Revealed: FSCS complaints cost each adviser 'obscene' £45k in six years

£1bn in complaints costs since 2010

Laura Miller
clock • 3 min read

Complaints about bad advice over the last six years have cost the sector nearly £1bn - the equivalent of £45,000 for every adviser in the UK, an investigation by Professional Adviser can reveal.

Since 2010 the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) - body of last resort for investors with complaints against firms that have ceased trading - has paid out £989m to deal with claims linked to investment, life and pensions advisers. The cost is then spread among advice firms that are still trading, collected yearly in the form of compulsory levies. Adviser numbers have fluctuated since 2010, but the Financial Conduct Authority's (FCA) latest figures put the population at around 22,000. If that figure is used as an average for the last six years, the cost of upheld claims aga...

To continue reading this article...

Join Professional Adviser for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
  • Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
  • Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
  • Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
  • Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes

Join

 

Already a Professional Adviser member?

Login

More on Regulation

Investment advisory firm enters liquidation after FCA's 'unsuitable' advice warning

Investment advisory firm enters liquidation after FCA's 'unsuitable' advice warning

Joint liquidators to contact HDH Investment Services clients

Jen Frost
clock 20 April 2026 • 1 min read
Failed financial advice firms tracker

Failed financial advice firms tracker

Firms that the FSCS has confirmed as failed since the start of 2023

Professional Adviser
clock 20 April 2026 • 1 min read
FCA seeks further industry input on UK's crypto regime ahead of regulation

FCA seeks further industry input on UK's crypto regime ahead of regulation

Regulation set for October 2027

Linus Uhlig
clock 15 April 2026 • 1 min read