The Fairer Finance podcast

In this week's episode, we start with a look at Which?'s super-complaint into the home and travel insurance markets. Fairer Finance supported Which? with its analysis, and shares its concerns. But it's likely to have gone down like a lead balloon at the FCA, where resources are stretched and management are being told to focus on the Treasury's pro-growth, deregulation agenda. I...

What's the Fairer Finance podcast about and who is it for?  Email us your questions and suggested topics for discussion to fairerfinance@fairerfinance.com

We're back from a summer break - starting season 2 with a look at the Supreme Court car finance ruling. We explore what it means for the industry and for consumers. In the second half of the show, we look back at the news stories from the past few weeks - including what the new Economic Secretary might mean for Government financial services policy. We also take a look forward to what's c...

This week, we are dedicating the whole episode to insurance. Last week, the FCA published a raft of papers around the general insurance market - from the premium finance market study interim report through to its review of the general insurance pricing practices remedies. We unpack what was in the FCA papers and what these might mean for industry and consumers. In the first half of the show, we di...

In this week's episode we discuss the Leeds reforms announced by the Chancellor on 15 July. These included more detail about reforms to the Financial Ombudsman Service as well as significant changes to the Senior Managers & Certification Regime. There was also a hint of changes to the retail banking ringfence. We discuss what all this means for businesses and consumers. Email us your ques...

In this week's episode, we start with a look at the FCA's recent discussion paper on the future of the mortgage market, as well as Nikhil Rathi's recent call to scrap the government mortgage charter.  In the second half of the show, we discuss the new FCA consultation paper on targeted support, and talk about the benefits and potential pitfalls of this new light touch advice regimes...

In our latest episode, we look at the recent run of government activity in the pensions market - from the Mansion House Accord to the new Pension Schemes Bill. We unpack the detail of these changes and discuss what they might mean for the market - and pension savers more broadly. We also take a look at the FCA's latest plans to water down fund manager assessment of value reports. We talk abou...

In this week's episode, we kick off with a look at the online wills market - discussing Fairer Finance's new ratings in the sector and considering whether better regulation of the sector is needed. In the second half of the show, we move onto discuss Access to Cash. With bank branches continuing to close and cash usage continuing to fall, are we edging towards extinction for bank notes a...

In this week's episode, we delve into the detail of Fairer Finance's new research report looking at how more people can use their housing wealth to fund retirement. With many more people likely to reach later life without adequate pension savings, our research suggests that as many as 51% of people may need to use housing wealth to maintain their standard of living by 2040. We dive into...

In this week's episode, we begin with a look at the FCA's latest consumer duty deep dive - which targets the currency sector. The cost of sending money overseas online is often difficult for consumers to understand - and the FCA highlights examples of good and bad practice in the sector. In the second half of the episode, we discuss the results of the latest Fairer Finance Trust in Insur...

In this week's episode, we discuss the FCA's recent review of its vulnerable customer guidance. How have firms been meeting the challenge of identifying and supporting vulnerable customers? And what did the FCA's review of bank's power of attorney and bereavement processes uncover? In the second half of the show, we look at the forthcoming regulation of the Buy Now Pay Later Se...

In the latest episode of the Fairer Finance podcast, we start with a look at the CMA’s new consumer protection powers to tackle aggressive and misleading sales tactics. We'll discuss what this new regime might mean for firms already subject to the FCA’s Consumer Duty. Do the CMA’s new powers change anything? In the second half of the show, as stock markets are volatile, we also ask how firms...

In the latest episode of the Fairer Finance podcast, we start with a look at the FCA's new five year strategy - as well as a dive into its latest plans to strip back the rulebook. The strategy talks about rebalancing risk - but how much risk will be socially and politically acceptable for consumers? In its latest consumer duty paper, the FCA talks about a number of new ideas - from scrapping...

In this week's episode, we start by taking a look at the FCA's recent announcements around the mortgage market. In the next few weeks, the regulator has said it will launch a call for evidence to hear whether its current stress test affordability rules are too strict - and will consider whether it's time to allow borrowers to borrow more. The FCA has also announced a consultation in...

Rumours are abound that the government is considering cutting the cash Isa allowance to get more people investing. But will it work? And why don't more people invest in stocks and shares in the UK? In the second half of the show, we look at the growth of essentials policies in the general insurance market. Since the FCA banned insurers from charging existing customers more than new ones, the...

In this episode, we take a look at what's been going on at the Financial Ombudsman Service - with both the CEO and Chair announcing their departure within a few days of each other. The recent FOS/FCA call for input into the UK consumer redress system has also just closed. What changes might we expect to see? In the second half of the episode, we take a look at the recent corporate activity in...

Government ministers have been talking in stereo about regulation standing in the way of growth - and have ordered regulators to explain how they can behind the pro-growth agenda. Over the last few weeks, Consumer Duty board champions have been scrapped, the chair of the Competition Commission has been fired and the FCA has begun talking about watering down mortgage affordability rules.  So what i...

In this episode, we're taking a look at what lies in store for the financial services sector in 2025. With a busy roster of Government activity and FCA market studies - who will be the winners and losers? We also take a look back at James' 2024 predictions to see if he got any of them right.  If you'd like to suggest topics for future shows, or send in your questions, please send us...