152 Results found.

Assessing vulnerability: How can firms help mitigate risks of DIY SIPPs?

Insight — 09/02/24
A recent Financial Ombudsman Service decision has highlighted the risks of DIY SIPP arrangements – particularly for customers displaying signs of vulnerability such as gambling addiction. In this FT Adviser feature, TCC’s Head of Advisory Practice, Gary Maude, gives his expertise regarding firms

Why are equity release and later life mortgages in the FCA spotlight?

Insight — 14/11/23
The regulator’s review into later life mortgage providers, published on the 14th of September 2023, took a deep dive into the advice standards and mortgage advertising of the firms collectively responsible for around half of all the UK’s later life mortgage sales. The review is focused on the eq

Four steps to building an effective Retirement Income proposition

Insight — 13/11/23
In June, the FCA re-iterated its focus on retirement income as a regulatory priority, requesting information from more than 1,000 firms on their approach to managing areas including processes, fees, incentives and controls via an 87-question survey. The regulator is expected to issue further communi

FCA publishes Guidance Consultation on Financial Promotions on social media

Insight — 02/08/23
In the FCA’s Business Plan for 2023/24, it prioritised reducing and preventing consumer harm, particularly in in financial promotions. The FCA has now published its Guidance Consultation on Financial Promotions on social media. Whilst firms may consider this to be aimed at ‘finfluencers’ and u

The FCA’s Retirement Income Advice survey: what firms need to know

Insight — 03/07/23
Citywire recently revealed that the FCA has issued a new in-depth survey to around 1,300 firms to gain a better understanding of their approach to assessing and reviewing key risk indicators (KRIs) for retirement income advice. The regulator had originally intended to review the retirement advice ma

FCA Business Plan: Consumer care tops regulatory agenda for 2023/24

Insight — 05/04/23
The FCA has today launched its Business Plan 2023/24, outlining its regulatory priorities, concerns and objectives for the coming 12 months. The wide-ranging plan seeks to further the regulator’s ongoing mission to improve customer outcomes and promote greater accountability within financial servi

How firms should approach British Steel pensions redress

Insight — 23/03/23
The British Steel Pensions Scheme (BSPS) redress scheme began in earnest at the end of last month - meaning firms now have until the end of February 2024 to review their advice, conduct redress calculations and provide payments to affected customers. But with such a fast pace of work, how can firms

Three steps to review your Retirement Income advice

Insight — 20/12/22
Earlier this month, the FCA released a Portfolio Strategy letter emphasising their continued focus on the suitability of advice for Financial Advisers and Intermediaries.   The latest Portfolio Strategy communication confirmed the FCA’s drive regarding advice to British Steel Pension Scheme m

Webinar recap: Understanding the Consumer Duty’s good customer outcomes

Insight — 28/11/22
Last week Consumer Duty expert and TCC’s Associate Director, Neil Dethick joined a specialist panel that continued a Duty focussed webinar series, hosted by Recordsure in partnership with BSA.   Host, Recordsure’s Chief Product Officer Garry Evans, was joined by Ex-FCA and now Senior Produc

A helpful summary of the FCA’s four Consumer Duty outcomes

Insight — 26/10/22
The hugely significant shift towards the FCA’s new Consumer Duty will culminate in its first deadline on Monday 31st October, when Implementation Plans needs to be ready for regulatory scrutiny. Under the Duty’s overarching Consumer Principle of ‘A firm must act to deliver good outcomes for re

FCA Outcome 4: Consumer support

Insight — 19/10/22
In a matter of days, the Consumer Duty’s first critical deadline of having Implementation Plans ready for review will be upon us. Last week, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Director at the FCA, Emily Sheppard spoke about the Duty at the CISI/Financial Planning Conference 2022 and explained

FCA Outcome 3: Consumer understanding

Insight — 11/10/22
With less than three weeks to go until firms need to have a Consumer Duty Implementation Plan that is ready for FCA scrutiny, we continue our series considering the Duty’s four outcomes.   After Nick McGruer, Head for Advisers, Wealth and Pensions at the FCA shared that independent financial

FCA Outcome 2: Price and value

Insight — 04/10/22
As the weeks continue to slip away, we spotlight the FCA’s four Consumer Duty outcomes: products and services, price and value, consumer understanding and consumer support.     Here, Neil Dethick, Associate Director at TCC, focuses on outcome two: price and value. Ahead of the imminent Duty

FCA outcome 1: products and services

Insight — 27/09/22
The new Consumer Duty, which applies to existing FCA regulated products and services, as well as any new products expected to launch, is nearly here. Under the Duty, firms are required to have an Implementation Plan ready for scrutiny in just a few weeks where ‘firms will need to assess and eviden

Understanding the issues on Defined Benefits transfers

Insight — 15/09/22
In the first of our subject matter expert interviews, Anthony Harkess, Client Director at TCC and Head of Specialist Resourcing, sits with David Boyhan, TCC Technical Director, to discuss Defined Benefit Transfers and the challenges the market is currently experiencing.    David has over 15 years