FCA DA APPLICATION SUPPORT

The FCA's gateway to authorisation is now more robust than it has ever been, with higher standards, more intensive assessment and greater scrutiny being undertaken by the Regulator. More than ever, Paradigm's dedicated and bespoke service can be invaluable in helping you to navigate the authorisation process as we assist you in the correct completion, preparation and submission of your application for authorisation.

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FACE TO FACE CONSULTANCY SUPPORT

We make it our mission to see all our clients' businesses flourish and achieve their full potential. One of the ways we make this happen is through our on-site compliance consultancy support, which centres on establishing long-lasting relationships. Our team of expert Consultants are all vastly experienced and can be the extra pair of helping hands in your office when you need it most. Paradigm now supports over 400 financial advisory firms and deliver hundreds of audit, training and compliance support days every year.

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REMOTE CONSULTANCY SUPPORT

We appreciate that in today’s environment some firms may wish to conduct some of their activities at a distance. As such, our full range of consultancy support is available to you on a remote basis, should this be preferred.

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AD-HOC CONSULTANCY SUPPORT

Whilst we strongly advocate the thinking that long term relationships work best, we are also flexible and adaptable enough to provide one-off support for firms that require assistance with a particular issue that you may be facing, or the odd, ad-hoc ‘quick fix’. Our ad-hoc services are available both on a face-to-face and remote basis.

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FILE REVIEW CHECKING

Our team of File Review experts offer support to you and your firm with file checking and documenting suitability. Our file review service is specifically designed to help you reduce one of the potentially highest risks in your business.

Not only do we review your files, we provide thorough feedback and go the extra mile to develop the quality and suitability of the advice you provide. This service gives you the security and comfort of knowing that your selected files are being checked by a team of fully-qualified individuals, dedicated to delivering a quality service to your firm and ensuring excellent customer outcomes.

We offer pre-sale, post-sale, regular and ad-hoc file reviews across all areas of business. The areas reviewed including pensions, investments, mortgages (including specific mortgage fraud reviews), protection, equity release, annuities and more. We can check 100% of cases for new advisers, pre-sale check high risk business or simply check in line with your T&C scheme. Our service can shift and adapt to dovetail perfectly with your own firm’s requirements. All of this can be done at your convenience remotely, or on-site if required.

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FILE REVIEW TRAINING

In addition to file checking, our File Review Consultants can also provide adviser coaching and training. This bespoke training helps improves outcomes for your firm and your clients, with training available on a 1:1 basis or to the firm as a whole. We can provide training in a number of areas, including:

• How to review a file
• Objectives
• FCA requirements on a file to make it suitable

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TECHNICAL HELPDESK SUPPORT

Our Technical Helpdesk is at the heart of our compliance proposition, giving you access to one of the best Technical Helpdesks in the industry. Our Helpdesk Consultants have vast regulatory experience and technical knowledge, and aim to surpass your expectations with the comprehensive answers they provide. We have the skill to convey the answers to your questions in simple, practical and understandable language - meaning we won’t talk to you in technical jargon!

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FINANCIAL PROMOTIONS (Incl. WEBSITES) & STATIONERY REVIEW

At Paradigm, we understand how important it is to showcase your business to both your client bank and the general public, highlighting all of the services and support that you can offer in a compliant manner. Paradigm can assist with your financial promotion procedures as well as review and help you draft and issue compliant promotions designed for your target audience. Examples of items we get asked to check include websites, brochures, flyers, stationery and adverts.

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COMPLIANCE BULLETINS & TECHNICAL UPDATES

In a world of fast-changing regulation, Paradigm understands that it can be difficult to keep up to date with all of the changes and to stay on top of the latest rules, regulations and requirements. This is where our Regulatory Policy team have got your back.

We continually monitor the whole industry, detecting change and providing you with an early warning system to ensure you are fully informed and prepared. Our Regulatory Policy team provide the following to the firms we support:

• Compliance Manual - the provision of a compliance manual which covers investment, mortgage, protection, general insurance and equity release, with different versions available according to your firms’ regulatory permissions
• Compliance updates - email bulletins which are issued throughout the month, providing you with up to date regulatory guidance
• Technical updates - we aim to make complicated topics - such as taxation changes, pension rule changes, trusts and powers of attorney - more simple by creating these jargon-free updates
• Target - a monthly newsletter which summarises what is happening across the world of regulation, including upcoming changes you need to be aware of
• Technical guides - in depth studies of specific topics which are written in plain English and can be utilised by all individuals within your firm

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CPD SUPPORT & ADVISER COMPETENCY TEST ZONE

At Paradigm, we are committed to offering you access to a wealth of quality CPD and training materials which will ultimately enable you to provide excellent customer outcomes.

Once registered, advisers can access a range of structured and unstructured CPD content from Paradigm and our Strategic Partners with content split by subject, format and learning objectives, making it extremely easy for advisers to identify content that suits their training needs.

Our Test Zone provides video learning followed by multiple choice questions and case studies which assist with putting the learning into practice. These tests allow advisers to regularly test their knowledge and understanding of key areas of risk.

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STAFF TRAINING AND COMPETENCE

A key part of the support we provide is in supporting senior managers and staff with their training and competence needs. Our experienced Consultants can assist in a number of areas, such as:

• Training staff: Covering topics such as complaint handling and AML procedures
• Training & Competence: Completing one-to-one meetings, Key Performance Indicator (KPI) review meetings, reviewing CPD records and planning future CPD needs
• Assessments: undertaking role-play interviews or assessments by way of questions and answers are two examples of how we can help you in the completion of your supervisory activities
• Training supervisors via our dedicated supervisor courses
• Providing SM&CR training for senior managers
• Providing training to your staff on recent rule changes and best practice updates