Advisers need 'safe harbour' to carry out DB triage process, says Webb

'Huge variation in triage process'

Hannah Godfrey
clock • 2 min read

The FCA should provide a "safe harbour" for advisers to undertake early-stage conversations on defined benefit (DB) transfers that will not put them at regulatory risk, Royal London's Steve Webb has said.

In March, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published a consultation paper on ‘improving the quality of pension transfer advice' and raised concerns the ‘triage' process - whereby advisers give an initial steer to clients about a pension transfer inquiry - could cross the boundary into regulated advice. The FCA is encouraging advisers to make sure any initial response is purely generic and educational, and not specific to the client's individual circumstances. Royal London director of policy Steve Webb, however, suggested the regulator's plans to tighten practice around triage cou...

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 Pensions

Average pension transfer took just 11 days at tax year-end

Average pension transfer took just 11 days at tax year-end

Origo says transfer times decreased around tax year-end with half taking seven days or less

Jasmine Urquhart
clock 17 June 2025 • 2 min read
IFAs 'have role to play' in tackling 'blissful ignorance' around pensions

IFAs 'have role to play' in tackling 'blissful ignorance' around pensions

Advisers must ‘open people’s eyes to the reality’

Isabel Baxter
clock 16 June 2025 • 4 min read
We need to work together to tackle pension overconfidence

We need to work together to tackle pension overconfidence

'Clients may assume they're on the right track simply because they're paying into a pension'

Ahmed Bawa
clock 13 June 2025 • 4 min read