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12 November 2014

The Association of Professional Financial Advisers (APFA) today launches a programme that will help members reduce the overall running costs of their businesses by offering a range of significant and exclusive member discounts.

 

The discounts have been negotiated with partners including Rymans for Business, Citation, Callcredit, Moneypenny and Printing.com.

Through the scale of the APFA membership the new negotiated benefits will save small member firms up to £300 on annual business expenditure. The type and level of discounts vary between partners, but include savings of up to 75% will be available. These join existing APFA discounts on Premium Credit factoring costs, and access to the KPMG VAT helpline.

 

Chris Hannant, Director General at APFA, commented: “APFA’s strength lies in its membership. It is through this strength that we lobby and fight on issues, such as the levy, to minimise the cost of doing business. We have again leveraged this strength – this time on a commercial basis – to win some big discounts with businesses suppliers that will allow adviser companies to lower their costs.”

 

Commenting on the new discounts, Stuart Dunbar, Managing Director of Argyle Consulting and APFA Council Member said: “As the trade association for all types of financial advice firms, APFA represents the views and interests of the advice community. One of the issues faced by all our members is the rising cost of running a business. We have now used APFA’s scale to broker deals to help reduce members’ everyday business spend on a range of products and services including printing, stationery, virtual receptionists, legal services and more”.  

 

Neil Liversidge, Managing Director of West Riding Personal Finance and APFA Council Member said: “Small financial advice firms have long been supported by APFA through our campaigning for regulatory fees to be proportionate and low. Now our members can also save money on essential business expenditure through a range of significant discounts developed exclusively for them with well-known partners”.        

 

Martin Greenwood, Chief Executive of Tenet Group and APFA Council Member said: “APFA’s scale and influence in the adviser sector has always been a significant asset, enabling us to act as a collective voice to reduce members’ cost of trading. With the launch of these exclusive member discounts, APFA has again shown the strength of working together to benefit members of the profession”.   

 

Members can access the new benefits through the member benefits page on the APFA website: www.apfa.net/member-discounts

 

ENDS

 

Note to editors:

• Callcredit – A leading credit reference agency specialising in anti-money laundering and KYC (Know Your Customer) compliance, working with 2000 businesses in the regulated sector. Callcredit are offering two products to APFA members – CallML is an electronic ID verification tool, and Callreport enables a financial soundness check.

The offer: Callcredit are offering APFA members various packages of searches at up to 75% discount on average prices.

 

• Citation - A leading supplier of remote Health & Safety, HR, and Employment Law services. APFA members can sign up for 24/7 support including site visits that guarantees to keep them compliant.

 

The offer: Citation are offering APFA members 15% discount on standard pricing.

 

• Moneypenny – The UK’s leading telephone answering service handling nine million calls for over 7,000 businesses. Moneypenny will provide remote dedicated PA services for APFA members. An alternative to the PA service is also offered through ”Penelope” – a virtual phone system that enables clients to direct inbound calls to wherever they are (office, home, or mobile).

The offer: Moneypenny are offering APFA members free additional inclusive calls on the Moneypenny platform, and free upgrade on the Penelope platform.

 

• com – A leading online print services company, Printing.com have created a dedicated online print ordering site for APFA members where they can order business materials such as letterheads, business cards and marketing leaflets. There is a choice of over 6000 printed items. Members can choose from a variety of existing templates or upload their own artwork.

The offer: Printing.com are offering APFA members 25% discount on standard pricing. Members can also take advantage of a free print of their APFA member Certificate.

 

• Rymans for Business - One of the UK’s leading stationery and office supplies businesses, Rymans are offering APFA members a dedicated Business Account with discount on all purchases made online, in-store or over the telephone.

The offer: Ryman have created a bespoke price list with deep discounts averaging 33% on core products of particular relevance to the purchasing habits of Financial Advisers.