You might recall that over the last couple of years the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) phased in new rules that aimed to set higher standards of consumer protection across all financial services.

In a nutshell, the duty can be summed up in the principle: ‘a firm must act to deliver good outcomes for retail customers’, and as such gives us, as a firm that has joined the Alliance, the opportunity to confirm our commitment to our clients and boost confidence in financial services generally.

When we joined the Alliance it was clear that the overarching principles of Consumer Duty reflected our own existing core values:

• Do the right thing
• Be open
• Look after each other
• Share the good

We always strive to stay ahead of the curve in terms of industry standards and requirements, with your best interests at heart. We have therefore ensured that everyone in the Rouse team understands Consumer Duty and recognises the part they play in continuing to uphold our values, and in surpassing the FCA’s required standards.

As part of our commitment to Consumer Duty, we will continue to regularly review the rules and compare the expected outcomes with our current service provision.

Please call us if you would like to learn more about the FCA’s Consumer Duty initiative and our service provision.