SRA Standards and Regulations

Retention of records

Each record which is made under these rules shall be kept for at least six years from the date it is made.

General information to be provided

In good time before the conclusion of a contract of insurance, you must disclose the following information to clients: whether you provide a personal recommendation about the insurance products offered; the procedures allowing clients and other interested parties to register complaints about you and information about the out-of-court complaint and redress procedures available for the...

Scope of service

Where you propose, or give a client a personal recommendation for, a contract of insurance, then in good time before the conclusion of an initial contract of insurance and if necessary on its amendment or renewal, you must provide the client with information on whether you: give a personal recommendation on the basis of a fair and personal analysis; are under a contractual obligation to...

Remuneration and the client's best interests

You must not: be remunerated; or remunerate or assess the performance of the firm's employees, in a way that conflicts with their duty to act in each client's best interest. In particular, you must not make any arrangement by way of remuneration, sales target or otherwise that could provide an incentive to the firm or its employees to recommend a particular contract of insurance to a client...

Cross-selling requirements where insurance is the ancillary product

When you offer a non-insurance ancillary product or service as part of a package or in the same agreement with an insurance product, you must: inform the client whether it is possible to buy the components separately and, if so must provide the client with an adequate description of: the different components; where applicable, any way in which the risk or insurance coverage resulting from the...

Insurance product information document and appropriate information

You must ensure that the client is given objective and relevant information about a policy in good time prior to the conclusion of the policy, so that the client can make an informed decision. You must provide the information in rule 21.1 to the client: whether or not you give a personal recommendation; and irrespective of the fact that the policy is offered as part of a package with: a...

Exclusions for large risks

Only rules 9, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20 and 22 apply where you carry on insurance distribution activities for commercial clients in relation to contracts of insurance covering risks within the following categories: railway rolling stock, aircraft, ships (sea, lake, river and canal vessels), goods in transit, aircraft liability and liability of ships (sea, lake, river and canal vessels); credit and...

Consumer credit guidance

Where you undertake credit-related regulated financial services activities, you must have regard to any guidance issued by the SRA from time to time relating to such activities.

Basic conditions

If you carry on any regulated financial services activities you must ensure that: you satisfy the conditions in section 327(2) to (5) of FSMA; the activities arise out of, or are complementary to, the provision of a particular professional service to a particular client; there is not in force any order or direction of the FCA under sections 328 or 329 of FSMA which prevents you from carrying...

Corporate finance

You must not act as any of the following: sponsor to an issue in respect of securities to be admitted for dealing on the London Stock Exchange; nominated adviser to an issue in respect of securities to be admitted for dealing on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange; or corporate adviser to an issue in respect of securities to be admitted for dealing on the ICAP...