Planning refusals for HMOs have doubled since 2021 – Mortgage Strategy

This week’s top headlines: Ben Thompson to leave MAB andEx-Connells chief wins fiery age discrimination and unfair dismissal cases. Explore these and other major industry updates below: Ben Thompson to leave MAB Mortgage Advice Bureau director of home moving strategy Ben Thompson is to leave the business at the end of the year after eight…

A cryptocurrency company appears to be behind the Upper West Side’s most expensive townhouse sale.  An entity tied to Brendan Blumer, CEO of the crypto company Block.one, which was behind a controversial $4 billion token issuance in 2017, paid $45 million for the Upper West Side megamansion at 48-50 West 69th Street, The Real Deal…

RFA’s mortgage originations rose 35% year over year to $3.5 billion in the first half of 2026, including approximately $2.1 billion in the second quarter. The company reported quarterly revenue of $94.9 million, up 60.6% from $59.1 million a year earlier. Net income reached $7.2 million, compared with a $23.5-million loss, while adjusted net income…

Rapid technological advances, fee compression, evolving client expectations and accelerating industry consolidation are reshaping how wealth management firms compete and grow. The pressure is real—Envestnet reports that advisors not charging for planning dropped from 28% in 2020 to 10% in 2023 —and McKinsey estimates a potential shortfall of 100,000 advisors by 2034, as more seasoned…

PB Fintech’s (Policybazaar) annual report says premiums on usage-based motor insurance plans on its platform have risen sevenfold since financial year 2022-23, led by pay-as-you-drive (PAYD) covers. Lower premiums may attract drivers who clock less mileage in a year, but they must understand the suitability of these plans before going for them.   How PAYD…

While it may end up being a complete non-event, the bond market is counting the hours until Friday’s Warsh appearance at Jackson Hole. There’s nothing else on the calendar this week with any serious potential to upset the apple cart (and again, it’s debatable that Warsh’s speech is much more of a risk than random…