Fair Value Assessment (FVA) for Price and Value Compliance
With the Consumer Duty now fully in effect, firms across the financial services industry must be able to prove that they are delivering fair value to customers — not just offering competitive pricing. At Al Banyan Tree, we help providers of investment, wealth, pension, and protection products meet these obligations through structured, evidence-led Fair Value Assessments (FVA).
Our team brings a deep understanding of regulatory expectations under the FCA’s COLL regime, FASB and IASB guidance, and other global disclosure standards. Whether reviewing a single product or an entire portfolio, we support firms in developing clear, justifiable, and repeatable fair value frameworks — covering both open and closed books — with full alignment to internal governance and external scrutiny.
Our team brings a deep understanding of regulatory expectations under the FCA’s COLL regime, FASB and IASB guidance, and other global disclosure standards. Whether reviewing a single product or an entire portfolio, we support firms in developing clear, justifiable, and repeatable fair value frameworks — covering both open and closed books — with full alignment to internal governance and external scrutiny.
Structured Reviews That Focus on Real Customer Outcomes
At Al Banyan Tree, we approach FVA not as a one-time checklist, but as a strategic component of product oversight and governance. Our methodology helps firms evaluate whether customers are receiving appropriate value based on pricing, performance, and outcomes — across the full product lifecycle.
We analyze products in the context of their target market, distribution approach, and complexity. This includes comparisons to similar offerings, examination of cost structures, and assessment of service delivery and complaint patterns. Our frameworks combine both quantitative data (e.g., fees, performance, lapse rates) and qualitative indicators (e.g., disclosures, suitability, clarity of information).
For closed book products, where data may be historical or incomplete, we help clients build pragmatic yet defensible reviews that satisfy the principles of Consumer Duty without overextending operational teams.
We analyze products in the context of their target market, distribution approach, and complexity. This includes comparisons to similar offerings, examination of cost structures, and assessment of service delivery and complaint patterns. Our frameworks combine both quantitative data (e.g., fees, performance, lapse rates) and qualitative indicators (e.g., disclosures, suitability, clarity of information).
For closed book products, where data may be historical or incomplete, we help clients build pragmatic yet defensible reviews that satisfy the principles of Consumer Duty without overextending operational teams.
Why Work with Al Banyan Tree
- End-to-end fair value frameworksBuilt from the ground up to reflect your business model, product complexity, and governance structure.
- Support across product categoriesIncluding investment funds, retail wealth, insurance wrappers, protection products, pensions, and legacy book structures.
- Consumer Duty-aligned methodologyFocused not just on fees and charges, but also on fairness of outcomes, clarity of information, and real-world utility.
- Market and competitor analysisBenchmarking value relative to similar offers, including open-market peers and historical alternatives.
- Transparent process and audit-ready outputStructured documentation and traceable rationale that can be reviewed internally or presented to the regulator.
- Integration with existing oversight systemsWe help embed fair value reviews into your product governance, risk, and board reporting cycles.
- Expertise in COLL compliance and international standardsEnsuring consistency with both FCA rules and broader valuation principles under FASB and IASB.
We review the end-to-end value chain of a product: fees and charges, benefit delivery, product complexity, performance against expectations, complaints or redress trends, service delivery, and alignment with target market needs. It’s not just about what customers pay — it’s about what they receive and how clearly they understand it.
The FCA's Consumer Duty raised the bar: firms must now proactively demonstrate that products and services are delivering good outcomes. Fair value is a central part of that — especially as the regulator expects firms to challenge historic pricing, closed book portfolios, and areas where customers may be locked into poor value.
We build flexible review models tailored to the available data. Where granular data is limited, we supplement with service performance, cost evolution over time, and alternative analysis to ensure fair judgment without overstating precision.
That’s a great starting point. We’ll review and strengthen your current approach, identify gaps versus current FCA expectations, and help you build a roadmap to improve both the methodology and documentation of your reviews.
Yes. We often support product, risk, compliance, and governance teams in rolling out FVA frameworks — including training sessions, documentation templates, and board materials to ensure alignment across stakeholders.
Typically, annually — though some firms review more frequently based on risk level or product changes. We help determine a cadence that’s proportionate, efficient, and defensible to regulators.
Let’s Get Started
Al Banyan Trее helps you move beyond box-ticking — building frameworks that stand up to regulatory review and drive stronger product outcomes. Whether you’re reviewing a single fund, building a firm-wide policy, or preparing for FCA engagement, we bring structure, clarity, and experience. Contact us to discuss how we can support your Fair Value Assessment work.