166 articles

    Opinion & Insight

    Browse all articles across people aspects of regulation and people development within UK financial services

    FCA vulnerability enforcement action
    Opinion & Insight

    FCA vulnerability enforcement action

    A timely reminder for all regulated firms to re-focus on improving culture within businesses The FCA’s recent enforcement action [TR19/1], focusing on customer vulnerability, in the debt management sector should be a ‘wake up’ call for all regulated firms.

    Nick Baxter · 9 Apr 20193 min read
    Action Learning – NHS Masterclass
    Opinion & Insight

    Action Learning – NHS Masterclass

    As a chartered financial adviser, how many conversations have you had about AA and LTA this year? How many of those are from members of the biggest pension scheme in the UK? A pension scheme with over 1.5 million employed active members? The fifth biggest employer in the world.

    John Reynolds · 9 Apr 20193 min read
    How do we measure ‘value for money’?
    Opinion & Insight

    How do we measure ‘value for money’?

    I expect when all of us buy something, we ask ourselves “does this represent value for money?” The definition of value for money will be subjective, maybe you are buying a brand which represents quality and high end, or maybe you are driven to make a purchase purely on price.

    Julia Kirkland · 9 Apr 20193 min read
    Training trainers
    Opinion & Insight

    Training trainers

    Not that we’re trying to do ourselves out of a job or anything, but one of the things on which my company Searchlight offers training is how to deliver training. Train the trainer courses are one of the more popular ‘soft skills’ workshops we offer.

    Ian Jerrum · 9 Apr 20193 min read
    Introduction to AF8
    Opinion & Insight

    Introduction to AF8

    The CII’s level 6 pension exam, AF3 Pension Planning, from April 2018 was superseded by AF7 Pension Transfers and AF8 Retirement Income Planning. That shouldn’t really be a surprise: sourcing evidence from FAMR 2018, of all the regulated advice given in the last 12 months, 67% of the advice was related to pensions work.

    John Reynolds · 10 Jan 20193 min read
    Re-focus on Treating Customers Fairly
    Opinion & Insight

    Re-focus on Treating Customers Fairly

    FCA Management of long-term mortgage arrears and forbearance [TR18/5] requires a re-focus on Treating Customer Fairly. The FCA recently issued its findings following the thematic review into the management of long-term mortgage arrears and forbearance. As we move to an environment where family finances might come under pressure the FCA findings are timely.

    Nick Baxter · 10 Jan 20193 min read
    Training in a year of multiple regulatory deadlines
    Opinion & Insight

    Training in a year of multiple regulatory deadlines

    For our clients in the general insurance sector, 2018 was blessed – or burdened, depending on your viewpoint – with an unusually generous helping of regulatory change. Workshops and online courses on three major regulatory strands – GDPR, IDD and SM&CR – were in high demand throughout the year.

    Ian Jerrum · 10 Jan 20194 min read
    Learning the lessons of history
    Opinion & Insight

    Learning the lessons of history

    I watched the film “The Big Short” again in the run up to the festive period. On my own, as I couldn’t entice anyone in the house to watch the story of how close we came to moving back into the Stone Age. It’s very powerful and I highly recommend it.

    Julia Kirkland · 10 Jan 20193 min read
    T&C Fact or Fiction
    Opinion & Insight

    T&C Fact or Fiction

    Thank you for taking the time to consider the fact or fiction questions. You have chosen your answer as you believe all of the statements are fiction Congratulations, you are correct All of the statements are fiction. Some of the statements are common misconceptions about T&C often based on legacy schemes.

    Jeff Abbott · 3 Nov 20182 min read
    T&C Fact or Fiction
    Opinion & Insight

    T&C Fact or Fiction

    Thank you for taking the time to consider the fact or fiction questions. You have chosen your answer as you believe some or all of the statements are fact. Sadly, this is not the case. All of the statements are fiction. Some of the statements are common misconceptions about T&C often based on legacy schemes.

    Jeff Abbott · 3 Nov 20182 min read
    FCA data and complaint handling review; a new approach required
    Opinion & Insight

    FCA data and complaint handling review; a new approach required

    Although over 3,000 firms are required to submit complaints data to the FCA the number of complaints financial service firms receive is still staggering and increasing. The total number of complaints reported by firms in each six month period is in excess of 3.

    Nick Baxter · 16 Oct 20183 min read
    Getting insurance people ready for IDD
    Opinion & Insight

    Getting insurance people ready for IDD

    ‘I love deadlines,’ Hitchhikers Guide author Douglas Adams once remarked. ‘I like the whooshing sound they make as they go by.” Insurance providers, under ever-fiercer regulatory scrutiny, can’t afford to be so blasé. In the world of insurance deadlines tend to bring a sense of dread.

    Ian Jerrum · 15 Oct 20183 min read