4 Key Areas of FCA Focus in 2025 for Retail Investment Firms

At Leaman Crellin we’ve reviewed the FCA's Annual Work Programme for 2025/26 and asked what it means for Retail Investment Firms:

1. Widening Access To Financial Markets

Looking across all the proposals in the FCA’s Annual Work Programme there are a few areas where FCA is proposing changes to the markets with the intention of widening access to those markets for smaller investors. For example, making it easier for companies to raise capital.

2. Improving Access to Financial Advice

Work continues to make financial advice more accessible and affordable for consumers. FCA says it will continue to support proposed new models that can help improve access.

3. Advice guidance boundary review

A new regime will be created providing Targeted Support that will enable savers to invest more by improving access to the support they need to make informed decisions.

4. T+1 Settlement

FCA continues to support implementation of a faster settlement cycle in the UK through stakeholder engagement and monitoring firm’s preparedness.

Leaman Crellin has identified the new initiatives FCA has planned for 2025/26 which may also apply to your firm, you can read that article here.