Accelerator · Documentation

FCA Targeted Support Decision Model: Regulatory Cross-Reference

Every rule traced to the provision it implements, and every provision traced back to the rules that implement it.

Every rule in the graph carries the TSM requirement ID(s) it implements at the start of its name, so traceability is bidirectional and mechanical. This document maps Direction 1 (every rule → its requirement(s) → the regulatory source) and Direction 2 (every research source → the TSM requirements it grounds → the rules that implement them).

Every mapping below was verified against the live primary sources on 30 August 2026. The primary sources are:

  1. SI 2026/74 inserting RAO article 55A (legislation.gov.uk — uksi/2026/74 and uksi/2001/544/article/55A);
  2. FCA Handbook COBS 9B (handbook.fca.org.uk/handbook/cobs9b, sections 9B.1–9B.10, in force 6 April 2026, instrument FCA 2026/5);
  3. FCA PS25/22 (published 11 December 2025; final rules made 26 February 2026);
  4. FCA good and poor practice — "Targeted support: firm considerations when designing consumer segments", 23 March 2026;
  5. FCA/ICO and FCA/FOS joint statements, 11 December 2025;
  6. PECR regulation 22 (uksi/2003/2426/regulation/22);
  7. FG21/1 — FCA guidance on the fair treatment of vulnerable customers;
  8. DUAA 2025 — UK GDPR articles 22A–22D (ukpga/2025/18/section/80, in force 5 February 2026).

Rule names below are verbatim from graph.xml (280 distinct TSM-prefixed rule names, each occurring exactly once, plus 6 "Evidence …" rules). The register is the first section below. Where a requirement is a firm calibration with no FCA figure, the source column says Firm policy explicitly.

Requirements register

Every requirement carries a TSM ID. Rule names in the graph carry the TSM IDs of the requirements they implement, so traceability is bidirectional: this register → rules (via the coverage map in the Direction sections below) and rules → this register (via rule names). Sources are the final Handbook rules effective 6 April 2026, the RAO amendment, the FCA/ICO and FCA/FOS joint statements, FG21/1, and the Consumer Duty (PRIN 2A). Verification status is reconciled in the source mappings below.

1. Perimeter, permission and client status (TSM-101 — TSM-118)

  • TSM-101 A firm may provide targeted support only with the Part 4A permission for the new RAO article 55A regulated activity. An article 53 advising permission does NOT authorise it. Source: RAO art 55A (SI amendment), FCA PS25/22.
  • TSM-102 Appointed representatives may not provide targeted support. Source: COBS 9B.2.4G verbatim ("Providing targeted support is not permitted business of appointed representatives"); HMT did not extend the AR regulations to the activity.
  • TSM-103 COBS 9B applies to targeted support on designated investments (including pensions) other than pure protection. Source: COBS 9B.2.
  • TSM-104 Subject matter within article 55A but outside COBS 9B scope falls back to the advising rules. Source: COBS 9B.2 / PERG.
  • TSM-105 Absolute prohibition on targeted support where the consumer holds safeguarded benefits (DB rights). Source: COBS 9B.2.3R.
  • TSM-106 A guaranteed annuity rate is treated as a safeguarded-benefit indicator — FIRM POLICY reading (cf 90), Handbook glossary perimeter unresolved.
  • TSM-107 The client is treated as a retail client for the service regardless of categorisation; COBS 9/9A suitability does not apply. Source: COBS 9B.3.
  • TSM-108 No individual suitability determination is made or asserted. Source: art 55A(4), COBS 9B.
  • TSM-111 The suggestion must be "presented as suitable for the individual on the basis of the individual being in the group" (art 55A(3)(b)(iii) verbatim), and the article 55A(4)/(5) statement must accompany it, or the article 55A(2) carve-out from article 53 fails (advising without permission). Source: RAO art 55A(2)-(5).
  • TSM-112 The regime applies from 6 April 2026; earlier cases are out of scope.
  • TSM-113 The client must be a natural person (retail consumer).
  • TSM-114 Rights under trust-based occupational pension schemes are outside the RAO specified-investment perimeter for this activity.
  • TSM-115 Territorial scope: UK consumers (COBS territorial application).
  • TSM-116 (covered within TSM-101/102 rules) Perimeter is a POSITIVE determination — unknown data never places a case inside the perimeter.
  • TSM-118 Duties and liability to the client must not be excluded or restricted; a liability disclaimer in the disclosure set is a compliance defect. Source: COBS 9B.1/2 guidance and PRIN.
  • TSM-121 Two-limb relevance test: every common characteristic must be (a) shared and (b) relevant to the specification of the suggestion. Source: COBS 9B.4.16R(2).
  • TSM-123 Calibration of the contra-indication gate recorded: firms are not expected to trawl all data they hold. Source: COBS 9B.5.11R with 9B.5.12G.
  • TSM-201 Targeted support may be initiated by the firm only on an express client request or on reasonable grounds that the client is in an addressed situation. Source: COBS 9B.5.3R.
  • TSM-202 A service availability notice is not initiation of the service.
  • TSM-203 A client election not to receive targeted support is an absolute stop, distinct from the marketing objection. Source: COBS 9B / Consumer Duty.
  • TSM-204 A ready-made suggestion sent by electronic mail to an individual is direct marketing: PECR reg 22 requires consent (or soft opt-in); consent must be granular and unbundled (UK GDPR standard). Source: FCA/ICO joint statement, PECR.
  • TSM-205 Broadcast (website/in-app to all customers) and non-electronic-mail channels are outside the PECR electronic mail rule.
  • TSM-206 A neutral factual awareness message may be sent without marketing permission; it cannot carry a suggestion.
  • TSM-207 Service messages are not direct marketing.
  • TSM-208 Workplace pension member soft opt-in route: HMT committed to an extending SI, but as of 30 August 2026 it has NOT been laid or made — the route is PENDING LEGISLATION and NOT usable. The model must NOT grant marketing permission through it; it records the route as unavailable-pending-legislation instead.
  • TSM-209/210 Cross-regime record: a message engineered to be non-marketing for PECR may still be a financial promotion for COBS 4; both tests recorded.
  • TSM-131 An objection to direct marketing blocks an electronic-mail suggestion.
  • TSM-132 Granular consent record requirement (firm-level).
  • TSM-137 Aggregable MI fields for the FCA periodic data request (outcome, classification, suggestion delivered, opt-outs).
  • TSM-138 Reporting classification: retirement income vs non-advised product sales.

3. Consumer data sufficiency (TSM-301 — TSM-317, TSM-1901 — TSM-1907)

  • TSM-301 A segment must specify the information required to establish alignment (COBS 9B.4.17R); a segment specifying none is design-defective.
  • TSM-302 Required information missing or not current → alignment cannot be confirmed; data request issued.
  • TSM-303 Data beyond its per-item staleness window must be verified with the client before alignment is confirmed. Source: COBS 9B.5.7R.
  • TSM-304 Contradictory current records for a required data item must be resolved before a suggestion; record ordinals mirrored as string marks for distinct counting; ordinal integrity checked.
  • TSM-305 Record which provenance supported each characteristic (supervisory file).
  • TSM-306/307 Data that is not readily accessible (credit card history, transaction pattern analysis — FCA poor practice) can never be required for alignment.
  • TSM-311 Assumptions must be reasonable, referable to evidence about the covered individuals, and immaterial to suitability. Source: COBS 9B.4.11R.
  • TSM-317 Risk tolerance and capacity for loss are client-stated, banded, never assumed.
  • TSM-1901/1902 Provenance asymmetry: weak provenance (firm inference, third-party feed) may support an excluding characteristic but may not establish an including one. Explicit negatives always require the underlying record to be present.
  • TSM-1907 Unknown safeguarded-benefit status on a pension case fails safe to the COBS 9B.2.3R stop (cf 85).

4. Segment design and qualification (TSM-401 — TSM-413, TSM-1905)

  • TSM-401 A segment must be defined by reference to a consumer situation involving a shared financial support need. Source: COBS 9B.4.4R.
  • TSM-402 Exactly one ready-made suggestion per segment. Source: COBS 9B.4.5R.
  • TSM-403 A design-defective segment must never be used for alignment; a matching defective segment is routed to governance, and blocks the case only where no compliant segment is confirmed.
  • TSM-404 Including characteristics must be POSITIVELY confirmed; excluding characteristics must be positively RESOLVED (present or explicitly absent); unresolved exclusions block qualification. Source: COBS 9B.5.5R.
  • TSM-405 A single excluding characteristic held blocks alignment. Source: COBS 9B.4.16R(1) with 9B.5.5R.
  • TSM-406 Within one situation only one segment may align; two or more qualifying is a design defect of the segment set. Source: COBS 9B.4.7R.
  • TSM-408 Granularity floor: segments must be sufficiently granular (situation-scaled minimum characteristic count); a segment with no including characteristics would match everyone. Source: COBS 9B.4.9R(1).
  • TSM-409 Comprehensive-consideration ceiling: too many characteristics approaches individualised advice. Source: COBS 9B.4.9R(2).
  • TSM-411 Age-band characteristics from policy-held band edges (data-driven).
  • TSM-412 Total pension provision measured on the total, not per-pot features.
  • TSM-413 Characteristics flagged poor practice for a situation by the FCA are design defects when used. Source: FCA good and poor practice material.
  • TSM-414 A segment must be referable to evidence about the type of individuals it covers: a segment with no recorded prevalence rationale is design-defective. Source: COBS 9B.4.11R evidence limb with the FCA good practice on segment design.
  • TSM-1905 At most one suggestion per case: firm-defined situation priority selects one aligned situation; the rest are recorded as deferred.

5. Exclusions, vulnerability, contra-indication (TSM-501 — TSM-512)

  • TSM-501 Readily accessible information indicating the suggestion may be unsuitable prohibits delivery. Source: COBS 9B.5.11R.
  • TSM-503 FG21/1 vulnerability drivers (Health, Life Events, Resilience, Capability) detected from CRM record or client disclosure.
  • TSM-504 Referral-severity vulnerability indicators stop the service and route to specialist support; vulnerability may determine whether to provide support at all. Source: COBS 9B.7.4G, FG21/1.
  • TSM-505 Adjusted-delivery indicators deliver with adjustments.
  • TSM-507 Problem debt / no emergency fund are excluding characteristics (financial resilience).
  • TSM-508 Significant health issue affecting life expectancy is an excluding characteristic for decumulation segments.
  • TSM-509 Emergency fund presence is a derived CHARACTERISTIC, never an assumption.
  • TSM-510 Concurrent/recent advice is not a bar; it requires the advice distinction to be explained and confirmed. Source: COBS 9B.6.16G.
  • TSM-511 Information volunteered by the client during the interaction is information the firm IS aware of (COBS 9B.5.11R "is, or ought reasonably to be, aware"): the firm must route it — terminate the journey, seek clarification and re-align, or continue where suitability is unaffected — and an unrouted volunteering blocks delivery.
  • TSM-512 Firm-policy exclusions: capacity not established, under minimum adult age, third-party represented (the third-party exclusion applies to the protective segment exclusion sets alongside the capacity exclusion).
  • TSM-514 A client request to transact inconsistently with the suggestion is recorded and processed outside targeted support as client-directed business (firm policy).

6. Suggestion selection and product scope (TSM-601 — TSM-618)

  • TSM-601 The single suggestion delivered is the one specified for the selected segment, after clearing every block.
  • TSM-604 Prohibited investment categories may not be suggested. Source: COBS 9B.4.42R.
  • TSM-605 Complex, illiquid or volatile non-packaged products unlikely suitable for a limited information service. Packaged products containing restricted components are NOT prevented (encoded: the block requires product is packaged = false), and sell recommendations are not prevented. Source: COBS 9B.4.43G.
  • TSM-606 Express consolidation recommendations prohibited. Source: COBS 9B.4.38R (the rule covers express OR implied).
  • TSM-607 Implied consolidation (transfer into an existing arrangement; transferring multiple arrangements into a new one) prohibited. Source: COBS 9B.4.38R with the 9B.4.39G definition.
  • TSM-608 A single-pot transfer to a NEW provider is NOT consolidation (encoded: the block fires only on the 9B.4.39G shapes, so both flags false raises no block). Source: COBS 9B.4.40G. Multi-pot support without consolidation is permitted (segment S11). Source: COBS 9B.4.41G.
  • TSM-610 Annuity suggestions: no particular annuity, no quote, features only. Source: COBS 9B.4.28R.
  • TSM-612 The interaction ends after an annuity suggestion; any sale is a separate journey. Source: COBS 9B.4.32R.
  • TSM-613 Annuity brokerage referral only after the interaction ends, after the prior annuity rules are met, after a reasonable opportunity to use the MoneyHelper comparison, with NO quote accompanying the referral, and only to a brokerage offering a sufficient range (9B.4.35R; whole-of-market not required, 9B.4.36G — the sufficient-range attribute is firm registry configuration). Source: COBS 9B.4.33R.
  • TSM-616 Product costs, target market consistency and provider financial strength must be evidenced for the suggestion. Source: COBS 9B.4.24G.
  • TSM-618 A product with a significant adaptation notice must be reviewed before further suggestions. Source: COBS 9B.10.6R.

7. Segment suitability and better position (TSM-701 — TSM-708)

  • TSM-701 Better position: the firm must have reasonable grounds to consider that consumers in the segment would be in a better position than without the support — GUIDANCE, assessed ex ante against a no-support counterfactual. Source: COBS 9B.1.1G/1.2G.
  • TSM-704/705 Segment-level suitability is a binding RULE and delivery gate, judged on the shared need and common characteristics, never on material assumptions. Source: COBS 9B.4.20R.
  • TSM-706 The firm must define the better position in measurable terms before asserting it (firm method).
  • TSM-707 Firm evidence method: quantified projection (baseline vs supported value, cost of acting, horizon, detriment risk) with materiality thresholds — FIRM POLICY, the FCA prescribed no methodology.
  • TSM-708 Where any limb fails or no projection exists, better position is NOT established and the suggestion is withheld; absence is an explicit false, never silence.

8. Charging and remuneration (TSM-802 — TSM-809)

  • TSM-802 Where a charge is made: fair value assessment (PRIN 2A.4.2R via COBS 9B.4.2R(2)), disclosure in cash terms via a durable medium OR through a website, and agreed with the client (the "before the service" timing is a firm-policy reading). Source: COBS 9B.8.9R, PRIN 2A.
  • TSM-803 Where no charge is made, remuneration must still be consistent with fair value. Source: COBS 9B.8.7R.
  • TSM-804 Third-party benefits prohibited outside the permitted exceptions (client payments, cost-representative affiliate payments, minor non-monetary benefits, compliant annuity brokerage referral fee). Source: COBS 9B.8.2R.
  • TSM-809 Differential product cost through targeted support must be disclosed. Source: COBS 9B.8.8R.

9. Disclosure and the article 55A statement (TSM-904 — TSM-910)

  • TSM-904 Full COBS 9B.6 disclosure set required (service label, nature and limitations, segment characteristics, designed-for-segment statement, product scope limitations, assumptions, availability of advice, market comparison encouragement, time-limited suitability), staged initial-contact vs point-of-delivery.
  • TSM-905/906 The article 55A(4)/(5) statement — not comprehensive, not individual-specific, specifying the group characteristics — delivered contemporaneously with the recommendation.
  • TSM-908 Disclosures must be tested for consumer understanding. Source: COBS 9B.6.9R.
  • TSM-910 Durable medium at the point of delivery; where not practicable at the time, as soon as reasonably practicable after (9B.6.18G fallback — the firm flag asserts the arrangement exists). Source: COBS 9B.6.17R with 9B.6.18G.

10. Signposting when targeted support cannot help (TSM-1001 — TSM-1009)

  • TSM-1001 Data sufficient but no segment confirmed, or no addressed situation → signpost other support. Source: COBS 9B.7.
  • TSM-1002 Consider and signpost other support including advice from other providers (contra-indication, declined service). Source: COBS 9B.7.3G.
  • TSM-1003 Problem debt routed to debt advice (firm policy precedence — consumer protective).
  • TSM-1004 Safeguarded benefits routed to regulated advice.
  • TSM-1005 No alignment → MoneyHelper general guidance. Source: COBS 9B.4.19G(4) (signpost guidance services where individuals cannot be served) with COBS 9B.7.3G.
  • TSM-1006 Annuity suggestions must signpost the MoneyHelper annuity comparison. Source: COBS 9B.4.28R(3).
  • TSM-1007 COBS 19.7 pensions nudge (Pension Wise) continues to apply.
  • TSM-1009 Vulnerability referral routed to specialist support.

11. Outcomes and the precedence ladder (TSM-1101 — TSM-1104)

  • TSM-1101 Exactly one final outcome per case, selected by fact-table precedence (lowest number wins); terminal default Request Further Data keeps the ladder total.
  • TSM-1102 Candidate-outcome precedence projection.
  • TSM-1103/1104 Delivery requires the FULL conjunction of explicit positive determinations (perimeter, scope, initiation, marketing, selected suggestion, suitability, better position, charging, disclosure, statement) — unknown never delivers.
  • Precedence policy: consumer-protective and consumer-recoverable stops outrank firm-side governance defects.

12. Supervisory file, MI, records (TSM-1201 — TSM-1211, TSM-1801/1802)

  • TSM-1202 Segment design record for the aligned segment.
  • TSM-1203/1206 Suitability and better-position basis recorded for every delivery.
  • TSM-1204 Alignment record naming the confirmed segment; alignment gap records naming each unconfirmed/unresolved characteristic.
  • TSM-1205 Disclosure and article 55A statement record.
  • TSM-1207 Charging and remuneration basis record.
  • TSM-1208 Contra-indication finding and action taken.
  • TSM-1209 Vulnerability assessment against the FG21/1 drivers.
  • TSM-1210 Explicit clean records (design compliant, charging compliant, disclosure complete) — audit-grade passes, not silent absence.
  • TSM-1211 Retention: targeted support is expressly NOT a personal recommendation (COBS 9B.2.6G(3), art 55A(2)); COBS 9B specifies no bespoke retention period, so the SYSC 9 five-year MiFID-business retention is applied as a firm-policy reading; telephone/face-to-face delivery engages recording rules. Records of disclosures incl. the art 55A statement per COBS 9B.6.19G; records sufficient for FCA monitoring per COBS 9B.10.12G.
  • TSM-1801 Version stamp (policy parameter version + model version) so a historical decision is replayable.
  • TSM-1802 Record every gate that triggered, not only the reported outcome.

13. Governance and systems (TSM-1301)

  • TSM-1301 COBS 9B.10.1R systems and controls; absence is a governance breach blocking delivery (not a perimeter issue).
  • TSM-1302 COBS 9B.10.9R regular, appropriately frequent review of the targeted support processes including the suggestions: a firm with no recorded review frequency is defective. COBS 9B.10.4G outcomes monitoring: a firm not monitoring outcomes of the service carries a governance defect (Consumer Duty PRIN 2A monitoring).
  • TSM-1303 Governance posture (root cause process, governing body reporting, accountable senior manager under SYSC/SM&CR, vulnerable customer evaluation) recorded in the supervisory file.
  • TSM-1304 Data-protection posture (Article 6 lawful basis, separation of marketing and service records, data-subject explanation of profiling) recorded in the supervisory file per the FCA/ICO joint statement.
  • TSM-1305 Equality Act: a segment characteristic engaging a protected characteristic (age, health) must carry a recorded equality justification; absence is a design defect.
  • TSM-1306 Third-party benefits marked annuity-referral-only (COBS 9B.8.4R) may only be accepted on annuity cases; receipt on a non-annuity case is a charging defect.
  • TSM-1307 Target market consistency (COBS 9B.4.24G(2)): a suggestion referencing a product whose recorded target market does not include the selected segment is blocked.
  • TSM-1308 Product governance posture: every targeted support firm is manufacturer and distributor of the SERVICE and manufacturer and/or distributor of suggested products; PRIN and PROD distributor rules apply (there is NO "PROD 8" targeted support chapter — PROD was amended by FCA 2026/5 consequentially). Recorded in the supervisory file.
  • TSM-1309 Special category data (health/vulnerability disclosures) requires a UK GDPR Article 9 condition per the FCA/ICO joint statement; a case processing a health disclosure at a firm with no recorded Article 9 condition is blocked as a governance defect.
  • TSM-139 Complaints: targeted support is within DISP and FOS compulsory jurisdiction from 6 April 2026; any FOS suitability assessment is based on the design of consumer segments, not individual suitability; DISP 1 unchanged. Recorded in the supervisory file on every decided case. Source: FCA/FOS joint statement, 11 Dec 2025.
  • TSM-1212 Contributing evidence: every material derived finding carries a contributing-evidence line with the actual figures, mirror-guarded on the finding it narrates (COBS 9B.10.12G records posture).

14. Automated decision-making (TSM-1701 — TSM-1704)

  • TSM-1701/1703 Automated decision status recorded (automated with human review vs solely automated). DUAA 2025 replaced UK GDPR Article 22 with Articles 22A–22D (in force 5 Feb 2026): a permissive safeguards regime (information, representations, human intervention, contest — Art 22C). Whether a targeted support suggestion is a "significant decision" is UNRESOLVED and ICO ADM guidance is in DRAFT (consultation closed 29 May 2026), so the stance is firm policy.
  • TSM-1704 Solely automated decisions are routed for human review (firm policy).

15. Aggregates and situation calculus (TSM-1401 — TSM-1407)

  • TSM-1401 Under-saving: contribution rate below firm adequacy target.
  • TSM-1402 Retirement proximity, access intent, income preference, tax bands.
  • TSM-1403 Sustainable withdrawal rate (firm figure, not FCA).
  • TSM-1404 Small pots identification, count and threshold.
  • TSM-1405 Emergency buffer and excess cash (months × essential expenditure; floor).
  • TSM-1406 Portfolio value, non-diversified concentration (zero-divisor and empty-set guarded), portfolio minimum.
  • TSM-1407 Ongoing charges, unwrapped holdings, ISA allowance use.

All numeric thresholds are FIRM POLICY facts on the Kesterly Targeted Support Policy instance (the FCA publishes no thresholds for these situations) and are recalibrated as data, never rules.

Direction 1 — rule to requirement to source

Layer 1 — Perimeter and permission

Rule name (verbatim) TSM ID(s) Regulatory source
TSM-101 TSM-102 TSM-112 TSM-113 TSM-114 TSM-115 Perimeter cleared on positive determinations TSM-101, 102, 112, 113, 114, 115 (TSM-116 absorbed: positive-determination conjunction) RAO art 55A (SI 2026/74); COBS 9B.2.4G; COBS territorial application
TSM-101 Firm does not hold the targeted support permission TSM-101 RAO art 55A (SI 2026/74); FCA PS25/22 (Part 4A permission; art 53 permission insufficient)
TSM-102 Appointed representatives may not provide targeted support TSM-102 COBS 9B.2.4G verbatim; HMT did not extend the AR regulations
TSM-113 Client is not a natural person TSM-113 RAO art 55A (individual/retail consumer)
TSM-114 Trust based occupational scheme rights are not specified investments TSM-114 RAO specified-investment perimeter (arts 3, 82; no art-82 analogue for trust-based schemes)
TSM-115 Consumer is outside the territorial scope of COBS TSM-115 COBS territorial application
TSM-112 Case predates the 6 April 2026 regime commencement TSM-112 SI 2026/74 (in force 6 April 2026 for all purposes beyond rule-making)
TSM-103 Subject matter is a designated investment or structured deposit in COBS 9B scope TSM-103 COBS 9B.2 (designated investments incl. pensions, not pure protection)
TSM-104 Within article 55A but outside COBS 9B so the advising rules apply TSM-104 COBS 9B.2 / PERG
TSM-107 TSM-108 Client treated as retail and no individual suitability asserted TSM-107, 108 COBS 9B.3; RAO art 55A(4)
Rule name (verbatim) TSM ID(s) Regulatory source
TSM-201 Initiation on an express client request TSM-201 COBS 9B.5.3R
TSM-201 Initiation on reasonable grounds that the client is in an addressed situation TSM-201 COBS 9B.5.3R
TSM-202 A service availability notice is not initiation TSM-202 COBS 9B.5.3R context (availability notice is not initiation of the service)
TSM-201 Firm initiated with no express request and no reasonable grounds TSM-201 COBS 9B.5.3R
TSM-201 Reasonable grounds claimed but no addressed situation identified TSM-201 COBS 9B.5.3R
TSM-205 Broadcast channel is not direct marketing so no consent is needed TSM-205 FCA/ICO joint statement 11 Dec 2025 (broadcast outside PECR direct-marketing rules)
TSM-205 Non electronic channels are outside the PECR electronic mail rules TSM-205 PECR reg 22 scope; FCA/ICO joint statement
TSM-204 TSM-132 Electronic mail with granular consent TSM-204, 132 PECR reg 22; UK GDPR consent standard; FCA/ICO joint statement
TSM-208 Standard PECR soft opt in for an existing customer TSM-208 PECR reg 22(3)
TSM-208 Workplace pension soft opt in route is pending legislation and is not relied on TSM-208 HMT consultation response (SI committed, NOT laid as of 30 Aug 2026); PECR reg 22
TSM-207 Service and important messages are not direct marketing TSM-207 FCA/ICO joint statement (service messages)
TSM-206 Neutral awareness message permitted without marketing permission TSM-206 FCA/ICO joint statement (neutral factual messages)
TSM-204 Electronic mail suggestion without consent or soft opt in TSM-204 PECR reg 22; FCA/ICO joint statement
TSM-131 Consumer has objected to direct marketing and the channel is electronic mail TSM-131 UK GDPR absolute right to object; FCA/ICO joint statement
TSM-209 TSM-210 Cross regime record for the promotion and marketing tests TSM-209, 210 FCA/ICO joint statement; COBS 4 (financial promotion test recorded alongside PECR test)
TSM-203 Client elected not to receive a targeted support service TSM-203 COBS 9B.5.14R (final-rules change: opt-out of the SERVICE); Consumer Duty

Layer 3 — Consumer data sufficiency and provenance

Rule name (verbatim) TSM ID(s) Regulatory source
TSM-302 TSM-303 Data item is present and within its staleness window at the assessment date TSM-302, 303 COBS 9B.4.17R; COBS 9B.5.7R
TSM-303 Data item is present but beyond its staleness window at the assessment date TSM-303 COBS 9B.5.7R
TSM-303 COBS 9B.5.7R client verification restores reliance on a stale record TSM-303 COBS 9B.5.7R
TSM-304 Two current records give materially different numeric values TSM-304 COBS 9B.5.7R (contradiction resolved before a suggestion); firm method
TSM-304 Two current records give different text values TSM-304 COBS 9B.5.7R; firm method
TSM-1901 TSM-1902 Characteristic rests only on weak provenance TSM-1901, 1902 FCA good and poor practice 23 Mar 2026 (provenance asymmetry)
TSM-305 Record which provenance supported each characteristic TSM-305 COBS 9B.10.12G records (supervisory file)
TSM-301 Segment specifies no information set for alignment TSM-301 COBS 9B.4.17R
TSM-304 Record ordinals are duplicated or missing so contradiction detection is unreliable TSM-304 Firm method (record-integrity guard supporting 9B.5.7R)
TSM-304 Mirror each record ordinal as a per consumer string mark so distinct counting works TSM-304 Firm method (supporting 9B.5.7R)
TSM-304 A record integrity defect makes contradiction detection unreliable TSM-304 Firm method (supporting 9B.5.7R)

Layer 4 — Aggregates and situation calculus

Rule name (verbatim) TSM ID(s) Regulatory source
TSM-1404 Project each pension pot value onto the consumer TSM-1404 Firm policy (small-pots calculus; no FCA figure)
TSM-1406 Project each investment holding value onto the consumer TSM-1406 Firm policy (portfolio calculus)
TSM-1406 Project only non diversified holding values for the concentration test TSM-1406 Firm policy (concentration test, guarded)
TSM-1407 Project each holding ongoing charge onto the consumer TSM-1407 Firm policy / data derivation (charges)
TSM-412 Total pension provision uses the total not per pension features TSM-412 Segment design measure (register: total, not per-pot)
TSM-1406 Total portfolio value across all investment holdings TSM-1406 Firm policy (portfolio calculus)
TSM-1406 Largest non diversified single holding TSM-1406 Firm policy (concentration calculus)
TSM-1407 Highest ongoing charge across holdings TSM-1407 Firm policy / data derivation
TSM-1406 Concentration of the largest non diversified holding TSM-1406 Firm policy (zero-divisor and empty-set guarded)
TSM-1404 Identify each pot below the firm defined small pot ceiling TSM-1404 Firm policy (small pot ceiling)
TSM-1404 Count the small pots held TSM-1404 Firm policy
TSM-1405 Emergency buffer is monthly essential expenditure times the policy month count TSM-1405 Firm policy (buffer months)
TSM-1405 Excess cash is the cash balance less the emergency buffer TSM-1405 Firm policy
TSM-1402 Years remaining to the target retirement age TSM-1402 Firm policy / data derivation
TSM-1403 Withdrawal rate as a percentage of the drawdown fund TSM-1403 Firm policy (sustainable rate is a firm figure, not FCA)
TSM-411 Age band characteristics from policy held band edges TSM-411 Firm policy (band edges held as data)
TSM-1405 Excess cash above the emergency buffer and the policy floor TSM-1405 Firm policy (floor)

Layer 5 — Derived characteristics, exclusions and explicit negatives

Rule name (verbatim) TSM ID(s) Regulatory source
TSM-509 Emergency fund present as a CHARACTERISTIC never an assumption TSM-509 COBS 9B.4.11R (derived characteristic, never an assumption)
TSM-509 TSM-507 No emergency fund is an excluding characteristic TSM-509, 507 Segment design (financial resilience); COBS 9B.4.16R(1)
TSM-1902 Explicit negative for the no emergency fund exclusion TSM-1902 FCA good and poor practice (explicit negatives require the underlying record)
TSM-507 No problem debt recorded TSM-507 Segment design (financial resilience)
TSM-507 Problem debt is an indicator of low financial resilience TSM-507 Segment design (financial resilience)
TSM-1902 Explicit negative for the problem debt exclusion TSM-1902 FCA good and poor practice (provenance discipline)
TSM-317 Risk tolerance and capacity for loss bands both support market exposure TSM-317 COBS 9B.4.11R (client-stated, banded, never assumed); firm banding
TSM-317 No investment risk accepted TSM-317 COBS 9B.4.11R (client-stated); firm banding
TSM-317 No capacity to absorb any capital loss TSM-317 COBS 9B.4.11R (client-stated); firm banding
TSM-1902 Explicit negative for the capital loss exclusion TSM-1902 FCA good and poor practice (provenance discipline)
TSM-1406 Single holding concentration above the firm defined limit TSM-1406 Firm policy (concentration limit)
TSM-1406 Portfolio above the firm defined minimum value TSM-1406 Firm policy (portfolio minimum)
TSM-1407 Holds investments outside a tax wrapper TSM-1407 Data derivation (unwrapped holdings)
TSM-1407 ISA allowance not fully used this tax year TSM-1407 Data derivation (ISA allowance use)
TSM-1407 Holds a fund charging above the median TSM-1407 Firm policy (median charge benchmark)
TSM-1401 Contribution rate below the firm defined adequacy target TSM-1401 Firm policy (adequacy target)
TSM-105 Defined contribution benefits only with no safeguarded benefits TSM-105 COBS 9B.2.3R
TSM-105 Defined benefit safeguarded rights held TSM-105 COBS 9B.2.3R
TSM-106 Guaranteed annuity rate treated as safeguarded firm policy reading TSM-106 Firm policy reading (cf 90; Handbook glossary perimeter unresolved)
TSM-1907 Explicit negative for safeguarded benefits requires a complete benefit record TSM-1907 COBS 9B.2.3R fail-safe (firm policy cf 85)
TSM-1402 Within the firm defined retirement proximity window TSM-1402 Firm policy (proximity window)
TSM-1402 Client has stated an intention to take pension income TSM-1402 Client-stated data (access intent)
TSM-1402 Client has stated a guaranteed income preference never assumed TSM-1402 FCA good and poor practice (income-preference assumption is material — Example I); COBS 9B.4.11R
TSM-412 Total pension provision above the firm defined minimum TSM-412 Firm policy (provision minimum)
TSM-1403 Withdrawal rate above the firm defined sustainable rate TSM-1403 Firm policy (sustainable rate)
TSM-1403 Consumer is drawing an income from a pension fund TSM-1403 Data derivation
TSM-1404 Small pot count at or above the firm defined threshold TSM-1404 Firm policy (small-pot threshold)
TSM-508 Health issue affecting life expectancy from the vulnerability record TSM-508 FG21/1 (Health driver); segment design (decumulation exclusion)
TSM-1902 Explicit negative requires the vulnerability screen to have been run TSM-1902 FCA good and poor practice (provenance discipline); FG21/1
TSM-512 Mental capacity not established firm policy exclusion TSM-512 Firm policy
TSM-1902 Explicit negative for the capacity exclusion TSM-1902 FCA good and poor practice (provenance discipline)
TSM-512 Below the firm defined minimum adult age TSM-512 Firm policy
TSM-1902 Explicit negative for the minimum age exclusion TSM-1902 FCA good and poor practice (provenance discipline)
TSM-512 Third party or attorney represented firm policy exclusion TSM-512 Firm policy
TSM-1402 Higher rate taxpayer as a BANDED characteristic TSM-1402 Firm policy (tax bands as banded characteristics)
TSM-1402 Basic rate taxpayer as a BANDED characteristic TSM-1402 Firm policy (tax bands)
TSM-1902 Explicit negative for the higher rate band exclusion TSM-1902 FCA good and poor practice (provenance discipline)

Layer 6 — Segment design compliance

Rule name (verbatim) TSM ID(s) Regulatory source
TSM-403 COBS 9B.4.16R(1) requires both including and excluding characteristics TSM-403 COBS 9B.4.16R(1)
TSM-408 A segment with no including characteristics would match every consumer TSM-408 COBS 9B.4.9R(1)
TSM-401 COBS 9B.4.4R requires a segment to be defined by reference to a situation TSM-401 COBS 9B.4.4R
TSM-402 COBS 9B.4.5R requires exactly one ready made suggestion per segment TSM-402 COBS 9B.4.5R
TSM-408 COBS 9B.4.9R(1) granularity floor for this situation TSM-408 COBS 9B.4.9R(1)
TSM-409 COBS 9B.4.9R(2) comprehensive consideration ceiling for this situation TSM-409 COBS 9B.4.9R(2)
TSM-311 COBS 9B.4.11R assumptions must be immaterial to suitability TSM-311 COBS 9B.4.11R with good and poor practice (materiality limb)
TSM-311 COBS 9B.4.11R assumptions must be referable to evidence TSM-311 COBS 9B.4.11R (verbatim limb)
TSM-413 Characteristic flagged poor practice for this situation by the FCA TSM-413 FCA good and poor practice 23 Mar 2026
TSM-706 The firm must define what the better position is before asserting it TSM-706 Firm method (COBS 9B.1.1G evidencing expectation)
TSM-121 COBS 9B.4.16R(2) two limb relevance test TSM-121 COBS 9B.4.16R(2)
TSM-1305 A protected characteristic requires a recorded equality justification TSM-1305 Equality Act 2010 (age, health)
TSM-306 TSM-307 A segment may not require information that is not readily accessible TSM-306, 307 FCA good and poor practice 23 Mar 2026 (readily-accessible boundary) with COBS 9B.4.17R
TSM-414 Segment design not referable to evidence about the individuals it covers TSM-414 FCA good and poor practice; COBS 9B.4.11R evidence limb
TSM-1210 Explicit clean record for a segment with no design defect TSM-1210 Firm policy (audit-grade explicit clean records); COBS 9B.10.12G
TSM-403 A segment may only be used for alignment when it is design compliant TSM-403 COBS 9B.4 (design-defective segments never used for alignment)

Layer 7 — Situation detection, alignment and qualification

Rule name (verbatim) TSM ID(s) Regulatory source
TSM-401 Situation detected from a trigger characteristic the firm offers support for TSM-401 COBS 9B.4.4R
TSM-201 Situation taken from the client express request TSM-201 COBS 9B.5.3R
TSM-406 Compose a per case and per situation key for the single alignment tally TSM-406 COBS 9B.4.7R
TSM-406 Recover the situation from the composed key by rebuild and equality TSM-406 COBS 9B.4.7R
TSM-406 Attach each qualifying segment to its case and situation key TSM-406 COBS 9B.4.7R
TSM-406 COBS 9B.4.7R only one segment may be aligned within a situation TSM-406 COBS 9B.4.7R
TSM-404 Including characteristic not positively confirmed TSM-404 COBS 9B.5.5R
TSM-1902 Including characteristic rests only on weak provenance TSM-1902 FCA good and poor practice (weak provenance cannot establish an including characteristic)
TSM-405 A single excluding characteristic blocks alignment TSM-405 COBS 9B.4.16R(1) with 9B.5.5R
TSM-404 Excluding characteristic neither present nor explicitly absent TSM-404 COBS 9B.5.5R (exclusions positively resolved)
TSM-1204 Name each unconfirmed including characteristic for the supervisory file TSM-1204 COBS 9B.10.12G records
TSM-1204 Name each unresolved excluding characteristic for the supervisory file TSM-1204 COBS 9B.10.12G records
TSM-404 Candidate segment on a confirmed including set TSM-404 COBS 9B.5.5R
TSM-403 The consumer matches a segment that is not design compliant TSM-403 COBS 9B.4 (defective segment routed to governance)
TSM-404 TSM-405 Qualification requires a usable segment and fully resolved exclusions TSM-404, 405 COBS 9B.5.5R; 9B.4.16R(1)
TSM-302 Required information for this segment is missing or not current TSM-302 COBS 9B.4.17R (data sufficiency)
TSM-303 Stale alignment data not yet verified with the client TSM-303 COBS 9B.5.7R
TSM-304 Contradictory alignment data for this segment TSM-304 COBS 9B.5.7R; firm method
TSM-302 All required information for this segment is present and current TSM-302 COBS 9B.4.17R
TSM-404 Canonical confirmed alignment used by every downstream layer TSM-404 COBS 9B.5.5R
TSM-1905 Project the priority of each aligned situation onto the case TSM-1905 Firm policy (situation priority)
TSM-1905 Select the aligned segment in the highest priority situation TSM-1905 Firm policy (one suggestion per case)
TSM-1905 Record the situations deferred to a later interaction TSM-1905 Firm policy

Layer 8 — Contra-indication, vulnerability and volunteered information

Rule name (verbatim) TSM ID(s) Regulatory source
TSM-501 COBS 9B.5.11R contra indication from a readily accessible record TSM-501 COBS 9B.5.11R (with 9B.5.12G "readily accessible" framing)
TSM-123 Record the calibration of the contra indication gate TSM-123 COBS 9B.5.11R with 9B.5.12G (no data trawl expected)
TSM-503 FG21/1 driver present from the CRM record TSM-503 FG21/1 (Health, Life Events, Resilience, Capability)
TSM-503 FG21/1 driver present from the client own disclosure TSM-503 FG21/1
TSM-504 Vulnerability indicator requiring referral from the CRM record TSM-504 COBS 9B.7.4G; FG21/1
TSM-504 Vulnerability indicator requiring referral from the client disclosure TSM-504 COBS 9B.7.4G; FG21/1
TSM-505 Vulnerability indicator requiring adjusted delivery from the CRM record TSM-505 FG21/1; COBS 9B.3.8G (adjusted delivery)
TSM-505 Vulnerability indicator requiring adjusted delivery from the client disclosure TSM-505 FG21/1; COBS 9B.3.8G
TSM-512 Third party or attorney represented routed to specialist support firm policy TSM-512 Firm policy
TSM-511 Volunteered information leads the firm to terminate the journey TSM-511 COBS 9B.5.11R ("is, or ought reasonably to be, aware")
TSM-511 Volunteered information requires clarification before realignment TSM-511 COBS 9B.5.11R
TSM-511 Volunteered information not yet routed by the firm TSM-511 COBS 9B.5.11R (unrouted volunteering blocks delivery)
TSM-511 Volunteered information handling record TSM-511 COBS 9B.5.11R; records posture
TSM-511 Volunteered information item detail TSM-511 COBS 9B.5.11R; records posture
TSM-514 Client requests a transaction inconsistent with the suggestion TSM-514 Firm policy (client-directed business outside targeted support)
TSM-514 Client directed transaction record TSM-514 Firm policy
TSM-510 COBS 9B.6.16G client is receiving or recently received advice TSM-510 COBS 9B.6.16G

Layer 9 — Suggestion selection and product scope

Rule name (verbatim) TSM ID(s) Regulatory source
TSM-601 The one suggestion specified for the selected segment TSM-601 COBS 9B.4.5R (single ready-made suggestion)
TSM-604 COBS 9B.4.42R prohibited investment category TSM-604 COBS 9B.4.42R
TSM-605 COBS 9B.4.43G complex illiquid or volatile product unsuitable for a limited information service TSM-605 COBS 9B.4.43G
TSM-606 COBS 9B.4.38R express consolidation recommendation prohibited TSM-606 COBS 9B.4.38R
TSM-607 COBS 9B.4.38R implied consolidation by transfer into an existing arrangement per the 9B.4.39G definition TSM-607 COBS 9B.4.38R with 9B.4.39G (TSM-608 permission encoded by the block shape — 9B.4.40G/41G)
TSM-607 COBS 9B.4.38R implied consolidation by transferring multiple arrangements per the 9B.4.39G definition TSM-607 COBS 9B.4.38R with 9B.4.39G
TSM-1307 COBS 9B.4.24G target market of the referenced product does not include the selected segment TSM-1307 COBS 9B.4.24G(2)
TSM-610 COBS 9B.4.28R annuity suggestion must not name a particular annuity TSM-610 COBS 9B.4.28R
TSM-610 COBS 9B.4.28R annuity suggestion must not include a quote TSM-610 COBS 9B.4.28R
TSM-610 COBS 9B.4.28R annuity suggestion must go no further than features TSM-610 COBS 9B.4.28R
TSM-616 COBS 9B.4.24G product costs must be evidenced TSM-616 COBS 9B.4.24G
TSM-616 COBS 9B.4.24G target market consistency must be evidenced TSM-616 COBS 9B.4.24G
TSM-616 COBS 9B.4.24G provider financial strength must be evidenced TSM-616 COBS 9B.4.24G
TSM-618 COBS 9B.10.6R manufacturer information on a significant product adaptation not reviewed by the firm TSM-618 COBS 9B.10.6R (distributor review duty)
TSM-111 Article 55A(3) presentation limb not satisfied TSM-111 RAO art 55A(3)(b)(iii)
TSM-601 Suggestion clears every product scope and evidencing block TSM-601 COBS 9B.4.5R with the 9B.4 product-scope rules
TSM-601 The single suggestion to be delivered for this case TSM-601 COBS 9B.4.5R

Layer 10 — Segment suitability and better position

Rule name (verbatim) TSM ID(s) Regulatory source
TSM-704 TSM-705 COBS 9B.4.20R segment level suitability on the shared need and characteristics TSM-704, 705 COBS 9B.4.20R (binding rule)
TSM-707 Materialise the projection on the segment so it can be counted TSM-707 Firm policy evidence method (FCA prescribed no methodology)
TSM-707 Gross improvement over the no support counterfactual TSM-707 Firm policy method; COBS 9B.1.1G counterfactual
TSM-707 Net improvement after the cost of acting TSM-707 Firm policy method
TSM-707 Net improvement as a percentage of the baseline TSM-707 Firm policy method
TSM-701 TSM-707 Better position established on a defined and evidenced projection TSM-701, 707 COBS 9B.1.1G/1.2G (guidance); firm policy method
TSM-708 Projection exists but the net improvement is immaterial TSM-708 Firm policy materiality threshold; COBS 9B.1.1G fail-safe
TSM-708 Projection exists but the percentage limb fails TSM-708 Firm policy method
TSM-708 Projection exists but the horizon is too short TSM-708 Firm policy method
TSM-708 Projection carries a detriment risk TSM-708 Firm policy method
TSM-708 No projection evidence exists at all TSM-708 COBS 9B.1.1G fail-safe (absence is explicit, never silence)
TSM-708 Explicit mark that better position evidence is absent TSM-708 COBS 9B.1.1G fail-safe
TSM-704 Project COBS 9B.4.20R suitability onto the case TSM-704 COBS 9B.4.20R
TSM-701 Project the better position determination onto the case TSM-701 COBS 9B.1.1G/1.2G
TSM-708 Project a failed better position determination onto the case TSM-708 COBS 9B.1.1G fail-safe; firm method

Layer 11 — Charging, disclosure, governance and data-protection controls

Rule name (verbatim) TSM ID(s) Regulatory source
TSM-804 COBS 9B.8.2R third party benefit outside the permitted exceptions TSM-804 COBS 9B.8.2R (exceptions 9B.8.3R/9B.8.4R)
TSM-802 PRIN 2A.4.2R fair value where a charge is made TSM-802 PRIN 2A.4.2R via COBS 9B.4.2R(2)
TSM-802 COBS 9B.8.9R charge must be disclosed in cash terms TSM-802 COBS 9B.8.9R
TSM-802 COBS 9B.8.9R charge disclosure must be in a durable medium TSM-802 COBS 9B.8.9R (durable medium OR website)
TSM-802 COBS 9B.8.9R charge must be agreed with the client before the service TSM-802 COBS 9B.8.9R (the "before" timing is a firm-policy reading)
TSM-803 COBS 9B.8.7R fair value where NO charge is made TSM-803 COBS 9B.8.7R
TSM-809 COBS 9B.8.8R differential product cost must be disclosed TSM-809 COBS 9B.8.8R
TSM-908 COBS 9B.6.9R disclosures must be tested for consumer understanding TSM-908 COBS 9B.6.9R
TSM-910 COBS 9B.6.17R durable medium at the point of delivery TSM-910 COBS 9B.6.17R with 9B.6.18G fallback
TSM-118 COBS 9B.1.3G duties and liability must not be excluded or restricted TSM-118 COBS 9B.1.3G; PRIN
TSM-1301 COBS 9B.10.1R systems and controls is a governance breach not a perimeter issue TSM-1301 COBS 9B.10.1R
TSM-1302 COBS 9B.10.4G outcomes of the service must be monitored TSM-1302 COBS 9B.10.4G; PRIN 2A monitoring
TSM-1302 COBS 9B.10.9R regular review of the targeted support processes TSM-1302 COBS 9B.10.9R
TSM-1306 COBS 9B.8.4R annuity referral benefit accepted outside an annuity case TSM-1306 COBS 9B.8.4R
TSM-1309 UK GDPR Article 9 condition required where health data is processed TSM-1309 UK GDPR Art 9; FCA/ICO joint statement
TSM-802 TSM-1210 Explicit clean record for charging and remuneration TSM-802, 1210 COBS 9B.8; firm policy (audit-grade clean records)
TSM-904 Required disclosure item not provided by the firm TSM-904 COBS 9B.6 disclosure set
TSM-904 TSM-1210 Explicit clean record for the disclosure set TSM-904, 1210 COBS 9B.6; firm policy (audit-grade clean records)
TSM-905 TSM-906 Article 55A(4) and (5) statement delivered with the recommendation TSM-905, 906 RAO art 55A(4)/(5) (contemporaneous statement)

Layer 12 — Next steps, signposting and automated decision-making

Rule name (verbatim) TSM ID(s) Regulatory source
TSM-1003 Problem debt routed to debt advice firm policy precedence TSM-1003 Firm policy precedence (consumer protective)
TSM-1004 Safeguarded benefits routed to regulated advice TSM-1004 Firm routing consistent with COBS 9B.7.3G
TSM-1007 COBS 19.7 pensions nudge continues to apply to a targeted support firm TSM-1007 COBS 19.7 (Pension Wise nudge)
TSM-1006 COBS 9B.4.28R(3) the one hard MoneyHelper rule inside COBS 9B TSM-1006 COBS 9B.4.28R(3)
TSM-613 COBS 9B.4.33R brokerage referral only after the interaction ends TSM-613 COBS 9B.4.33R (with 9B.4.35R sufficient range, 9B.4.36G)
TSM-1009 Vulnerability referral routed to specialist support TSM-1009 COBS 9B.7.4G; FG21/1
TSM-1005 COBS 9B.4.19G(4) no alignment so signpost guidance services TSM-1005 COBS 9B.4.19G(4) with 9B.7.3G (MoneyHelper routing is firm policy)
TSM-1002 COBS 9B.7.3G consider and signpost other support including advice from others TSM-1002 COBS 9B.7.3G
TSM-1002 COBS 9B.7.3G contra indication routed to advice from other providers TSM-1002 COBS 9B.7.3G
TSM-510 COBS 9B.6.16G explain how targeted support differs from advice TSM-510 COBS 9B.6.16G
TSM-303 COBS 9B.5.7R verify possibly out of date information before confirming alignment TSM-303 COBS 9B.5.7R
TSM-302 Request the missing information TSM-302 COBS 9B.4.17R (data sufficiency next step)
TSM-403 Route a design defect to governance not to the consumer TSM-403 COBS 9B.4 (design compliance routed to governance)
TSM-612 COBS 9B.4.32R end the interaction after an annuity suggestion TSM-612 COBS 9B.4.32R
TSM-1905 Record deferred situations TSM-1905 Firm policy (situation priority)
TSM-910 COBS 9B.6.17R durable medium at delivery TSM-910 COBS 9B.6.17R
TSM-504 Vulnerability referral next step TSM-504 COBS 9B.7.4G; FG21/1
TSM-1704 Automated decision routed for human review TSM-1704 Firm policy; DUAA 2025 / UK GDPR arts 22A–22D context
TSM-1701 Automated decision with an identified human involvement point TSM-1701 DUAA 2025 — UK GDPR arts 22A–22D
TSM-1701 Solely automated with no human involvement point TSM-1701 DUAA 2025 — UK GDPR arts 22A–22D ("solely automated" = no meaningful human involvement)
TSM-1704 Solely automated decisions are routed for human review firm policy TSM-1704 Firm policy ("significant decision" status unresolved; ICO guidance in draft)
TSM-138 Retirement income reporting classification TSM-138 FCA data collection / reporting expectations (PS25/22)
TSM-138 Non advised product sales data classification TSM-138 FCA data collection / reporting expectations
TSM-510 Advice distinction required but not confirmed by the client TSM-510 COBS 9B.6.16G

Layer 13 — Stop gates and defect determinations

Rule name (verbatim) TSM ID(s) Regulatory source
TSM-105 COBS 9B.2.3R absolute prohibition where safeguarded benefits are held TSM-105 COBS 9B.2.3R
TSM-1907 Safeguarded benefit status unknown so fail safe to the stop TSM-1907 COBS 9B.2.3R fail-safe (firm policy cf 85)
TSM-403 Matched only segments carrying a COBS 9B.4 design defect TSM-403 COBS 9B.4
TSM-406 COBS 9B.4.7R more than one segment qualifies within a situation TSM-406 COBS 9B.4.7R
TSM-1301 COBS 9B.10.1R systems and controls absent TSM-1301 COBS 9B.10.1R
TSM-1302 Governance monitoring or review gap blocks delivery TSM-1302 COBS 9B.10.4G / 9B.10.9R; PRIN 2A
TSM-1309 Special category data processed without an Article 9 condition TSM-1309 UK GDPR Art 9; FCA/ICO joint statement
TSM-1306 Annuity referral benefit outside the permitted exception TSM-1306 COBS 9B.8.4R
TSM-1003 Problem debt takes precedence over investment oriented support firm policy TSM-1003 Firm policy precedence
TSM-504 COBS 9B.7.4G vulnerability may determine whether to provide support at all TSM-504 COBS 9B.7.4G; FG21/1
TSM-501 COBS 9B.5.11R information indicates the suggestion may be unsuitable TSM-501 COBS 9B.5.11R
TSM-804 COBS 9B.8 charging or remuneration defect TSM-804 COBS 9B.8
TSM-802 Charged delivery missing a required charging control TSM-802 COBS 9B.8.9R; PRIN 2A.4.2R
TSM-604 TSM-606 TSM-610 A product scope, consolidation or annuity block was raised TSM-604, 606, 610 COBS 9B.4.42R; 9B.4.38R; 9B.4.28R
TSM-302 Required alignment information is missing or not current TSM-302 COBS 9B.4.17R
TSM-303 Stale alignment data awaiting client verification TSM-303 COBS 9B.5.7R
TSM-304 Contradictory alignment data must be resolved first TSM-304 COBS 9B.5.7R; firm method
TSM-1001 Data sufficient but no segment could be confirmed TSM-1001 COBS 9B.7
TSM-1001 Consumer is in no situation the firm addresses TSM-1001 COBS 9B.7
TSM-904 A required COBS 9B.6 disclosure is not provided TSM-904 COBS 9B.6
TSM-908 Disclosures not tested for consumer understanding TSM-908 COBS 9B.6.9R
TSM-910 Durable medium not provided at delivery TSM-910 COBS 9B.6.17R
TSM-118 A limitation disclosure must not disclaim liability TSM-118 COBS 9B.1.3G; PRIN
TSM-111 Article 55A statement absent so the article 53 carve out fails TSM-111 RAO art 55A(2)–(5)
TSM-704 COBS 9B.4.20R segment level suitability not affirmatively established TSM-704 COBS 9B.4.20R
TSM-701 TSM-708 Better position not established on the firm evidence method TSM-701, 708 COBS 9B.1.1G/1.2G; firm policy method
TSM-708 No better position determination could be made at all TSM-708 COBS 9B.1.1G fail-safe
TSM-510 Advice distinction not confirmed with the client TSM-510 COBS 9B.6.16G

Layer 14 — Delivery conjunction and the precedence ladder

Rule name (verbatim) TSM ID(s) Regulatory source
TSM-1104 TSM-1103 Full delivery conjunction on positive determinations only TSM-1104, 1103 Model architecture implementing the whole-chapter COBS 9B conjunction (unknown never delivers)
TSM-505 Delivery with adjusted delivery for a vulnerability indicator TSM-505 FG21/1; COBS 9B.3.8G
TSM-1102 Project the precedence of each candidate outcome onto the case TSM-1102 Model architecture / firm precedence policy
TSM-1101 The highest precedence reached is the lowest precedence number TSM-1101 Model architecture / firm precedence policy
TSM-1101 Exactly one final outcome, the highest precedence candidate TSM-1101 Model architecture / firm precedence policy
TSM-1101 Terminal default so the ladder is total TSM-1101 Model architecture (terminal default Request Further Data)

Layer 15 — Supervisory file, records and MI

Rule name (verbatim) TSM ID(s) Regulatory source
TSM-1801 Version stamp so a historical decision is replayable TSM-1801 Firm policy (replayability)
TSM-1202 Segment design record for the aligned segment TSM-1202 COBS 9B.10.12G records
TSM-1305 Equality justification record for the selected segment TSM-1305 Equality Act 2010
TSM-1303 Governance posture record TSM-1303 SYSC/SM&CR; Consumer Duty (governance posture)
TSM-1304 Data protection posture record TSM-1304 FCA/ICO joint statement (Art 6 basis, record separation, profiling transparency)
TSM-139 Complaints and Financial Ombudsman record TSM-139 FCA/FOS joint statement 11 Dec 2025; DISP
TSM-1308 Product governance posture record TSM-1308 PRIN and PROD distributor rules (FCA 2026/5 consequentials; no "PROD 8")
TSM-311 Life expectancy assumption disclosed for the selected suggestion TSM-311 COBS 9B.4.11R; COBS 9B.6 (assumption disclosure)
TSM-1204 Alignment record naming the confirmed segment TSM-1204 COBS 9B.10.12G records
TSM-1204 Alignment gap record where alignment failed TSM-1204 COBS 9B.10.12G records
TSM-1203 TSM-1206 Suitability and better position basis for the delivered suggestion TSM-1203, 1206 COBS 9B.10.12G records
TSM-1208 Contra indication finding and the action taken TSM-1208 COBS 9B.10.12G records
TSM-1209 Vulnerability assessment against the FG21/1 drivers TSM-1209 FG21/1; COBS 9B.10.12G records
TSM-1207 Charging and remuneration basis TSM-1207 COBS 9B.10.12G records
TSM-1205 Disclosure and article 55A statement record TSM-1205 COBS 9B.6.19G
TSM-1701 TSM-1703 Automated decision making record TSM-1701, 1703 DUAA 2025 — UK GDPR arts 22A–22D; FCA/ICO joint statement
TSM-1802 Record every gate that triggered not only the reported outcome TSM-1802 Firm policy (audit completeness)
TSM-1211 Record retention and the MiFID personal recommendation characterisation TSM-1211 COBS 9B.2.6G(3); RAO art 55A(2) (NOT a personal recommendation); SYSC 9 five-year retention as a firm-policy reading; COBS 9B.6.19G / 9B.10.12G
TSM-137 Aggregable MI field for the FCA periodic data request TSM-137 FCA data collection expectations (PS25/22 first-year data)
TSM-137 MI field naming the suggestion actually delivered TSM-137 FCA data collection expectations
TSM-137 MI field recording an opt out TSM-137 FCA data collection expectations
TSM-137 MI field recording the access method suggested TSM-137 FCA data collection expectations
TSM-137 MI field recording each referral to guidance or advice TSM-137 FCA data collection expectations
TSM-137 MI field recording the fair value assessment status TSM-137 FCA data collection expectations

Layer 16 — Evidence layer (contributing-evidence rules)

The six "Evidence …" rules implement TSM-1212 (every material derived finding carries a contributing-evidence line with the actual figures, mirror-guarded on the finding it narrates — COBS 9B.10.12G records posture):

Rule name (verbatim) TSM ID(s) Regulatory source
Evidence Excess cash above the emergency buffer TSM-1212 COBS 9B.10.12G records posture
Evidence Single holding concentration above the firm limit TSM-1212 COBS 9B.10.12G records posture
Evidence Withdrawal rate above the sustainable rate TSM-1212 COBS 9B.10.12G records posture
Evidence Contribution below the adequacy target TSM-1212 COBS 9B.10.12G records posture
Evidence Multiple small pots held TSM-1212 COBS 9B.10.12G records posture
Evidence No indicator or defect found on a clean delivery TSM-1212 COBS 9B.10.12G records posture

Direction 2 — source to requirements to rules

Each subsection is one verified source. Implementing rule names are verbatim; a rule appears under every source that grounds one of its TSM IDs.

1. RAO article 55A (SI 2026/74, legislation.gov.uk)

Verified against the live source (made 28 Jan 2026; in force 6 Apr 2026 for all purposes; art 55A(2) carve-out from art 53 confirmed verbatim).

TSM ID Requirement (condensed) Implementing rule name(s)
TSM-101 Part 4A permission for the new art 55A activity required; art 53 permission does not authorise it TSM-101 TSM-102 TSM-112 TSM-113 TSM-114 TSM-115 Perimeter cleared on positive determinations; TSM-101 Firm does not hold the targeted support permission
TSM-108 No individual suitability determination made or asserted (art 55A(4)) TSM-107 TSM-108 Client treated as retail and no individual suitability asserted
TSM-111 Presentation limb ("suitable for the individual on the basis of being in the group") and the art 55A(4)/(5) statement, or the art 53 carve-out fails TSM-111 Article 55A(3) presentation limb not satisfied; TSM-111 Article 55A statement absent so the article 53 carve out fails
TSM-112 Regime applies from 6 April 2026 TSM-112 Case predates the 6 April 2026 regime commencement; (perimeter conjunction rule)
TSM-114 Trust-based occupational scheme rights outside the specified-investment perimeter TSM-114 Trust based occupational scheme rights are not specified investments; (perimeter conjunction rule)
TSM-905/906 Statement: not comprehensive, not individual-specific, specifying the group characteristics, delivered at the same time as the recommendation (art 55A(5)) TSM-905 TSM-906 Article 55A(4) and (5) statement delivered with the recommendation

2. COBS 9B.1 — purpose and better position

TSM ID Requirement (condensed) Implementing rule name(s)
TSM-701 Reasonable grounds that segment members would be in a better position than without the support (GUIDANCE, ex ante, no-support counterfactual) TSM-701 TSM-707 Better position established on a defined and evidenced projection; TSM-701 Project the better position determination onto the case; TSM-701 TSM-708 Better position not established on the firm evidence method
TSM-706 Better position defined in measurable terms before it is asserted (firm method) TSM-706 The firm must define what the better position is before asserting it
TSM-707 Quantified projection evidence method — baseline vs supported value, cost of acting, horizon, detriment risk, materiality thresholds (FIRM POLICY; FCA prescribed no methodology) TSM-707 Materialise the projection on the segment so it can be counted; TSM-707 Gross improvement over the no support counterfactual; TSM-707 Net improvement after the cost of acting; TSM-707 Net improvement as a percentage of the baseline; TSM-701 TSM-707 Better position established on a defined and evidenced projection
TSM-708 Any limb fails or no projection → better position NOT established, suggestion withheld; absence is an explicit false TSM-708 Projection exists but the net improvement is immaterial; TSM-708 Projection exists but the percentage limb fails; TSM-708 Projection exists but the horizon is too short; TSM-708 Projection carries a detriment risk; TSM-708 No projection evidence exists at all; TSM-708 Explicit mark that better position evidence is absent; TSM-708 Project a failed better position determination onto the case; TSM-701 TSM-708 Better position not established on the firm evidence method; TSM-708 No better position determination could be made at all

3. COBS 9B.2 — application

TSM ID Requirement (condensed) Implementing rule name(s)
TSM-102 ARs may not provide targeted support (9B.2.4G verbatim) TSM-102 Appointed representatives may not provide targeted support; (perimeter conjunction rule)
TSM-103 COBS 9B applies to designated investments (incl. pensions), not pure protection TSM-103 Subject matter is a designated investment or structured deposit in COBS 9B scope
TSM-104 Within art 55A but outside COBS 9B → advising rules apply TSM-104 Within article 55A but outside COBS 9B so the advising rules apply
TSM-105 Absolute prohibition where the consumer holds safeguarded benefits (9B.2.3R) TSM-105 Defined contribution benefits only with no safeguarded benefits; TSM-105 Defined benefit safeguarded rights held; TSM-105 COBS 9B.2.3R absolute prohibition where safeguarded benefits are held
TSM-106 Guaranteed annuity rate treated as a safeguarded indicator (FIRM POLICY reading, cf 90) TSM-106 Guaranteed annuity rate treated as safeguarded firm policy reading
TSM-113 Client must be a natural person TSM-113 Client is not a natural person; (perimeter conjunction rule)
TSM-115 Territorial scope: UK consumers TSM-115 Consumer is outside the territorial scope of COBS; (perimeter conjunction rule)
TSM-1907 Unknown safeguarded status fails safe to the 9B.2.3R stop (cf 85) TSM-1907 Explicit negative for safeguarded benefits requires a complete benefit record; TSM-1907 Safeguarded benefit status unknown so fail safe to the stop
TSM-1211 9B.2.6G(3): targeted support is expressly NOT a personal recommendation (retention treated under 9B.10 below) TSM-1211 Record retention and the MiFID personal recommendation characterisation

4. COBS 9B.3 — general

TSM ID Requirement (condensed) Implementing rule name(s)
TSM-107 Client treated as retail regardless of categorisation; COBS 9/9A suitability disapplied TSM-107 TSM-108 Client treated as retail and no individual suitability asserted

5. COBS 9B.4 — design of targeted support

TSM ID Requirement (condensed) Implementing rule name(s)
TSM-121 Two-limb relevance test for every common characteristic (9B.4.16R(2)) TSM-121 COBS 9B.4.16R(2) two limb relevance test
TSM-301 Segment must specify the information required to establish alignment (9B.4.17R) TSM-301 Segment specifies no information set for alignment
TSM-311 Assumptions reasonable, referable to evidence, immaterial to suitability (9B.4.11R; materiality limb via good/poor practice) TSM-311 COBS 9B.4.11R assumptions must be immaterial to suitability; TSM-311 COBS 9B.4.11R assumptions must be referable to evidence; TSM-311 Life expectancy assumption disclosed for the selected suggestion
TSM-401 Segment defined by reference to a situation involving a shared financial support need (9B.4.4R) TSM-401 COBS 9B.4.4R requires a segment to be defined by reference to a situation; TSM-401 Situation detected from a trigger characteristic the firm offers support for
TSM-402 Exactly one ready-made suggestion per segment (9B.4.5R) TSM-402 COBS 9B.4.5R requires exactly one ready made suggestion per segment
TSM-403 Design-defective segments never used for alignment; routed to governance TSM-403 COBS 9B.4.16R(1) requires both including and excluding characteristics; TSM-403 A segment may only be used for alignment when it is design compliant; TSM-403 The consumer matches a segment that is not design compliant; TSM-403 Route a design defect to governance not to the consumer; TSM-403 Matched only segments carrying a COBS 9B.4 design defect
TSM-404 (partial — delivery limb under 9B.5) Including characteristics positively confirmed TSM-404 Candidate segment on a confirmed including set; TSM-404 Canonical confirmed alignment used by every downstream layer (full list under COBS 9B.5)
TSM-406 Only one segment may align within a situation (9B.4.7R) TSM-406 Compose a per case and per situation key for the single alignment tally; TSM-406 Recover the situation from the composed key by rebuild and equality; TSM-406 Attach each qualifying segment to its case and situation key; TSM-406 COBS 9B.4.7R only one segment may be aligned within a situation; TSM-406 COBS 9B.4.7R more than one segment qualifies within a situation
TSM-408 Granularity floor (9B.4.9R(1)) TSM-408 A segment with no including characteristics would match every consumer; TSM-408 COBS 9B.4.9R(1) granularity floor for this situation
TSM-409 Comprehensive-consideration ceiling (9B.4.9R(2)) TSM-409 COBS 9B.4.9R(2) comprehensive consideration ceiling for this situation
TSM-413 FCA-flagged poor-practice characteristics are design defects (also under source 12) TSM-413 Characteristic flagged poor practice for this situation by the FCA
TSM-414 Segment design must be referable to evidence about the covered individuals (no register entry — see Coverage; also under source 12) TSM-414 Segment design not referable to evidence about the individuals it covers
TSM-601 The single suggestion delivered is the one specified for the selected segment (9B.4.5R) TSM-601 The one suggestion specified for the selected segment; TSM-601 Suggestion clears every product scope and evidencing block; TSM-601 The single suggestion to be delivered for this case
TSM-604 No prohibited investment categories (9B.4.42R) TSM-604 COBS 9B.4.42R prohibited investment category; TSM-604 TSM-606 TSM-610 A product scope, consolidation or annuity block was raised
TSM-605 Complex/illiquid/volatile products unlikely suitable (9B.4.43G); packaged products and sell recommendations not prevented TSM-605 COBS 9B.4.43G complex illiquid or volatile product unsuitable for a limited information service
TSM-606 Express consolidation recommendation prohibited (9B.4.38R) TSM-606 COBS 9B.4.38R express consolidation recommendation prohibited; TSM-604 TSM-606 TSM-610 A product scope, consolidation or annuity block was raised
TSM-607 Implied consolidation prohibited (9B.4.38R with the 9B.4.39G definition) TSM-607 COBS 9B.4.38R implied consolidation by transfer into an existing arrangement per the 9B.4.39G definition; TSM-607 COBS 9B.4.38R implied consolidation by transferring multiple arrangements per the 9B.4.39G definition
TSM-608 Single-pot transfer to a NEW provider is NOT consolidation (9B.4.40G); multi-pot support permitted (9B.4.41G) — ABSORBED: encoded as the deliberate shape of the TSM-606/607 blocks (both flags false raises no block) (no dedicated rule — permission by block shape)
TSM-610 Annuity suggestions: features only, no particular annuity, no quote (9B.4.28R) TSM-610 COBS 9B.4.28R annuity suggestion must not name a particular annuity; TSM-610 COBS 9B.4.28R annuity suggestion must not include a quote; TSM-610 COBS 9B.4.28R annuity suggestion must go no further than features; TSM-604 TSM-606 TSM-610 A product scope, consolidation or annuity block was raised
TSM-612 Interaction ends after an annuity suggestion (9B.4.32R) TSM-612 COBS 9B.4.32R end the interaction after an annuity suggestion
TSM-613 Brokerage referral only after the interaction ends, MoneyHelper opportunity, no quote, sufficient range (9B.4.33R/35R/36G) TSM-613 COBS 9B.4.33R brokerage referral only after the interaction ends
TSM-616 Product costs, target market consistency and provider financial strength evidenced (9B.4.24G) TSM-616 COBS 9B.4.24G product costs must be evidenced; TSM-616 COBS 9B.4.24G target market consistency must be evidenced; TSM-616 COBS 9B.4.24G provider financial strength must be evidenced
TSM-704/705 Segment-level suitability is a binding RULE and delivery gate (9B.4.20R) TSM-704 TSM-705 COBS 9B.4.20R segment level suitability on the shared need and characteristics; TSM-704 Project COBS 9B.4.20R suitability onto the case; TSM-704 COBS 9B.4.20R segment level suitability not affirmatively established
TSM-1006 Annuity suggestions signpost the MoneyHelper comparison (9B.4.28R(3)) TSM-1006 COBS 9B.4.28R(3) the one hard MoneyHelper rule inside COBS 9B
TSM-1307 Target market of the referenced product must include the selected segment (9B.4.24G(2)) TSM-1307 COBS 9B.4.24G target market of the referenced product does not include the selected segment

6. COBS 9B.5 — delivery

TSM ID Requirement (condensed) Implementing rule name(s)
TSM-201 Initiation only on express request or reasonable grounds of an addressed situation (9B.5.3R) TSM-201 Initiation on an express client request; TSM-201 Initiation on reasonable grounds that the client is in an addressed situation; TSM-201 Firm initiated with no express request and no reasonable grounds; TSM-201 Reasonable grounds claimed but no addressed situation identified; TSM-201 Situation taken from the client express request
TSM-202 Service availability notice is not initiation TSM-202 A service availability notice is not initiation
TSM-203 Client election not to receive the SERVICE is an absolute stop (9B.5.14R, final-rules change) TSM-203 Client elected not to receive a targeted support service
TSM-302 Required information missing/not current → no alignment; data request issued TSM-302 TSM-303 Data item is present and within its staleness window at the assessment date; TSM-302 Required information for this segment is missing or not current; TSM-302 All required information for this segment is present and current; TSM-302 Request the missing information; TSM-302 Required alignment information is missing or not current
TSM-303 Possibly out-of-date data verified with the client before alignment (9B.5.7R) TSM-303 Data item is present but beyond its staleness window at the assessment date; TSM-303 Stale alignment data not yet verified with the client; TSM-303 COBS 9B.5.7R verify possibly out of date information before confirming alignment; TSM-303 Stale alignment data awaiting client verification; TSM-303 COBS 9B.5.7R client verification restores reliance on a stale record
TSM-304 Contradictory current records resolved before a suggestion; ordinal integrity guarded TSM-304 Two current records give materially different numeric values; TSM-304 Two current records give different text values; TSM-304 Record ordinals are duplicated or missing so contradiction detection is unreliable; TSM-304 Mirror each record ordinal as a per consumer string mark so distinct counting works; TSM-304 A record integrity defect makes contradiction detection unreliable; TSM-304 Contradictory alignment data for this segment; TSM-304 Contradictory alignment data must be resolved first
TSM-404 Including characteristics positively confirmed; exclusions positively resolved (9B.5.5R) TSM-404 Including characteristic not positively confirmed; TSM-404 Excluding characteristic neither present nor explicitly absent; TSM-404 Candidate segment on a confirmed including set; TSM-404 TSM-405 Qualification requires a usable segment and fully resolved exclusions; TSM-404 Canonical confirmed alignment used by every downstream layer
TSM-405 A single excluding characteristic held blocks alignment (9B.4.16R(1) with 9B.5.5R) TSM-405 A single excluding characteristic blocks alignment; TSM-404 TSM-405 Qualification requires a usable segment and fully resolved exclusions
TSM-501 Readily accessible information indicating unsuitability prohibits delivery (9B.5.11R) TSM-501 COBS 9B.5.11R contra indication from a readily accessible record; TSM-501 COBS 9B.5.11R information indicates the suggestion may be unsuitable
TSM-511 Volunteered information is information the firm IS aware of; must be routed, unrouted volunteering blocks delivery (9B.5.11R) TSM-511 Volunteered information leads the firm to terminate the journey; TSM-511 Volunteered information requires clarification before realignment; TSM-511 Volunteered information not yet routed by the firm; TSM-511 Volunteered information handling record; TSM-511 Volunteered information item detail
TSM-514 Inconsistent transaction request processed outside targeted support as client-directed business (firm policy) TSM-514 Client requests a transaction inconsistent with the suggestion; TSM-514 Client directed transaction record
TSM-1902 Explicit negatives require the underlying record; weak provenance never establishes an including characteristic (positive-resolution discipline supporting 9B.5.5R; provenance strength under source 12) TSM-1902 Explicit negative for the no emergency fund exclusion; TSM-1902 Explicit negative for the problem debt exclusion; TSM-1902 Explicit negative for the capital loss exclusion; TSM-1902 Explicit negative requires the vulnerability screen to have been run; TSM-1902 Explicit negative for the capacity exclusion; TSM-1902 Explicit negative for the minimum age exclusion; TSM-1902 Explicit negative for the higher rate band exclusion; TSM-1902 Including characteristic rests only on weak provenance; TSM-1901 TSM-1902 Characteristic rests only on weak provenance

7. COBS 9B.6 — disclosure

TSM ID Requirement (condensed) Implementing rule name(s)
TSM-510 Concurrent/recent advice is not a bar; the advice distinction must be explained and confirmed (9B.6.16G) TSM-510 COBS 9B.6.16G client is receiving or recently received advice; TSM-510 COBS 9B.6.16G explain how targeted support differs from advice; TSM-510 Advice distinction required but not confirmed by the client; TSM-510 Advice distinction not confirmed with the client
TSM-904 Full COBS 9B.6 disclosure set, staged initial contact vs point of delivery TSM-904 Required disclosure item not provided by the firm; TSM-904 TSM-1210 Explicit clean record for the disclosure set; TSM-904 A required COBS 9B.6 disclosure is not provided
TSM-905/906 Article 55A(4)/(5) statement delivered contemporaneously (COBS 9B.6 delivery context; statutory text under source 1) TSM-905 TSM-906 Article 55A(4) and (5) statement delivered with the recommendation
TSM-908 Disclosures tested for consumer understanding (9B.6.9R) TSM-908 COBS 9B.6.9R disclosures must be tested for consumer understanding; TSM-908 Disclosures not tested for consumer understanding
TSM-910 Durable medium at the point of delivery; 9B.6.18G as-soon-as-practicable fallback (9B.6.17R) TSM-910 COBS 9B.6.17R durable medium at the point of delivery; TSM-910 COBS 9B.6.17R durable medium at delivery; TSM-910 Durable medium not provided at delivery
TSM-1205 Records of disclosures incl. the art 55A statement (9B.6.19G) TSM-1205 Disclosure and article 55A statement record

8. COBS 9B.7 — unable to provide a suggestion

TSM ID Requirement (condensed) Implementing rule name(s)
TSM-504 Referral-severity vulnerability stops the service; vulnerability may determine whether to provide support at all (9B.7.4G with FG21/1) TSM-504 Vulnerability indicator requiring referral from the CRM record; TSM-504 Vulnerability indicator requiring referral from the client disclosure; TSM-504 COBS 9B.7.4G vulnerability may determine whether to provide support at all; TSM-504 Vulnerability referral next step
TSM-1001 Data sufficient but no segment confirmed, or no addressed situation → signpost other support TSM-1001 Data sufficient but no segment could be confirmed; TSM-1001 Consumer is in no situation the firm addresses
TSM-1002 Consider and signpost other support incl. advice from other providers (9B.7.3G) TSM-1002 COBS 9B.7.3G consider and signpost other support including advice from others; TSM-1002 COBS 9B.7.3G contra indication routed to advice from other providers
TSM-1004 Safeguarded benefits routed to regulated advice (firm routing consistent with 9B.7.3G) TSM-1004 Safeguarded benefits routed to regulated advice
TSM-1005 No alignment → signpost guidance services / MoneyHelper (9B.4.19G(4) with 9B.7.3G; routing choice firm policy) TSM-1005 COBS 9B.4.19G(4) no alignment so signpost guidance services
TSM-1009 Vulnerability referral routed to specialist support TSM-1009 Vulnerability referral routed to specialist support

9. COBS 9B.8 — charging and remuneration

TSM ID Requirement (condensed) Implementing rule name(s)
TSM-802 Where a charge is made: fair value (PRIN 2A.4.2R via 9B.4.2R(2)); cash-terms disclosure; durable medium or website; agreed with the client ("before" timing is firm policy) (9B.8.9R) TSM-802 PRIN 2A.4.2R fair value where a charge is made; TSM-802 COBS 9B.8.9R charge must be disclosed in cash terms; TSM-802 COBS 9B.8.9R charge disclosure must be in a durable medium; TSM-802 COBS 9B.8.9R charge must be agreed with the client before the service; TSM-802 TSM-1210 Explicit clean record for charging and remuneration; TSM-802 Charged delivery missing a required charging control
TSM-803 No charge → remuneration still consistent with fair value (9B.8.7R) TSM-803 COBS 9B.8.7R fair value where NO charge is made
TSM-804 Third-party benefits prohibited outside the permitted exceptions (9B.8.2R with 9B.8.3R/4R) TSM-804 COBS 9B.8.2R third party benefit outside the permitted exceptions; TSM-804 COBS 9B.8 charging or remuneration defect
TSM-809 Differential product cost disclosed (9B.8.8R) TSM-809 COBS 9B.8.8R differential product cost must be disclosed
TSM-1306 Annuity-referral-only benefits (9B.8.4R) accepted only on annuity cases TSM-1306 COBS 9B.8.4R annuity referral benefit accepted outside an annuity case; TSM-1306 Annuity referral benefit outside the permitted exception

10. COBS 9B.10 — systems, controls and records

TSM ID Requirement (condensed) Implementing rule name(s)
TSM-618 Review manufacturer information on significant product adaptations before further suggestions (9B.10.6R distributor review duty) TSM-618 COBS 9B.10.6R manufacturer information on a significant product adaptation not reviewed by the firm
TSM-1301 Systems and controls for design and delivery compliance; absence is a governance breach blocking delivery (9B.10.1R) TSM-1301 COBS 9B.10.1R systems and controls is a governance breach not a perimeter issue; TSM-1301 COBS 9B.10.1R systems and controls absent
TSM-1302 Regular review of processes (9B.10.9R) and outcomes monitoring (9B.10.4G) TSM-1302 COBS 9B.10.4G outcomes of the service must be monitored; TSM-1302 COBS 9B.10.9R regular review of the targeted support processes; TSM-1302 Governance monitoring or review gap blocks delivery
TSM-1303 Governance posture (root cause, governing body, SM&CR accountable manager, vulnerable customer evaluation) recorded TSM-1303 Governance posture record
TSM-1802 Every gate that triggered is recorded, not only the reported outcome (firm audit policy on the 9B.10.12G posture) TSM-1802 Record every gate that triggered not only the reported outcome
TSM-1801 Version stamp so a historical decision is replayable (firm policy) TSM-1801 Version stamp so a historical decision is replayable
TSM-1210 Explicit clean records — audit-grade passes, not silent absence TSM-1210 Explicit clean record for a segment with no design defect; TSM-802 TSM-1210 Explicit clean record for charging and remuneration; TSM-904 TSM-1210 Explicit clean record for the disclosure set
TSM-1211 Retention: NOT a personal recommendation (9B.2.6G(3), art 55A(2)); SYSC 9 five-year retention as firm-policy reading; disclosure records per 9B.6.19G; records for FCA monitoring per 9B.10.12G TSM-1211 Record retention and the MiFID personal recommendation characterisation
TSM-305 Provenance supporting each characteristic recorded (supervisory file) TSM-305 Record which provenance supported each characteristic
TSM-1202 Segment design record for the aligned segment TSM-1202 Segment design record for the aligned segment
TSM-1203/1206 Suitability and better-position basis recorded for every delivery TSM-1203 TSM-1206 Suitability and better position basis for the delivered suggestion
TSM-1204 Alignment record naming the confirmed segment; gap records naming each unconfirmed/unresolved characteristic TSM-1204 Name each unconfirmed including characteristic for the supervisory file; TSM-1204 Name each unresolved excluding characteristic for the supervisory file; TSM-1204 Alignment record naming the confirmed segment; TSM-1204 Alignment gap record where alignment failed
TSM-1207 Charging and remuneration basis record TSM-1207 Charging and remuneration basis
TSM-1208 Contra-indication finding and action taken TSM-1208 Contra indication finding and the action taken
TSM-1209 Vulnerability assessment against the FG21/1 drivers TSM-1209 Vulnerability assessment against the FG21/1 drivers
TSM-1212 Contributing-evidence lines with actual figures on every material derived finding (9B.10.12G records posture) Evidence Excess cash above the emergency buffer; Evidence Single holding concentration above the firm limit; Evidence Withdrawal rate above the sustainable rate; Evidence Contribution below the adequacy target; Evidence Multiple small pots held; Evidence No indicator or defect found on a clean delivery

11. COBS 19.7 — pensions guidance nudge

TSM ID Requirement (condensed) Implementing rule name(s)
TSM-1007 The COBS 19.7 Pension Wise nudge continues to apply to a targeted support firm TSM-1007 COBS 19.7 pensions nudge continues to apply to a targeted support firm

12. FCA good and poor practice — designing consumer segments (23 March 2026)

Verified against the live source (credit-card history held elsewhere and detailed transaction analysis are NOT "readily accessible"; assuming flexible-over-fixed income preference is unreasonable and material to suitability).

TSM ID Requirement (condensed) Implementing rule name(s)
TSM-306/307 Not-readily-accessible data (credit-card history, transaction pattern analysis) can never be required for alignment TSM-306 TSM-307 A segment may not require information that is not readily accessible (design-defect rule added in the final build iteration and verified live)
TSM-413 Characteristics flagged poor practice for a situation are design defects when used TSM-413 Characteristic flagged poor practice for this situation by the FCA
TSM-1901/1902 Provenance strength asymmetry: weak provenance (firm inference, third-party feed) may support an excluding characteristic but never establishes an including one; explicit negatives require the underlying record TSM-1901 TSM-1902 Characteristic rests only on weak provenance; TSM-1902 Including characteristic rests only on weak provenance; the seven "TSM-1902 Explicit negative …" rules (no emergency fund; problem debt; capital loss; vulnerability screen; capacity; minimum age; higher rate band)
TSM-414 Segment design referable to evidence about the individuals it covers TSM-414 Segment design not referable to evidence about the individuals it covers

13. FCA/ICO joint statement (11 Dec 2025) + PECR reg 22 + UK GDPR

Verified against the live statements.

TSM ID Requirement (condensed) Implementing rule name(s)
TSM-131 Objection to direct marketing blocks an electronic-mail suggestion (absolute right to object) TSM-131 Consumer has objected to direct marketing and the channel is electronic mail
TSM-132 Granular, unbundled consent record (UK GDPR consent standard) TSM-204 TSM-132 Electronic mail with granular consent
TSM-204 Electronic-mail suggestion is direct marketing: PECR reg 22 consent or soft opt-in required TSM-204 TSM-132 Electronic mail with granular consent; TSM-204 Electronic mail suggestion without consent or soft opt in
TSM-205 Broadcast and non-electronic-mail channels outside the PECR electronic mail rule TSM-205 Broadcast channel is not direct marketing so no consent is needed; TSM-205 Non electronic channels are outside the PECR electronic mail rules
TSM-206 Neutral factual awareness message permitted without marketing permission; cannot carry a suggestion TSM-206 Neutral awareness message permitted without marketing permission
TSM-207 Service messages are not direct marketing TSM-207 Service and important messages are not direct marketing
TSM-208 Standard reg 22(3) soft opt-in available; the workplace pension soft opt-in SI has NOT been laid as of 30 Aug 2026 — route recorded as pending legislation, never relied on TSM-208 Standard PECR soft opt in for an existing customer; TSM-208 Workplace pension soft opt in route is pending legislation and is not relied on
TSM-209/210 Cross-regime record: PECR direct-marketing test and COBS 4 financial-promotion test both recorded TSM-209 TSM-210 Cross regime record for the promotion and marketing tests
TSM-1304 Data-protection posture (Art 6 lawful basis, marketing/service record separation, profiling transparency) recorded TSM-1304 Data protection posture record
TSM-1309 Special category data requires a UK GDPR Article 9 condition; absence blocks the case TSM-1309 UK GDPR Article 9 condition required where health data is processed; TSM-1309 Special category data processed without an Article 9 condition
TSM-1701/1703 Automated decision status recorded under DUAA 2025 / UK GDPR arts 22A–22D ("significant decision" status unresolved; ICO guidance in draft) TSM-1701 Automated decision with an identified human involvement point; TSM-1701 Solely automated with no human involvement point; TSM-1701 TSM-1703 Automated decision making record
TSM-1704 Solely automated decisions routed for human review (firm policy) TSM-1704 Automated decision routed for human review; TSM-1704 Solely automated decisions are routed for human review firm policy

14. FCA/FOS joint statement (11 Dec 2025) + DISP

Verified against the live statement (FOS suitability assessment "based on the design of consumer segments, rather than at an individual level"; DISP 1 unchanged).

TSM ID Requirement (condensed) Implementing rule name(s)
TSM-139 Targeted support within DISP and FOS compulsory jurisdiction from 6 Apr 2026; FOS assessment segment-design-based; recorded on every decided case TSM-139 Complaints and Financial Ombudsman record
TSM-123/501 Contra-indication gate calibration (no data trawl expected — 9B.5.11R/12G) is consistent with the FOS segment-design basis of review (the research file notes this reading is an inference from the Handbook, not a statement by the joint statement itself) TSM-123 Record the calibration of the contra indication gate; TSM-501 COBS 9B.5.11R contra indication from a readily accessible record; TSM-501 COBS 9B.5.11R information indicates the suggestion may be unsuitable

15. FG21/1 — fair treatment of vulnerable customers

TSM ID Requirement (condensed) Implementing rule name(s)
TSM-503 Four vulnerability drivers (Health, Life Events, Resilience, Capability) detected from CRM or client disclosure TSM-503 FG21/1 driver present from the CRM record; TSM-503 FG21/1 driver present from the client own disclosure
TSM-504 Referral-severity indicators stop the service and route to specialist support TSM-504 Vulnerability indicator requiring referral from the CRM record; TSM-504 Vulnerability indicator requiring referral from the client disclosure; TSM-504 COBS 9B.7.4G vulnerability may determine whether to provide support at all; TSM-504 Vulnerability referral next step
TSM-505 Adjusted-delivery indicators deliver with adjustments TSM-505 Vulnerability indicator requiring adjusted delivery from the CRM record; TSM-505 Vulnerability indicator requiring adjusted delivery from the client disclosure; TSM-505 Delivery with adjusted delivery for a vulnerability indicator
TSM-508 Significant health issue affecting life expectancy excludes decumulation segments TSM-508 Health issue affecting life expectancy from the vulnerability record
TSM-512 Protective firm-policy exclusions (capacity, minimum age, third-party representation) applied alongside the vulnerability screen TSM-512 Mental capacity not established firm policy exclusion; TSM-512 Below the firm defined minimum adult age; TSM-512 Third party or attorney represented firm policy exclusion; TSM-512 Third party or attorney represented routed to specialist support firm policy

16. PRIN 2A — Consumer Duty

TSM ID Requirement (condensed) Implementing rule name(s)
TSM-118 Duties and liability to the client not excluded or restricted TSM-118 COBS 9B.1.3G duties and liability must not be excluded or restricted; TSM-118 A limitation disclosure must not disclaim liability
TSM-802 Fair value assessment where a charge is made (PRIN 2A.4.2R via COBS 9B.4.2R(2)) TSM-802 PRIN 2A.4.2R fair value where a charge is made (full charging family under source 9)
TSM-803 Remuneration consistent with fair value where no charge is made TSM-803 COBS 9B.8.7R fair value where NO charge is made
TSM-1302 Outcomes monitoring (PRIN 2A monitoring behind COBS 9B.10.4G) TSM-1302 COBS 9B.10.4G outcomes of the service must be monitored; TSM-1302 Governance monitoring or review gap blocks delivery
TSM-1308 Product governance: firm is manufacturer/distributor of the service and of suggested products; PRIN and PROD distributor rules (no "PROD 8" chapter) TSM-1308 Product governance posture record

17. FCA data collection expectations (PS25/22 first-year data)

TSM ID Requirement (condensed) Implementing rule name(s)
TSM-137 Aggregable MI fields: outcome, suggestion delivered, opt-outs, access method, referrals, fair value status TSM-137 Aggregable MI field for the FCA periodic data request; TSM-137 MI field naming the suggestion actually delivered; TSM-137 MI field recording an opt out; TSM-137 MI field recording the access method suggested; TSM-137 MI field recording each referral to guidance or advice; TSM-137 MI field recording the fair value assessment status
TSM-138 Reporting classification: retirement income vs non-advised product sales TSM-138 Retirement income reporting classification; TSM-138 Non advised product sales data classification

18. Firm policy — explicitly labelled calibrations (no FCA figure exists)

Every row here is a threshold or calibration the FCA has not prescribed; all numeric values are FIRM POLICY facts on the Kesterly Targeted Support Policy instance, recalibrated as data, never rules.

TSM ID Requirement (condensed) Implementing rule name(s)
TSM-106 Guaranteed annuity rate treated as a safeguarded-benefit indicator (cf 90; glossary perimeter unresolved) TSM-106 Guaranteed annuity rate treated as safeguarded firm policy reading
TSM-512 Capacity-not-established, minimum-adult-age and third-party-representation exclusions TSM-512 Mental capacity not established firm policy exclusion; TSM-512 Below the firm defined minimum adult age; TSM-512 Third party or attorney represented firm policy exclusion; TSM-512 Third party or attorney represented routed to specialist support firm policy
TSM-514 Inconsistent transaction requests processed as client-directed business TSM-514 Client requests a transaction inconsistent with the suggestion; TSM-514 Client directed transaction record
TSM-707 (method) Quantified better-position projection method and materiality thresholds TSM-707 Materialise the projection on the segment so it can be counted; TSM-707 Gross improvement over the no support counterfactual; TSM-707 Net improvement after the cost of acting; TSM-707 Net improvement as a percentage of the baseline; TSM-701 TSM-707 Better position established on a defined and evidenced projection
TSM-1003 Problem-debt-first routing precedence (consumer protective) TSM-1003 Problem debt routed to debt advice firm policy precedence; TSM-1003 Problem debt takes precedence over investment oriented support firm policy
TSM-1005 (routing) MoneyHelper as the general-guidance signpost destination TSM-1005 COBS 9B.4.19G(4) no alignment so signpost guidance services
TSM-1704 Solely automated decisions routed for human review TSM-1704 Automated decision routed for human review; TSM-1704 Solely automated decisions are routed for human review firm policy
TSM-1905 Situation priority selecting one aligned situation per case; the rest deferred and recorded TSM-1905 Project the priority of each aligned situation onto the case; TSM-1905 Select the aligned segment in the highest priority situation; TSM-1905 Record the situations deferred to a later interaction; TSM-1905 Record deferred situations
TSM-411, 412 Age band edges held as policy data; pension-provision minimum on the total TSM-411 Age band characteristics from policy held band edges; TSM-412 Total pension provision uses the total not per pension features; TSM-412 Total pension provision above the firm defined minimum
TSM-1401–1407 (all numeric policy facts) Adequacy target; proximity window and tax bands; sustainable withdrawal rate; small-pot ceiling/threshold; emergency buffer months and floor; concentration limit and portfolio minimum; charge benchmarks All Layer 4 aggregate rules and the firm-threshold characteristic rules in Layer 5 (TSM-1401 Contribution rate below the firm defined adequacy target; TSM-1402 Within the firm defined retirement proximity window; TSM-1403 Withdrawal rate above the firm defined sustainable rate; TSM-1404 Small pot count at or above the firm defined threshold; TSM-1405 Excess cash above the emergency buffer and the policy floor; TSM-1406 Single holding concentration above the firm defined limit; TSM-1406 Portfolio above the firm defined minimum value; TSM-1407 Holds a fund charging above the median; and their supporting projections/aggregations)
TSM-1907 (cf 85) Fail-safe certainty on unknown safeguarded status TSM-1907 Explicit negative for safeguarded benefits requires a complete benefit record; TSM-1907 Safeguarded benefit status unknown so fail safe to the stop
TSM-1801/1802 Replayable version stamp; every triggered gate recorded TSM-1801 Version stamp so a historical decision is replayable; TSM-1802 Record every gate that triggered not only the reported outcome

Other grounding not enumerated above. TSM-1305 (Equality Act 2010 justification for protected characteristics — TSM-1305 A protected characteristic requires a recorded equality justification; TSM-1305 Equality justification record for the selected segment); TSM-507/509 (financial-resilience excluding characteristics and the emergency-fund derived characteristic — segment design on the COBS 9B.4.16R(1)/9B.4.11R base); TSM-317 (client-stated banded risk/capacity, never assumed — 9B.4.11R); TSM-1101/1102/1103/1104 (single-outcome precedence ladder and full delivery conjunction — model architecture implementing the whole-chapter COBS 9B conjunction with a consumer-protective precedence policy, terminal default keeping the ladder total).

Coverage assertions

(a) Register → rules. The register (the first section of this document) contains 138 distinct TSM IDs. 135 of them appear verbatim in at least one rule name, and TSM-1212 is implemented by the six "Evidence …" rules (which use the Evidence naming convention rather than a TSM prefix) — 136 implemented by named rules. The two register IDs that do NOT appear in any rule name are both absorbed by design, not gaps:

  • TSM-116 — the register itself states it is covered within the TSM-101/102 rules; the positive-determination discipline is the perimeter conjunction rule "TSM-101 TSM-102 TSM-112 TSM-113 TSM-114 TSM-115 Perimeter cleared on positive determinations" (unknown never places a case inside the perimeter).
  • TSM-608 — the 9B.4.40G/41G permission (single-pot transfer to a new provider is not consolidation; multi-pot support permitted) is encoded as the deliberate shape of the TSM-606/607 consolidation blocks — the blocks fire only on the 9B.4.39G shapes, so both flags false raises no block. There is intentionally no rule to name, because a permission expressed as the absence of a block has no firing rule.

(b) Rules → register. Every TSM ID carried by a rule name exists in the register above. There are no orphan rule IDs.

Totals. 280 distinct TSM-prefixed rule names (each occurring exactly once in graph.xml — no duplicated rule names or rule families) plus 6 "Evidence …" rules = 286 rules mapped; 138 register IDs, of which 136 are implemented by named rules and 2 are absorbed by design (TSM-116 in the perimeter conjunction, TSM-608 as the deliberate shape of the consolidation blocks). No orphan rule IDs remain.

← Back to the accelerator