Regulation
FCA posts improved SMCR approval times but AR permissions still lagging
The Financial Conduct Authority has revealed the average days taken in 2022-23 to process five key authorisations that affect brokers were within its target timeframes, but there is further to go to hit the statutory requirement for 100% of cases.
Binders could be next in FCA commissions crackdown - compliance experts
The Financial Conduct Authority crackdown on property commissions could be the 'tip of a very large iceberg', with binding authority arrangements next in line for a change, according to regulatory experts.
Brokers raise concerns about FCA’s regulatory and compliance burden
In roundtables hosted by Zurich and the APPG for Insurance and Financial Services, brokers flagged their concerns about the regulatory and compliance burden created by the Financial Conduct Authority and claimed it is affecting the financial resilience…
FCA survey data tracks 13% of consumers cut back on insurance due to cost-of-living crisis
More than six million people cut or cancelled insurance cover in the six months to January 2023 to save money in the cost-of-living crisis, the Financial Conduct Authority has calculated.
Biba CEO White: FCA needs to act on broker regulatory burden
The Financial Conduct Authority has been urged to reduced the “unacceptably high” regulatory burden faced by insurance brokers.
FCA sets out whistleblower commitments
The Financial Conduct Authority has unveiled a series of actions to boost whistleblowers’ confidence.
Ex-FCA leader Salter joins Sicsic Advisory
Former Financial Conduct Authority director Philip Salter has joined strategic risk and regulatory consultancy Sicsic Advisory as a senior adviser.
Biba urges Government to bring forward ban on sharing property commission
The British Insurance Brokers’ Association urged the Government to bring forward legislation to ban the sharing of commission with property managing agents, freeholders and landlords to create a ‘level playing field and avoid an early mover penalty’.
Biba defends broker earnings after FCA overhaul in property commissions
The British Insurance Brokers’ Association backed changes the Financial Conduct Authority wants to improve transparency for leaseholders, while also defending broker earnings.
Sicsic warns brokers leaseholder commission disclosure sets a ‘precedent’
Michael Sicsic, managing partner of Sicsic Advisory, urged brokers to review all their remuneration arrangements following the Financial Conduct Authority’s report today revealing incompetence and unjustifiable remuneration in the buildings’ insurance…
FCA’s Brewis: brokers key to helping curb unjustifiable freeholder commissions
The Financial Conduct Authority recommended insurance brokers interrogate property managers more to justify their commission with the publication of its latest paper on multi-occupancy buildings insurance.
Editor’s letter: Marking the FCA’s muted 10th birthday
However, perhaps they were so optimistic about them being successful they were confident that the date would ultimately never come back to haunt them in the shape of unpleasant headIf the government and law makers of the time could go back to 2013, they…
FCA proposes 10.4% hike to broker fees block
The Financial Conduct Authority is poised to raise fees for the general insurance mediation pot where brokers sit to £34.7m for 2023 to 2024, as its budget rises to £684.2m, including a £5.3m Consumer Duty cost.
Broker Diversity Push: Improved broking gender diversity across the leadership board in latest FOI data
New data from a Freedom of Information request to the Financial Conduct Authority has revealed an improvement in the shift to more gender diversity in broking leadership, although the figures remain stark.
The FCA: 10 years on has it been a success, failure – or somewhere in between?
On 1 April 2013 insurance brokers faced a new regulatory dawn as the baton passed from the Financial Services Authority to the Financial Conduct Authority. Insurance Age canvassed opinion throughout the market to find out views on how the first decade…
Government launches SMCR review and calls for insurance feedback
The government has launched its review of the Senior Managers and Certification Regime, part of a wide-ranging shake-up to make UK financial services more competitive post-Brexit.
Brokers face ‘fair value’ dilemma on premium finance amid interest rate rises
Brokers are faced with a dilemma as interest rates rise. The Financial Conduct Authority’s demand for them to offer ‘fair value’ products is at the forefront of their minds when they decide how to deal with the customer. Saxon East reports.
FCA appoints two directors to co-lead enforcement and market oversight
The Financial Conduct Authority has appointed Therese Chambers and Steve Smart as joint executive directors of enforcement and market oversight.
FCA approval times worsen for new firms as overall picture improves
The Financial Conduct Authority’s approval times for new firms is worsening in 2023, according to latest data, bucking a trend that has seen improvements in key broker areas, including for approved person status and appointed representatives.
FOS compensation limit hiked to £415,000
The Financial Conduct Authority has raised the limit on complaints awards that the Financial Ombudsman Service can dish out to £415,000.
FCA opens survey on SME thresholds for FOS insurance complaints
The Financial Conduct Authority has launched a review on shifting the thresholds for SMEs to be able to refer complaints to the Financial Ombudsman Service, as it revealed there have been 1,835 insurance complaints since the rules came into force on 1…
FCA boss Brewis to address Consumer Duty concerns at Insurance Age event
Matthew Brewis, director of insurance at the Financial Conduct Authority, has been confirmed as the keynote speaker for the first Insurance Age Broker Breakfast event in Leeds next month.
Opinion: How long have directly authorised independent brokers got left?
Lea Cheesbrough, managing director of Movo Partnership argues the appointed representative model is becoming the preferred choice for start-up brokers and increasingly popular among directly authorised firms looking to switch.
BoE warns of 20% hike in insurer failure risk from Solvency II reforms
The governor of the Bank of England, Andrew Bailey, has warned that proposed Solvency II reforms to loosen capital requirements will increase the risk of life insurer failure by 20%.