Exeter firm Old Mill commended for investment in technology and “empathy and warmth for clients”

West Country financial planners and accountants Old Mill have met Standards International’s stringent financial planning standards for the fourth year running.

Old Mill has successfully completed the certification programme for BS 8577 – the only best practice standard for financial advice and planning firms.

The firm, which has offices in Yeovil, Wells, Exeter and Melksham, first achieved the standard in 2015, and at the time was one of a handful of firms in the UK to have gained the accreditation.

Standards International praised Old Mill’s investment in technology, highlighting the positive impact of a state of the art back office system, fact-find technology, risk profiling technology and the work done to meet the new GDPR requirements.

Colin Selway, Certification Scheme Assessor at Standards International, was responsible for assessing Old Mill and said the firm is “working extremely hard to give the Advisers the tools to ensure clients have a structured but enriched financial review process.”

He applauded Old Mill’s advisers for displaying “empathy and warmth for clients” saying “they all offer an ability to get clients to open up using a relaxed conversational approach.

He also praised Old Mill for “continuing to move the client’s perspective of financial advisers away from ‘sales-people’ to professional financial advisers focussing on their client needs”

“The advisers see their role as mentors and educators – demonstrating empathy, emotion and passion,” he said. “They care about what happens to their clients and see themselves as their conscience.”

Old Mill Operations Manager Matthew Clark says he is thrilled Old Mill’s work to maintain its high standards has been recognised once again.

He said: “Retaining the BS8577 award is a real achievement for our firm. We continue to strive for greater consistency in all that we do and aim to maintain exceptional client service. To be recognised for the fourth consecutive year for this exclusive award is a credit to the firm, its people and all that we stand for. This year's assessment was the most in-depth since we gained the award and it is extremely encouraging to not only maintain the award but to have such positive feedback from the assessment.”

Kelsey Kimsey, Service Delivery and Relationship Assistant at Standards International concluded: “Another impressive assessment of Old Mill, it's great to see ongoing investment in the team and innovation in technology to support the processes of the business.

“You have done very well in achieving and maintaining such a high standard within your business and you and your team should be very proud. Congratulations on another year of certification to BS 8577!"