The Gazette 1990

GAZETTE

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1990

Solicitors Financial and Property Services Update

that Group. Given our independence we owe no allegiance to any par- ticular insurance company, financial institution or lending agency and are in a position to offer your clients up- to-date, impartial and honest advica Sedgwick Dineen and S.F.P.S. are deeply committed to ensuring that the scheme works and as a measure of that commitment we have re- cruited additional consultants. Each consultant has a panel of solicitors in his area with whom he keeps in constant touch. Good, effective com- munication is essential for any business relationship to develop and we are relying on you, to some extent, to help us in this regard. I am sure you would be interested in knowing more statistical informa- tion on the level of enquiries we have received. Over 800 enquiries have

Did you know that S.F.P.S. is in existence over six months? You may wonder how has the company been getting on during that initial period. Solicitors Financial and Property Ser- vices was launched last May by the Incorporated Law Society with a single purpose - to give your clients access to independent expert advice on wide ranging financial oppor- tunities. In days gone by a solicitor's task was seen by his clients and the public at large to be a very straight- forward one, provide advice on all sorts of legal matters. Not that many people thought of going to their solicitors seeking advice on educa- tional funding, pensions or even the dreaded Life Assurance. How many settlements were made where clients receiving large lump sums without looking beyond the bank or building society and in the process suffering very meagre returns. Times have changed and people are becoming more aware of Fin- ancial Services, primarily because of the mushrooming of companies/ brokers/banks/building societies, all offering your clients advice on lump sums (those settlements we referred to) inheritance tax (wills you made for them) and mortgages (and just think how many conveyancing cases you completed). How can S.F.P.S. help? Solicitors Financial and Property Services can enhance and increase the services you are already pro- viding. For the benefit of the cynics, and the apathetics and, last but certainly not least, the Faithful who have joined the scheme, let me tell you how the scheme has progressed. So far 232 member firms have par- ticipated as illustrated below. An interesting fact is that out of 232 firms almost half the firms fell into the two to four member practice with 25% falling into the sole pract- ice category. What role does Sedgwick Dineen play in all of this? When S.F.P.S was set up they formed a link with an Independent Group of financial ad- visors, in fact the biggest financial broker group in Europe - Sedgwick Group. Sedgwick Dineen are part of

been received from S.F.P.S. members so far. In terms of business actually written over 85% relate specifically to lump sum investments. Many of your clients are in the way of re- ceiving cash awards from various sources ejg. inheritances, compensa- tion awards, property disposals. By providing professional, independent advice you are not only offering your clients a service that is beneficial to them but you are also increasing your practice income. If you are thinking of joining S.F.P.S. or indeed want any further clarifica- tion, please feel free to telephone me at 781599 or return the coupon below (without obligation) to Sedgwick Dineen Personal Financial Management, 18/19 Harcourt Street, Dublin 2.

LEINSTER

117

CONNAUGHT Galway Roscommon Sligo Mayo Leitrim

28

Dublin Offaly Carlow

57

10 5 4

2 3 5 7 5 4 6 3 6

8 1

Westmeath

Wexford Wicklow

10

Meath

68 25 6 12

MUNSTER Cork Clare

Laois

Kildare

Longford Kilkenny

Tipperary Waterford Kerry Limerick

6 6 13

Louth

9

ULSTER

19

Cavan

3 7 9

Monaghan

Donegal

S.F.P.S. ENQUIRY FORM

Name of Practice: Address: Telephone: Contact Person: ..

32