Tees Business Tees Business issue 17 | Page 45

THIS IS A FINANCIAL PROMOTION Serving the Teesside Business Community | 45 Leaders – the Active directors (left to right) Gary Lumby, Karl Nendick, Glyn Pemberton, Paul Gibson and Karl Pemberton. National recognition for Active A embraced the changes, adapted their processes and endeavoured to continually improve their knowledge are providing a professional service that clients deserve. Sounding familiar now, I hope? So fast forward to 2018, and the introduction of MiFID II. It doesn’t sound exciting, does it? Sounding more like a NASA satellite than a piece of regulation that is ultimately there to make sure you are being looked after properly, you should already have noticed its changes from your adviser in these last 12 months. MiFID is the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive and it has been applicable across the European Union since November 2007. It is a cornerstone of the EU's regulation of financial markets, seeking to improve their competitiveness by creating a single market for investment services and activities and to ensure a high degree of harmonised protection for investors in financial instruments. Enhancements introduced on January 3, 2018 (MiFID II), include greater protection for investors through the introduction of new requirements on product governance and independent investment advice, the extension of existing rules to structured deposits, and the improvement of requirements in several areas, including on the responsibility of management bodies, inducements, information and reporting to clients, cross-selling, remuneration of staff, and best possible results for clients. The key visible aspect here for you (the client) relates to client reporting and, in particular, the service you receive and charges you pay. Remember the paragraph earlier about RDR and client agreed remuneration? Well, five years on, this should ensure that those rules are being adhered to you, and you are being advised (or reminded) of what charges you are paying. For most clients, certainly Investment and Retirement Planning clients, an ongoing charge will apply for the service being provided by your adviser. In return for this fee, you should be receiving an ‘ongoing service’ which could (or should) include a review, often on an annual or six monthly basis. The results of this client review are then formally communicated to you, confirming your objectives, your attitude to risk, the ongoing suitability of your portfolio, and the charges being applied. In short, the amount of work your financial adviser now has to do for you on an ongoing basis has increased, but it has increased ultimately to help protect you. Granted, much of this work goes on behind the scenes, and that’s where having the strength and experience in depth here at Active has helped tremendously when implementing the changes when they arise. Change is never an experience anyone looks forward to, but we know that it will always happen in our industry. That is why we have always tried to embrace every change way before its time, and well ahead of our peers. This has allowed Active to thrive into what you see today, and what you will continue to see for many more years to come. We are passionate about educating our clients about ‘why’ we have to operate as we do, and what good practice looks like. To us, it is just as important as the financial planning aspect of our work we do for you. If you are currently paying for a ‘service’ already from your financial adviser, but feel that you’re not receiving what has been promised, please do get in touch with us, where one of our team will be more than happy to explain more about the Active way. www.activefinancialplanners.co.uk #TheClearAdvantage ctive Chartered Financial Planners has been named as one of the “Best Financial Advisers To Work For” at the 2019 Professional Adviser Awards. The Teesside financial firm has been recognised nationally as one of 14 top companies in the Professional Adviser’s third annual Best Financial Advisers To Work For survey. The survey of UK financial advisers determined which participants are the best employers and, in total, the services and products of more than 200 advisers and other businesses were considered. The financial industry accolade was presented to Active Chartered Financial Planners at a prestigious awards ceremony at The Brewery in London as part of the 14th 2019 Professional Adviser Awards, which seek to reward excellence both within the financial advice community and among the broader financial services sector. Active Chartered Financial Planners is a team of specialist independent financial advisers that provides a full suite of holistic financial planning services to private individuals, corporate businesses and professional practices. It has been a successful 12 months for the firm, which was named North East Employer of the Year at the 2018 Federation of Small Businesses Awards in January and shortlisted for six awards at the Yorkshire Financial Awards in late 2018. In addition, three members of its team were finalists in the 2018 Women in Financial Advice Awards. Managing director Karl Pemberton said: “Last year’s awards success was a tremendous boost for the team and recognition for everyone’s hard work and commitment to the business and our clients. “This year looks set to continue our achievements and we are delighted to be recognised as one of the top financial adviser employers in the country.” Rachel McCulloch, executive support manager at Active, said: “To compete against companies from across the UK and be acknowledged as one of the best nationally is a fantastic achievement for the team at Active and all our staff should be very proud.” Professional adviser Julian Marr added: "Last September, Professional Adviser once more issued the call for adviser businesses in the UK to showcase their knowledge, skills and commitment to client care by entering our 2019 awards. “The 14 firms that made the grade in PA's third annual Best Financial Advisers To Work For survey fully deserve their awards and many congratulations to all this year's winners.”