A Wolverhampton financial adviser has been banned for 8 years after clients lost £7m due to poor pension investment advice involving SIPPs.

Andy Bell, chief executive of platform and SIPP provider AJ Bell, has welcomed news that the rules on 10% ‘investment drop’ letters will be relaxed for six months.

A new survey for online platform and SIPP provider AJ Bell on the 5th anniversary of the Pension Freedoms suggests withdrawals have been falling year on year.

The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) has declared 15 failed regulated firms in default during February 2020 including SIPP firm GPC.

Ian Mattioli, chief executive of wealth management and SIPPs business Mattioli Woods, has waived his salary until at least 30 June and board directors have reduced their fees to 50%.