As we approach the end of the year, the FCA has released its much-anticipated final consultation on the proposed new consumer duty. It seems to be little change from the original. David Morrey, Partner, Head of Investment Management, Financial Services Group, Grant Thornton UK LLP, and Gavin Stewart, Director, Grant Thornton UK LLP discuss the what this version means for firms – whilst looking back on the year and sharing insight on what to expect in 2022.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has released several updates this month, including publishing the Regulatory Initiatives Grid and the Future Regulatory Framework. These updates clearly show the regulator's priorities – the 11 new ESG initiatives fit the theme of the recent COP 26 conference.

David Morrey, Partner, Head of Investment Management, Financial Services Group, Grant Thornton UK LLP and Gavin Stewart, Director, Grant Thornton UK LLP, discuss these updates and share their insights on what to expect ahead of the regulators ESG strategy.

HM Treasury published its final consultation paper for the Future Regulatory Framework (FRF) Review on 9 November 2021. The FRF sets out the government's views on post-Brexit financial services regulation in the UK. Our host, Irina Velkova, is joined by Matthew Conway, Director, Strategy & Policy, at UK Finance, and Gavin Stewart, Director, Grant Thornton Financial Services Group, an established commentator on regulation – the panel shares their insight on the new changes taking shape, the practical challenges it might bring, and what the FRF means for you. 

Regulators and HM Treasury are expected to release several updates imminently including the Future Regulatory Framework (FRF) Review, Regulatory Initiatives Grid, and consultation papers.

David Morrey, Partner, Head of Investment Management, Financial Services Group, Grant Thornton UK LLP and Gavin Stewart, Director, Grant Thornton UK LLP share their insight on this months' regulatory developments and take a deep dive into what's expected from the regulators' crowded pre-Christmas agenda. 

Earlier this year, the FCA published its final guidance on the fair treatment of vulnerable customers. This is intended to drive a practical shift in firms' actions and behaviours towards these customers.

In this episode, Irina Velkova is joined by Maxine Pritchard, Head of Financial Inclusion and Vulnerability at HSBC UK, and Peter Lovegrove, Director at Grant Thornton UK LLP, for a conversation around how firms are expected to implement this guidance.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is trying to move on from COVID-19 in the last few months of 2021. As we prepare for 2022,David Morrey, Partner, Head of Investment Management, Financial Services Group, Grant Thornton UK LLP, and Gavin Stewart, Director, Grant Thornton UK LLP discuss this month’s regulatory developments and look back at the summer. The packed episode includes the end of the furlough scheme, recent enforcement cases, the FCA's 'Transformation', and its consumer investment strategy. 

The FCA published their Business Plan for 2021/22, setting an ambitious agenda for change. This year’s Business Plan can be viewed as an attempt to transition the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to become what is hoped to be a new regulator for the 2020s – more “innovative, assertive and adaptive.” David Morrey and Gavin Stewart delve deeper into the plan and priorities of the FCA and discuss whether we're looking at a new type of regulator.

On the podcast this week:

The UK Investment Firm Prudential Regime is a new, streamlined and simplified process for the prudential regulation of investment firms in the UK. 

We're joined by Colm Donnelly, Head of EMEA Prudential Reporting, Invesco to discuss the key aspects of the regime, how this will impact the way firms approach risk, and what is needed for implementation.

In the UK, the joint regulator and government task force on climate-related financial disclosures (TCFD) have published the roadmap towards mandatory climate-related disclosures. ESG and impact investing has taken a prominent place in all discussions lately.

We're joined by Edward Dixon, Head of ESG, Aviva Investors Real Assets and Paul Young, Head of Finance, Risk and Compliance to discuss the upturn in regulatory activity, what investors are facing and how to prepare for it.

As firms have adapted to the circumstances of lockdown almost overnight, there's been an inevitable increase in operational risk. Regulators are looking to confirm companies are minimising the impact of disruption by adapting, responding and recovering, while protecting their customers. 

We're joined by our Andrew Rogan, UK Finance and Tim Armit, former Post Office to discuss the upcoming Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) statement on operational resilience.