6. Legal and regulatory environment Flashcards
What 3 firms make up the UK regulatory body for financial services?
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
Prudential Regulatory Authority (PRA)
Financial Policy Committee (FPC)
Describe the role of the FCA
- Independent regulator for conduct of business and market issues
- Avoiding consumer detriment
- Thematic review and market-wide analysis to identify problem areas (such as financial incentives)
- Reviews full product lifecycle
Describe the role of the PRA
- BoE body responsible for stability of important financial institutions
- Not about individual firm failure, but financial system stability
Describe the role of the FPC
- Horizon scanning for emerging risks to financial system
- Strategy for regulation
- BoE committee
What are the primary objectives of the PRA
To promote the safety and soundness of PRA regulated persons
What are the secondary objectives of the PRA
- Behaviour of PRA individuals does not impact stability of UK financial system
- Minimise impact of failure on financial system
- Facilitate competition
What are the insurance specific objectives of the PRA
- Appropriate protection for policholders
What is a with-profits policy?
Policy with characteristics such as
- Share in certain of the profits or losses of the insurer
- Certain guarantees, which usually increase over the lifetime of the policy
e.g. payment of a guaranteed amount at maturity / retirement / death
What minimum conditions must a firm reach before it can be regulated by the PRA?
- Head office in the UK
- Business be conducted in a prudent manner and maintain sufficient financial and non-financial resources
- Firm to be fit and proper and appropriately staffed
- Firm and group capable of being effectively supervised
What 3 elements make up the PRA risk assessment framework?
Impact on policyholders
Macroeconomic and business risk context
Mitigating factors (risk management and governance)
What are the strategic and operational objectives of the FCA?
Strategic - Ensure market function
Operational
1. Consumer protection
2. Integrity (of the UK financial system)
3. Competition
What is the FCA involvement in authorisations and approvals?
- Product governance
- End to end sales processes
- Prevention of financial crime
FCA approach to regulation
To promote innovation and new products but watching for innovation that exploit customers as opposed to meeting genuine needs
What is a fixed portfolio firm?
Minority of regulated firms
Based on factors such as size, market presence, and customer footprint require the highest level of supervisory attention
Allocated a named supervisor
Continuous assessment regulatory approach
What is a flexible portfolio firm??
- Majority of firms
- supervised through market-based thematic work and programmes of communication, engagement, and education
- FCA customer contact centre is first point of contact