Fee-for-service ‘not more professional’: Synchron

Mr Trapnell says there is a general belief that in order for advisers to appear more professional, they should charge a fee – either via fee-for-service or a fee to supplement a reduction in commissions.

“For the life of me, I can’t understand how charging a fee is viewed by some as a hallmark of professionalism and I can’t understand the argument that says receiving a commission translates to being less professional,” he said in a statement.

Mr Trapnell said those who charge commissions may in fact be more professional, since they only get paid when they deliver a result for their client.

“Would clients be happy to pay a fee-for-service then find out they don’t actually get insurance cover because they haven’t been accepted? Or because the premiums were too high and they couldn’t afford to pay them?” he asked.

“In a fee-for-service world, the adviser would still have to be paid for the work done trying to get cover, whereas under a commission model the adviser would only get paid if the client was successful in getting cover and the policy stays on the books.

“There is merit to both approaches, but let’s not hold out fee-for-service as though it is the Holy Grail.”

Mr Trapnell said there is international proof that fee-for-service only risk advice “does not work”.

In the UK, for example, there is recognition that life insurance is a ‘grudge purchase’, and as a result, commissions have only been removed on investment products. 

Mr Trapnell said he is not suggesting it is time to lobby for changes to the Life Insurance Framework (LIF).

“Let’s get the legislation bedded down first,” he said.

“It is four years before the 60 per cent cap on upfront commissions comes in. If we can get the legislation bedded down now, we will be able to refine it and maybe then we can look at reviewing the cap in line with what it actually costs to run a risk advice.”