5th October 2010

PanaceaIFA member Neil Liversidge Seeking Election to AIFA Council

IFA blog

The AIFA Council Elections

I have decided to offer myself for election to the AIFA Council in the Local Constituency for firms with 1 to 10 approved persons. If you are an individual member of AIFA in the Local Constituency and you would like to propose or second me I would appreciate hearing from you.

Here's who I am and what I stand for.

I am 47, married with 3 children and have worked in financial services since age 16. I started my own firm from scratch in 2004 and have built it into a practice serving 1200 clients. The RDR threatens my business as it threatens many others. I am absolutely committed to taking the hardest possible line with the FSA against its waste, its inefficiency, its bureaucracy and, all too often, its obvious detachment from commercial reality. The FOS shows signs of similar detachment and I have long argued for a commitment fee to be payable by FOS claimants to counter the compensation culture.

I do believe AIFA must have a dialogue with the FSA but also believe AIFA should actively lobby politicians to properly oversee and direct the regulators. I do not believe AIFA has taken a hard enough line in the past though it has improved noticeably in the last 18 months. I believe that, in part at least, that has been a response to those of us who have taken a tougher independent line; lobbying works.

As an IFA I have often worked 100-hour weeks and more, just as most of you will have done. I do not believe that the FSA understands IFAs or gives them the credit they are due. Until that is changed we will not be regulated fairly or well. My mindset is this: If somebody is unfairly or unreasonably interfering in my life or my business, or is doing something I believe is just plain wrong, then I will not 'just accept it' but will do something about it. I have been a campaigner all my life. Outside financial services from 1989 I rebuilt the UK Motorcycle Action Group into a successful and influential lobbying organisation and in 1999 I created FEMA, the Federation of European Motorcyclists' Associations. Politics is far too important to be left to the politicians.

The pressures you face are the same pressures I face. If you vote for me I will do my best to ensure that all IFAs get the best deal possible and make the small firms' voice heard loud and clear. I will be personally accountable to those who elect me and will be very happy indeed to have members input and ideas. To be a valid 'members' organisation I believe AIFA must actively seek its members views.

If you are an AIFA member and would like to propose or second me, please get in touch.


Neil F Liversidge
Managing Director
West Riding Personal Financial Solutions Ltd

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