Expert Analysis Group provides suitable firms with FCA regulated status through the Appointed Representative regime, often referred to as the AR regime. The Appointed Representative regime allows firms to conduct regulated activities without being directly regulated by the FCA. This is particularly suited to small firms or those where the regulated business is small and ancillary to its main business. Normally, becoming an Appointed Representative is quick and very cost effective compared to direct regulation. Your firm will have its own FRN (Firm Reference Number) and will be listed on the FCA register (https://register.fca.org.uk/s/), and your key personnel will be approved persons, each with their own reference number and will also be listed on the FCA register.

 

If an individual, partnership or firm should be regulated but is not, the responsible individual, partners or directors are breaking the law. Those individuals can be imprisoned, fined, banned from ever being a director or banned from working in the Financial Services sector. In 2023, the FCA had 206 open investigations on unauthorised businesses, of which 157 were criminal investigations. Also, clients can recover losses or costs incurred by them from you, your partnership or firm as a result of an activity being undertaken for which you, your partnership or firm were not regulated. It is simply not worth the risk of operating an unregulated business when it should be regulated - ignorance is not a credible defence!