Financial planning businesses sell advice.  We will look at all of the systems, processes and outcomes that affect the delivery of advice.  This will include;

• Client experience
• Client communication
• The actual advice delivered
• Service offered (value proposition)
• Pricing
• Formulation of financial strategy for the client
• Framework for investment decisions
• Advice policies
• Process for preparing written advice
• Compliance system

Practice Management

We also look at all of the systems and processes that are integral to the efficient management of the business.  This will include;

• Business planning - identification of the business objectives
• Sales management reporting
• Financial management reporting
• People
• Culture
• Organisation
• Systems & processes

Training

We design and deliver training programmes and courses in all elements of financial advice and financial advice businesses.  Here is an example of the training that we offer.

A 1 day Professional Development course for Financial Planning Licensees

Wes McMaster delivers this one day course and it is designed to be interactive as he encourages advisers to ask questions and offer views during the sessions.

FPA CPD points to be advised

Sale of Businesses

We arrange the sale of financial planning and other businesses.  We have specialist expertise in valuation and in negotiating agreement for sale and purchase.  The key part of a successful transaction is in the transitional issues of transferring a business.

Financial Institutions

• Strategy, design and establishment of new distribution businesses.
• Strategic review of existing distribution businesses.  We focus on supervision, reduction of compliance liability and consistency of advice.
• We provide systems to manage and measure the activity of a national network of financial planning businesses.
• Advice on support services for distribution businesses.
• Review, training and support on practice management within financial planning businesses.
• Training at conferences and professional development sessions and courses.  

Financial Planning Businesses

• We undertake a strategic review of businesses and advise on re-positioning the business to increase profit and value. 
• We advise on business issues such as governance, systems, succession, processes and compliance.
• We are retained by businesses to provide a quarterly review of business strategy and operations.
• We provide training at conferences and professional development days.

Accounting Businesses

• We advise accounting businesses on the establishment and management of financial planning services.
• We conduct reviews of existing financial planning services within accounting businesses.
• We advise and implement strategies within accounting businesses to establish or improve financial planning services (see the detailed description within the strategic review process above).
• We are retained by accounting businesses to provide a quarterly review of business strategy and operations.

Re-Positioning Businesses

We undertake a review of businesses covering;

• Organisational structure
• Quality of advice
• Investment experience
• Client base
• Pricing
• Service levels
• Processes
• Systems
• People
• Financials
• Marketing
• Communication

The review makes recommendations for change and documents an implementation path and the expected impact.  The Strategic Plan is the blueprint for taking the business towards an efficient model. 

We create a model of the business and project this forward over three years.  Once you have a model of your business, you can use it to look at the effect different strategies such as pricing, acquisition, or market change will have on your business.  The model will show you the future effect on cash flow, profitability, capital value and staffing needs.  In this way you can make decisions about your business from an informed position where you know the expected outcome. 

Here are some typical processes that we document.

• Client acquisition
• Initial Advice
• Plan preparation
• Implementation
• Portfolio review
• Client review
• Administrative processes