Unit 1 - Extra Flashcards
(90 cards)
Firm XYZ is an authorised person in the UK and communicates a promotion from Firm JKL, an authorised overseas person.
The extent to which the compensation will or will not be available must be stated
Where a firm communicates or approves a financial promotion on behalf of an overseas person, the financial promotion must make clear which firm has communicated or approved it and (where relevant) must explain:
That the rules for the protection of investors will not apply
The extent to which the UK compensation scheme arrangements will be available (and if they will not, that fact), and
If the communicator wishes to do so, the details of any overseas compensation and/or the deposit protection scheme applicable.
The firm must not communicate and/or approve the promotion unless it has no doubt that the overseas firm will deal with its UK clients honestly and reliably.
A firm is able to execute a client order on venue A or venue B. If the spread associated with venue A is better, the firm must execute on
Either venue A or venue B provided the cost difference only reflects actual execution cost differences
Explanation
Different prices can only be charged for different venues if the difference reflects the actual execution cost differentials and not, for example, commissions received by the executing broker. The increased execution costs may reflect a better service.
Which one of the following conduct rules applies to all persons captured by the SM&CR regime? You must:
The correct answer is: D - Observe proper standards of market conduct
Explanation
The individual conduct rules that apply to ALL SM&CR individuals are:
• You must act with integrity
• You must act with due skill, care and diligence
• You must be open and cooperative with the FCA and PRA and other regulators
• You must pay due regard to the interests of customers and treat them fairly
• You must observe proper standards of market conduct
When considering the rule on product information to be disclosed before providing services, to whom would the firm need to make these disclosures?
The correct answer is: A - Retail clients only
Explanation
The product disclosure rules (i.e. KIDs) would only apply to retail clients.
Which one of these is not a per se eligible counterparty
The correct answer is: C - Local authority
Explanation
Local authorities are retail clients, and can never be treated as eligible counterparties.
The Tax and Chancery Chamber of the Upper Tribunal is operated by
The correct answer is: D - A government department
Explanation
The Tribunal as an appeal committee is independent of the Regulator. It is run by the Ministry of Justice.
Under the regime created by the retail distribution review, which of the following is TRUE?
The charge can be ongoing and based on a percentage of the funds invested
Explanation
Advisers must move to fee-based charging. This can be an upfront fee or an ongoing fee based on a percentage of the funds invested (as long as an on going service is provided). Fees should be itemised and disclosed up front, but this should be based on the service provided not the product.
The FCA guidance on electronic communication with a client states that a firm should do all of the following, except
A
Be able to demonstrate that the client wishes to communicate using this type of media
B
If entering an agreement, make it clear to the client that a contractual relationship has legal consequences
C
Have in place arrangements to ensure secure transmission and receipt of the communication
Except:
D
Be able to demonstrate that it made it clear to the client that instructions communicated in this manner may not be acted upon immediately
Explanation
The firm should also be able to verify the authenticity and integrity of the communication, together with the date and time sent and received.
Which of the following best represents the FCA view on industry guidance
The FCA will not monitor or enforce compliance
Explanation
It is not mandatory and the FCA will not enforce or compel other bodies to enforce the guidance.
Which of the following statements complies with the inducements rules?
An acceptable commission is one that has been paid to a client
Explanation
In relation to designated investment business or, in the case of MiFID business, another ancillary service, a firm must not pay to, or accept from, a person other than the client any fee or commission (or provide or receive any non-monetary benefit).
When a firm provides designated investment business to a retail client, the training and competency requirements do not apply for which of the following?
Arranging
Explanation
The rules apply for advising, dealing, managing and overseeing on a daily basis.
Which of the following is not true regarding the Financial Services Compensation Scheme?
Eligible counterparties may never make a claim on the scheme
Explanation
Retail clients may claim on the scheme in respect of all losses (subject to a maximum claim).
Professional clients can claim in respect of long-term insurance and compulsory insurance (e.g. employers liability insurance). Partnerships, but not other professional clients, may also claim in respect of deposits.
Eligible counterparties may also claim in respect of long-term and compulsory insurance only.
For which one of these financial instruments is a firm required to assess appropriateness when performing execution only services?
Securitised debt embedding a derivative
Explanation
The other instruments are considered to be simpler financial instruments and therefore the appropriateness test is not required.
Under which of the following circumstances do the conduct of business rules not require a firm to enter into a client agreement
The client enters into an insurance contract with the firm as principal
Explanation
The COBS are explicit in saying that MiFID business requires a client agreement for all customers, unless the firm acts as principal with an insurance contract.
Which one of the following is NOT regarded by the FCA as a reasonable inducement to be paid by a product provider to a firm in relation to the sale of packaged products?
Office rent
Explanation
The inducement must be for the client and it must not be something that the firm would normally expect to pay, such as office rent. ‘Minor non-monetary benefits’, such as tea and coffee and biscuits at a meeting, are also allowed.
Where a firm becomes aware of a conflict of interest that may damage a particular client’s interests, which of the following procedures must the firm follow?
Manage the conflict and continue to deal
Explanation
Where a firm identifies a conflict of interest they must manage it. Only if they are unable to manage the conflict are they required to disclose it.
To be marketed in an EEA country a UK unit trust must
Conform with UCITS directive and member state’s regulations
Explanation
If a UK regulated CIS conforms with UCITS directive and member state’s regulations, then it can apply for a UCITS passport from the FCA and market itself across the EEA
Which of the following does NOT require a key information document
Cash deposit individual savings account
Explanation
Under PRIIPs, investment funds, insurance-based investment products, retail structured securities and structured term deposits all require KIDs
Which of the following is TRUE in respect of the conflicts of interest policy?
Where a firm is part of a group, the policy should take account any potential conflicts arising from that group
Explanation
This is a tricky question.
The rules protect ALL types of client.
A description of the policy should be provided to retail clients and potential retail clients.
The policy itself does not require firms to maintain effective and administrative arrangements, but shows how they will identify and manage conflicts.
Which of the following best describes the cancellation period offered to a client of the firm?
Compulsory for certain products
Explanation
Reflection periods of 14 or 30 days have to be offered when the firm sells packaged products or cash deposit ISAs.
According to the inducement provisions stated by the FCA, which of the following is not an appropriate payment by the firm
A third party providing general office equipment used for word processing and accountancy in the normal running of the firm’s activities
Explanation
General office equipment is specifically prohibited by FCA regulations.
Since office equipment, the firm would normally expect to pay, hence it’s an inducement to receive it
For what time period would a firm keep records on confirmation of trades for MiFID business?
Five years from dispatch
Explanation
A firm must retain a copy of any confirmation dispatched to a client for the following periods from the date of dispatch:
- Five years - MiFID business
- Three years - non-MiFID business
When the holdings of a married couple are automatically aggregated as a result of deciding if one of the sizable holdings rules have been broken, this is known as working as:
Connected parties
Explanation
Connected parties are automatically joined because of their relationship. Connected parties include spouses, children that are minors and family-owned businesses.
Which ONE of the following investments is NOT permitted under the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive?
Mortgages
Explanation
MiFID does not cover mortgages.