A ROSSENDALE financial adviser has picked up a qualification which makes him a leading name in pensions.

Richard Moorfield became one of only a handful of independent financial advisers in the UK to pass the financial regulators' stiff new test.

Richard, a partner at Rawtenstall-based James Tricketts, said: "It was a challenging qualification because it is a very complex area. All advisers have to pass a variety of exams but this particular subject area was optional and is relatively new, so only a few people in the country have passed it.

"I am as qualified as is possible in pensions. In practice it means I will be in much a better position to give clients the advice they need when they are planning for retirement.

"The course was designed to develop a greater understanding of the various investment options which go into retirement planning."