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Ask most advice firms how they assure quality, and you’ll get a familiar answer: “We do QA checks after the file’s been submitted.” But here’s the rub. If your quality control only kicks in at the end, you’re not protecting your clients. You’re just crossing your fingers.

At We Complement, we believe the future of advice assurance isn’t reactive. It’s structured, evidentiary, and embedded from the start. And that’s where the Suitability Consultant comes in.

Why Traditional QA Isn’t Enough

Let’s be clear. Retrospective file checks still have a place. But they can’t carry the weight of regulatory expectation on their own. They’re too slow to prevent harm, too subjective to be consistent, and too backward-looking to drive change.

Retrospective QA creates what we call a “file repair culture.” Mistakes get patched, but root causes go unaddressed. That’s risky, especially under Consumer Duty, where firms must show how their advice actively delivers good outcomes, not just avoids harm after the fact.

Key rules like:

• COBS 9.2.1R (client suitability)
• SYSC 3.2.6R (risk systems and controls)
• PS22/9 (Consumer Duty)

…all require more than a tidy report. They demand a traceable advice logic that can stand up to internal scrutiny, external audit, and the FCA’s expectations for evidentiary discipline.

The Shift: Advice Built to Be Audited

Suitability Consultants operate differently.

Where a traditional paraplanner might build a report around adviser input, we start earlier in the process — testing the inputs themselves. Is the risk profile consistent with the objectives? Do the factfinding notes back up the recommendation? Are product choices driven by need, not preference?

Our process uses a structured toolkit:

• ARC (Advice Readiness Checks): Pre-advice triage that surfaces gaps in client context, factfinding, and risk profiling.
• ASL (Advice Suitability Logic): A 130+ rule framework to test alignment to FCA standards.
• SMS (Suitability Matrix Score): A logic-graded, versioned evidence report that supports both internal QA and external defence.

From QA to Proactive Precision

This isn’t about more process. It’s about smarter structure. When advice is built using embedded frameworks, QA becomes a formality. By the time the file lands in compliance’s hands, the logic is already documented, tested, and version-controlled.

Think of it this way:

• Traditional QA: “Does this advice meet the standard?”
• Suitability Consultant: “Let’s make sure the advice was built to the standard.”

That’s a big difference. It moves assurance upstream, where it can actually influence outcomes.

What This Means for Your Firm

If you’re still relying solely on end-stage checks, you may be exposing your firm to:

• Governance gaps — where override patterns go unnoticed
• Rework and delays — from back-and-forth file edits
• Audit risk — because logic can’t be clearly evidenced
• Inconsistent advice — when paraplanners have to “make it fit” post-fact

By embedding a Suitability Consultant model, you get:

✅ Advice logic aligned before submission

✅ FCA-mapped standards from start to finish

✅ Evidentiary assurance that supports SM&CR accountability

✅ Fewer escalations, faster delivery, and stronger client outcomes

Practical Tip: Test Your Own Files

Want a quick way to see if your process is fit for purpose? Pick three recent advice cases and ask:

1. Could someone with no context follow the logic from factfind to recommendation?
2. Are product choices justified in the client’s words, not just the firm’s preferences?
3. Would the file survive scrutiny without any “explainer” from the adviser?

If you answered “no” to any of those, don’t worry. It just means there’s room to evolve.

A New Standard Is Emerging

As regulation tightens and insurers demand more rigour, firms can’t afford to view QA as a final checkbox. The bar is rising. The ability to show how advice was constructed — step by step, standard by standard — is becoming a baseline expectation.

Suitability Consultants aren’t just helpful. They’re strategic infrastructure. And for firms who want to stay ahead, they may be the most valuable hire you’ve never made.

There’s a quiet but important shift happening across adviser tech, and if you blink, you might miss it. We’re not talking about a shiny new CRM or another data dashboard. We’re talking about what’s going on under the hood: integrations, partnerships, and AI pipelines that are shaping how advice gets built and delivered.

This month alone, we’ve seen:

• FNZ team up with Microsoft to explore AI-powered advice tooling
• Twenty7tec roll out a planning module with new CRM and cashflow integrations
• City AM select Third Financial as a new platform partner

That’s three signals in one month pointing to a bigger trend: the advice tech stack is maturing, and integrations are becoming non-negotiable. But what does that really mean for financial planners and paraplanners? And where does it leave firms trying to deliver good advice, not just good systems?

Let’s dig in.

From Tools to Ecosystems

We’ve all worked with ‘tech’ that made life harder, not easier. A platform login that doesn’t speak to the CRM. A client risk score stuck in a PDF. Rekeying data into suitability reports (again). It’s no surprise that some advice firms have been slow to adopt new tools—they’ve been burned before.

But the nature of tech is changing. What we’re seeing now isn’t just more tools, but better connectivity between them.

Take the Twenty7tec update as a prime example. Their new integration layer links to iPipeline, Genovo, Timeline, and more, bridging the gap between planning, risk, and suitability workflows. According to CEO James Tucker, “the focus is now on connecting, not just creating”.

This shift matters. Because disconnected tools don’t just slow teams down—they create advice risk. When data gets re-entered or misaligned between systems, the integrity of the advice narrative suffers. And under Consumer Duty, ‘close enough’ just isn’t enough.

Enter AI: Assistant or Risk?

Then there’s AI. The FNZ–Microsoft announcement highlights a growing appetite to embed large language models (LLMs) into advice tooling—think summarisation, pattern detection, and even recommendation support.

On paper, this sounds great. But here’s the catch: if AI is reading client files, assessing risk, or suggesting actions, the need for human oversight skyrockets.

As we often say: AI can enhance, but not excuse. You still need a clear, defensible logic path. You still need to evidence why a recommendation was made, not just what the tool produced. And unless that AI is aligned to current FCA rulesets, it’s not a shortcut—it’s a liability.

For now, AI is best seen as a co-pilot. A speed enhancer. A second set of eyes. But the judgment? That still sits squarely with the adviser, and ideally, a structured suitability consultant process.

What Firms Can Do Right Now

If you’re reviewing your own tech stack or planning for 2026, here are three practical questions to ask:

1. Are your systems talking to each other? Look at the points of friction: duplicate data entry, non-integrated risk tools, or manual report generation. These are not just time drains—they’re risk triggers.
2. Do your tools support your people? If automation is creating more rework or generating documents that need constant editing, it’s not really helping. The best tools simplify, not complicate.
3. Is your process auditable, not just operational? This is the big one. Under SYSC, COBS and Consumer Duty, you need more than a ‘completed’ advice file—you need to show the logic behind it, version it, and evidence that it aligns with client objectives and risk appetite.

If your QA team is still working at the end of the process, rather than alongside it, your tech is probably observational, not preventative.

Final Thought: It’s Not About the Tech. It’s About the Structure

At We Complement, we’re excited about tools like AMS (Advice Matrix Scoring), ARC (Advice Readiness Checks), and ASL (Advice Suitability Logic). But the point isn’t that we’ve got tech. It’s that we’ve built structure.

Every integration, every automation, every dashboard should serve a bigger purpose: helping firms deliver clearer, safer, and more consistent advice. If your tools aren’t doing that, it might be time for a rethink.

If any of this resonates with what you’re seeing in your firm, we’d love to hear from you. Whether you’re reviewing your tech stack, exploring AI, or just trying to smooth out your workflows, we’re always happy to chat. No pitch, just people who get it.

If the FCA’s July activity is anything to go by, the regulatory tide is gaining pace-and advisers need to be ready to swim with it, not against it.

This month’s roundup focuses on three things we think every financial planning firm should be across:

1. A significant shift in inheritance tax (IHT) liability on pensions
2. The FCA’s evolving position on AI and technology
3. A faster lane for firm authorisations-and what it signals

Let’s break them down.

🪦 IHT and Pensions: The Silent Risk for Personal Representatives

HMRC’s recent update could fly under the radar for many firms-but it shouldn’t.

From April 2027, personal representatives of estates will become liable for reporting and paying IHT on unused pension funds.

👉 The crux: pension scheme administrators are no longer expected to be liable for reporting and paying IHT on pensions. Instead, the burden of reporting and paying IHT will fall on the personal representatives.

This presents a new layer of complexity for those dealing with estates, especially in cases where:

• There are delays in processing or distributing pension funds

• The value of the pension is high and falls outside the scope of spousal exemption

• There’s poor clarity around nomination or expression of wishes

📌 Why it matters for advisers and paraplanners:

• Estate planning conversations now need to address the practicalitiesof pension death benefits, not just the theory.

• It’s worth reviewing how nomination forms and client expectations are discussed during annual reviews.

• Firms may want to flag this to professional connections (e.g., solicitors, accountants) to help ensure joined-up planning.

📖 Read the full FTAdviser article

🤖 FCA on AI: Promise, But with Caution Tape

At a recent speech hosted by Innovate Finance, the FCA’s Jessica Rusu outlined how the regulator views the rise of AI and large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT.

What stood out was the tone: positive, but pragmatic.

The FCA recognises that AI has the potential to revolutionise:

• Advice delivery and suitability

• Client communications

• Back-office efficiency

But it also sees red flags if AI is deployed without proper controls.

🎯 Takeaways for firms:

• If you’re trialling or adopting AI tools, document the logic behind outputs.

• Make it clear who is responsible for sign-off.

• Ensure any client-facing outputs remain understandable to a non-specialist reader.

📖 Read the FCA’s full AI speech here

🏁 Speeding Up FCA Authorisations: A Welcome Signal

Finally, the FCA has announced a commitment to faster authorisation timeframes, with some decisions now expected in as little as 2 months.

This is more than a process tweak-it reflects a wider regulatory posture. The FCA is trying to:

• Support new entrants and innovation

• Streamline the bottleneck that’s historically slowed down firm launches

📌 Implications for existing firms:

• If you’re considering new permissions or structural changes, the window may now be less painful.

📖 FCA announcement on authorisation acceleration

👀 What This Signals: The Regulator is Moving Faster Than You Think

The common thread across all three updates?

Timeliness.

• Personal reps being liable? Linked to delays.

• AI’s promise? Must be matched by real-time explainability.

• Authorisations? Faster, but not lighter touch.

For compliance leads and operations managers, the takeaway is clear: regulatory expectation is shifting from checklists after the fact to structured control in the moment.

Whether it’s death benefit planning or AI adoption, firms must be able to show:

• Clear rationale

• Pre-emptive governance

• Evidence of oversight

Final Thought

None of this is about causing panic. But it is about being proactive-in your conversations, your processes, and your oversight.

We’re working with firms every day to help structure advice delivery in a way that stands up to this new pace of scrutiny.

Got questions? Just reach out – no pitch, just people who get financial advice.

With cash rates peaking and bond yields back in the spotlight, many income strategies are being re-evaluated. For advisers and paraplanners, the question is no longer “Where can we park money for 5%?” – it’s “What’s going to sustain that income for the next five years?”

UK infrastructure might just be one of the answers. It’s a sector that’s been quietly generating consistent income, even while market sentiment took a nosedive. So this week, we’re revisiting the case for infrastructure in income portfolios – and whether its fundamentals still stack up.

Infrastructure: Out of Favour, Not Out of Options

UK-listed infrastructure funds have had a tough run. As interest rates climbed, discount rates rose, which put downward pressure on the capital value of long-dated income streams – a big hit to assets like schools, hospitals, and renewables with 20–30 year leases.

But not all funds are equal — and the ARC TIME UK Infrastructure Income II Fundis a good case study in how this sector continues to work for the right clients.

• 12-month return (to June 2025): -4.52%

• Current yield: 5.15%, paid monthly

• Occupancy rate: 96%+

• Asset mix: social infrastructure, supported housing, logistics hubs  → View the June 2025 factsheet

Despite the drop in NAV, income delivery has remained stable – and for investors in drawdown, that’s arguably more important than daily pricing.

Why Infrastructure Got Bumpy

Here’s what’s been weighing on infrastructure valuations lately:

1. Rising Discount Rates

Higher interest rates reduce the present value of future cashflows, which disproportionately affects assets with long-term revenue contracts — like infrastructure.

2. Political Uncertainty

As highlighted in Professional Adviser’s recent coverage, UK government changes to planning rules and renewable support have created instability, delaying capital investment and spooking markets.

3. Sentiment and Share Price Discounts

Many listed infrastructure trusts are trading at significant discounts to NAV — not necessarily because of performance issues, but due to investor sentiment and sector outflows.

Still a Case to Be Made?

There’s good reason not to throw the baby out with the bathwater.

The fundamentals of income-focused infrastructure remain solid:

• Stable tenants(often government or NHS-backed)

• Inflation-linked rental agreements

• Essential service assetsthat aren’t subject to discretionary spending

That monthly 5%+ yield is still being delivered. And for investors willing to look past current sentiment, the current pricing might even represent value.

How Advisers Are Using Infrastructure Now

According to M&G Wealth’s Q2 2025 investment update, infrastructure:

• Is stabilisingfollowing 18 months of negative flows

• Remains popular with drawdown clients, particularly those aged 60+

• Is being blendedwith other alternative income sources like REITs and corporate debt

Advisers aren’t abandoning infrastructure – they’re simply repositioning itas part of a diversified income strategy, rather than a stand-alone winner.

Portfolio Positioning: What to Consider

When reviewing infrastructure in client portfolios, keep these practical points in mind:

• Match the strategy to the objective– infrastructure is best for income, not growth

• Look beyond short-term returns– is the fund delivering consistent yield?

• Watch for transparency– does the fund disclose occupancy, rent collection, and lease terms clearly?

• Check liquidity– some daily-dealt funds are more suitable for platform use than listed trusts, especially for cautious clients

• Educate clients– infrastructure income is real and physical, but pricing can be volatile

Our View

Infrastructure isn’t broken – it’s just caught in the wrong moment. As rate cuts begin to appear on the horizon, and investor nerves settle, long-duration income strategies like infrastructure could quietly return to favour.

If you’re building portfolios for clients who want predictable income with real-world impact, this sector is still worth serious consideration.

Got questions? Just reach out – no pitch, just people who get financial advice.

Published in the Investment Matters series by the We Complement team Subscribe to our LinkedIn newsletter for weekly insight on what’s moving inside financial planning.

Why We Complement is evolving our language. And what it means for advice support

The financial advice profession is changing. Report writing is becoming streamlined. Automation is evolving. But suitability – the logic, defensibility and clarity behind every recommendation – still depends on human thinking.

At We Complement, we’ve taken time to reflect on how we describe the work we do behind the scenes. And we’ve chosen to evolve our language to match the strategic value we bring.

Suitability is Strategic

This isn’t about rejecting titles used elsewhere in the profession. It’s about choosing language that better represents what we do, day in, day out, to strengthen client outcomes and ensure Consumer Duty alignment.

We’ve moved away from describing our team as report writers. We now call them Suitability Consultants, because the title reflects their role in protecting advice integrity from the very beginning of the process.

Here’s what that means for us:

• Risk Controllers. We spot gaps before they become liabilities
• Logic Guardians. We validate not just what’s written, but why it matters
• Suitability Engineers. We help design systems that prevent failure, not just check boxes

Why We Made the Shift

Paraplanning remains a respected and valued title across the profession. We know many people proudly wear it, and with good reason.

But for us, the title no longer captured the breadth or strategic nature of the work we do. Our decision to evolve was driven by clarity. For our clients, our team and our future direction.

If you’ve ever thought:

“I want to stay technical, but grow professionally.” “I don’t want to chase clients. I want to protect them.” “AI might write the words. But someone needs to train it on what suitable means.”

…then Suitability Consultant might resonate with you too.

How We’ve Embedded the Change

We didn’t stop at a new name. We followed through across every touchpoint.

✔ Updated internal job titles, systems and documentation

✔ Reframed our client materials to reflect assurance and defensibility

✔ Launched a new series, Inside Suitability, to share real stories from the team

This wasn’t just about language. It was about making roles clearer, elevating technical careers, and aligning with what firms need in a Consumer Duty environment.

A Word from Tony, Our MD

“I’ve never felt that ‘paraplanner’ quite captured the role our team plays. It always sounded more administrative than strategic.

Suitability Consultant lands better for us. It reflects the thinking, responsibility and clarity we deliver.

I’d be proud to introduce any one of our team with that title. Not just as someone who supports advisers, but as someone who protects them.”

A New Direction for Technical Professionals

Suitability Consultant isn’t just a title. It’s a progression path.

We’re building out structured roles to support deeper specialisation, including:

• Governance Analysts – supporting PI reviews and management information
• Advice Risk Leads – guiding logic reviews and structured assurance
• Onboarding Specialists – helping firms embed AI tools into their workflow

This isn’t a stepping stone to advice. It’s a career path in its own right. And one the industry needs more of.

Want to Know More?

We’re not here to say what others should call themselves. We’re simply sharing why we made the shift, and how it’s helped us clarify the role, the value and the direction of our work.

If it sparks a conversation in your firm, even better.

We Complement. We ensure the suitability of your advice.

👋 Hi, I’m Lucy. At We Complement, we like to keep an eye on the less-talked-about corners of investment conversations, especially when clients are exploring passions outside the platform.

This month? It’s coins.

And not just any coins – rare, historic, and highly collectable coins that are attracting attention as both personal heirlooms and alternative assets.

So, should planners take it seriously? Here’s what you need to know when a client wants to talk sovereigns and silver instead of stocks and shares.

💰 Why Coins Are Gaining Traction in 2025

✅ Tangible value – Coins are physical assets with intrinsic metal content and historic or cultural significance. Clients like that they’re real, portable, and often beautiful.

✅ Portfolio diversification – The coin market doesn’t move in sync with equities, which can make it an appealing hedge in volatile markets.

✅ Generational appeal – Coins often carry a story, making them attractive for legacy planning or gifting strategies.

✅ Rising interest – 2025 is seeing increased demand for rare UK coins, especially with collectors eyeing undervalued editions from the late 20th century and post-monarchy transitions.

✅ Tax perks – Certain UK coins (e.g. legal tender gold sovereigns and Britannias) are exempt from Capital Gains Tax.

⚠️ Things to Flag with Clients Before They Dive In

Not all coins are created equal: Just because it’s old or gold doesn’t make it valuable. Rarity, demand, condition, and provenance matter most.

It’s a specialist market: Liquidity can be limited, and pricing is influenced by collectors, not markets.

Risk of forgeries: Authentication and trusted dealers are non-negotiable, especially in the online marketplace.

Storage and insurance: Coins may need secure vaulting, and premiums can add up.

Sentiment vs strategy: Many clients buy coins because they love them. That’s fine, but it should be treated as a passion investment, not a guaranteed growth vehicle.

🧠 What Planners Should Keep in Mind

Know the tax angles: Gold bullion coins that are UK legal tender are CGT-free. That’s worth factoring into planning conversations.

Ask about intent: Is the client building a collection for fun, or as part of a long-term portfolio? The answer changes the advice.

Encourage slow starts: As with any alternative investment, starting small and learning from experts is a safer route in.

🔎 Want to go deeper? Here are some useful reads:

Investing in Coins: Why 2025 is the Year to Buy

Top 5 Rare Coins to Watch in 2025

Collectable Coins in the UK: 2025 Guide

Ultimate Guide to Coin Collections UK

📌 Summary for Financial Planners

Coins can be a compelling addition for clients who value history, physical assets, and tax efficiency. But as with art or wine, passion can blur investment judgment. Help clients approach coin collecting with clear eyes and the right questions.

📩 Want to explore how we support advice firms with niche client conversations like this one? Let’s chat.

Speed. Integration. Capacity. It’s what every advice firm is chasing – but most platforms still make you jump through hoops. This month, we spotlight the tech making real strides in reducing admin, unlocking capacity, and getting clients over the line faster.

Here’s what’s hot this July 👇

Transact x Plannr: Faster Onboarding, Finally

If onboarding feels like death by paperwork, this update might be your moment of relief. Transact and Plannr Technologies Limited have teamed up to deliver an integration that automates client setup and dramatically reduces time to submission.

What’s in it: • Pre-population of Transact app forms via Plannr CRM • Seamless digital consent and ID verification • Straight-through processing (finally!)

💭 What this means for you: Think fewer manual touchpoints and faster turnaround for new business. If your team is still toggling between CRM, platform, and email trails just to open one account, it’s time to rethink your onboarding tech.

🔗 Read the full Transact + Plannr update

AdviserSoftware’s New AI Guide: One to Bookmark

There’s no shortage of AI noise – but this guide is worth your time. AdviserSoftware.com has launched a monthly AI-focused feature to help firms cut through the hype and understand where AI genuinely fits into their advice process.

💭 What this means for you: Whether you’re dabbling with AI for factfinding or client comms – or still figuring out what’s hype and what’s helpful – this guide can be your shortcut to clarity.

🔗 Check out the first edition

Facing a Capacity Crunch? Tech Might Be Your Exit Route

A standout piece from Professional Adviser highlights how advice firms are responding to rising demand and limited internal capacity – and yes, smart tech is the common thread.

From client triage tools to simplified workflows, the shift is clear: capacity isn’t just about hiring more people. It’s about making the people you already have more effective.

What this means for you: Think less about headcount and more about headspace. What’s eating up your team’s time – and is there tech to take it off their plate?

🔗 Read the full article

Final Thought: Smart Tech Isn’t Optional – It’s Strategic

If your tech doesn’t reduce friction, it’s not doing its job. Advisers don’t need “innovation.” They need: • Less rekeying • Faster onboarding • Cleaner compliance trails • Tools that earn back hours – not cost them

At We Complement, we work with firms who want exactly that. Tech that works for advisers, not the other way around.

📬 hello@wecomplement.co.uk 💬 Or drop us a message right here – we’re always up for a conversation about smarter operations.

Clear, practical insights for regulated advice teams, every month.

This month’s edition covers important updates on tax-free cash protection, drawdown timing, AI in the advice process, and a global clampdown on dodgy online promotions.

Whether you’re client-facing or behind-the-scenes, if you’re involved in shaping, delivering or supporting advice –  this is for you.

Let’s dive in 👇

🧮 Drawdown: A Tax Point You Might Be Missing

HMRC has updated its guidance on when a drawdown pension is formally “brought into payment.” And it’s earlier than many assume.

According to their revised manual, a drawdown is triggered the moment:

• The fund is designated for drawdown, and
• Any payment is made – even tax-free cash.

This has implications for how benefits are reported and can affect death benefit tax rules.

What to do: Review how your firm records and describes drawdown commencement. Ensure client documentation and internal systems reflect HMRC’s stance.

📖 HMRC PTM062701

💰 Tax-Free Cash Protections Are Changing – Time to Act

A heads-up if you’re advising clients with scheme-specific tax-free cash protections.

From 6 April 2025, new rules mean post-commencement transfers may no longer preserve these entitlements – especially where the receiving scheme doesn’t mirror the protection.

Why this matters: Protected lump sums can be lost, and that could have a huge financial impact.

Next step: Identify affected clients now. If a transfer is on the horizon, this could be the last window to preserve higher tax-free cash allowances.

📖 Discussion via Paraplanners Assembly

🤖 AI in Advice: FCA Launches Sandbox in Partnership with NVIDIA

The FCA has teamed up with NVIDIA to support firms testing AI in a secure regulatory environment.

Use cases include:

• Natural language tools for report writing
• Automated reviews of client files
• Real-time suitability checks and more

What this means: AI is moving fast — and the regulator is watching. Advice firms need to balance innovation with documentation, oversight, and client understanding.

Forward-thinking teams should keep tabs on this sandbox — it could shape the tools you’re using next year.

📖 FCA & NVIDIA Sandbox Launch

📱 Finfluencers Beware: FCA Targets Rogue Promotions

The FCA has taken the lead in an international campaign to crack down on illegal financial promotions online — particularly those using social media to skirt regulation.

Their latest sweep targeted influencers marketing investments without FCA authorisation, often on TikTok and Instagram.

If your firm creates content — or if individual advisers post online — this is a good time to refresh your approach. Disclosure, balance, and clarity aren’t optional.

📖 FCA Press Release

💡 Need Extra Capacity or Technical Firepower?

We Complement supports advice teams across the UK with high-quality report writing, technical analysis, and regulatory alignment. We work alongside planners, compliance teams, and business leaders to make sure the advice process runs smoothly – and nothing regulatory falls through the cracks.

If you’re working through complex drawdown, planning for April 2025 changes, or trying to future-proof your templates – we’re here to help.

Market Update – Confidence Returns, But Keep a Steady Hand

US equities led the charge in early June, with the S&P 500 posting its strongest monthly gain in 18 months. Strong employment data and renewed hopes of improved US-China trade relations helped ease market nerves. Emerging markets also joined the rally, buoyed by positive sentiment globally. But advisers should stay alert: optimism doesn’t cancel out volatility. With global elections in full swing and rate expectations shifting weekly, there’s plenty still to keep clients on edge.

✅ Adviser tip: Don’t wait for a wobble, use recent strength as a proactive check-in point. “Here’s what’s changed, and what it means for you.”

✅ Paraplanner tip: Add a global equities snapshot to mid-year reviews. Clients appreciate seeing performance and purpose side-by-side.

Source: Sarasin & Partners

Renewables – Progress or Pause in a Politicised World?

Global renewable energy capacity hit a record-breaking 510GW in 2023—the 22nd consecutive year of growth—and 2024 kept the momentum going, driven by supportive policies and ambitious global targets.

But 2025 has brought fresh uncertainty.

Following the January inauguration of President Trump, the US has started rolling back several key clean energy policies. Early executive orders have promoted oil and gas, imposed new restrictions on wind development, and signalled an intent to withdraw from the Paris Agreement once again.

At a recent @Greenbank Green Shoots webinar, industry leaders asked the big question: Could this derail the clean energy transition – or just reshape it?

✅ Adviser tip: ESG-conscious clients may need more context than ever. Be ready to explain how policy shifts affect long-term investment themes.

✅ Paraplanner tip: Review ESG notes and fund selections—clear documentation builds confidence when clients are questioning headlines.

Platform Watch – Timeline Just Got More Powerful

Timeline continues to level up, making life easier for advisers and paraplanners alike.

Here’s what’s new:

✅ Support for Offshore Bonds, JISAs, and Joint GIAs

✅ Improved integrations with intelliflo, Plannr Technologies Limited, and moneyinfo

✅ Real-time transfer tracking and secure client messaging

✅ Letters of Authority (LoAs) now 98.8% error-free, with better visibility and provider tracking

But the standout? Modular Reporting.

This new feature lets you build client reports your way – quickly, clearly, and with no wasted pages.

🧩 Pick the sections you need (like performance, planning summaries, or fee analysis) 🧩 Tailor layouts to suit each client 🧩 Compare portfolios side-by-side 🧩 Add your own commentary, and hit send

Whether you’re using a ready-made template or building your own, Modular Reporting saves time and delivers clarity.

✅ Adviser tip: Use modular reports to make client reviews more visual, relevant, and easy to follow

✅ Paraplanner tip: Create go-to templates for common client types, then customise in seconds

Final Thought – Tech Helps, But People Make the Difference

From political shocks to platform wins, this month’s stories remind us: the tools might change, but trusted advice is what clients remember. If you’re feeling the pinch on time, capacity, or clarity, we’re here. At We Complement, we support advisers behind the scenes with smart, scalable paraplanning. You shine out front – we’ve got your back.

📩 Got questions? Need an extra pair of hands? Send @amynorth a message – she’s always up for a proper chat (and might just solve three of your problems in one go).

As a paraplanner here at We Complement, I’m always looking at how real-life passions show up in financial plans.  Over the past few months, I’ve had more than a few conversations about art – not in a museum sense, but as a genuine investment consideration. Whether it’s a client asking about owning a painting outright, or exploring fractional platforms, it’s clear that art is becoming more than just a ‘nice to have’ on the wall.

So this month, I’ve pulled together the key things planners should know when this topic comes up, because as with any specialised investment, the detail matters.

Art as an Investment: Pastime or Portfolio Play?

The Upside: Why Clients Are Drawn to Art

– It’s tangible and meaningful. Unlike a unit price on a platform, a painting is something clients can see, enjoy, and connect with, often for years.

– Potential for growth. While speculative, some emerging artists or trending movements do appreciate significantly over time.

– Diversification benefits. Art doesn’t track the stock market, so it can offer a hedge during volatility or inflation spikes.

– Legacy appeal. For some clients, it’s not about returns, it’s about passing on something culturally or emotionally valuable.

– New ways in. Platforms now allow fractional ownership, curated digital collections, and simplified access. No galleries or auction houses required.

The Caution Flags: What Planners Should Consider

– It’s not liquid. Selling art is rarely quick or easy. Clients need to be in it for the long game.

– Valuing art isn’t straightforward. There are no balance sheets or earnings reports, just market trends, expert opinions, and what someone is willing to pay on the day. Costs add up. Storage, insurance, restoration, and transaction fees can bite into gains.

– Authentication matters. Provenance and condition are everything. A lack of due diligence can lead to expensive lessons.

– Trends change. Today’s darling can be tomorrow’s forgotten name. The art world moves fast, and not always predictably.

What to Keep in Mind as a Planner

– It’s often a passion play. For many clients, art ownership is about enjoyment and legacy – not just returns. Help them frame expectations accordingly.

– Tax treatment differs. Capital gains rules for art don’t align neatly with standard investment products – make sure clients understand the implications.

– Due diligence is critical. If a client is serious about entering the art market, connect them with trusted specialists or platforms that prioritise transparency and authentication.

Summary

Art can be a genuinely enriching (and sometimes lucrative) addition to a client’s broader portfolio, but it’s not for everyone. Approach it as you would with any alternative investment: with curiosity, caution, and context.

Further Reading for Financial Planners

How to Invest in Art for Beginners: Why Art is a Good Investment in 2025

How to Invest in Art and Collectibles: From Pastime to Portfolio