Alastair Black: Now more than ever suitability is key

What next?

clock • 3 min read

Alastair Black explains how the FCA’s focus on suitability has been underlined by Covid-19 ahead of the regulator’s postponed review of retirement advice

A year of significant economic and financial disruption has highlighted the value of suitable advice. Advisers have worked hard to help clients navigate the upheaval by continuing to put their best interests at the heart of the process. Against this backdrop, the FCA has continued to focus on improving the suitability of advice, particularly when it comes to retirement. While the regulator's second suitability review of retirement advice has been deferred until the start of 2021, its assessment of DB transfer advice continued as planned. Through this work, the regulator is forming its...

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

Risks and opportunities from the 'death of the annual review'

Risks and opportunities from the 'death of the annual review'

'Annual reviews have historically acted as a safeguard against disengagement'

Graeme Devlin
clock 29 May 2026 • 4 min read
Non-financial misconduct: Rising expectations and rising exposure

Non-financial misconduct: Rising expectations and rising exposure

'Managers need to know what to look for and what to do in the moment, including when to escalate'

Sarah Jackman
clock 27 May 2026 • 5 min read
FCA must still fix investing culture, says LSE CEO

FCA must still fix investing culture, says LSE CEO

‘We’ve protected people from the downside but we haven’t exposed the upside’

Sophia Panayi
clock 20 May 2026 • 1 min read