Clarity, Transparency, Choice
We are committed to providing you with clear and transparent fees, as well as making sure you understand your options for paying. No two clients or recommendations that we make are the same, and the fees we charge will be dependant on the complexity, time involved, as well as other pensions and investments that you have.
Regardless of the service or work you require from us, we will always:
- Explain our payment options to you and answer any questions you have.
- Give you choice over using our ongoing service or using us for a one-off financial transaction.
- Agree advice fees – we will not charge you until we have agreed with you how we will be paid.
- Give you a clear explanation of our total fee, the advice or service it relates to, how we’ve calculated it, and when you need to pay it.
VAT – most of the work we carry out is not liable for VAT as we are an intermediation service. However there are occasions when VAT due, in which case we will tell you. In some instances we may charge a fee for our advice even if you do not act on our recommendations, however we will make this very clear to you at the outset.
Your Payment Options
Paying us directly
We will always explain our payment options and agree advice and service fees before charging you. This will be set out in our ‘Authority to Proceed’ document. Our fees are also outlined in our ‘Terms of Business’ document.
You may pay us by cheque, credit card, or bank transfer.
From your investment
Should you decide to follow our recommendation and invest, you may authorise the investment provider to deduct our fee for advice from your investment. You may also pay any ongoing service charges from your investment.
In some circumstances this could create a capital gain and a possible tax liability. We would take this into account in our recommendation.
Commission on non-regulated products and mortgages
We no longer receive commission for setting up regulated investment products. However we may receive commission on certain non-regulated products and mortgages. For example, from an insurance company or mortgage lender.
If we do receive commission we will tell you how much in a ‘Key Facts’ illustration.
Committed to providing you with clear and transparent fees, as well as making sure you understand your options for paying.
Our Advice Service
Our advice service is designed to be flexible and affordable. When you first receive advice from us, your adviser will explain what your advice fee will be for the work you need to optimise your finances. Also referred to as an ‘initial fee’ by some advisers, your advice fee covers our advice in relation to:
- Reviewing your existing investments and financial affairs.
- Setting up a financial plan for you.
- Where it’s in your best interests, making recommendations on investment solutions which are suitable to help you meet your goals.
Many clients also benefit from their adviser regularly reviewing their financial plans to ensure they stay on track.
This can be important as many things can change over the years, including your own circumstances and plans for the future, as well as tax rules, market performance, and the availability of new products and services which could benefit you.
Where your adviser recommends our ongoing service to you and you choose to opt in, we will charge an ongoing fee for maintaining and monitoring your plans.
Ongoing Service Levels & Fees
Set out below are the detailed elements for the indicative levels of ongoing service that we deliver to our clients. You can if you wish to, add, or enhance levels of service with your adviser if you feel appropriate. Our fees for these services can be seen below:
Foundation Service
A straightforward advice service typically centered on immediate client issues and needs that require initial analysis and recommendations. With ongoing reviews delivered remotely and via advisory updates, this still brings client awareness and peace of mind.
Bespoke Service
Where client’s portfolios grow in terms of value and complexity, these need to be managed and reviewed appropriately. Building on our annual review services, this offering has more frequent reviews and opportunities to ensure clients are kept informed of performance, and plans maintained in line with client’s circumstances and objectives. This may well include consultations with other specialist advisers.
Foundation Service
An annual Progress Check meeting to review your plans, current circumstances, and objectives to help ensure that your financial planning remains track.
You’ll receive a consolidated annual report of your plans and investments within the scope of our advice, so that you can see your current position and progress towards your objectives.
Your adviser will recommend any switches to your investment funds where this is suitable and beneficial for you.
We’ll confirm in writing whether your plans and investments continue to be suitable based on your stated objectives and risk appetite. *
Assistance with the administration of your plans and support with any third-party provider interaction, as required.
Telephone and e-mail access to your adviser (and wider support team), allowing you to quickly address any questions or concerns that you might have between regular scheduled progress check meetings.
Advice, support, and facilitation on “top ups” to your investments
Advice, support, and facilitation on withdrawals once per tax year
Meetings with your adviser (as appropriate) in addition to your Annual Progress Check Meeting
Engagement with your other professional advisers (e.g., accountants/solicitors) on your financial affairs
Typical Assets under our Advice £40,000 to £100,000
Annual Service Charge
1.00% per year of all assets where the investment amount is below £100,000
Minimum fees that may apply £400
Bespoke Service
An annual Progress Check meeting to review your plans, current circumstances, and objectives to help ensure that your financial planning remains track.
You’ll receive a consolidated annual report of your plans and investments within the scope of our advice, so that you can see your current position and progress towards your objectives.
Your adviser will recommend any switches to your investment funds where this is suitable and beneficial for you.
We’ll confirm in writing whether your plans and investments continue to be suitable based on your stated objectives and risk appetite. *
Assistance with the administration of your plans and support with any third-party provider interaction, as required.
Telephone and e-mail access to your adviser (and wider support team), allowing you to quickly address any questions or concerns that you might have between regular scheduled progress check meetings.
Additional Services (where requested by you)**
Advice, support, and facilitation on “top ups” to your investments
Advice, support, and facilitation on withdrawals once per tax year
Meetings with your adviser (as appropriate) in addition to your Annual Progress Check Meeting
Engagement with your other professional advisers (e.g., accountants/solicitors) on your financial affairs
Typical Assets under our Advice £100,001 and above
Annual Service Charge
0.75% per year, of all assets
where the investment amount is up to £500,000
0.50% per year, of all assets
where the investment amount is above £500,000, up to £1,000,000
For any balance over £1,000,000 the fee charged is 0.25% on the balance above £1,000,000
Minimum fees that may apply £750
Minimum fund for our Foundation Service Offering is £40,000.
* We’ll only be able to confirm whether your plans and investments continue to be suitable following your annual progress check meeting.
** Where Additional Services are available to you, if you do not need them or choose not to use them in any given year, you will not be eligible for a refund of the ongoing advice fees paid for that year.
Please note that as the fee is based on the investment value, the actual amount we receive will increase (or decrease) in proportion to any increase (or decrease) in the value of your portfolio. Any additional work necessary to implement new investments/savings will be subject to an additional fee.
Ad Hoc Fees/No Ongoing Service
If you do not wish to subscribe to an ongoing service, we provide many services on an ‘ad-hoc’ basis. Should you require any services as noted below, or bespoke work to be carried out, we will be able to tailor a specific service. An additional fee may be required, typically calculated in accordance with our hourly rates (see our Terms of Business).
Prior to any work being agreed and carried out we will give an indication of the approximate amount of time that these tasks might take. These additional fees might be paid by single payment (e.g., by cheque), charged from your investment plan(s) or via regular monthly retainer payments (e.g., standing order). Fees will depend on individual circumstances, we show some typical examples in our Terms of Business document. These services are likely to incur VAT.
Contact Form
Book a free initial consultation*, ask a question or request a call back. Call us on 0141 352 7800 or fill in the form below.
* Any work you ask us to carry out as a result of this meeting will be fee based.
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