'Secret' adviser fees aren't a 'scandal'

Is it 'underhanded' not to publish adviser fees online?

clock

Advisers are accused of underhanded tactics for refusing to publish their fees online. Ryan Smith asks is this a failure of transparency, or the reality of advising?

Only 11 of the largest 100 IFAs in Britain publish their charges on their website, with the other 89 stating they require a face-to-face meeting before providing a rate to a prospective client, according to a recent report by the Sunday Times. The article described this is as a ‘scandal', accusing advisers of keeping fees ‘secret' and making it difficult for people to compare the cost of advice between the different firms. But the report fails to acknowledge the difficulty that surrounds providing a flat-rate fee, and especially promoting this online. While advisers agree that, for...

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 Charging

Why SJP's advice review has industry-wide consequences

Why SJP's advice review has industry-wide consequences

Why SJP's move to set aside £426m affects us all

Roderic Rennison
clock 04 March 2024 • 2 min read
Client charging structures: Taking a different approach

Client charging structures: Taking a different approach

Firms not increasing fees are 'effectively accepting lower profits'

Ben Peele
clock 11 October 2023 • 4 min read

Quarter of advisers saw 10%-plus pay rise after adopting DFM model

One-quarter of financial advisers have seen a pay rise greater than 10% after adopting the use of a discretionary fund manager (DFM), research for Rathbones undertaken by CoreData has suggested.

Tom Ellis
clock 04 October 2018 • 1 min read