The FCA has launched a criminal investigation into Newcastle-based wealth manager WealthTek LLP following the discovery of an £81.5m gap in the firms’ finances.

The FCA has cancelled the permission of KBFS Financial Limited (FRN: 831504) to carry out regulated business following restrictions imposed in October over concerns about its failure to pay redress to former members of the British Steel Pension Scheme.

The FCA and its Practitioner Panel are set to launch a joint survey of 25,000 regulated firms shortly to seek feedback on how the FCA is regulating the sector.

Too many Financial Planners are relying on averages for their retirement income planning process, according to DFM Hymans Robertson Investment Services.

The FCA has issued a warning notice to a pension adviser it has branded “reckless” after they gave unsuitable advice to customers to transfer out of their DB scheme over a four year period.

The FCA is cracking down on the practice of so-called ‘double-dipping’ by investment platforms and SIPP operators whereby they keep interest on customers’ cash balances and charge them a fee for doing so.

The FCA is planning to open the door to millions of consumers receiving ‘financial guidance’ on their personal finances which stops short of regulated financial advice.

Proposals from the FCA would require investment advisers to set aside a minimum of 28% of potential liabilities in advance to compensate investors if bad advice is given.

The FCA has secured a Restraint Order under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 against collapsed Newcastle-based wealth manager WealthTek, a parent company to a SSAS and SIPP investments provider. 

There was a near 10,000 rise in the number of complaints about SIPPs and non-workplace pensions in the first half of 2023, according to the latest FCA Complaints Data report.