About Us
History
The Professional Connection is an independent financial advisory practice based in Plymouth. The company is directly regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) and has been trading in its current format since 1995.
What we do
As a company, The Professional Connection provides high quality bespoke financial planning to a wide range of clients who require sophisticated unbiased financial advice. We are totally committed to remaining independent following depolarisation.
The team and training
Currently the team comprises of four independant financial advisers backed up by four staff providing expertise in administration, research, analysis, business development and marketing. We are committed to training, and our advisers are seeking to achieve the relevant Advanced Financial Planning Certificate qualification in their specialised area. All advisers, regardless of age and industry experience, are required to maintain the highest levels of technical knowledge and competency.
Our aim is to have a team of highly qualified Financial Advisers, each specialising in a specific area of financial planning and all capable of providing general financial planning advice. This allows them to deal with the majority of clients planning requirements, but also provides resource of additional expertise from which our advisers can draw. We also buy in a range of external independent consultancy services to provide additional support in key areas, such as compliance.
Training plans for the future
The recent decision by the Privy Council to grant permission to the Chartered Insurance Institute (the CII) to award chartered status to financial planners, is an important step forward in improving the image of the financial services industry.
To be awarded Chartered Financial Planner status an adviser will have to gain CII approved financial qualifications equivalent to first degree level. They will also have to demonstrate relevant experience, adhere to the Chartered Insurance Institute’s Code of Ethics and Conduct and have a commitment to continuing professional development. The Professional Connection fully supports this positive move forward and strongly believes that it will be an important contributor in raising levels of client and practitioner confidence in the financial services industry. Although not all IFA firms will press their advisers to achieve this level of qualification, here at The Professional Connection our aim is to provide the relevant support and training to enable in time all our advisers to gain the chartered status.