Putting You First

We wanted to share how we work with the Financial Conduct Authority's 'Consumer Duty' regulatory requirement and what it means for you.

Business Monitoring Team who are on hand to respond to technical queries, and check recommendations.

Perspective has six key values which are at the heart of the business and the foundation of all of our actions. One of these values is 'We are Client-centric'. This value is important to highlight as it has been the basis of our approach since the business started. It also aligns specifically to one of the key regulatory requirements of the Financial Conduct Authority, namely Consumer Duty; which came into force principally from 31 July 2023; and built upon the principles of treating customers fairly, which have been in place since 2006.

Product Governance Team who keep under review the Providers/Platforms and Funds we recommend to ensure for example, value for money, with negotiations being undertaken to drive the best outcomes for you and to assess whether the Providers and Platforms have efficient, effective Administration Teams who can support clients with specific needs. Adviser Competence Team who ensure all of our Financial Planners, whether of many years' experience or new to the business follow a set of requirements to ensure they attain and remain competent.

The Consumer Duty has four key pillars which focus on Products and Services, Price and Value, Consumer Understanding and Consumer Support. The purpose of these pillars is to drive firms to provide the best possible outcomes for their clients.

For Perspective, Consumer Duty has formalised the approach which we have always applied to our clients.

Our approach goes beyond the four Consumer Duty pillars as we look at our entire business. Every action we take must be able to support the best outcome for you, our clients. By way of example, the introduction of the new client Portal through MoneyInfo; not only enables us to communicate more efficiently with each other but also provides additional levels of security in a world overtaken by scams and fraudsters.

In addition, our Group Risk Committee meets monthly to discuss key risk metrics which link to the four Consumer Duty pillars and beyond. This is to cover the business at a more holistic level, taking into account key strategic matters such as war and conflict being a major consideration in the current climate; and its overarching impact across many aspects with which the business interacts. Strategic thoughts also link to cyber security and the levels of training undertaken by our staff to keep the business and you, as clients, safe. Although this article only gives a brief flavour of all that we do, we hope this is insightful, and brings to the fore, a deeper aspect of the overall business, showing how we interlink our services to you, Consumer Duty, being 'Client Centric' and our wider business considerations.

Adviser Competence Team who ensure all of our Financial Planners, whether of many years' experience or new to the business follow a set of requirements to ensure they attain and remain competent.

Our governance arrangements are the foundation of every action we take.

We have a detailed governance structure which means that as a business, we can easily communicate with each other and raise matters to the right forum for discussion and action.

Although this article only gives a brief flavour of all that we do, we hope this is insightful, and brings to the fore, a deeper aspect of the overall business, showing how we interlink our services to you, Consumer Duty, being 'Client Centric' and our wider business considerations.