Our Client Philosophy

Our Client Philosophy

HB Dobbin has a long history of reviewing what we do so that we can deliver first class Independent Financial Advice to our clients. The latest example of this is embracing the Financial Services Authority (FSA) principle of Treating Customers Fairly (TCF). The TCF initiative is not a prescriptive set of rules to follow but based on the FSA principle of that “A firm must pay due regard to the interests of its customers and treat them fairly.” Here at HB Dobbin we have taken it to mean;

Clients can be confident that when dealing with HB Dobbin that fair treatment is central to our corporate culture.
The advice we give or financial plan we design meets your needs.

As a client you are provided with clear information and are kept appropriately informed before, during and after the point of sale.

Where you receive advice, the advice is suitable and takes account of your circumstances at that time.

The advice we give is of a high standard and where products are recommended they perform as you have been led to expect.

As a client you do not face unreasonable post-sale barriers to switch investment, change product, or make a complaint.


We have mainly classified our client’s retail clients which we maintain is in the best interest of those clients.

Retail clients are clients who are afforded the highest level of regulatory protection and information disclosure.

Professional clients are clients who have professional qualifications relating to Financial Services and investments. The disclosure, regulatory requirements and FSA protection are less for professional clients.

Retail clients can be treated as “Elective Professional” clients and HB Dobbin have reserved the right not to consider Retail Clients as Elective Professional Clients unless it can be demonstrated that;

The Client’s knowledge and understanding of the investments, markets and risks involved is expert.
The size and frequency of the transactions exceed £500,000.

The client works or has worked in the financial sector for at least a year in a professional position, which requires knowledge of the services or transactions.

HB Dobbin has written a full statement on our TCF policy. This can be accessed here.