The consultation is seen as an integral part of Origo's assessment of the likely impact regulatory change will have on the life and pensions industry, and how it must act to succeed in the new environment.
The focus group will be the fourth such event organised by Origo this year. Led by Robert Reid, director of the Personal Finance Society, Money Marketing columnist and practising IFA, the event will be held on 1st December 2004 at the Hilton Green Park, Mayfair. The day will start at 9.30am and end with lunch at 1.00pm.
The focus group is the next stage in Origo's preparation for life under changed regulation; a task the standards body has been working on for some nine months now. The aim is to concentrate on the challenges posed by new regulation, and how the industry can work together to address the changes.
IFAs will be asked for their input over issues including:
·Depolarisation
·CP121
·CP166
·PS159
·Inland Revenue's Pension Simplification paper
Paul Pettitt, managing director of Origo, said: "In the past we've hosted focus groups to look at e-commerce issues and how we can improve processes between IFAs and providers. As part of this ongoing objective, we've also got to look at the specific issue of regulatory change. Input from IFAs is essential to help us understand the issues they will face in the new regulatory environment. E-commerce has made a real difference to the industry, so it's important that all areas of the industry pull together to ensure that we can look forward to a smooth transition when the new regulations arrive."
