SARS pays back R10bn, but some taxpayers’ refunds are being withheld

Taxpayers should inform SARS if they have been unemployed for a full year or longer, to avoid being flagged as non-compliant.

Retail Distribution Review: Activity-based Remuneration

We commented on this very relevant topic last week. More detailed information has since come to hand. We will use this over the next few weeks to discuss what will possibly be contained […]

TCF in your practice

The FSB published guides for small FSPs and asset managers on the practical impact of treating customers fairly (TCF) on their businesses. The harsh reality of TCF is, of course, that you could […]

It has long been my contention that, unlike the socks I buy at Woollies, there are few products which can satisfy clients’ needs with a “one-size-fits-all” approach, particularly in the financial services industry. […]

Proposed Exemption from New Legislation

Alan Holton, an independent compliance practitioner and associate of Moonstone, recently shared the following information regarding amendments to the Financial Services Laws General Amendment Act of 2013. Financial Services Board Act 1990 and […]

FSB Outlook for the next 2 years

Improved customer service and fair advisor remuneration will be key features of the new financial services landscape. Jonathan Dixon, Deputy Executive Officer of the Financial Services Board’s Insurance Division, made some interesting comments […]

Remuneration on Section 14 transfers under review

The Retirement Funds Department of the FSB published Draft Information Circular 6 of 2013 to clarify its views on certain issues, including the payment of fees and commissions when a client elects to […]

Insurer Fees to be Outlawed

The FSB published a letter inviting comment from the industry on a practice that it intends declaring an undesirable or irregular practice. Some insurers charge policyholders a fee in addition to the premium […]

Review of Intermediary Services Definition on the Cards

The postponement of the Insurance Laws Amendment Bill, 2013 also impacted on a proposed change by the FSB to the FAIS Act. The objective of the proposed changes was to close regulatory gaps […]

How Productive are you?

The results of two surveys in the financial services industry were recently published by CoreData, a firm who conducts research in banking, mortgages, retail saving, pensions, asset management and the financial advisory sector. […]

Fraud knows no Boundaries

Consumers at the lower end of the market are often more vulnerable when it comes to being defrauded. The latest Ombud determination provides details of how the Reformed Christians for Truth Church became […]

Fraudulent RE Certificates

Candidates who pass the level 1 regulatory examination are issued with certificates which record this fact. These documents contain a number of security features to avoid fraudulent use thereof. Details of this cannot, […]

Consumer Expectations from TCF

There was a time when actuaries at product houses spent endless hours developing a product, packaging it, and then sending it to the marketing division with the message: “Go out there and find […]

CPD back in a Big Way

It is evident that the focus on continuous professional development is increasing. As noted in the article above, the FSB envisages publishing proposed new CPD requirements by the end of the year. The […]

FSB Clarifies Outcomes-Based TCF

Ms Leanne Jackson, Head of Treating Customers Fairly at the Financial Services Board recently responded to a Moonstone article published on the Insurance Gateway website: An article headlined “Not quite Treating Customers Fairly?” […]

Are We Experiencing Regulatory Overkill?

The head of Britain’s recently formed Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) was accused of backtracking on a promise to introduce “proportionate” red-tape on insurance brokers by the British Insurance Brokers Association (Biba), according to […]

Impact of Legislative Changes on Regulatory Exams

Impact of Legislative Changes on Regulatory Exams The announcement that the Financial Services Laws General Amendment Act, 2013 (Act 45 of 2013) came into operation on 28 February 2014 will necessitate changes to […]