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Happy New Year!
January 2012Well we've come to the end of yet another year and what a year it's been!
Putting aside all of the economic difficulties we've experienced over the last 12 months (and expect to continue to have to deal with in the future!) it's been an exciting year for us at BFP with lots to be proud of!
As most clients are aware, Simon has started to phase his working hours in order to enjoy more time to devote to other projects dear to his heart. He was elected Chairman of the Broadway Arts Festival which is running for the second time in June 2012, a role which I'm sure he would agree has the potential of being extremely demanding....yet rewarding!
Simon was also asked to mentor groups of Financial Planners who are either new to the profession or looking to develop their skills as Financial Planners. As a past president of the Institute of Financial Planning, Simon was well placed to take on this role and I understand the feedback from these sessions has been excellent! I know that the ongoing development of the profession is of great importance to Simon and so this opportunity allows him to continue this work.
We are delighted to announce that in November we were approved as an Accredited Financial Planning FirmTM by The Institute of Financial Planning (IFP), the professional body for Financial Planners in the UK. It awards this title only to firms which it has assessed as demonstrating the highest professional standards of Financial Planning service and advice to its clients.
To successfully meet the criteria for approval, we had to demonstrate that we provide a comprehensive Financial Planning service for our clients as well having as a clear cost or fee structure. We also had to demonstrate that we had appropriately trained and qualified staff and at least 50% of registered advisers had to be qualified as a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERCM professional—which, of course, we are!
We’re thrilled to have achieved this powerful recognition of our commitment to professionalism and outstanding client service. Our clients expect and deserve only the highest standards of advice and service as we work with them to plan their finances. We’re proud to deliver a service which our clients value and which has now been externally recognised too.
Here at BFP we believe that it is essential to be professional, well qualified and to always have our clients' best interests at heart. It is therefore disappointing when we come across clients who have been poorly and, in some cases in our opinion, criminally advised. I have worked on two cases during the course of 2011 where clients have been encouraged to re-mortgage their home and invest the proceeds in assets wholly unsuitable for them for no apparent reason other than it paid some hearty commissions to the adviser involved! I was delighted to assist in one case and ensure that the clients were compensated for their loss and returned to the position prior to the misadvice. Although the clients were financially reimbursed, the compensation did not cover the fees that BFP had to charge and nor did it reflect the heartache and emotional distress that the previous adviser brought on this family. We will therefore continue help wherever we can to improve the ethos, reputation and conception of Financial Planning – even where necessary pressing for change in the regulatory approach.
I was extremely pleased to be awarded “runner-up” in the Financial Planner of the Year awards in October, of which Simon was also a judge. I can assure you that there was no favouritism though! Simon was not even aware of my submission as they are all anonymous, nor was he permitted to carry out the interviews either - for obvious reasons! Having also been runners up in the New Model Adviser awards and the David Norton "Excellence in Business" awards, it's beginning to feel a bit like the old adage "always the bridesmaid and never the bride"! Still I'm happy to report that it took me 11 years to persuade my husband to agree to marry and so tenacity is one of my better qualities - rest assured!!
We welcomed Claire back from her maternity leave and at the end of the year said goodbye to Jane Phipps who had joined us as Claire's maternity cover. I celebrated my ten year anniversary of working at BFP and look forward to the next ten with enthusiasm and energy.
It was also hugely rewarding early in the year to look at the results of our independent client survey and see that 100% of the respondents would recommend us to friends, family and colleagues. As you are probably aware, most of our new clients come as a result of recommendation from either existing clients or professional connections. Therefore, our main aim for 2012 is to continue to improve the service we provide to you, our clients, so please always feel free to contact us with any comments you may have on ways in which you feel we can improve.
Best wishes for 2012!
Keri
Putting aside all of the economic difficulties we've experienced over the last 12 months (and expect to continue to have to deal with in the future!) it's been an exciting year for us at BFP with lots to be proud of!
As most clients are aware, Simon has started to phase his working hours in order to enjoy more time to devote to other projects dear to his heart. He was elected Chairman of the Broadway Arts Festival which is running for the second time in June 2012, a role which I'm sure he would agree has the potential of being extremely demanding....yet rewarding!
Simon was also asked to mentor groups of Financial Planners who are either new to the profession or looking to develop their skills as Financial Planners. As a past president of the Institute of Financial Planning, Simon was well placed to take on this role and I understand the feedback from these sessions has been excellent! I know that the ongoing development of the profession is of great importance to Simon and so this opportunity allows him to continue this work.
We are delighted to announce that in November we were approved as an Accredited Financial Planning FirmTM by The Institute of Financial Planning (IFP), the professional body for Financial Planners in the UK. It awards this title only to firms which it has assessed as demonstrating the highest professional standards of Financial Planning service and advice to its clients.
To successfully meet the criteria for approval, we had to demonstrate that we provide a comprehensive Financial Planning service for our clients as well having as a clear cost or fee structure. We also had to demonstrate that we had appropriately trained and qualified staff and at least 50% of registered advisers had to be qualified as a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERCM professional—which, of course, we are!
We’re thrilled to have achieved this powerful recognition of our commitment to professionalism and outstanding client service. Our clients expect and deserve only the highest standards of advice and service as we work with them to plan their finances. We’re proud to deliver a service which our clients value and which has now been externally recognised too.
Here at BFP we believe that it is essential to be professional, well qualified and to always have our clients' best interests at heart. It is therefore disappointing when we come across clients who have been poorly and, in some cases in our opinion, criminally advised. I have worked on two cases during the course of 2011 where clients have been encouraged to re-mortgage their home and invest the proceeds in assets wholly unsuitable for them for no apparent reason other than it paid some hearty commissions to the adviser involved! I was delighted to assist in one case and ensure that the clients were compensated for their loss and returned to the position prior to the misadvice. Although the clients were financially reimbursed, the compensation did not cover the fees that BFP had to charge and nor did it reflect the heartache and emotional distress that the previous adviser brought on this family. We will therefore continue help wherever we can to improve the ethos, reputation and conception of Financial Planning – even where necessary pressing for change in the regulatory approach.
I was extremely pleased to be awarded “runner-up” in the Financial Planner of the Year awards in October, of which Simon was also a judge. I can assure you that there was no favouritism though! Simon was not even aware of my submission as they are all anonymous, nor was he permitted to carry out the interviews either - for obvious reasons! Having also been runners up in the New Model Adviser awards and the David Norton "Excellence in Business" awards, it's beginning to feel a bit like the old adage "always the bridesmaid and never the bride"! Still I'm happy to report that it took me 11 years to persuade my husband to agree to marry and so tenacity is one of my better qualities - rest assured!!
We welcomed Claire back from her maternity leave and at the end of the year said goodbye to Jane Phipps who had joined us as Claire's maternity cover. I celebrated my ten year anniversary of working at BFP and look forward to the next ten with enthusiasm and energy.
It was also hugely rewarding early in the year to look at the results of our independent client survey and see that 100% of the respondents would recommend us to friends, family and colleagues. As you are probably aware, most of our new clients come as a result of recommendation from either existing clients or professional connections. Therefore, our main aim for 2012 is to continue to improve the service we provide to you, our clients, so please always feel free to contact us with any comments you may have on ways in which you feel we can improve.
Best wishes for 2012!
Keri
The new blog is finally here ....
14th October 2011Well....here's the new blog that I have been planning to launch for some time now.
Having finally completed the revamped website, I wanted to make sure that the first edition of the blog had plenty of useful content to include. After the busy fourteen days I've just had, I hope you won't be disappointed!
The first week of October was a particularly busy one. The first three days were spent at Celtic Manor Resort attending the Institute of Financial Planning's annual conference. Although an excellent opportunity to network with fellow professionals, these three days are designed to educate, enlighten and motivate us into delivering even better solutions for our clients.
Thursday saw Simon and I attend the prestigious Financial Planner of the Year awards held at The Dorchester in London. I was delighted to be awarded "Runner Up" in two of the nine categories as a result of the case studies I had submitted in the Summer. As well as the kudos and the cash prize, the icing on the cake was having my photo taken with Bill Turnbull, from BBC breakfast news! Simon was judging the awards together with the editior of the FT consumer magazine, Money Management, but there was definately no favouratism as all the entries were submitted anonymously!
This week was rounded off by a meeting of minds at the "Winning Advisers" forum held down in Hampshire. This was an excellent opportunity for me to gain useful insight into new methods and practices carried out by other advisers.
After that busy fortnight, I am really looking forward to having some time at home again!
Keri
- It's very difficult to know how much risk you are prepared to take. In answering some of BFP's questions, I learned things about myself that I hadn't known before
LO, Shrops
- I am very grateful to you all for pursuing my affairs over the last couple of years. I feel you have been efficient and tireless in ensuring my affairs are dealt with thoroughly
JB, Oxford
- During the recent financial crisis, I felt that BFP had provided a real service and left me feeling they had things under control
LN, Glos
- Since our last meeting, we have covered the majority of your recommendations, and without doubt we both feel that we know more about our situation & are more relaxed with our arrangements than ever before
PM, Glos
- BFP produce a very professional service with a genuine sense of personal involvement and commitment. Reliable in their endeavours they provide the security that one's financial affairs are in good hands
RH, Oxon
- Very professional, efficient and friendly company to work with
WH, Glos
- We have found the whole exercise very illuminating and feel comfortable with the results based on the information which you have collated.
CP, Worcs
- I'm delighted I recommended my friends to you. I think you will be really good for them and remove a lot of anxiety from their lives as you have done with me. They are fortunate to have you - I really must recommend more people to you
RA, London
- BFP are encyclopaedic in their knowledge of finance
LO, Shrops
- I am very grateful to you all for pursuing my affairs over the last couple of years. I feel you have been efficient and tireless in ensuring that my affairs are dealt with thoroughly
MR, Cheshire
- Many thanks for the help that you and your members of staff have given us with this matter.
HS, London
Broadway Financial Planning
9 Church Street
Broadway
Worcestershire
WR12 7AE
Tel. 01386 858121
email. enq@broadwayfp.co.uk
9 Church Street
Broadway
Worcestershire
WR12 7AE
Tel. 01386 858121
email. enq@broadwayfp.co.uk