The FCA has published a new 17-minute video for consumers to help them understand pension transfer advice. The video, which can be viewed here, explains the FCA’s expectations of financial advisers when they provide pension transfer advice and outlines the process which advisers should follow. It highlights the key information advisers should provide and the questions they should be asking.
Aspects covered include:
- disclosure of costs & services;
- a detailed analysis of personal circumstances
- content of a suitability report
- any ongoing services which may be recommended.
The FCA make it clear at outset that their message to advisers is, and always has been very clear, that generally it will not be in a client’s best interest to leave a pension scheme that will give them a guaranteed and sustainable income when they retire.
A transcript of the video is also available.
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.