The FCA has issued a ‘Dear CEO’ letter to General Insurance Intermediaries setting out its expectations for maintaining adequate arrangements that safeguard client money especially during the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
It reminds firms of their obligations to continue to oversee the CASS arrangements. It requires firms to discuss the contents of the letter with the board and agree what further action is necessary to help ensure adequate arrangements are in place, highlighting the following areas:
- application of client money rules to firm’s business model;
- governance and oversight;
- oversight of third parties, including due diligence;
- client money calculations and reconciliations;
- acknowledgement letters for all client money accounts.
You can find further information regarding client assets and coronavirus here.
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.