PII costs could rocket 500% as FOS comp limit rises to £350k, FCA admits

'We listened carefully to feedback'

Hannah Godfrey
clock • 3 min read

Professional indemnity insurance (PII) costs could rise by between 200% and 500% for financial advisers under a "worst-case scenario", the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has admitted.

This revelation comes as the FCA confirmed in PS19/8: Increasing the award limit for the Financial Ombudsman Service, financial firms would be forced to pay out up to £350,000 in compensation to a customer if the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) found it to be appropriate. Although the FCA said PII costs could rocket by anything between 200% and 500%, according to forecasts made by insurers, the watchdog said that figure "contrasts" with its own estimate of a 140% increase. The regulator admitted some firms could stop providing defined benefit transfer advice as a result of the PI hi...

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 chief: No allegations of Budget leak market abuse so far

FCA chief: No allegations of Budget leak market abuse so far

Told MPs on the Treasury Committee the leak caused serious concern

Alex Sebastian
clock 16 December 2025 • 3 min read
FCA's non-financial misconduct rules 'opaque' over social media activity

FCA's non-financial misconduct rules 'opaque' over social media activity

Lack of definitions and case studies

Cristian Angeloni
clock 16 December 2025 • 2 min read
2025: Reflecting on a 'sustained wave' of regulation

2025: Reflecting on a 'sustained wave' of regulation

The FCA has issued 34 consultation papers this year

Paul Bruns & Sandy McGregor
clock 16 December 2025 • 4 min read