Financial Vulnerability Taskforce

Share This Post

We’re delighted to announce that we’ve joined the newly created Financial Vulnerability, another demonstration of our commitment to be a safe pair of hands for our clients at their time of need.

The Financial Vulnerability Taskforce is a newly created independent representative body covering the Personal Finance Sector. Its ultimate purpose is to promote greater UNDERSTANDING, encourage appropriate BEHAVIOURS and establish GOOD PRACTICE in respect of consumer vulnerability.

The nine statements contained in the Charter underpin the work of the Financial Vulnerability Taskforce and we, Investment & Retirement Solutions Ltd confirm our commitment to enact and actively support them, as an extension of our existing Vulnerable Persons Policy.

As professionals working in or with the UK Personal Finance Sector:

We acknowledge that as our services often involve the application of specialist and technical financial knowledge, this places many clients in a position of dependency and as such imposes upon us a greater moral duty to act in their best interests and as a ‘safe pair of hands’ , especially to those who find themselves in vulnerable circumstances.

We accept that our professional obligation to use ‘best endeavours’ and place our clients’ interests above our commercial interests have a greater significance to clients who are in vulnerable circumstances and, therefore, at greater risk of detriment.

We recognise that vulnerability can manifest itself in either physical, mental or emotional form (knowingly or otherwise), is dynamic in nature (short-lived or longer-term, sometimes permanent, transient, recurring or fluctuating over time) and may be hidden.

When working with clients who seek to access our services, we treat all fairly, regardless of their identity, age, gender, race, sexual orientation, disability, gender reassignment, religion or belief, and guard against making assumptions about individuals.

We believe that language and terminology is important. Vulnerability relates to circumstances and not a category of person. As such, descriptions such as ‘those in vulnerable circumstances’ should be used at all times instead of ‘vulnerable individuals’, except when only referring to individuals or groups of individuals where vulnerability is permanent.

We recognise that people in vulnerable circumstances are often unaware of their vulnerability and, if they are aware, might not acknowledge it nor wish to be described as vulnerable. We, therefore, accept our heightened professional obligations towards clients in vulnerable circumstances; and the need for raised awareness, greater sensitivity, and additional technical competencies.

We seek to recognise clients in vulnerable circumstances and encourage all to self-declare if appropriate, safe in the knowledge that we will:

    1. adapt our business processes and professional services, so our clients do not suffer detriment at any point as we seek to deliver outcomes at least as good as for those who are not in vulnerable circumstances
    2. maintain confidentiality and ensure our behaviours are fully compliant with all relevant legislation including The Equality Act (2010), Consumer Protection regulations, The Mental Capacity Act 2005 and data protection including GDPR.
    3. We see application of the above as ‘business as usual’, part of our raison d’être and not part of a separate compliance or ‘stand-alone’ exercise.

 

We seek to enable all members of our organisations to deal compassionately, empathetically and effectively with those in vulnerable circumstances by raising awareness of vulnerability and by providing training to all within our organisations in appropriate methods of engagement and the effective discharge of our professional services.

When we encounter clients in vulnerable circumstances and recognise that they may be in immediate danger of significant abuse or harm, or may need immediate support, we will take action to contact the appropriate authorities to mitigate the risks they face.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you’ve any questions about our corporate social commitments.

 

More To Explore:

Service

Pressing Pause

This will be our last post on this website and on social media for a while.  Time is our most precious commodity and COVID and

COVID

Pingdemic?

Unfortunately the Investment & Retirement Solutions Ltd ‘great unlocking’ has had some unintended consequences as 30% of our independent financial advisers and 50% of our

Notices:

Our posts are intended as financial education and financial information, not as financial advice, and are only suitable for UK residents. Always take professional, independent advice before acting on any information.

Investment & Retirement Solutions Ltd is authorised & regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

The value of investments and income from them can fluctuate (this may partially be the result of exchange rate fluctuations) and investors may get back less than the amount invested. Past performance is not a guide to future performance.

Your home is at risk if you do not keep up repayments on a mortgage or other loan secured on it.

The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate taxation and trust advice, will writing, advice on deposit accounts, some types of offshore investment, some aspects of buy to let mortgages, commercial finance or offshore mortgages.

Levels, bases of and reliefs from taxation may be subject to change and their value depends on the individual circumstances of the investor. Unless specifically stated otherwise, our posts do not allow for the additional taxation powers which may be levied by the devolved governments.

All information is offered in good faith and is believed to be correct at the time of publication however it may be superseded following publication. E. & O. E.

Would you like to know more?

drop us a line, it's good to talk

Skip to content