In Consultation Paper ‘CP13/5: Review of the client asset regime for investment business’ here, the FCA proposed changes to the rules in CASS to address specific risks, to clarify the requirements firms must comply with and to enhance the client assets regime to achieve better results for consumers and increase confidence in financial markets.
The Policy Statement ‘PS14/9: Review of the client assets regime for investment business’ here, followed on from the consultation and summarised the feedback the FCA received, provided their response and set out final rules.
In the May 2015 issue of their Regulation Round-Up, the FCA reminded firms of the timescales for complying with the changes and, to help firms understand the changes, they published a recording of a CASS briefing held in January for CASS medium firms.
This is a useful video which you can watch here.
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 […]