers need to embrace social media to make waves in the auto-enrolment space.

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Barclays Stockbrokers has partnered with Fidelity FundsNetwork to launch an enhanced version of its platform.

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Which? has urged banks to streamline their payment protection insurance (PPI) claim process or risk exposing customers to claims management companies, after just a quarter of the promised amount of redress was paid out in 2011.

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Jim Reeve, chief executive of Aegon-owned national IFA Positive Solutions, has left the business to pursue alternative opportunities in financial services.

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The most unnecessarily underinsured group in the UK is the HIV community, according to specialist advisers Unusual Risks.

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An MP has demanded the government creates a nationalised low-cost annuity provider to protect pensioners from poor retirement products.

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Industry figures have raised concerns over Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC's) stance on adviser charging on annuity business.

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The government has once again rejected a call to arrange an independent inquiry into the collapse of the Arch Cru funds.

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Conservative MPs have threatened to strike down the Budget if the government does not reconsider child benefit reform.

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The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) was divided over its quantitative easing (QE) programme earlier this month, with two members calling for the asset purchase programme to be increased by £75bn.

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The strain of the payment protection insurance (PPI) mis-selling scandal shows no sign of slowing as figures from the FSA show redress payments surged to a new monthly high in December.

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John Husselbee, chief investment officer of North Investment Partners, on whether investors are better off sticking to last year’s winning asset classes or changing their strategy. John Husselbee, chief investment officer of North Investment Partners, on whether investors are better off sticking to last year’s winning asset classes or changing their strategy.

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OBSR investment research analyst Marianne Weller examines whether there is any value in UK government bonds and reveals the best gilt funds in the market. OBSR investment research analyst Marianne Weller examines whether there is any value in UK government bonds and reveals the best gilt funds in the market.

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Justin Onuekwusi and Nick Samouilhan of Aviva Investors discuss why comparing fund managers against their peer group is not always the best strategy for your clients. Justin Onuekwusi and Nick Samouilhan of Aviva Investors discuss why comparing fund managers against their peer group is not always the best strategy for your clients.

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Wealth manager St James's Place (SJP) has reported a 30% rise in profits for 2011.

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Keydata founder Steward Ford is seeking to ban FSA staff who saw protected attorney-client e-mails from being involved in an investigation into the company.

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The government is considering building regulated advice into its proposed system to aggregate small pension pots.

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Upbeat economic news in the US pushed the Dow Jones through 13,000 on Tuesday, the first time it had been at that level since May 2008.

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Police have arrested three men on suspicion of fraud and money laundering after The Pensions Regulator (TPR) received complaints about pension transfers last year.

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Chancellor George Osborne has been given a boost ahead of next month's Budget after official figures showed the UK posted its largest budget surplus in four years.

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In this week's quick fire poll we ask: Will your clients be interested in government plans to reduce inheritance tax for those who leave 10% of their estate to charity?

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Retirement Planner’s round-up of the top pension stories this week.

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Tony Stenning looks at why retirees should still be looking to include equities in their retirement planning strategies.

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Lifesearch has applauded Legal & General’s use of subject access requests (SARs) to obtain extra medical data and said it is seeing positive results for clients.

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How will the Retail Distribution Review affect the retirement advisory market? Fiona Murphy takes you through this month’s Inquiry

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M&G Investments’ Alex Odd has entered Bestinvest's infamous list of “dog funds”, alongside offerings from Standard Life and SWIP, after his £1.2bn M&G Dividend fund underperformed its benchmark substanitally.

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Employers are increasingly looking for a employee benefits provider offering an easy to use service for employees.

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The number of staff taking time off due to job stress has increased by 25% and total time off due to psychological problems by more than a third, research has found.

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The eurozone sovereign debt crisis poses the greatest risk to investment returns in 2012, say advisers.

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A shadow minister has hit out at the changes already being made to the Financial Services Authority (FSA) and the regulatory landscape before Parliament has a chance to legislate on them.

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The Personal Finance Society (PFS) is seeking clarity from the Financial Services Authority (FSA) on whether advisers will need extra qualifications on long term care (LTC) insurance to remain independent post-RDR.

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Intelligent Pensions has appointed John Moret, known as Mr SIPP, as non-executive chairman.