How we charge · Fareham
How we charge
Before you get in touch, it's natural to wonder what advice will cost. Here's how it works with us, in plain English. The short version: your first meeting is free, and nothing is charged until we've agreed the cost with you in writing.
Who this page is for
Thinking about getting advice
You'd like to know roughly what's involved before you pick up the phone. That's sensible, and this page should help.
Comparing advisers
Every firm charges a little differently. We'd rather you understood our approach clearly than had any surprises later.
Already talking to us
Your written agreement with us always sets out exactly what you'll pay. This page is a general guide.
How it works
Free first meeting
We talk about where you are and what you'd like to achieve. There's no charge and no obligation.
We agree the cost in writing
If you'd like to go ahead, we tell you what the work will involve and what it will cost before we start. Nothing is charged until you've agreed.
You decide
You're free to take your time, ask questions, or decide advice isn't for you right now.
Pensions and investments
For advice on pensions and investments you can choose how to pay. We'll agree the method with you before any work starts.
Initial advice
Initial advice is typically 2% of the amount invested or transferred. The exact fee depends on what you need, and we'll agree it and confirm it in pounds before any work starts.
Ongoing reviews (optional)
Ongoing reviews are your choice. They aren't set up automatically. If you'd like them, the ongoing service is typically 0.7% a year of the value of the investments we look after, and we'll meet at least once a year.
Worked examples
- £50,000 invested: initial advice £1,000, ongoing service £350 a year.
- £100,000 invested: initial advice £2,000, ongoing service £700 a year.
The ongoing fee is based on the value of your investments, so the amount in pounds goes up as they rise and down as they fall.
The full terms, including the maximum charges, are set out in your client agreement.
By the hour
If hourly charging suits the work better, the rate is agreed with you in advance. We'll give you an estimate of the time needed before we start, and we won't charge for extra work unless you've agreed to it.
A fixed fee
Once we understand what you need, we can quote a fixed fee for the work instead.
Fees can be paid directly or taken from your investment or pension through the provider. If they're taken from your investment, that reduces the amount invested. We'll tell you if VAT applies.
Mortgages
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
- Our fee: our fee for mortgage advice is £495, including remortgages to a new lender. For a product transfer with your existing lender, it's £295.
- When it's paid: the fee is charged when we start researching the market for you. This covers the work involved in finding and recommending the right mortgage. We'll confirm the fee with you in writing before we start. This fee is not refundable once research has started, and this is confirmed in your client agreement.
- Lender payments: lenders usually pay us a commission when a mortgage completes, known as a procuration fee. We'll tell you the amount before you apply.
- Lender fees: lenders may charge their own fees, such as a booking or arrangement fee. These are separate from ours, and we'll explain your options for paying them.
Protection
For life cover, critical illness cover, income protection and similar policies, you can choose to pay us a fee, or we can be paid a commission by the insurer, which is a percentage of your annual premium. Although you may pay nothing to us upfront, that doesn't mean our service is free: commission is paid for through the premiums. We'll always tell you how much it is.
What it costs: in short
Your first meeting is free. After that, the cost depends on what you need, and you'll always know it, in writing, before any work starts.
These charges are set out in our current client agreements. If our charges change, we'll tell you before any work starts.
For the full detail, see our Personal Client Agreement and Mortgage & Protection Agreement.
All payments go to our principal firm, named at the foot of this page, never to your adviser personally, and never in cash.
Questions people ask
Is the first meeting really free?
Yes. It's a chance for us to understand what you need and for you to see whether you'd like to work with us. There's no charge and no obligation to go any further.
Do I pay anything if I decide not to go ahead?
Not if you decide after the first meeting. Nothing is charged until you've agreed to it in writing. Once work has started, your agreement sets out what's payable. For mortgages, our fee is charged when we start researching for you.
Can my fee be paid from my pension or investment?
Often, yes. Many providers can pay our charge from your plan. It's worth knowing this reduces the amount invested, so we'll talk through the options with you.
Will the ongoing charge change if my investments go up or down?
Yes. The ongoing charge is a percentage, so if your investments rise in value the amount in pounds rises too, and if they fall it falls. You'll see the figures in your annual statements.
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This page is general information about how we charge, not personal advice. Your exact charges are set out in your written agreement with us.
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
The value of investments and pensions, and any income from them, can fall as well as rise and you may not get back the amount invested.