Trusted Planning in Cheshire has become the latest Financial Planning firm, and the first in the North West of England, to be awarded BS 8577 by Standards International.
The new framework examines the standards of firms and is the only certification to assess the full advisory cycle from first contact with a client to ongoing reviews.
The qualification is complimentary to ISO 22222 which the firm's two partners Dan Brocklehurst CFP^CM and Graham Waterworth CFP^CM have held since the firm's first year of trading in 2009.
To retain the BS 8577 certification the firm must pass annual re-assessments.
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Mr Brocklehurst, managing partner, said: "With both my partner Graham and I having been ISO 22222 accredited for a number of years it was the natural progression for us. The FSA 'mystery shopper' assessment of retail banking once again highlights that standards of advice are variable. It is difficult for those seeking advice or putting their reputation on the line by making referrals to be confident they are dealing with a good adviser."
Michelle Hoskin, director of Standards International said: "Assessment outcomes like these are few and far between and only come after a huge amount of thought and effort has been put into creating a management framework which truly exceeds the reaches of international financial planning best practice.
"Through our dealings with Dan and his team it has been clear to see that Trusted Planning LLP is all about providing a bespoke and exclusive service for a select number of clients who are only treated as individuals and not 'shoehorned' into standard solutions".
Other Financial Planning firms which have been awarded the certification are MFP Wealth Management in Dorset, Penguin Wealth Management in Wales and Concept Financial Planning in Surrey.

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