Firm Profile and Regulatory Status
Wingate Benefit Solutions was established in 1999 and is a client focused employee benefit consultancy. We are ISO9001 and Investors in People ‘Gold’ accredited.
We work in partnership with organisations and their employees to provide employee benefit advice and scheme management services across a comprehensive range of employee benefit schemes, including company pension arrangements.
Regulatory Status
Wingate Benefit Solutions is a trading name for WFS Consulting Ltd which is registered in England No. 3872950. The registered office is Quadrant House, 61/65 Croydon Road, Caterham, Surrey CR3 6PB.
Wingate Benefit Solutions and WFS Consulting Ltd are authorised and regulated by The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), 25 The North Colonnade, Canary Wharf, London E14 5HS. Our FCA registration number is 191531.
We are able to act on your behalf in advising you on investments and pensions. Our permitted business includes advising on and arranging pensions. You can check this on the FCA’s register by visiting the FCA website http://www.fsa.gov.uk/register/home do or by contacting the FCA on 0845 606 1234.
We provide a restricted advice service. Restricted advice means we will only consider investments from a limited range of products and/or providers. Different firms are restricted in different ways and the nature of our restriction is that we will only consider your employers pension scheme and our advice is therefore restricted to a limited range of products (pension plans) and providers (your current employer pension scheme provider).
We will advise and make a recommendation for you after we have assessed your needs.
Introduction
This document is designed as a formal agreement between Wingate Benefit Solutions and you regarding the provision of personal advice and services in connection with either:
a) your eligibility to join your employers pension arrangement and/or
b) your membership of your employers pension arrangement.
The scope of services we provide employees and/or members of company pension schemes along with the costs for these services are agreed with your employer and there are no additional costs to you unless you engage with us directly for advice on the following:
Pension Switching – this is where you want us to advise on the merits of switching other pension benefits you have accrued to your current employers pension arrangement.
Retirement advice – there may be a fee payable by you when requesting advice on taking income from your pension fund. This depends on our agreements with your employer and if any fees are payable, these will be fully disclosed and agreed with you before any advice is provided or charges incurred.
This document provides details of the protection you receive and general terms governing our engagement with you.
Client Protection
Treating Customers Fairly
We are committed to providing the highest possible levels of service to our clients. As part of this we wish to ensure you understand the services we provide and their associated costs.
This should allow you to make an informed decision about the services we offer to ensure these are suitable for your needs. This empowerment forms part of our ethos and culture.
This ethos carries over into our recommendations where we will provide you with the necessary information to enable you to make informed decisions as to which approach you should take to achieve your objectives.
We have embraced the Financial Conduct Authority’s “Treating Customers Fairly” principles and would welcome any feedback you have on any element of our service that justifies comment, whether positive or negative. This will help us to ensure we are providing services clients require, value and understand. We would like to approve upon any areas where you may have a concern.
The principles of “Treating Customers Fairly “are designed to deliver the following outcomes for clients and if you feel we are not delivering these at any stage of our service, please let us know.
You should be confident that:
• your fair treatment is central to our corporate culture
• the products and services we recommend are designed to meet your needs
• you are being provided with clear information and are kept appropriately informed throughout all stages of our agreed services
• the advice we provide is suitable and takes account of your circumstances
• the recommendations we provide perform as we have led you to expect and the associated service is of an acceptable standard and meets the commitments we provided
• you do not suffer unreasonable barriers in the event you need to make a complaint or make changes to the plans or terminate our services.
Although we have a complaints procedure which is provided later in this document, we would rather you raise any concerns or queries prior to there being a problem. Please feel free to speak to your adviser, a member of our support team or Ben Clarke as Managing Director at any time.
Client Categorisation
In providing investment services to you, we will categorise you as a Retail client. The type of client category will determine the level of protection afforded to you under the regulatory system. As a Retail client the regulatory protections available to you are determined by this category and will be the highest available.
Handling Clients’ Money
Wingate Benefit Solutions does not handle client money, we never accept a cheque made payable to us or handle cash unless this is in settlement of charges or disbursements for which we have sent you an invoice.
We do not hold documents such as policy documents except on a temporary basis pending these being issued to you.
Risk Warnings
To enable us to provide you with suitable advice it is important for us to be aware of your financial circumstances and to this end we will require a completed Financial Services Questionnaire (Factfind) before business is transacted.
Although we will explain the risk of the product as part of our advice process, you should always ensure you have understood the risk associated with the product being arranged. If you are unsure about the way the product or recommendations work or require any further clarification, please ensure that you raise this with your adviser.
Conflict of Interest
Wingate Benefit Solutions offers advice in accordance with that disclosed to you in this document. Occasions may arise where we or one of our other clients have some form of interest in the business being transacted for you. If this happens or we become aware that our interests or those of one of our other clients conflict with your interests, we will write to you and obtain your consent before we carry out your instructions, and detail the steps we will take to ensure fair treatment.
Cancellation Rights – Changing Your Mind
You should only proceed with the transaction once you are happy with all elements involved with it. As highlighted above please ensure you are aware of the details of the products and that it matches your objective and attitude to investment risk. In the case of personal pension schemes a right to withdraw or cancel the contract within a specified period is normally provided. Details of such rights are ordinarily contained in the product literature (e.g. Key Features Document) and/or we may provide details of such rights in a separate communication.
Confidentiality
You may be assured that we and any company associated with us will treat all personal data and sensitive personal data as confidential and will not process it other than for a legitimate purpose.
Steps will be taken to ensure that the information is accurate, kept up to date and not kept for longer than necessary. Measures will also be taken to safeguard against unauthorised or unlawful processing and accidental loss or destruction or damage to the data.
Accounting to You
We will confirm to you in writing the basis or our reason for recommending the transaction executed on your behalf.
We will make arrangements for any transaction to be completed and will forward to you all documents relating to the policy as soon as practicable after we receive them. Where a number of documents relating to a series of transactions is involved, we will normally hold each document until the series is complete and then forward them to you.
Investment Objectives & Restrictions
Following the issue of this document, any subsequent advice or recommendation offered to you will be based on your stated investment objectives, acceptable level of risk and any restrictions you wish to place on the type of investments or policies you are willing to consider.
Details of your stated investment objectives will be identified during our discussions with you and confirmed in the report that we will issue to you to confirm our recommendation.
Recording of Calls
During our performance of the services, telephone calls between you and our employees may be recorded for our mutual protection and/or for training purposes.
Data Protection Statement
The information you will provide is subject to the Data Protection Act 1998 (the Act). By signing this document you consent to us or any company associated with us processing, both manually and by electronic means, your personal data for the purposes of providing advice, administration and management services.
‘Processing’ includes obtaining, recording or holding information or data, transferring it to other companies associated with us, product providers, the FCA or other statutory, governmental or regulatory bodies for legitimate purposes including, where relevant, to solicitors and/or debt collection agencies for debt collection purposes and carrying out operations on the information or data.
We may also contact you or pass your details on to other companies associated with us to contact you (including by telephone) with details of any similar products, promotions, or for related marketing purposes in which we think you may be interested.
We record certain telephone conversations to enhance your security and ours, to enable us to handle complaints efficiently, improve our customer service and for staff training.
The information provided may also contain sensitive personal data for the purposes of the Act, being information as to your physical or mental health or condition; the commission or alleged commission of any offence by you; any proceedings for an offence committed or alleged to have been committed by you, including the outcome or sentence in such proceedings; your political opinions, religious or similar beliefs; sexual life; or your membership of a Trade Union.
If at any time you wish us, or any company associated with us, to cease processing your personal data or sensitive personal data, or contacting you for marketing purposes, please contact the Data Protection Officer at Wingate Benefit Solutions, Quadrant House, 61-65 Croydon Road, Caterham, Surrey, CR3 6PB. Subject to certain exceptions, you are entitled to have access to your personal and sensitive data held by us. We may charge a fee (subject to a statutory maximum) for supplying you with such data.
Complaints
In the event that you are dissatisfied with a recommendation we have made or regarding our services you may be entitled to make a complaint. We have a complaint procedure which is available on request and if you wish to register a complaint please contact us: If you wish to register a complaint, please contact us:
…in writing:
Write to The Compliance Officer, Wingate Benefit Solutions, Quadrant House, 61-65 Croydon Road, Caterham, Surrey CR3 6PB
…by phone:Telephone 01883 332260. If you cannot settle your complaint with us, you may be entitled to refer it to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
Financial Services Compensation Scheme
We are covered by the FSCS. You may be entitled to compensation from the scheme if we cannot meet our obligations. This depends on the type of business and the circumstances of the claim.
Most types of investment business are covered up to a maximum of £50,000.
Further information about compensation scheme arrangements is available from the FSCS at http://www.fscs.org.uk/
Anti-Bribery Policy
We are committed to doing business ethically with the highest standards of integrity and maintaining a culture which reinforces and encourages this approach within its employees, advisers and business partners. We have a specific policy which sets out the structure of the systems and controls that Wingate Benefit Solutions has in place to prevent the involvement of the company or employees in bribery or corruption.
A copy of the policy is available on request. Wingate Benefit Solutions has a zero tolerance of bribery in all the company’s activities including the management, employees, introducers, agents or any other associated persons.
Termination of Agreement
You or we may terminate our authority to act on your behalf at any time, without penalty. Notice of this termination must be given in writing to our Compliance Officer, Wingate Benefit Solutions, Quadrant House, 61/65 Croydon Road, Caterham, Surrey CR3 6PB.
The termination of our authority will take effect from the date of receipt.
Termination is without prejudice to any transactions already initiated, which will be completed according to these terms unless otherwise agreed in writing. You will be liable to pay for any transactions made prior to termination and any fees outstanding, if applicable.
General Terms
Risk Factors
Our advice is based on our understanding of current UK Taxation legislation, current English Law and regulations which may be subject to future change.
Wingate Benefit Solutions are not lawyers, specialist tax advisers, accountants or auditors. Should you require advice of this nature you must consult your own advisers and any advice that you receive would be outside the scope of this Engagement.
Insofar as permitted by law or rules of the Financial Conduct Authority, we will not be liable for any costs, claims, expenses or any failure or default in the provisions of our Services as a result of you supplying information to us which is inaccurate or insufficient unless you made reasonable enquiry to ensure its accuracy or completeness.
Mode of Communication
We will enter into communication with you through whatever means are convenient to you and us, including face to face, telephone, email and other acceptable electronic communication methods.
All our staff have access to e-mail and may, unless you instruct us to the contrary, send information by e-mail. Use of Internet e-mail carries certain risks. Confidentiality may be breached, messages may be lost or delayed, or may not be read, and viruses may be transferred through the use of e-mail. We cannot accept responsibility for loss which you suffer as a result of the use of internet e-mail between us or Wingate Benefit Solutions and third parties.
Delays
We will not be responsible or liable for any delay or failure to perform the services, where matters beyond our control cause such delay or failure. You have no rights or remedies regarding such matters. If you require us to attend to a matter urgently, please let us know and we will endeavour to accommodate your request. If additional fees will apply, we will let you know in writing.
Disclosure of Information on Documents
You must ensure that all statements you make on application forms and other documents are full and accurate. If you fail to disclose any material information to the insurers or product providers, this could invalidate the terms of the contract and could mean that all or part of the contract benefits may not be paid.
Our Responsibilities
We will provide our services in accordance with these terms and conditions. Any advice, information, reports, opinions, in whatever form we provide you under this engagement will be addressed to you and provided for your exclusive use and benefit.
Money Laundering Requirements
We are required to comply with the Money Laundering Regulations 2007.
Depending on the scope of advice we provide to you, we may need to see original documentation as evidence of your identity and address. Our preference is to have sight of your passport and driving licence and we would be grateful if you could make these documents available when you meet with the financial adviser or alternatively arrange for these to be sent to us.
If these documents are not available please speak to the Financial Adviser who will confirm what alternatives would be acceptable.
For more details on proving your identity, our regulator has prepared a leaflet on the subject. This is available at https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/files/final-proving_your_identity---june-2011.pdf or ask us and we will provide you with a copy.
Document storage
We will keep files, electronic records and papers relating to client matters for a minimum period of six years from the date we cease to work on a matter, after which we may dispose of them as we reasonably consider appropriate.
Changes to these terms
This agreement can only be amended if the amendment is made in writing and both parties have agreed to the amendment.
Succession
If, at any time, the business of Wingate Benefit Solutions is transferred to a successor company or partnership, all work on which we have been instructed by you may be carried out by the successor company or partnership and references to “we” and “us” in these standard terms shall from the date of the transfer be interpreted as references to the successor company or partnership.
Your consent and agreement to proceed This is our standard client agreement upon which we intend to rely. For your own benefit and protection you should read the terms carefully before signing, as by signing you consent to the terms contained within, including the authorisation to transfer information between parties as described above.
If there are any terms within this agreement that you do not understand, please ask for further information. The terms of engagement will come into effect from the date of acceptance of this agreement.
We will ask you to confirm your agreement to these terms and which of the options detailed in this document you would like to commit to, or are considering. If you have any queries over the options or anything else about the declaration, please speak to your financial planning adviser.
Declaration
I confirm my understanding of Wingate Benefit Solution’s “Client Agreement”.
I have read the terms carefully before signing, and consent to the terms contained within, including the authorisation to transfer information between parties as described above.
I understand these terms will come into effect from the date of acceptance of this agreement, which will be confirmed by the date provided below unless otherwise stated.
