Client Login
Do I have to pay for an initial consultation?
No, the initial consultation is provided at our cost as we want you to see this as an opportunity to explore how we can help you.
Where are meetings held?
We offer a choice of face-to-face, video or phone consultations. In person meetings are usually held at our Liverpool office at 1 Old Hall Street but we can also travel to our clients’ homes if this if more convenient for you.
Do you have parking?
There is no client parking available on site. There are several car parks nearby, including NCP Capital Car Park which can be accessed from Rumford Place which is located just behind our office. The entrance to our building is also directly opposite the Old Hall Street entrance to Moorfields station if arriving by train.
How do I prepare for an initial meeting?
We would recommend you have an up-to-date record of your current personal and financial situation. This would typically include a list of any existing savings, pensions and investments – plus details of any protection policies you may have.
My partner and I would like to plan our finances together. Does this affect the cost of your advice?
We are happy to talk to you individually or together. If you are being advised as a couple, we will treat the combined values of your assets as a single higher value asset. This way you may benefit from a lower overall ongoing cost structure, as the percentage rate of our fees charged reduces the greater the value of the assets we are appointed to manage.
Do I have to sign up to your services at an initial meeting?
No. The initial meeting is an opportunity for you to learn more about us and how we might help you meet your goals and objectives. You can decide if you want to use our services at your own convenience.
How long does the advice process take?
This really depends on both the complexity of the advice required and the extent that we may need to write to any of your existing investment or pension providers before we can complete our research and analysis.
At the initial meeting we will be able to give you a more accurate timescale based on the work that we agree to carry out on your behalf.
Are you independent?
Yes, we are fully independent. This means we have access to the ‘whole of market’ when researching and recommending suitable products and providers for you.
Which parts of the country to you cover?
Our office is at 1 Old Hall Street, Liverpool, but we have clients throughout the whole of the UK. We are happy to advise our clients anywhere in the UK.
How do you charge for your services?
We typically charge a combination of a fixed initial fee for a financial planning report and then a percentage of the value of the portfolio to be implemented if applicable. We also have a tiered structure so that the percentage rate you pay decreases the higher the value of the assets we are entrusted to look after for you. During your initial meeting we can provide you with a personalised quote based on the services that are most likely to be suitable for you.
You can download our most recent Costs & Services Document here.
Do you get commission?
We may receive a commission where recommendations are given for any form or protection or insurance unless we agree to an alternative fixed fee structure.
For all other areas of financial advice, such as investments and pensions, we operate on a fee basis only.
What do you charge for your ongoing service?
The amount you pay will depend on the service level chosen. Ongoing services start from as little as 0.3% per annum. During your initial meeting, we will discuss the different service levels, and which one might be suitable for you.
Whilst we believe ongoing advice/portfolio updates will ultimately deliver good value and help ensure returns are maximised over the long-term, such services are optional and you can also cancel them at any time.
What does your ongoing service include?
This will depend on the service level chosen at the outset. We offer a very low-cost, light ongoing service to ensure your investments are kept up date in line with changing market conditions. If you sign up to use our fully managed option, then this is more in depth and will include regular review meetings where we revisit your objectives and attitude to risk ensuring you remain on track and provide you with wider financial planning advice. For more information, please download our Service Proposition & Engagement Document here.
Am I contracted to you at any time?
Never. There are no minimum contracts, and you are free to cancel our services any time you wish.
What happens if my Financial Adviser is away on holiday?
You will always have access to a number of team members that are knowledgeable about your situation. As well as your adviser, this includes paraplanning and admin support. Put simply, there is always someone on hand to help you.
Can you take over the management of my existing pensions or investments without moving them?
Yes absolutely. We are regularly asked to review existing investment and/or pension portfolios and very often these clients will ask us to provide some form of ongoing supervision.
Which planning areas can you advise me on?
We can provide you with comprehensive financial planning advice on the areas of savings, investments, pensions, protection and trusts and inheritance tax planning. We also offer help with Wills, Powers of Attorney and estate administration and obtaining the grant of probate.
Do you handle my money?
No, First Equitable do not handle client money. Any investment you make is directly with the investment or pension provider. The only time you may ever send money directly to First Equitable is if you have chosen to pay our fees to us this way – rather than have these paid to us from the provider.
Are you regulated?
Yes, we are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). You can check our status here https://register.fca.org.uk/s/ using our firm reference number: 782577.
Do you have a secure client portal?
Yes, we have a secure client portal. This has banking level encryption and provides access to track and monitor your savings and investments in a single place (in addition to online access that you will have with the product providers). It also has a secure messaging facility and secure cloud-based document storage.
Which pension or investment companies do you use?
We are fully independent and therefore have access to the whole of marketplace. Many advice firms are restricted to just using a small number of companies; however, we believe the ability to look as widely as possible gives us the best opportunity to find something that is most suitable for your individual requirements.
Take control of your financial future
Contact First Equitable today and take control of your financial future; together we will chart your journey towards achieving your goals and objectives.