Holborn Assets receives PFS award
Holborn Assets has received the prestigious Pension Transfer Gold Standard award for providing clients with the highest standards of service and advice regarding Defined Benefit (DB) pension transfers.
To earn the Pension Transfer Gold Standard, Holborn Assets’ UK business passed a rigorous assessment process that scrutinised its advisory processes, system functions and paperwork.
The Pensions Advice Taskforce’s (PAT) Pension Transfer Gold Standard was set up by the Personal Finance Society (PFS), whose role is to promote high standards of professionalism as well as ethical behaviour and excellent client service for the benefit of consumers seeking professional financial advice. The industry-backed initiative aims to provide a robust standard that complies with rules set out by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
“At Holborn Assets UK we constantly strive to improve how we deliver our service, meeting the highest standards possible,” said Chris Wicks, managing director. ‘Our Pension Transfer Gold Standard status proves that our team of experienced advisers develop their technical skills to meet and exceed our customers’ expectations.”
The Gold Standard is a voluntary code of good practice for safeguarded and Defined Benefit (DB) pension transfer advice, based around a set of nine principles.
It aims to raise customer confidence in the financial industry and to encourage firms to be open and transparent when supporting clients who want to transfer their pensions.
Robert Parker, CEO, Holborn Assets
Firms can adopt and promote these principles to consumers better understand and find good advice. Ultimately, this increases their confidence that they are dealing with a firm that exceeds minimum requirements when giving financial advice.
A key ingredient of Holborn Assets’ success for more than 20 years has been building strong client relationships. The Gold Standard recognises this focus on winning clients’ trust by adding new, innovative services and improving defined processes, especially those related to regulatory frameworks and fund security.
The firm’s DB pension transfer process has surpassed expectations due to its commitment to transparency and regulatory compliance, audited by compliance consultant ATEB.
ATEB’s report noted: “Holborn Assets has clearly adopted a proactive approach towards compliance, and this is reflected within the changes that have been made. There has been a clear shift by the firm both in terms of culture and wider systems and processes, resulting in high-quality file checking outcomes. It is noted that the firm has cooperated fully with both the regulator and ATEB in a positive manner to enhance processes and controls.”
Robert Parker, CEO of Holborn Assets, said that ATEB’s report is proof that over two years of development work with ATEB and the FCA had paid off. “We remain focused on becoming the number-one company for DB pension transfer advice in the UK.”
