In conversation with advisers: keeping fees transparent
Partner Insight: Cathi Harrison, director of para-sols and Apricity and Clare Farrell managing director at Northfield Wealth met in London recently to discuss the issue of fee transparency in relation to clients.
In the third video of the series (see above), they talk to Julian Marr, Editor of Professional Adviser.
Farrell says: "Financial advice fees are complex and our job is to educate our clients. Even though we have spent a lot of time simplifying the documentation about fees, it is still quite complicated.
"So we [at Northfield] sit down with the client for a 30-minute session to discuss fees and the history of fees. For every business, it is up to them how they charge their clients, appropriate to their business. The financial regulator hasn't stipulated what is ‘right or wrong'. It is very much about your own business, costing out the maximum or minimum fees, and what it is going to cost you giving financial advice; then educating the client initially and on an ongoing basis."
Farrell also believes it is important to educate the client how much other platforms and other asset managers charge. Also can your clients understand why they need to pay for financial advice.
Harrison says: "There is clearly a big push for transparency around fees, and disclosing these to clients. It hasn't been mandated what you can or can't charge. It is important that the client knows what they are paying and what they are getting for it."
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