Back in March, when lockdown came into effect and remote working became the norm, we implemented changes to enable you to provide scanned documentation – making it possible for you to continue to provide great service to your clients even when you couldn’t see them in person.
We’re really pleased with the positive feedback we’ve had from you all for this short term solution and now we are looking to implement more robust long term options that will provide even greater ease of use to ensure you can continue to provide the same level of service
Whilst we are regularly adding new Adviser Zone functionality to reduce the requirement for paper applications, we are looking to ensure that those processes that cannot be completed as part of the online journey can still be completed without reliance on wet signatures. As such we have reviewed our requirements and are updating how we will accept instructions. From 10th August, many servicing forms will no longer require a signature – as long as they are submitted via Secure Email within Adviser Zone. It is important to note that from this time scanned signed documents will no longer be accepted by email.
New versions of the following forms will become completely signatureless, providing they are delivered as an attachment via the Adviser Zone secure email service. Any Advisers who do not wish to utilise this option, can still use the forms and submit by post WITH a wet signature:
- Phased Income Recurring Switch instruction
- Rebalancing Instruction
- Recurring Switch Instruction
- Regular Investment Instruction
- Asset Request Form
- Corporate-Trust Rebalancing Instruction
- FATCA Corporate form
- FATCA Individual-joint form
- FATCA Trust form
- Internal transfer
- Stocktrade Account Cancellation
- Stocktrade Application Form
- Age 75 LTA test questionnaire
To improve efficiency while enhancing security, requesting money to be paid to your client can also be instructed via this signatureless route, providing the form is delivered as an attachment via the Adviser Zone secure email service and we have existing verified bank details on the system. To deliver this more efficient process in a secure way, bank account changes will be a separate request via a new form, which will have to be completed and verified in advance of any withdrawal. We recommend that you set up bank details for your clients as soon as is convenient to take advantage of the more efficient income and withdrawal process. Alternatively, they can be submitted via post WITH a wet signature:
- Amend Income Drawdown
- Benefit Crystallisation Event Application
- Phased Income Application /Amendment
- Regular investment collection
- Regular withdrawal instruction
- Withdrawal Instruction Investor - GIA and ISA
Some forms will require a wet signature mainly due to the requirements of third parties or until we can incorporate them into new arrangements, we encourage you to revisit this page from time to time as it will be updated with latest guidance as processes are added. We would also like to encourage you to utilise biometric verification when it is offered as it provides a greater level of security to you, us and most importantly, the investor.
