Advisers say they'll listen to comments from...

The five most influential people in the retail financial services industry are Steve Bee, Stewart Ritchie, Ray Boulger, Neil Woodford and Nick Kirwan, according to a survey of financial advisers.

An online survey conducted by Teamspirit, the marketing consultancy, of over 200 financial intermediaries revealed the views of these five representatives of financial services firms are most listened to when seeking expert perspectives of the current UK market.

At the same time, both the Association of IFAs and IFA Promotion were named as the most influential trade bodies.

According to the study, intermediaries still prefer the personal touch when it comes to communicating with the industry or hearing about developments, as most advisers placed face-to-face contact with consultants are the preferred communications channel, followed by trade conferences and exhibitions, emails, industry websites and trade newspapers, ahead of corporate hospitality, extranets, newsletters and an adviser firm’s own communications such as extranets.

Advisers stressed in the study the information they seek should be targeted towards the sharing of research and insight, along with more literature to be given to consumers.

Jo Smith, director of Integrated Distributon and a consultant at Teamspirit points out the information needs and demands of financial intermediaries are evolving.

"With the increasing need to offer clients more complex planning solutions rather than merely sell products, it is clear that advisers want more relevant information and education to help them develop what they do for their clients and how they develop their business."