At Oaklands Wealth Management Ltd we take our client’s money very seriously which is why we strive to ensure our team have the highest accreditation possible and we strictly adhere to all regulations.
Most of us trust a combination of research and instinct when selecting people to help us.
Finding a financial advisor is no different. Below are all the standards we meet to give you confidence you are dealing with professionals who care, to provide you with accredited financial advice
FCA REGULATION & AUTHORISATION
Oaklands Wealth Management Ltd is directly regulated to give Independent Financial Advice by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) – Firm Number 432451. We are not part of a network or part of a larger group and are free to make our own investment decisions.
We operate the highest possible level of compliance scrutiny by engaging independent compliance consultants B-Compliant, who carry out six monthly visits to our office to examine client files and processes.
In addition, our Compliance Consultant, Annabel Gray ensures Oaklands complies with all guidance issued by the FCA.
PENSION TRANSFER GOLD STANDARD
The Gold Standard is a voluntary code of good practice for safeguarded and defined benefit pension transfer advice, based on a set of 9 principles set out by the Personal Finance Society (PFS).
It was established so consumers can better understand and find good advice, and be confident they are dealing with a firm which is going beyond minimum requirements when giving financial advice.
Oaklands Wealth Management adopts all the 9 principles and has been awarded the Pension Transfer Gold Standard by the PFS.
PENSION TRANSFER SPECIALIST PERMISSIONS
The FCA rules require that advice on pension transfers, conversions or opt-outs (from a scheme with safeguarded benefits) must be provided by an individual with FCA permissions. These are known as Pension Transfer Specialists.
Firms conducting pension transfer business also need to provide proof of adequate Professional Indemnity Insurance (PI).
Oaklands Wealth Management has full Pension Transfer permissions and PI insurance and has 2 Qualified Pension Transfer Specialists – Helen Blackburn and Nick Hampton.
Helen is DipFA and AwPETR (pension transfers) qualified from the London Institute of Banking & Finance (LIBF).
Nick is DipPFS and G60 (pension transfers) qualified from the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII).
CYBER SECURITY
We treat our clients’ data with the same careful approach as our own. This year has seen us achieve Government backed standard security certification with CyberSmart Cyber Essentials Security Plus.
Certification ensures essentials technical controls are in place to protect against potential cyber attacks.
This means you can have full confidence in choosing Oaklands Wealth to manage your data with care and safety.
BRITISH AND INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS ACCREDITATION
Firstly, we ask our clients to complete a survey on what they like and what they wish to us to do differently.
We listen carefully and address any aspect of our service which they feel could be improved.
While the best judges of our service are our clients, even they do not see behind the scenes.
That’s why every year we invite Standards International to inspect our investment, compliance and service standards.
As a result we have been awarded the British Standard BS8577 for financial planning and advice since 2013.
They have also awarded our principal adviser, Helen Blackburn, the International Standard ISO 22222 for personal financial planning since 2010. And our Senior Investment Advisor Nick Hampton since 2019.
BS 8577 is now considered as the badge signifying the most trustworthy IFA firms in the UK.
In fact, two independent consumer organisations which provide impartial money advice– WHICH? And The Money Advice Service– have chosen to direct consumers who need personalised advice from an IFA to Standards International’s list of firms certified with British Standard BS 8577.
This is a British Standard which assesses and awards financial planning firms who can demonstrate an operational framework to deliver a first-class client service. We are 1 of only 25 financial planning firms in the UK in 2020 achieving British Standard accreditation.
BS 8577 is the only professional quality standard within financial services to focus solely on the following key areas of business practice:
- Operational management
- Objectives and policies
- Management responsibility
- Customer relationship management
- Recruitment, training, development and ongoing competence
- Control of documents and records.
BS 8577 specifies established best practice and processes for embedding an effective operational management system, which also supports adherence to ISO 22222 Personal Financial Planning requirements for financial advisers.
The ISO 22222 Quality Mark was established in 2005 to promote consumer confidence by providing an internationally recognised benchmark for the delivery of personal financial planning services.
The ISO 22222 Quality Mark was established in 2005 to promote consumer confidence by providing an internationally recognised benchmark for the delivery of personal financial planning services.
Our Managing Director & Founder, Helen Blackburn, was the 42nd financial planner in the UK to meet all the ethical behaviour, competency and experience requirements in delivering investment and savings advice, taxation planning, personal protection, retirement and estate planning to the high levels demanded by this international standard. Only 56 advisers currently hold this Quality Mark in the UK.
This award quality checks our approach to:
- Ethical behaviour and financial planning
- Information security, client confidentiality and data protection
- Risk management
- Continual improvement
Our Senior Investment Adviser, Nick Hampton since joining Oaklands in 2019 has also been awarded ISO 22222.
Helen Blackburn is a Certified Financial Advisor and Member of the London Institute of Banking & Finance (LIBF)
Nick Hampton is a member of the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII)
When you are clearly ready to talk with one of our highly accredited team . . . who strictly adhere to all regulations, and discover for yourself how you can have your pensions and savings 100% under control . . . schedule a chat right now while it’s fresh on your mind.
CALL US ON 0121 355 4455 OR CLICK THE BUTTON AND OUR TEAM WILL BE IN TOUCH
OUR INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL ADVISORS
THINKING OF MOVING FROM YOUR EXISTING ADVISOR?
It’s easy to move on from another advisor.
We’ll handle everything.
All that’s needed is for you to sign some letters of authorisation and we’ll do the rest.
None of your investments will be switched into new funds until you’ve agreed with our recommendations and you’re fully happy with any changes we propose.
7 KEY FEATURES OF THE OAKLANDS WEALTH MANAGEMENT SERVICE
British Standard BS 8577 Awarded Service
12 Month Money Back Service Guarantee
Lifetime Cashflow Planning
Risk Adjusted Personal Investment Portfolio
ISO 222222 Certified Financial Advisors
Monthly Fund Analysis
2 Investment Portfolio Reviews Per Year
A WORD FROM OUR CLIENTS...
“Following my divorce, Helen took complete control of consolidating all my individual pensions into one product after advising me carefully what she considered the best product for my needs and risk profile. She explained everything clearly in language I understood, and my investment is achieving far greater growth than expected.”
A WORD FROM OUR CLIENTS...
“When my circumstances changed through divorce I visited Helen at Oaklands Wealth where she very clearly explained all my options in a way I understood. I’m very pleased with the outcome from the pension and investment advice and Helen couldn’t have been more friendly and helpful.”
A FRIEND FOR YOUR FINANCIAL JOURNEY...
THIS IS NOT A DIY SERVICE – WE TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR SETTING UP YOUR PENSIONS AND SAVINGS. FOR LIFE.
No half measures. We don’t set it up then leave you all at sea. We manage your investments ongoing and hold ourselves accountable for steering you through your financial journey.
This phrase came from a client who said that’s exactly what we felt like to him, he said “you are like a friend or good neighbour who’s always got my best interests at heart.”
Whatever the reason you come to us we care. We really care. Like it’s our own money.
Tidying up bit and bobs of pensions and putting them neatly in a pot you have full control over.
Maybe transferring a final salary pension if your objectives are better met with your own pension.
Making sure you get all the tax efficiencies legally available to you to enhance your money.
Pointing the microscope on 3,000+ funds and finding the best ones to secure your retirement.
