While reading through the Autumn Statement changes this week I was reminded of one of the most famous songs from the 1964 Disney movie Mary Poppins: A Spoonful of Sugar (Makes the Medicine go down).

News late this week that personalised financial guidance is to move a step closer has left me in two minds but I’m not opposed in principle to the idea, for reasons I’ll explain.

Today’s whopping £2.4m FCA fine imposed on a South Wales financial adviser firm shames the sector and the damage to consumer trust will be substantial.

I will give Jeremy Hunt his due - he knows how to ruin a Friday.

There is no getting away from the fact that 2023 will be a very busy year for Financial Planners and that, despite the grim economic backdrop, there are some positive signs. 

Sometimes close family members fall out - just ask Princes Harry and William.

Sometimes it’s the lesser stories of the week which make you think the most. 

Many pundits have put forward the view that the Financial Planning sector has been little affected by the cost of living crisis and economic uncertainty.

The year has not started well for the adviser sector with nearly a dozen firms already declared as failed by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.

The FCA has done a pretty good job in cracking down recently on scams and dodgy financial promotions, stung into action by some major failures over the last few years.