This is a generic term used to describe a switch from one investment to another. This could be an investment fund switch, an investment policy switch or a pension switch.
When it comes to pensions however, advisers can get confused between what constitutes a pension switch and what is a pension transfer.
To clarify therefore, a pension switch is where a retail client is transferring benefits from a personal pension or stakeholder pension scheme (where there has been no previous transfer from a defined benefits scheme) to another personal pension or stakeholder pension scheme.
There is no specific qualification requirement for advisers advising on pension switches.
FCA guidance can be accessed here
http://www.fca.org.uk/firms/financial-services-products/investments/pension-switching
Suitability reports must contain sufficient detail to justify any switch, including alternatives, disadvantages, risks, costs and charges.
(Now read ‘T’).



New FCA fee for Form A applications
Lisa Cross Compliance 2020, 2022, FCA, Senior Manager, Update
We have been advised by the FCA as follows: “Following our recent revalorisation of the application fees earlier this year, on 24 January we advised that we would be introducing a new charge of £250 for standalone long Form A applications both for Senior Manager Functions and Controlled Function for Appointed Representatives. We […]