PII costs could rocket 500% as FOS comp limit rises to £350k, FCA admits

'We listened carefully to feedback'

Hannah Godfrey
clock • 3 min read

Professional indemnity insurance (PII) costs could rise by between 200% and 500% for financial advisers under a "worst-case scenario", the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has admitted.

This revelation comes as the FCA confirmed in PS19/8: Increasing the award limit for the Financial Ombudsman Service, financial firms would be forced to pay out up to £350,000 in compensation to a customer if the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) found it to be appropriate. Although the FCA said PII costs could rocket by anything between 200% and 500%, according to forecasts made by insurers, the watchdog said that figure "contrasts" with its own estimate of a 140% increase. The regulator admitted some firms could stop providing defined benefit transfer advice as a result of the PI hi...

To continue reading this article...

Join Professional Adviser for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
  • Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
  • Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
  • Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
  • Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes

Join

 

Already a Professional Adviser member?

Login

More on Regulation

Applying proportionality to customer vulnerability under the FCA's Consumer Duty

Applying proportionality to customer vulnerability under the FCA's Consumer Duty

‘Proportionality does not equal minimalism’

Andrew Gething
clock 18 March 2026 • 5 min read
Failed financial advice firms tracker

Failed financial advice firms tracker

Firms that the FSCS has confirmed as failed since the start of 2023

Professional Adviser
clock 18 March 2026 • 1 min read
Administrators appointed at alleged £23m unauthorised investment scheme firm

Administrators appointed at alleged £23m unauthorised investment scheme firm

FCA issued High Court proceedings against Concept Capital Group last year

Jen Frost
clock 13 March 2026 • 2 min read