FCA consults over conversion of safeguarded pension benefits

Proposals have been outlined by the FCA to make advising on the conversion or transfer of safeguarded pension benefits a regulated activity. A consultation has been launched by the regulator this morning.Officials are asking for views on proposed changes to its pension transfer rules, designed to reflect the Government's new flexible pensions regime.The FCA already regulates advice on transfers to personal pensions.The Government's new regime will bring advice on transfers from defined benefit schemes to occupational defined contribution schemes into the FCA's remit.Consumers will be required to take advice before transferring out of a DB scheme and it will be the responsibility of trustees to check that people have taken advice.{desktop}{/desktop}{mobile}{/mobile}Christopher Woolard, director of strategy and competition at the FCA, said: "The new pension flexibilities bring about added choice for consumers. DB schemes pose particular issues and we need to ensure that those who are considering moving away to other arrangements are fully aware of the potential benefits they are giving up."In many cases transferring from DB to DC may not be in the member's best interests and ensuring independent advice is taken is an important protection."The FCA is consulting on changes to its rules following a proposed amendment to the Regulated Activities Order that will make advising on the conversion or transfer of safeguarded pension benefits, which are benefits other than money purchase or cash balance benefits, into flexible benefits, a regulated activity.The FCA will also now require those advising on pension transfers to have the pension transfer specialist qualification when giving advice on all transfers from DB to DC regardless of when the transferred benefits are being accessed.Richard Eagling, head of pensions at Moneyfacts.co.uk, said: "The new pension freedoms will doubtless encourage many individuals in defined benefit schemes to consider the merits of transferring to a defined contribution pension arrangement."However, the FCA has made it clear that advisers will need to tread very carefully when dealing with this and it is still perceived to be the case that in most scenarios remaining in a defined benefit scheme will be the most suitable choice in the long term."

FCA consults over conversion of safeguarded pension benefits

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