The FCA is to go ahead with a simplified complaints process to make it easier for firms to report consumer complaints to it.

The FCA’s latest Retail Mediation Activities Report - out this week - provides an interesting snapshot of the adviser sector. It shows a rather mixed picture but not necessarily a bad one.

The FCA is to launch a renewed drive to axe unnecessary reporting requirements and red tape in a move it claims will save regulated firms over £100m a year.

Revenues generated by retail investment intermediaries increased by 6% in 2024 to £5.7bn (2023: £5.3bn). 

The number of adviser firms providing independent financial advice fell 5% (year-on-year) in 2024, according to data from the latest FCA Retail Intermediary Market Data report out this week.

The FCA has confirmed it has lifted the ban on consumers investing money into crypto exchange traded notes (cETNs).

Financial services firms received 1.85m complaints in the first half of 2025, a 4% increase from the first six month of 2024 when there were 1.78m complaints, according to new data from the FCA.

Fraudster Daniel Pugh, 35, has been jailed for 7 years and 6 months for running a £1.3m Ponzi investment scheme.

New figures from the FCA published today have revealed that the total number of pension plans accessed for the first time rose by 8.6% to 961,575 compared to 885,455 in 2023/24.

The FCA has proposed further cuts to data reporting requirements by reducing the frequency of submissions for selected sections of the Retail Mediation Activities Return (RMAR).

Challenger bank Monzo has been fined £21,091,300 for inadequate anti-financial crime systems and controls between October 2018 and August 2020.

The FCA is to consolidate its complaints returns in a move which it claims will ease unnecessary red tape burdens on firms.

The number of appointed representatives continued to fall in 2024/25, according to the latest data from the Financial Conduct Authority.

The FCA is planning to axe at least three regular reporting requirements for 16,000 regulated firms in an effort to reduce red tape and boost growth.

The FCA has today launched a wide-scale review of the £4.85bn protection insurance market and whether commissions paid on products affect consumer outcomes.

The number of whistleblowing reports made to the Financial Conduct Authority dipped in the fourth quarter of 2024.

The news this week that the FCA has axed a requirement for the boards of regulated firms to have a dedicated Consumer Duty Champion- only introduced 18 months ago - was met with some raised eyebrows.

The Financial Conduct Authority’s review of ongoing advice data from 22 of the largest financial advice firms has found that suitability reviews were carried out in the vast majority of cases.

To delete or not delete (emails) - that is the thorny question the FCA has had to face and a move which forced one of its senior execs to defends its email deletion plans this week.

The FCA has this week restored the regulatory authorisation of Kent-based advice firm The Pentagon Partnership (FRN: 627747) two months after its permissions were cancelled.