How we are paid
On receiving an enquiry we invite a prospective client to come to our offices for a preliminary meeting. Alternatively, it may be possible to arrange a home visit. The purpose of the meeting is firstly to establish whether we are able to assist with the prospective clients needs and objectives and secondly to discuss how we would be paid for our services should we be instructed to proceed. There is no charge for this preliminary meeting and no obligation on either side.
After the initial free consultation, we will agree with you whether you pay us a fee, or we are paid out of the cost of any financial product you buy (commission). We will always tell you about any commission we earn, and it will be taken into account in working out our fee.
Commission is paid to an IFA firm by a provider, usually an insurance company or a mortgage lender for the successful placing of business. The commission is included within the providers normal product charges, so there is nothing you need to pay us in addition. The amount of commission is based on a percentage of the premiums payable or sums invested.
Fees will usually be based on time spent and evaluated at a rate per hour calculated to recover our costs. Fees may attract an additional VAT charge whereas commissions, under current legislation, do not.
For mortgage advice you can choose how we are paid: you can either pay us a fee, not more than 1% of the loan amount, or we can accept commission from the lender.
Whether we take our remuneration by way of commission or fees will be a matter of discussion and agreement, and no charges for fees will be made without prior notification in writing. You will receive a key facts illustration when considering a particular mortgage which will tell you about any fees relating to it.
