Monday, 11 February 2013 10:44
Advisers' biggest RDR challenge is promoting value of service says Cann
Nick Cann, chief executive of the Institute of Financial Planning, has said the biggest challenge for advisers post-RDR is focusing on the service offered to their clients.
Previously, advisers had been focused on the value of the product but the RDR has meant they have had to move to promoting the value of the service.
Writing for Financial Planning Standards Board blog 'Financial Planet' Mr Cann said many firms still felt uneasy asking for fees for their service.
He said: "Their business model has been very much based on advising on various product solutions. Their remuneration has been predominantly commission-based and there has been little evidence of Financial Planning having been provided.
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"There are therefore many challenges for these businesses to transition to a model where they can confidently ask clients for fees that the client is happy to pay."
He also said advisers needed to work on offering an ongoing service to clients that they would be happy to continue to pay for.
"Whilst there is some evidence of an ongoing service many clients receive nothing for the money that is being received by the firms. If they now need to take further advice, and why wouldn't they, the commercial relationship needs to change as well."
He said, while it was not immediately obvious, these problems could start arising in the second half of 2013 as the RDR becomes more established.
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Previously, advisers had been focused on the value of the product but the RDR has meant they have had to move to promoting the value of the service.
Writing for Financial Planning Standards Board blog 'Financial Planet' Mr Cann said many firms still felt uneasy asking for fees for their service.
He said: "Their business model has been very much based on advising on various product solutions. Their remuneration has been predominantly commission-based and there has been little evidence of Financial Planning having been provided.
{desktop}{/desktop}{mobile}{/mobile}
"There are therefore many challenges for these businesses to transition to a model where they can confidently ask clients for fees that the client is happy to pay."
He also said advisers needed to work on offering an ongoing service to clients that they would be happy to continue to pay for.
"Whilst there is some evidence of an ongoing service many clients receive nothing for the money that is being received by the firms. If they now need to take further advice, and why wouldn't they, the commercial relationship needs to change as well."
He said, while it was not immediately obvious, these problems could start arising in the second half of 2013 as the RDR becomes more established.
• Want to receive a free weekly summary of the best news stories from our website? Just go to home page and submit your name and email address. If you are already logged in you will need to log out to see the e-newsletter sign up. You can then log in again.
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