The FCA’s Online Notifications and Applications (ONA) system has been replaced by a new system called Connect.
For more information, please see here.
The FCA has issued emails advising individuals that they have been registered as a new user; they must activate their account, create passwords and complete security questions.
All firms have been issued with these emails but we are already aware of some firms not been able to locate them.
It is important that you update and start using the new Connect system since only existing draft applications will be allowed to complete on the ONA system, and these must be done before 01 December. All new applications and notifications must be carried out through Connect.



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.