In a debate on fees, commission and the retail distribution review, intermediaries said the current climate was tailor-made for advisers to cement their long-term relationships as rising pension and regulatory costs start to bite at a time when corporate profits are falling.
John Sansone, practice manager in Towry Law’s employee benefits division, said: “Clients need us now more than ever whether it is helping them manage people out of the business or reducing costs. It is very much a positive.”
Michael Whitfield, chief executive officer at Thomsons Online Benefits, agreed, calling for advisers to keep in regular contact with their clients and to “roll up their sleeves and get stuck in”.
“This is the time for us to do what we do well, to help clients to cut costs, maintain engagement and impose ourselves on the business to ensure that finance and human resources directors understand the value of their benefits,” he said.
