It is sometimes difficult to keep up with the seemingly never ending flow of papers and reports from the FCA. We believe that many readers of the ATEB News items rely heavily on these to highlight the things that they need to be aware of. That is as it should be – ATEB keeps an eye on what is coming out from Canary Wharf, interprets what is relevant and publishes clear explanations to our clients.

However, from time to time, someone from the FCA will give a speech or presentation that can provide an insight into what is not published, namely how the regulator is thinking about a particular topic and hints as to likely future direction of travel. Speaking at the 2016 Personal Finance Society Para-planning Conference, Rory Percival, Technical Specialist at the FCA, did just that.

No doubt reflecting on the huge uptake in platform use by advisers in recent years, he reminded the audience of the need for meaningful research to be carried out when picking a platform for clients, and that the research and due diligence process needs to be refreshed regularly. He also reiterated the FCA’s findings from its review of firms’ due diligence. Thematic Review 16-01 stated …

“We were disappointed to identify issues relating to platform research and due diligence, particularly having previously published our expectations around this topic. Firms did not seek to understand or challenge their own inappropriate bias towards products, services or providers and this led to a lack of objective consideration. In some cases, this appeared to result from status quo bias.”

And then came the statement that should make all firms that use platforms sit up and take note. He proposed that advisers need to consider whether clients need to use a platform at all!

“Don’t think that because it’s an investment it has to be on a platform. You should always be asking is a platform the right thing for a client at all.”

This is not a new concept. Fact sheet 12 giving guidance on the use of platforms was first published by the FSA in July 2011 and stated …

“Suitability is not just something to consider regarding the particular investment you are looking at when advising your client. You must also consider the suitability of the platform service itself.”

And it does not appear to be a one off comment either. The FCA presenter on investment roadshows running up and down the country during May 2016 made a point of stating that if a platform solution is contemplated then the fact find should show that relevant questions have been asked to establish that the client actually needs or wants the features that a platform adds. Otherwise, it could be viewed as simply an extra layer of expense.