Online database of professional financial advice experts launched by PFS...
22 October 2015
UK’s most comprehensive online database of professional financial advice experts launched by Personal Finance Society – consumers to benefit from click and contact for 22,000 specialist pensions, investment and life etc advisers continuously vetted by professional watchdog
- Biggest instant access database of local IFAs in UK
- 22,000 fully qualified and continually assessed advisers
- Monitored by professional association
- Professional body qualification and Statement of Professional Standing (SPS) validation
- Mandatory requirement for continuous professional development
THE UK’s most comprehensive online database of professional financial advice experts has been unveiled by professional body The Personal Finance Society (PFS).
The database, yourmoney (www.thepfs.org/yourmoney/), gives consumers direct access to around 22,000 qualified financial advisers.
By far the largest of its kind in the UK, as well as giving instant, convenient access to advisers within consumers’ radius, the simple to navigate service also carries additional peace of mind as it is fully vetted by PFS - the professional adviser equivalent to The Law Society and similar professional associations.
Only advisers who have valid annual Statements of Professional Standing (SPS) – which ensures the advisers are up to the minute in terms of their qualifications and CPD – are allowed to be registered.
Potential clients of those listed can also check the adviser’s qualifications and SPS expiry date at a glance.
All of the listed advisers are members of the PFS, with a mandatory requirement to be committed to the society’s ongoing continuous professional development. They must also adhere to the PFS code of professional ethics.
“Our database is unique in that advisers' qualification and SPS information is independently validated by the professional body.” said PFS’s chief executive officer Keith Richards.
“We do not charge advisers to appear on the register as we have developed it as a public service rather than a commercial offering.
“yourmoney is also much broader than just the accredited adviser directory, providing information and tools specifically designed to improve consumers’ knowledge of financial products and services,” he added.
In a post Retail Distribution Review (RDR) world, Richards said the service supports the Government's key objectives of making financial services advice and products transparent for consumers.
“The RDR’s principle objectives were to raise professional standards, remove bias and make the whole process more transparent, giving consumers greater confidence to access professional advice."
“By using this directory consumers can have the peace of mind of knowing that all the advisers have reached, and continually practice, high professional standards, which are continuously monitored through the annually renewable SPS.
“yourmoney is a genuine first and will be the benchmark any similar services must at the very least match.”
And from next month (November 2015) consumers will be able to refine their searches to find specialist retirement advisers and those specialising in later life advice such as long term care planning and estate planning.
