RegulationMay 23 2013

‘Appease FCA by taking care with questionnaires’

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The consultant for Bovill – and previously senior associate at the former FSA – urged smaller firms to attend regulatory roadshows to show willing.

Speaking at a briefing session held by the financial services consultancy, Mr Scrivener said: “I know from my time at the regulator that attendance at such events showed willingness to co-operate with the regulatory agenda.”

He said that if firms did not engage in this way, it could indicate that they may have considered themselves too big or they could not be bothered.

Mr Scrivener said: “More often than not, it was those firms that would be under greater scrutiny from the regulator.”

He also called for advisers to put together coherent business plans to appease the FCA and be careful in how they filled out questionnaires, as they are forming a greater part of the regulatory process for smaller firms.

Mr Scrivener added: “Firms can go above the radar unneccessarily if they don’t take great care over how they fill out questionnaires.”

Adviser comment

Duncan Philp, senior consultant of Fife-based Macbeth Currie, said: “We weren’t invited to roadshows by the FSA, but the FCA has been on the ball from day one. We’ll certainly go because they’re beneficial for all concerned. We’re learning, plus we show we can adapt and have got everything under control.”