If winning was easy, everyone would take Gold...

Carbon is delighted to announce that for the second year in a row, it has won the coveted ‘Gold Standard for Independent Financial Advice’. Managing Director, Gordon Wilson, was presented with the award by Jonathan Evans MP at the House of Commons, in the Churchill Room, on 26th November.

Here is what Deborah Benn, Chairman of the Judging Panel, had to say when commenting on the awards: “Assessing a wide range of factors is the best way to develop a picture of whether a company has structures in place to cope with the requirements of an ever-evolving financial services sector, but also has the customer at the heart of its processes. Companies that have achieved a Gold Standard Award have demonstrated the capability to do this. The enthusiasm displayed for constant improvement can only be good news for financial services as a whole”.

To achieve a Gold Standard Award, companies have to complete a rigorous questionnaire designed to assess progress in five pillars – financial strength, capability, service, fair value and trust. Entries are assessed by an independent panel of judges. Only those companies demonstrating that they are going above and beyond standard procedures in order to meet the high levels of excellence set are in a position to be considered for the award.

On presenting the award, the judges made the following comments about Carbon’s success:

“Carbon Financial Partners has a crystal clear vision of how a financial planning firm today can utilise its talents.”

“Qualification and experience are leveraged in a way that maximise benefits to clients and improves the efficiency of services overall.”

“Access to advisers is exemplary as is going the ‘extra mile’ for clients.”

“Refreshing to see such transparency of fees applied.”

“Has the true essence of what financial planning is all about.”

Carbon’s MD, Gordon Wilson added, “I’m extremely proud to accept the Gold Standard Award 2014 on behalf of the whole team at Carbon. It is very pleasing to be recognised for all of the commitment and hard work we put in everyday to deliver the best advice and service to our clients. I was particularly pleased with the judges’ comments; it’s great that the independent panel appreciated so many of the attributes that make Carbon Financial Partners one of the best financial planning businesses in the UK.

It is a tough award to win, so it’s especially nice to have won it two years in a row and we’re already thinking about the standards we need to achieve next year to make it a hat-trick.”

If you would like to find out more about the how the judges select the winners, you can see their Criteria and Methodology document here.

If you would like to discuss your financial planning options, please contact us with any questions you might have. You can do this by calling our head office on 0131 220 0000, or by emailing us at enquiries@carbonfinancial.co.uk. or you can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.