Personal.

Here's what SimplyBiz members have to say about our services and the benefits that they receive by choosing SimplyBiz:

Ex-Sesame Members

'I would like to congratulate the entire compliance team on the excellent service you have provided us.

Last year was not a good business year for us and I imagine for many other Financial Services Companies. Morale was quite low due to our business levels and if that was not enough, TCF was becoming more prominent and following this will be RDR. I have to admit that in the circumstances compliance also became relaxed and one sometimes wondered what we are doing in this industry.

We then had a visit from Marios Constantinou and Paul Kilby. This was following an initial visit by Steve Howard to my partner Mayoor Patel in Bolton. Now I will say that by the end of the visit I had information overload and my brain could have exploded. However, this was due to our own short comings and the fact that we had not embraced TCF which has left us with a lot to do. In spite of this Marios and Paul gave us every confidence and encouragement to meet TCF head on and explained how we could use it to our advantage. They gave us clear explanations and several practical examples in each area. At all times they were helpful and courteous.

As a result of their visit, I feel very confident in complying with TCF- in fact it has given all our advisors a new focus and we feel it will actually help us increase our business levels! (What an odd statement to make following a compliance visit!)

While writing, I would also like to say how helpful Stephen Wright was in helping me with the Gabriel return in February. This was the first time I personally filled in the Gabriel return. In a state of panic I called your help desk and Stephen was most helpful and completed everything for submission in a most efficient manner.

Finally, I have had cause to call your help desk many times during the last 2 weeks to help with our Compliance plan and stationary approval and on each occasion your staff have been very efficient.'

Paul Chakravarti, Ilford

(When hearing about the free Aequos and free company website)
'Absolutely fantastic on both counts. It's great to see a company that shares its success with its members. Please pass my sincere thanks to all concerned. As a result my business and compliance (with all your help) can now reach another level'

Nigel Stones, Clitheroe

'...three or four calls to SimplyBiz Compliance and we had the whole thing (Gabriel) done and validated in a few hours. I can only reiterate what previous posters have said, SimplyBiz were superb, I spoke to two or three different people and they were all extremely knowledgeable and able to talk me through the bits I got stuck on step by step'

William Crowley, Swindon

'I can thoroughly recommend SimplyBiz to any IFA who is either already directly regulated or who wishes to go directly regulated. I conducted my own independent 'Fact Find' on the various companies (both Networks and Service providers) in the marketplace and found SimplyBiz to be the best. I am most pleased with the T&Cs, the high level of service and of course the very competitive cost that SimplyBiz offers members'.

M Mohan, Middlesex

'Firstly a great thanks to you and all involved in making this process so painless and efficient...I am most impressed so far and will recommend to any who ask'.

Steve Mountford, Staffordshire

'I am writing to say how pleased I am with all aspects of your provision, from the guidance through the novation process to my initial compliance visit. Anyone who is able to make a 6 1/2 hour detailed compliance assessment both interesting and enjoyable must be quite exceptional! All my other contacts with SimplyBiz have been, without exception, friendly and all my queries have been dealt with efficiently and effectively. I feel reassured to be a member of an organisation which quite clearly has its members interests at heart (unlike XXXX.....) and which has a positive philosophy with both corporate and individual competence at the heart of it. I also benefit from your whole approach, which I use as a model for my own small business.'

Dr David Carter APFS, Tiverton

Other Ex-Network Members

(When hearing about the free Aequos and free company website)
'Excellent service - I thought the days of something for nothing without any catches had gone forever'

Roger Norton, Westbury

'SimplyBiz have just taken my company to authorisation stage with the FSA and I've been very impressed with Vicky Senior, Chris and the team and how they made the whole process smooth and relatively pain-free. In recognition of good service I would be happy to discuss this and answer any questions you may have.'

Chris Roper, Shipley

'I want to let potential members know that I have been very impressed throughout the 3
years I have been with SimplyBiz. In 2003, as a member of a very large network, I was fed up with their high charges and highly prescriptive advice process and decided to make the leap to being directly regulated.

The SimplyBiz package meant significant cost savings for my business and their Compliance Team made the FSA application very easy. It took only a few weeks to become directly regulated.

I have always found the SimplyBiz staff very friendly, supportive, available and a great asset to my business. Ken Davy knows what IFAs need and his company continually provides and enhances that support. The latest Aequos deal is just one example, negotiating down the cost of PI cover each year is another.

Good Compliance support is vital in this business and the SimplyBiz Compliance Team have refined and simplified the process to enable me to cope comfortably with the myriad of regulations and changes that have occurred.

I have no hesitation in saying that joining SimplyBiz and becoming directly regulated was the best move I have ever made in my business and I would recommend any potential members to join SimplyBiz.'

Mike Reynolds, Norfolk

Already Directly Authorised

(When hearing about the free Aequos and free company website)
'I would just like to say thank you, and that it is very generous of the company for making Aequos system and website facility open to us for free - it is very much appreciated'

John Holt, Bolton

'Thank you for your e-mail regarding PI cover. It is great to hear some good news in this industry and confirms that I made the right decision when I joined SimplyBiz. Thanks to all of the team at head office from a very happy IFA for all their hard work'.

Steve Spires, Reading

'Many thanks for the offer to be awarded a gift as a result of introduction to SimplyBiz. I assisted with two new firms and have now received a hamper and the two cases of wine. My wife and I are delighted with these gifts, what a good way to start off our relationship! Please convey my thanks to all concerned.'

Frank Baldry, Norwich

'I started in the financial industry in 1982; I had a long spell with the Prudential, then a few years as an adviser in a bank, and the last seven years as an IFA.

I have now been trading on my own for five years. I have been a member with SimplyBiz for 6 weeks and within this time, the amount of professional support available is simply mind blowing. I would like to thank you and all your staff for being so fantastic.'

Simon Hoadley, East Sussex

Ex-Network 300 Members

(When hearing about the free Aequos and free company website)
'Please let Ken Davy know that we think this is fantastic news and are very pleased for all you guys at SimplyBiz. A very well done on the profits!'

Marshall John, Mid Glamorgan

'I have just completed my first year as a SimplyBiz member. Prior to joining SimplyBiz I was a member of a large network. In almost 25 years in financial services I have been a tied agent and a network member as an IFA. Joining SimplyBiz has to be the best decision I have ever made. The fact that my commission goes directly into my own business bank account (without a slice being deducted) makes life a lot less complicated. Your compliance department is most helpful and by far the best I have ever experienced. So, thank you SimplyBiz for helping me make my business simple - not to mention more profitable! 2.5% + VAT to SimplyBiz is well spent'

Michael D Brayne, Hove

'Having been a member of a network for more than 3 years, I was desperate to apply direct to the FSA. I attended the workshop meeting that my network ran in November last year, having already received my pack and found the training to complete the forms totally inadequate. I went away and for weekend after weekend spent endless hours wondering what it was all about. The thought of those forms just bring back a total nightmare. In the new year I heard about SimplyBiz. I approached them and attended one of their seminars where I met Gary Kershaw. He explained that he would help me complete the forms, which he did immediately. Gary was an absolute brick, which if it were not for him, I would still be looking at the forms wondering what to do. I also quickly realised that due to Mr Davy's name the commission available was on a par with my old network, which is highly commendable considering what a young company SimplyBiz is. Well done to all the team, with a special thanks to Gary'.

Tim Evoy, Northwich

Ex-Online Partnership Members

'Firstly many thanks to Shirley Gaunt in Agencies department for all her help in setting up the agencies so easily. Secondly, my great thanks to Andy for all his help in chasing my FSA application and helping to get everything set up. I would emphasise that it is very important for potential applicants to return their engagement form as soon as possible. If they hesitate, and they may for obvious reasons, then the process can be longer than it needs to be. Having been with another network previously, it seems to me that SimplyBiz have thought of almost everything and you have a 'can do' attitude which is so refreshing. I learned more in one week from your website than I had in the last 3 years with the previous network. Thank you for all your help and may we all go on and prosper'.

Anne Milstead, Croydon

Ex-In Partnership Members

'Having joined SimplyBiz last August, you may or may not remember that I nearly did an 'about turn' before leaving the network I was with. It was after a conversation by phone with you (Ken Davy), that I decided to join and to be totally frank, it was the best move I have made. Thanks for that'.

Doug Ryder, Bucks

New Starters

'Just a quick note to say how amazed I have been at the calibre of your team at SimplyBiz. Since I signed up with you, they have been outstanding in every area. Prior to joining, I really did not trust a single individual in this industry but the facts are that SimplyBiz have delivered far more than they promised and come across as sincere and genuine. It really has been refreshing to work with people who are experienced and capable of running beyond the tape. This has allowed me to remain in the industry but, more importantly, to give the ongoing ethical service which my clients deserve and expect. My faith in this industry has been restored, and I really do hope that more people will take the necessary steps to liberate themselves from the shackles of Networks and Nationals.'

Owen Wintersgill, Byfleet

'I just wanted to drop you a short line to say how extremely impressed with the Compliance Team I am – in particular Pam Harper.

As you may be aware, as a company, we are a fairly new to the FSA reporting procedure – as we only went DA last year. The new GABRIEL reporting system is a minefield and my business partner and I found it VERY daunting!!

As a last resort we picked up the phone and called SimplyBiz and asked to speak to someone in the Compliance Team, who may be able to help.This is when we first spoke to Pam Harper. She was extremely supportive (and VERY patient) with us right from the word go!

She advised us what information we would require to complete the reporting system and agreed to call us back the following day, after we had collated this, in order to guide us through submitting the report. (I am sure she must have sensed the frustration and desperation in my voice!)

True to her word, she called me at exactly the time she said she would and spent at least half an hour, calmly and patiently guiding me through the complicated sections! In short, as was amazing! Her professionalism and dedication to us – a small DA Mortgage Brokerage -certainly shone through.

She never got annoyed, NOTHING was too much trouble to her! In fact, Pam made the whole process seem like a 'breath of fresh air'. She really is an asset to your team.

James Gibson once told me how great SimplyBiz were when we first met back in January 2008, however, I must admit, I didn’t think that you would be this good!

I am completely overwhelmed by the excellent and unheard of Service Levels that the Compliance Team and especially Pam are providing.

Thank you so much – no longer do I have to fear the 6 monthly reporting process!!!'

Mark Huby, Doncaster

'As an ex-MBSL appointed rep, could I place on record my thanks to one of your staff for her help and support in very difficult times.

Shirley Isherwood is one of a rare breed of person on the road these days from any financial services company, and is an even rarer breed of person who actually keeps contact when she is needed and calls back when a message is left for her.

I didn't know her at the time of the demise of NDL, but a chance call to me from one of your internal staff quickly had Shirley speaking with me. At the time I had no idea what I was looking for except I had finished with networks and was somehow looking to 'Go direct' as we say. She met me for a chat to run through what SimplyBiz currently had to offer me, although I was more than aware of the company having looked at the detail back in 2004. We worked through the detail of current costs to the FSA and SimplyBiz and she left me better armed with the facts.

She later called me to ask of progress and thoughts and I told her of developments with an old friend of mine. This has resulted in Shirley not directly benefitting from her efforts in recruiting another business to your company, but in general SimplyBiz will benefit as I am linking with one of your existing customers. This has not stopped her from meeting up with the two of us to help with the transition and giving help and advice over the airwaves. We are both extremely appreciative of her efforts.

You are indeed fortunate to have someone on the road who clearly works so hard to help her suspects develop into prospects and eventual customers and is so able to project herself to the likes of me, as well as extolling the virtues of the company she represents. She is a delight to work with and I merely wish to record my thanks for the help given to me when I needed it most.

I hope you don't mind me doing this, but it really is so rare these days to find someone from a financial services company so dedicated to helping others at the sharp end of the business.'

Tony Jones, Manchester