Blogs

What is the new Consumer Duty?

governance, consumerduty, FCA, disclosures, complaints, audit trail

The FCA states that the Consumer Duty aims to “ensure a higher and more consistent standard of consumer protection for users of financial services and help to stop harm before it happens” The new Consumer Duty requirements are due to be finalised in July. It comes at a...

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Assertive FCA issues Business Plan & Strategy

assessments, FCA, reporting, risk management, regulatory strategy, monitoring, audit trail, business plan

It’s that time again! This year the FCA has issued a Strategy Document for the next three years to accompany its Business plan for 2022-23. This will be followed shortly by publication of its Data Strategy. Last year the FCA focused on becoming "more innovative, more...

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Cryptoassets: Why be concerned?

assessments, FCA, risk management, PRA, ESA, digital assets, cryptoassets

In recent years, the term cryptoassets has slowly crept into our vocabulary. It’s a hot topic for debate and in the past few weeks, we’ve seen various countries and regions issuing guidance and warnings to both regulated firms and the public. What are cryptoassets?...

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MiFID II Quick Fixes

FCA, disclosures, conflicts, transparency, RTS28, inducements, communications, RTS27, ESMA, research, MIFID II, best execution

The FCA’s policy ( PS21/20 ) outlined its changes to COBS research rules as well as the removal of the best execution reporting in RTS 27 and RTS 28. These changes are part of a wider review of the Capital Markets by the FCA and HM Treasury. The Government wishes to...

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Governance & Workplace Pensions

governance, third parties, FCA, pensions, oversight

Key Insights on Effective Governance for Workplace Pensions Governing bodies have a duty to fulfil in providing oversight. What does that mean for workplace pensions? For workplace pensions, the bodies tasked with this oversight are the Independent Governance...

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What will 2022 hold for Financial Services?

FCA, Regulatory initiative grid, regulatory strategy

The FS Regulatory Initiatives Forum is still relatively new. In our earlier publication , we reviewed this collaborative approach towards financial services in the UK. The aim is to coordinate efforts to help firms manage regulatory change. In November 2021, the Forum...

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Regulatory Strategy: What’s the plan?

FCA, RegTech, Regulatory initiative grid, regulatory strategy, FRF

J uly 2021 The Financial Services Future Regulatory Framework (FRF) Review was launched by the HMT in 2019. Its purpose was to consider the longer term strategy for the financial services (FS) sector and create a framework for life after the EU. Phased Approach:...

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RegTech: Why does it matter?

FCA, RegTech, innovation, HKMA, EBA

July 2021 RegTech seems to be on everyone’s lips these days, but can it really help financial services? The regulators seem to think so. UK’s view of RegTech There has been a steady increase in regulatory focus on technology and innovation. We see the regulators...

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UK Financial Services Regulatory Initiatives Forum

FCA, Regulatory initiative grid, regulatory strategy

The FS Regulatory Initiatives Forum was created to coordinate efforts of its members. By sharing information and reviewing the timing of regulatory initiatives consideration is given to the impact of implementation for firms. The Forum held its inaugural meeting in...

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COVID-19: Is the regulator cutting CASS firms some slack?

FCA, breach management, CASS, client assets, audit trail

With the unprecedented levels of support coming from government to numerous business sectors to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19, Senior Managers at CASS firms could have been forgiven for looking eagerly to the FCA’s responses last month about COVID-related...

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