FCA suitability report good practice states that you should use “clear and plain language” and that “overly long reports may reduce a customer’s ability to consider the recommendations being made”.
A good report will cut to the chase and explain concisely the reasons for the recommendation (the reasons WHY) and should not replicate what is contained in other documents, only refer to them.
Supporting information (for example, Glossary of Terms, Attitude to Risk definitions, Fact Find snapshot) should wherever possible be contained in appendices so that the reasons why are not diluted.
FCS Transitional Arrangements
Steve Bailey Compliance Update
As you will be aware the Financial Services Authority ceased to be and the Financial Conduct Authority took over the regulation of financial advice firms on 01 April 2013.
The FSA issued PS13/05 last week which includes updated rules and transition arrangements. The policy statement itself is 88 pages but the ‘appendix (3)’ that accompanies it is a mere 1990 pages so you must excuse us for not as yet absorbing every word. The document can be seen here.