Three Counties is committed to supporting the Financial Services Authority's (FSA) Treating Customers Fairly initiative. Our philosophy is always to put customers first and improve our own processes wherever possible. We have therefore introduced a comprehensive Treating Customers Fairly (TCF) action plan.
The FSA expect firms to have reached the implementation phase of their TCF work by March 2008. Successful implementation of TCF should result in six key outcomes for customers:
- Customers will deal with firms where the fair treatment of customers is a key part of the corporate culture.
- Products are marketed, targeted and sold that have been designed to meet customer needs.
- Customers receive clear information and are kept suitably informed before, during and after the point of sale.
- Customers receive suitable advice that takes into account their personal circumstances.
- Customers receive the product performance they have been led to expect and the service is of an acceptable standard.
- Customers should not face unreasonable post-sale barriers if they want to change product, switch provider, submit a claim or make a complaint.
Three Counties has adopted each of these targets and added three of their own:
- All staff should have an awareness of TCF.
- All staff should understand, in general terms, the steps that Three Counties is taking to implement TCF.
- All staff should know the steps that are being taken within their own department to implement TCF.
Our Aim
Three Counties is committed to providing our clients with high quality independent professional advice largely remunerated by performance and/or fees rather than high initial commissions with the aim of:
- Helping preserve or enhance the
wealth of our clients.
Helping clients achieve their financial objectives.
Giving clients confidence and reassurance for the future.
Our Approach
Planning of individual and corporate financial arrangements can be difficult and time consuming. There are many factors to be taken into account and the range of alternatives can often be confusing.
The approach that Three Counties adopts falls into four parts:-
1. The Financial Planning Service:
The first step in the financial planning
process is to identify the immediate
aims and objectives of a potential or
existing customer, which involves
a detailed analysis of the current
position. This is combined with a
discussion about future objectives
to produce a thorough study of the
prevailing financial situation and we
then use that information to build
a secure strategy for the future.
2. Research:
If a need for any type
of product is identified, as an
independent financial adviser we
are obliged to research the market
place and recommend a company
that will provide the product best
suited to the customer's needs.
3. Recommendation:
When a
recommendation is made, the specific
reasons for selecting the product
type and the product provider are
clearly stated in the report provided.
4. Remuneration:
At the clients
discretion remuneration is either by
commissions or fees or a combination
of both.
