Eisa launches membership programme for advisers

twitter-iconfacebook-iconlinkedin-iconmail-iconprint-icon
Search supported by
Eisa launches membership programme for advisers

The Enterprise Investment Scheme Association (Eisa) has launched a free membership programme aimed at financial planners and regulated advisers.

The Financial Planning Programme aims to provide all individuals in the financial planning community with a forum to represent their views on policy, as well an up-to-date industry news portal.

Members will gain access to free research, online resources, regulator workshops, and potential savings from a range of partners, including special member discounts on professional indemnity insurance.

They will also receive regulatory and tax updates from various specialist committees to keep up to date.

Mark Brownridge, director general of Eisa, said the organisation aims to achieve a dialogue and influence over the policymakers that advisers alone cannot.

He said: "Ensuring that voices from the financial planning community are heard alongside those of investors and SMEs is crucial.

"Eisa’s mission statement is to support and promote policies and initiatives that facilitate the smooth flow of risk equity capital from private individuals to smaller companies thereby benefiting the UK economy.

"The financial planning programme will encourage financial planners, wealth managers and regulated advisers to play a more active role in this increasingly mainstream sector, as well as give them the opportunity to influence policymakers and stakeholders at the highest levels."

Eisa is the official trade body for the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS).

The EIS is a government scheme that provides a range of tax reliefs for investors who subscribe for qualifying shares in qualifying companies.

But Kevin Steinlechner, chartered financial planner at London-based Radcliffe & Newlands, said: "EIS investments are not mainstream and are not for your average client. 

"I would say this is more about developing the profile of the Eisa than helping advisers but that said, genuine sources of information are useful."

He added: "As far as influencing the policy makers is concerned, as far as I can tell, that is the preserve of big budget lobbyists, ie. banks and asset managers."

aamina.zafar@ft.com