Financial Services Risk and Regulation Unravelled Podcast

Experts in financial regulation, David Morrey and Ben Farmer, discuss the FCA Business Plan 2024/25 and its implications for businesses. They cover topics like enforcement consultation, Sexism in the City report, social media financial promotions guidance, and more.

The insurance industry is undergoing a transformative journey driven by digital innovation, regulatory scrutiny, and enhanced consumer expectations. In our latest podcast, Head of Financial Services, Alex Ellerton is joined by Rob Benson, Partner, Head of Insurance, and Stuart Riddell, Director, to explore the key themes for the sector in 2024. The conversation covers Consumer Duty, AI, climate and sustainability, data and governance and mergers and acquisitions.

Paul Garbutt, Partner, and Ed Allen, Managing Director of BRS, discuss challenges in banking & capital markets for 2024. Topics include volatile interest rates, AI, regulation, macroeconomic uncertainties, adapting processes, governance, agility, geopolitical events, interest rate fluctuations, return on equity, capital management, wealth offerings, asset management, non-financial risks, geopolitical factors, sustainability, ESG, data, regulatory inconsistencies, advanced technologies, financial reforms, AI in banking sector, market infrastructure, automation, generative AI, integration challenges, and senior management's role in adopting AI.

The FCA has published an insight setting out examples of good and bad practice that it has observed in firms' implementation of the Consumer Duty. David Morrey and Ben Farmer discuss the FCA’s thematic feedback on the implementation, highlighting good and bad practices. Other developments discussed include: the FCA’s intervention in the GAP insurance market, the PRA’s sector letters for insurance and banking, and a significant consultation on how the FCA Enforcement approach could change.

The year ahead is set to bring both opportunities and reasons for caution to investment managers, with challenges spanning the uncertain impact of regulatory change, emerging technologies, and the long-running struggle with shrinking margins. In our latest podcast, Head of Financial Services, Alex Ellerton is joined by David Morrey, Partner, Head of Investment Management, and Jonathan Charles, Director, to explore the key themes for the sector in 2024. The conversation covers Consumer Duty, AI, sustainability, macroeconomic factors, and future proofing.

Could the ongoing Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) investigation into the motor finance industry could be as big as the PPI scandal? David Morrey and Ben Farmer discuss the ongoing motor finance market review and what it could mean for the industry. Other developments discussed include: the overseas fund regime, PRA sector priority letters, an update on the Ringfencing Regime review, a near-record fine from the PRA, Labour’s FS policy, and much more.

David Morrey and Ben Farmer discuss regulatory topics for 2024, including the Consumer Duty, operational resilience, and expected supervisory activity. They also talk about successful prosecutions, the potential impact of the Consumer Duty on various sectors, and challenges in the financial services industry.

In this episode Irina Velkova welcomes Eric Usher, head of the UNEP Finance Initiative, to discuss its Principles for Responsible Banking (PRB). We also addressed The Paris Agreement, critical agreements for COP28, challenges hindering global efforts to finance sustainable projects, and delivering climate goals. 

In this episode, Irina Velkova welcomes Niki Mardas, Executive Director of Global Canopy, to discuss nature-positive investments, COP28 notable moments and key takeaways, the State of Finance for Nature report, and TNFD final recommendations for nature-risk management and disclosure.

In our final podcast of the year David Morrey and Ben Farmer discuss the latest edition of the Regulatory Initiatives Grid and recap on regulatory policy publications covering access to cash, sustainability disclosures, critical third parties, the advice guidance boundary and much more.