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Getting the right advice

When seeking financial advice it is important to know that Financial advisers essentially fall into one of two camps:

Independent advisers who are able to advise on financial products from every insurance or investment company and every bank in the market or,
Tied advisers who are restricted to selling products from one, or a small number of, insurance or investment companies and often work directly for one of those companies or, more often, for a bank.

Finansec Green is totally independent. We are directly regulated by the Financial Services Authority and have no ties to any provider of financial products whatsoever. We believe that providing independent advice is key to the principle of treating customers fairly.

We can potentially recommend any product from any insurance or investment company provided that it suits your needs and objectives. With such a wide choice of companies, investments and saving products available you can be reassured that you will not simply be given a standard recommendation – you will receive personalised advice. (See ‘how we do it’)

Having confidence in your adviser

Firms that give financial advice have to be regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA), or be the agent of a regulated firm. Regulated firms and their agents are placed on the FSA Register and have to meet certain standards. Always make sure that the firm you use is on the Register and is allowed to give financial advice before handing over your money. If it isn't regulated by FSA and things go wrong, you won't have access to complaints and compensation procedures. To find out if a firm is on the Register, see the FSA's Register. Our registration number is 409721. Type this number into the FSA site and then click on ‘names’ to see our authorisation.

Role of the Financial Services Authority (FSA)

The FSA is the government watchdog that regulates all financial and insurance firms from the largest insurance company to the single adviser operating as a sole trader. The FSA lays down strict rules and codes of conduct that all independent financial advisers must stick to and the way they treat customers is governed by the ‘Conduct of Business’ (COB) rules. These rules are all in the FSA handbook which is available for free from the FSA’s website.

How do I know you are independent?

Some firms may give advice on all three product types – investments, mortgages and insurance – while others may only give advice on one or two of these. Mortgage advisers and insurance brokers can advise on mortgages and/or insurance but can't give advice on investments such as pensions. Firms regulated by the FSA must only recommend products that are suitable for you and must give you certain information about the firm, their services and costs when you first meet. These documents will tell you whether the adviser is independent or tied and will explain how you will be charged for the advice given. Different documents are given in different circumstances. All of these documents are regulated by the FSA. These documents (called ‘disclosure documents') are:

Client Agreement – given to clients requiring investment advice.
This document tells customers whether the firm offers advice from the whole market or a range of companies or a single company. It also gives information about the firm being regulated by the FSA and how to make a complaint if the need should arise.
about the cost of our services - given to clients requiring investment advice. This document tells customers about their payment options, i.e. fees or commissions or a combination of both.

Note! Finansec Green gives investment clients a Client Agreement that combines the above two documents because it reduces the use of paper and, in our opinion, is more clearly understood.
about our services – given to mortgage and insurance clients. This document tells customers whether the firm offers advice from the whole market or a range of companies or a single company. It also gives information about the firm being regulated by the FSA and how to make a complaint if the need should arise. It also tells customers about their payment options and indicates the levels of fees charged (if any).
about our equity release services – given to equity release clients. This document tells customers whether the firm offers advice from the whole market or a range of companies or a single company – and whether the advice is confined to either lifetime mortgages or home reversion schemes or extends to both. It also gives information about the firm being regulated by the FSA and how to make a complaint if the need should arise. It also tells customers about their payment options and indicates the levels of fees charged (if any).

Finansec Green gives equity release advice from the whole of market and all types of scheme.

If you would like a copy of our disclosure documents please use the contacts page.

Do I have any protection?

We will always try to do the very best for you and we will always give you details of how to complain, both at our first meeting and at the time when you sign up to any financial product that we have advised. If you wish you can request a copy of these procedures at any time.

When we advise you on regulated products (including investments, insurance and mortgages) you have the protection of the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) and the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).

If you are unhappy about the advice or service we have given then you should first contact us. If we do not resolve the matter to your satisfaction you can refer your complaint to FOS who will investigate the complaint independently and make a ruling. FOS work with customers and financial advisers to resolve a complaint, and when they do have to make a ruling it is binding upon the firm.

The FSCS (Financial Services Compensation Scheme) is a service funded by all the companies within the industry to protect customers with complaints where firms have closed or gone into liquidation.

Is all advice protected?

Not all products or services are regulated by the FSA – e.g. buy-to-let mortgages or general taxation advice. We will always tell you if we are giving you advice that is not regulated. This is very important because you do not have the added protection of FOS or FSCS when dealing with some unregulated products or services.

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We are fully independent: Please click here for more information

Financial FAQ's:

Understanding Investment Risk

What are 'Ethicals'?

Ethical Criteria

finansec green, 223-225 high street epping, essex, cm16 4bl
financial services authority registration number 409721
finansec green is a trading style of finansec ltd which is authorised and regulated by the financial services authority
finansec ltd, registered in england no. 04593046. registered office 13-17 high beech road, loughton, essex, ig10 4bn