CompaniesMay 19 2014

Network roll-out to see another major IFA go restricted

twitter-iconfacebook-iconlinkedin-iconmail-iconprint-icon
Search supported by

Roll-out of a new nationwide advice network will lead to 26 adviser-strong IFA firm Sterling McCall forfeiting its independent status in what will eventually become a fully ‘restricted’ business model, its chief executive has said.

Speaking to FTAdviser, Brian Raven, chief executive of Aim-listed Tavistock Investments, said the firm will initially not seek to change Sterling’s status and will allow incoming advisers to choose between independent and restricted, but he revealed it will eventually go fully restricted.

This is because it is easier from a compliance perspective to run a wholly restricted model, he said, adding that if the term ‘restricted’ were changed to a moniker with less negative connotations more would probably drop their devotion to independence.

Last week, Tavistock announced it had acquired County Life and Pensions, which owns Sterling McCall. It said the purchase would be the “cornerstone” on which a network of “several hundred” self-employed advisers would be built.

Sterling has been acquisitive itself in recent years and boasts 26 advisers, last year surpassing £420m in assets under influence.

County Life and Pensions is to be rebranded Tavistock Partners. Blacksquare, the investment manager also owned by the firm, is to be rebranded Tavistock Wealth, with both forming the basis of an integrated group.

Mr Raven said: “In three months or so, we will be launching a restricted network and we will be offering advisers a choice to either be restricted or independent. But I am hoping it won’t be long before it is entirely restricted as it’s an easier compliance regime to run.

“I am keen to build a restricted network as compliance is a challenge and it is more straightforward. To be and remain independent is a challenge for every firm in the country.

“Anecdotally I hear that if the label wasn’t restricted, but it was ‘independent’ and ‘specialist’ instead, more firms will be specialist.”

FTAdviser reported last month on the slow movement to restricted, with the proportion of advisers describing themselves as such rising three percentage points to 24 per cent year on year in the first half of 2014 so far, according to Financial Times data covering some 10,000 advisers.

Mr Raven said Tavistock was aiming the proposition at the lower-end of the market, in an attempt to address the well-mooted advice gap.

He explained: “We are genuinely interested in the base of the pyramid. The fee to advise is 1 per cent and it costs 20 basis points to have a model portfolio. For a DFM the fee will be between 30-50bps.

“The industry average for a model portfolio is 30-35bps. We want to be seen to deliver good value for clients. We want the total expense of your own portfolio to cost less than 2 per cent including our fees.”

Tavistock will provide advisers with an authorised compliance and investment infrastructure as well as a guarantee to buy their business from them as and when they decide to retire.

Mr Raven said: “Members will be a combination of appointed representatives and registered individuals. We want to work with advisers who want to have a long-term relationship over a number of years. And when they decide they want to retire, we will buy their business from them.

“There are a variety of reasons why certain networks don’t work. We won’t be cheap as we need to make a profit.

“The network costs slightly more for advisers, 4-5 per cent in the worst case scenario, but will offer them, after 12 months, a small interest in the business as a reward for their loyalty - £5,000 - and when they retire we guarantee to buy their business.”

Following the completion of the Blacksquare acquisition, Mr Raven said Travistock plans to inject £250,000 into it. Blacksquare is one of a panel of discretionary fund managers that the network plans to use.

Mr Raven said: “Just because we have a DFM it does not mean we will shoehorn clients into it and we have a panel of DFMs. They can invest in model portfolios or other options are available.

“For the bulk of financial advisers who are one to two man bands they wonder how to release value from their business but if they join the network we will buy it from them at fair market value after then give us six months notice.”