The Retail Distribution Review May 2008 Ruth Martin Managing-Director, SII

SII and the RDR Affects all three core areas of SII: Attaining Competence Maintaining Competence Promoting Trust

The RDR The FSA’s challenges to the industry in the Feedback Statement of 29 th April 2008 To develop a framework for common professional standards To propose how the new sales service would work, which will benefit consumers To product providers to change their remuneration models for advisers.

The RDR The FSA’s Feedback Statement of 29 th April 2008 Our challenge is to the representatives of the whole (retail) industry, and all other stakeholders, to deliver on this apparent consensus for change (the Edinburgh Declaration) that some have issued.….. We are willing to play our part in facilitating discussions and taking whatever other actions that only we are able to progress, but the involvement and cooperation of all relevant industry parties will be vital if the industry is to avoid more direct intervention from us. “ “

The RDR The FSA’s Aims for Professionalism and Standards Higher Standards of behaviour Higher level qualifications Higher Standards of on-going Competence (CPD) Better segmentation and labelling of services Greater collaboration between firms, professional bodies, trade bodies and consumers

SII Model of Competence Developing the Principled Practitioner Attain Competence Assessed by external qualification Promote Trust Demonstrated through adherence to Code of Conduct With opportunities for self development Maintain Competence Developed by range of CPD Events and adopt SII on-line CPD scheme.

The RDR Attain Competence Historical links to London Stock Exchange Retail sectors covered: –Private Client Wealth Management –Retail Securities and Derivatives –Discretionary Portfolio Management Welcome the raising of standards History of higher level qualifications –SII Diploma with strong Wealth Management stream –SII Masters in Wealth Management June 2008 – focussed career pathways – take up has demonstrated real demand Threshold qualifications e.g. Cert IM, Investment and Risk

The RDR Maintain Competence The CPD Challenge What additional CPD might be needed? Compulsory CPD for Retail practitioners? Strong recommendation to join appropriate professional body

The RDR Promote Trust Practice Certificate ‘e’ learning ethics module Membership and Code of Conduct

The RDR Under the “Edinburgh Declaration” a Potential Professional Standards Board might, be responsible for: Better labelling (the “alphabet soup”) Introduction of higher-level qualifications (with transitional arrangements) Making industry-wide Code of Ethics Setting broad CPD standards Developing Practice Certificates linked to all aspects of professionalism (the “Principled Practitioner”) Support and active involvement by of regulators, consumers and statutory and trade bodies Information sharing and discipline.

The RDR Your Comments on the FSA’s and the SII’s professionalism proposals

The Retail Distribution Review May 2008 Ruth Martin Managing-Director, SII