Tuesday, 26 June 2012 12:09
Skandia warns advisers of misleading wrap information
Skandia has claimed that some wraps are misleading advisers by claiming that they are already facilitating adviser charging through a central cash account.
The platform provider and investment firm urged advisers to check their wrap of choice was compliant with all the RDR adviser charging rules.
Some wrap and platform firms may believe advisers are exempt from the requirement to show the effect of charges to customer because the cash account is not part of the packaged product.
But if units are deducted from a packaged account to fund adviser charges via the cash account, then adviser charging rules do apply and the adviser will need to show the effect of the deduction on the clients' investment.
Skandia warned that using a cash account may not be the most cost-effective way to pay adviser charges and it may be more suitable in certain cases to pay charges from the packaged product.
Wraps' fee forms may not be compliant with adviser charging guidance if they simply show consent for payments to be made to advisers.
Instead they must show the different charging options, disclose how advice charges impact investment returns, consider the most suitable method of payment and explain how clients can cancel fees.
Nick Dixon, Skandia's marketing director, said: "There is much more to adviser charging compliance than simply being able to pay an adviser via a customer cash account and some platforms don't seem to be making any effort to provide guidance to advisers and help them achieve a compliant outcome via their platform."
The platform provider and investment firm urged advisers to check their wrap of choice was compliant with all the RDR adviser charging rules.
Some wrap and platform firms may believe advisers are exempt from the requirement to show the effect of charges to customer because the cash account is not part of the packaged product.
But if units are deducted from a packaged account to fund adviser charges via the cash account, then adviser charging rules do apply and the adviser will need to show the effect of the deduction on the clients' investment.
Skandia warned that using a cash account may not be the most cost-effective way to pay adviser charges and it may be more suitable in certain cases to pay charges from the packaged product.
Wraps' fee forms may not be compliant with adviser charging guidance if they simply show consent for payments to be made to advisers.
Instead they must show the different charging options, disclose how advice charges impact investment returns, consider the most suitable method of payment and explain how clients can cancel fees.
Nick Dixon, Skandia's marketing director, said: "There is much more to adviser charging compliance than simply being able to pay an adviser via a customer cash account and some platforms don't seem to be making any effort to provide guidance to advisers and help them achieve a compliant outcome via their platform."
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