A big part of the problem with regulation in financial services is the constant changing. The regime has changed so often that nothing ever beds in. Even having the FSA as a constant since 2000, they keep changing things as well. Whilst we should be open minded about change, it seems that nothing is improving, it’s just getting more and more complicated and I fear that eventually everything will seize up. Already we see that the new Sale and Rent Back regime has pushed the majority of players out of the market place leaving distressed homeowners with even fewer options that they had before.

Strikingly, there are so many similarities between the old IBRC and ABI rules and the principles outlined by the FSA and yet we were not confused by the former, they worked and they would fit in a small folder; thus there was every chance that we could all read and learn them. Now it’s impossible to know where to start with the regulators rule  book. The legislators have mentioned before that there might be too much red tape, so what do they do? They make more of it. It’s enough to make you want to become an MP!

So now, when the government changes, millions more is to be spent unravelling the FSA. It is likely that the new consumer regulator will actually be the old one with a new remit. Prepare to rewind.

Playing a diffferent kind of rugby – league instead of union – was a bit like going from GISC to FSA. All the old rules that have been drummed in have to be forgotten. It must be harder going the other way, looking at a player such as Andy Farrell, I can now see how he struggled as an England centre. There has to be a technique for adapting methodology and skills. Brokers need to take the time to grasp the new rules and relate them to the old ones. Bagging a new risk at the eleventh hour and worrying about the paperwork later used to be a cause for congratulation, now it make you a compliance pariah! Of course, I am the person to coach this…

 Many employers are concerned that their staff are spending all day on Facebook et al. Looking back to a pre-internet age, I would say that things were always thus. 

Back in the early 80’s when my mortgage outstripped my take home pay and overtime was essential somehow I managed to have some fun… mainly in the office as I virtually lived there. 

First of all I was in charge of erecting the Christmas tree, traditionally the job of the newest member of staff which was me for a few years as the recession bit. 

However, my main memories of that time were of having to make it fun; office cricket for example: the ball, a screwed up piece of paper, the bat, a file and the stumps, someone’s IN/OUT trays. Hit the window for a six, the wall for a four, the fielders were also manning the phones. Runs could be tricky. The service was much better than a call centre. Then there were those days tied to the old banger IBM terminals where we sent raunchy internal messages and drank Lambrusco out of plastic cups. This ended with a missive from ‘Head Office’ saying that internal messages were clogging up systems and all had to be downloaded and printed!  Someone will have had some fun! Now we have e-mail jokes instead. Head Office was there as an object of hate and ridicule to keep us all united and the training centre was the place to party – 50 or so trainee underwriters, two pubs, nothing on TV, what did they expect. Flexi-time meant we could flexibly be in the pub, fitting our hours around opening times – yes, remember them! People were often ‘sick; on their birthdays, not stay at home sick though, if you see what I mean. 

So, if you want them all doing ‘CPD’ in their lunch hours, why not make it fun. TCC have a great ‘TCF’ game. Anyone not understanding CPD and TCF, don’t worry about it unless you are in insurance or financial services, in which case, please call me immediately! More information on TCC making TCF fun then e-mail Karen@thegiconsultant.com