Insurance Brokers

The FCA has called on vulnerable customers to open up to firms about their needs so they can receive appropriate support after research commissioned by the regulator revealed only 4 in 10 vulnerable customers disclosed their needs to their financial services provider.  

Quarterly FCA whistleblowing data reveals the number of reports received by the regulator in Q4 2024 decreased compared with the previous quarter, but increased compared to the same period in 2023. 

In a case that serves as stark reminder of the devastating impact of fraud, the FCA has banned David Robert Cooke, former director at Professional Construction Risks Limited, from working in financial services after he committed insurance fraud that led to the collapse of a commercial client’s firm.

Following increased scrutiny on the FCA by the government to boost UK economic growth and competition, FCA Nikhil Rathi stated that the regulator is ‘willing to be bold’ in its approach as it looks to cut regulatory burdens and slow the pace of regulatory change.

The FCA has published a Research note following an exploration of the relative efficacy of different models for explaining AI outputs to consumers in the context of using AI to determine consumer creditworthiness.

The Ombudsman claims the funding arrangement will encourage professional representatives to submit better-evidenced complaints.

The ABI have called for more funding for property protection after publishing data which revealed that insurers paid out a record £585 million in claims for weather-related damage to homes and possessions in 2024.

Almost 20,000 financial promotions were withdrawn or amended in 2024 following FCA intervention—nearly double the number recorded in 2023, highlighting increased regulatory scrutiny over financial promotions and advertisements within the financial services sector.

This article explores key points from a speech delivered by Emily Shepperd, FCA Chief Operating Officer, which focused on the importance of establishing healthy firm cultures within the financial services sector to consumers, markets and economic growth.