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.
Pension Transfer charging
Alistair MacDougall Compliance abridged, FCA, P1, Pension, Pension Transfer, PI, transfer
Policy Statement PS 20-06 stated that a firm providing pension transfer advice “… may also not charge less than it would charge for investment advice of the same value”. That seems clear enough, but the rule that gives effect to this statement is subtly different. COBS 19.1B.7 states: “A firm should not charge less […]