FCA intervention leads to 19% dip in appointed representatives

FCA intervention leads to number of ARs declining in recent years

Sahar Nazir
clock • 1 min read

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has reported a 19% drop in in the number of appointed representative (AR) firms in almost three years following its intervention.

The regulator's annual report for 2022/23, published last week, found that there were about 35,000 ARs operating at the end of the period. This figure has dropped by 19% over time from 43,000 in 2020. The FCA said it has introduced changes through new rules and guidance to improve principals' oversight of their ARs and raised ARs' standards. While complaints for both 2021 and 2022 show an improved position for firms, ARs still generate more complaints than non-principal firms overall, the FCA said. Furthermore, the regulator's supervisory interventions between July 2022 and 31 M...

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 Your profession

'Don't think of consolidation as the end of independent advice. It isn't'

'Don't think of consolidation as the end of independent advice. It isn't'

Continuity before everything else

Tom Rowe-Jones
clock 02 September 2026 • 5 min read
SENDA calls on profession to share how it supports families with disabilities

SENDA calls on profession to share how it supports families with disabilities

Part of white paper launching in November

Isabel Baxter
clock 02 September 2026 • 2 min read
Plannex memberships boosted by 'out of the blue' Reddit influx

Plannex memberships boosted by 'out of the blue' Reddit influx

Without spending a penny on the social media platform

Isabel Baxter
clock 01 September 2026 • 5 min read