Helping you put principles into practice with outcomes-focused regulation

Most recently, the FCA unveiled its 2025-26 work programme explaining what it will deliver in 2025/26 against the strategic priorities in its five-year strategy (being a smarter regulator, supporting growth, helping consumers navigate their financial lives and fighting financial crime).

These all contain important information about the regulator’s plans and their expectations of the sector but we recognise that it can be difficult for firms to extract what all of this output means for them in a practical sense. This is where the Consumer Duty Alliance aims to help with a range of adviser-focused practical guidance.

GOOD PRACTICE GUIDES

Soon after the FCA’s vulnerability review we produced a new Vulnerability Good Practice Guide and Checklist in partnership with Foundation Affiliate L&G, providing greater clarity on the current state of play and guidance on a simple but robust approach for firms.

This has generated 3,000 downloads since 14 April, so if you haven’t already, we’d encourage you to circulate this within your firm to help review your current practice and make sure it aligns with FCA expectations.

View our full library of guides and support on vulnerability and Consumer Duty here 

REGIONAL CONFERENCES

FS52/2 highlighted that smaller firms want further support in implementing outcomes-focused regulation in a proportionate manner and further guidance to understand the FCA’s requirements. In a few weeks, we begin our series of unique regional conferences with the FCA, giving you the opportunity to hear directly from the regulator on key advice areas, ask questions and give feedback on issues important to you, your clients and business. On the agenda are sessions on vulnerability, consumer understanding and foreseeable harms. 

In addition to the FCA, the conferences will combine the most popular elements from our successful national conference last year, with presentations from financial planning subject matter experts (such as Brett Davidson from FP Advance), as well as practitioner and interactive sessions, offering a deep level of insight and good practice examples to take away.

The conferences are free to attend, click here to book your space. 

WEBINARS

We’ll shortly announce our next Consumer Duty Practitioners' Forum, previously Consumer Duty Champions' Forum, hosted by Michael Lawrence. This will look to unpack Consumer Duty outcomes monitoring and support you with putting principles into practice, so look out for more information soon.

Our latest Technology Forum, hosted by Ian Mckenna, took place on Tuesday. Almost 200 people joined this lively and informative session looking at how firms are using management information to evidence Consumer Duty performance and how AI can assist, with a variety of practical examples. If you couldn't join on the day, the recording will be available here from Monday 5 May.

We’re really excited about having the opportunity to meet as many of you as possible at our regional events, starting in Edinburgh on 11 June, and hear from you directly about your needs, challenges and opportunities. 

If you’re not an Alliance member, it’s quick, easy and free to join as an individual, a firm or both – visit this page to see how.

To be recognised as a true profession - united as an Alliance we evolve!

Very best wishes,

Keith Richards, CEO, Consumer Duty Alliance and Chairman, Financial Vulnerability Taskforce

Join the Alliance and the FCA at these unique free-to-attend regional conferences dedicated to the dynamics and needs of directly authorised firms and appointed representative firms.

You'll hear first-hand from the FCA as they set the scene for a new era of interactive regulation, proportionality and raising standards together. They'll also share practical examples of 'good practice' and good consumer outcomes in key areas of the advice process.

All the conferences include presentations and interactive sessions from practitioners and sector leaders on a variety of current topics including:

• Developments in AI and its potential in the advice process.
• Why succession planning is crucial for firms of all sizes.
• Demystifying vulnerability and the role of advisers.
• The gender wealth transfer and what it means for advice firms.
• The secret to faster, fun and sustainable growth for financial planning firms.

Spaces are limited to give delegates more opportunity to interact with the speakers.

Secure your seat here.

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