Displaying items by tag: pension transfers

The Financial Conduct Authority has warned two IFAs and a stockbroker that they face fines and regulatory action over their alleged role in a £5.9m SIPP pension transfer scam.

Pension transfer values briefly hit a new high in August as the FCA reviews potential redress for unsuitable transfer advice.

The FCA has provisionally fined pension transfer financial adviser Geoffrey Edward Armin £1.28m for a number of advice failings.

The ban on contingent charging and the pandemic have resulted in a major slump in pension transfers, according to new research.

Pension adviser Portal Financial Services LLP has shut its doors to new business following a string of complaints to the Financial Ombudsman Service, many brought recently by Claims Management Companies.

Nearly 70% of DB transfers went ahead when contingent charging was used compared to less than 28% when non-contingent charging was applied, according to a Freedom of Information request.

One in three high risk pension transfers since July 2018 would satisfy the first condition of the Department of Work and Pensions’ (DWP) proposed scam reduction legislation, according to a new report.

Andy Bell, CEO of platform and SIPP firm AJ Bell, has warned that proposed new anti-scam rules on pension transfers risk undermining thousands of legitimate transfers.

The FCA has begun civil proceeding in the High Court against Paul Steel for providing unsuitable defined benefit pension transfer advice.

It has also secured in interim injunction which freezes the assets of both Mr Steel and his partner Ms Foster up to the value of £7m, pending a further hearing.

The regulator said Mr Steel’s firm, Estate Matters Financial (in liquidation), contravened the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 by providing unsuitable defined benefit pension transfer advice, leading consumers to exit defined benefit pension schemes when it was not in their best interests to do so.

The regulator added that Mr Steel, Estate Matters Financial’s director and co-owner, was knowingly concerned in the contravention.

The FCA alleges that Mr Steel breached FCA requirements by undertaking a course of conduct which resulted in the removal of the firm’s assets, leaving it unable to meet potential liabilities for unsuitable advice, while enabling him to retain the significant profits that accrued from the provision of the advice and from ongoing fees.

An injunction was also obtained against Ms Foster on the basis that she may be holding or controlling assets owned by her partner Mr Steel.

The FCA has also asked the Court to make a restitution order requiring Mr Steel to compensate consumers who have suffered losses as a result of receiving unsuitable pension transfer advice.

No trial date has been set.

Over 50% of pension transfers covered by one pension firm’s scam protection service have been flagged up as at risk of a scam since the pandemic hit.