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

FCA probe firm refused planning permission after promising investors 8% returns from Essex development

FCA probe firm refused planning permission after promising investors 8% returns from Essex development

One of a string of ‘fixed rate return’ investments offered by Moneda Capital

Jen Frost
clock 17 October 2025 • 5 min read
FCA looking 'much more closely' at how firms manage private markets transition risks - Nike Trost

FCA looking 'much more closely' at how firms manage private markets transition risks - Nike Trost

Upcoming review of conflicts of interest

Katrina Lloyd
clock 16 October 2025 • 7 min read
FCA pushes on with tokenisation remit

FCA pushes on with tokenisation remit

Set out plans to support initiative

Eve Maddock-Jones
clock 15 October 2025 • 2 min read