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.
Abridged advice – how is it going so far?
Alistair MacDougall Compliance 2015, 2018, 2020, 2021, abridged, Drawdown, FCA, Pension, Pension Transfer, PI, transfer
Based on data and live visits to firms during the period from April 2015 to rule changes in 2018 and 2020, the FCA believed that far too high a proportion of clients were being recommended to transfer safeguarded benefits. This was predicated on the longstanding rule which stated: “… a firm should start by assuming […]