Is the written contract still king?

CONTRACT IS KING?

clock

Michael Connell, lawyer and founder of Connell Associates, outlines an important change to contract law and how it could affect financial advisers.

Putting pen to paper, and signing on the dotted line, has always signified a ‘done deal’. Whether it is a meaty tied agent agreement, or just carrying out day-to-day business – such as orders and purchasing – the written contract has always been deemed as ‘king’. In the UK, commercial contract law has been honed and developed to provide guarantees and security for any company entering into business with another. The art of broking means that professional advisers naturally sit in the middle, facing contractual pressures and obligations from both clients and providers. As a result, the...

To continue reading this article...

Join Professional Adviser for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
  • Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
  • Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
  • Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
  • Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes

Join

 

Already a Professional Adviser member?

Login

More on Your profession

Provider letters of authority response times improve

Provider letters of authority response times improve

Only one provider’s performance remained flat, Pension Lab finds

Isabel Baxter
clock 21 August 2025 • 2 min read
Aberdeen sells financial planning arm to Ascot Lloyd

Aberdeen sells financial planning arm to Ascot Lloyd

Part of provider’s plan to simplify business

Jenna Brown
clock 20 August 2025 • 2 min read
Advisers urged to look beyond training academies

Advisers urged to look beyond training academies

‘Young people have a misunderstanding of opportunities a career in advice can hold’

Sahar Nazir
clock 20 August 2025 • 2 min read