The FCA has issued the following reminders for Principal Firms.
Respond to our request for information about Appointed Representatives (ARs)
In December 2022 we sent a mandatory Section 165 (S165) request to principal firms. This request reflects new rules requiring principals to provide more information about their Appointed Representatives (ARs) and strengthens the responsibilities and expectations of principals.
Principal firms with ARs must respond to this request by 28 February 2023.
We have provided S165 guidance for principal firms to help you complete the request.
Reminder: notify us of any changes in status to your Appointed Representatives
Our analysis of Companies House data shows that some Principal firms fail to tell us when their Appointed Representatives (ARs) enter administration, liquidation or dissolution.
You must notify us immediately if there is a change in status to any ARs you oversee, including where they:
- go out of business – using a ‘Terminate AR’ form
- change name – using a ‘Change AR’ form
We also remind you of new rules that clarify and strengthen the responsibilities and expectations of Principals. Further information can be found in SUP 12.3 of the FCA Handbook and on the website.
Pension transfer advice – assessing transfer risk
Alistair MacDougall Compliance 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021, DBAAT, Drawdown, FCA, Pension, Pension Transfer, PI, transfer
It has been well publicised that the FCA has aimed increasingly close scrutiny in the direction of firms that have been providing advice in relation to defined benefit pension transfers. Apparently caught off guard by the then Chancellor’s introduction in the Pension Schemes Act 2015 of what are generally called ‘pension freedoms’, the regulator has […]