The FCA has published CP17/28, a consultation paper on the proposal to formalise rules on dealing with insistent clients. The rules will be based on what was originally guidance in Factsheet 035 (February and June 2016) in relation to pension reforms. However, the rules will apply to any kind of business not just pensions transfers, conversions or opt-outs.
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Since the pension freedoms came into being in April 2015, there has been a marked increase in the number of clients wishing to effect a pension transfer contrary to advice received. The FCA intends to formalise guidance to advisers in new rules in response to the feedback they have received from firms. The consultation paper gives firms an opportunity to give more direct feedback to the FCA. It is worth reading even if you do not intend to give feedback so you can get a feel for what is coming.
Read the fact sheet and consultation paper.
If you need any more information meantime, contact your usual ATEB consultant or click here.
In any advice scenario, it is good practice to ensure that the client is clear about what service is to be provided and what the cost will be. It is also a rule requirement: COBS 6.1.9 – “A firm must provide a client with information on costs and associated charges …” COBS 6.1.11 […]
The FCA has published details of its new approach to consumer protection, which the regulator hopes will give consumers the confidence to invest. It is hoped that the strategy will lead to fewer people being scammed or persuaded to invest in products too risky for their needs. The FCA will publish metrics to assess whether […]
ATEB has worked with many firms over the past few years in relation to defined benefit pension transfer advice. This is due in part to the significant increase in pension transfer activity following the ‘freedoms’ that came in with the Pensions Act 2015 and in part due to the deluge of rule changes introduced by […]
Even with all the deferrals of deadlines around implementation of the SMCR as a result of COVID, firms should now be well into business as usual mode with all aspects of SMCR. In particular, all staff covered by SMCR should have received communications and training around the Conduct Rules. Ideally, conditions of employment should also […]
FCA expectations in relation to remote or hybrid working
Alistair MacDougall Compliance Call Recording, COVID-19, FCA, PI, protected, protection, recording, Register, Senior Manager, training
The coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic has resulted in many firms adopting remote working for some or all employees. Indeed, some of you reading this article right now might well be in a kitchen or home office, in permanent dress down mode (remember when that only happened on the last Friday of the month?) and perhaps even […]