Scathing report on Sipp failings prompts call for permitted list

A pension provider has renewed calls for the introduction of a Sipp permitted investment list after a scathing report from the FCA. A highly critical letter outlining widespread failings and poor practice was sent to all companies in the sector this week following a regulatory review.Andy Bell, chief executive of AJ Bell, has repeated his belief that the list is necessary in the light of the regulator's latest criticism.The FCA said it uncovered conduct which has put consumers' pension savings at "considerable risk".The regulator said a significant number of Sipp operators were still failing to manage risks previously identified and have failed to ensure consumers are protected appropriately, despite its recent guidance.This followed the regulator's third Sipp thematic review last October.{desktop}{/desktop}{mobile}{/mobile}Mr Bell said: "The range of investments that Sipp operators allow is clearly front and centre of the FCA's minds at the moment."Sipp operators should already have been aware of this, not only from the findings of the Sipp thematic review, but also from the focus of the forthcoming Sipp capital adequacy requirements."The fact that many firms are apparently not engaging with this level of regulatory attention in spite of the FCA's focus is a concern."It leads me to conclude that the one absolute solution to this problem is a re-introduction of a Sipp permitted investment list."Many firms were found by the FCA to lack the necessary expertise to assess high risk and non-standard investments and often failed to understand and identify the correct prudential rules, which apply to their business.Mr Bell said: "The Sipp industry worked with a permitted investment list for many years prior to A-Day in 2006 and there is no reason why it couldn't again."I acknowledge that establishing a permitted investment list will not be without difficulty, and that it will not completely solve the issue of failed investments, but think we have reached the stage where those concerns are out-weighed by the failure of some to listen to the FCA on this."Andy Leggett, head of Sipp business development at Barnett Waddingham, said yesterday that there would inevitably be 'dismay' in the sector following the findings.

Scathing report on Sipp failings prompts call for permitted list

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