How we work

The full advice process we use follows six steps as shown below:

Initial Meeting at our Expense

• The first meeting is at our expense where we will discuss your requirements.

• This is an opportunity for you to find out more about RBS Associates and for us to see how we can help you.

• At the end of the initial meeting if you are happy to proceed we will discuss our client service proposition and agree how you wish to pay for the advice.

• We will then discuss the timescale to prepare our recommendations and arrange the next meeting.

Understanding your Circumstances and Requirements

• We will have a more detailed discussion around your current circumstances and record this so we can ensure our advice is tailored to your needs.

• This may take place immediately after the initial meeting or at a future meeting.

• We see this as an on-going process as your circumstances and needs will change over time.

• As part of this process, we will complete a personal fact find which will help us to understand your knowledge and experience in financial services. We will also ask you to complete a questionnaire to help us understand your attitude to investment risk.

• We will not make any recommendations to you until this part of the process has been completed.

• We may need to ask you to sign a document to authorise RBS Associates to be the servicing adviser on your existing investments

Research Solutions

• We will undertake detailed research taking into account each aspect of your financial and personal circumstances including; your tax position, what plans you currently hold and your future needs.
• It may be that we will need to contact you again at this stage to clarify or expand on certain pieces of information.
• This process will typically take two weeks but may be shorter for simple cases or longer when we have to obtain information from organisations on your existing plans.

Prepare and Discuss Recommendations

• You will be given our recommendations in writing in a suitability report along with any illustrations and key features documents.
• We will always attempt to give holistic advice so the suitability report will go beyond any specific product sale that may be recommended.
• You will have time to review the recommendations at a further meeting.
• It is important to us that you fully understand and are happy with what is being recommended so we encourage you to ask questions and discuss the recommendations in detail with us.

Agree the Way Forward

• You may decide you wish to proceed with some or all of the recommendations proposed.
• In rare cases you may decide not to proceed at all, however by working with you at every step of the way we hope this will not be the case.
• If you do decide not to go ahead with the recommendation we will charge you a fee on the basis agreed following our initial discussion.
• Once agreed, we will assist you with the preparation of any paperwork that is required and submit it on your behalf.

On-going Advice

• We will keep you informed of the progress of any applications you have submitted.
• Once everything is complete you will receive a confirmation letter along with any documents that you need to keep.
• Assuming you require it, you will receive an on-going service based on an agreed service proposition.
• Each year we will review your service level and where appropriate adjust it to be commensurate with the income we have received.
• If our income from you is less that £60 per year, your account will be considered to be dormant, and you will not receive a proactive review from us but we will continue to forward annual statements and be available for general enquiries.