Adviser able to offer a full range of products from financial services companies or from a selected panel on grounds of merit. IFAs may work on their own account or for firms. Key principles they must follow include: ‘know their client’ by means of a fact find to form a comprehensive view of the client’s needs in order to offer ‘best advice’. IFAs can be remunerated by commission and/or fees. He must give full details at the outset of fees and, under the FSA’s disclosure rules, full details of any commission they will receive on recommended transactions. Regulated by the FSA, they must contribute to an industry wide compensation scheme.
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an intermediary who provides potential investors and policy holders with advice on a range of products from different companies (contrast tied agent).