Financial Management Bureau (FMB) in Kendal has won a prestigious award for its work with vulnerable clients.

The Cumbrian firm received the 'Company of the Year (six to 19 advisers)' accolade at the 2023 Just Group Vulnerable Customer Awards.

This follows a high commendation in the same category in the previous year.

FMB appointed client services assistant Sue Walling as its 'vulnerability champion', and conducts a bespoke programme for vulnerable customers, which includes targeted training for its team.

FMB's director of business development, Ruth Power, said: “We look after every single client with highly individual advice, but for some clients there is an added layer of complexity due to a wide range of vulnerabilities

“These can apply to anyone at any time and may affect decision-making or the ability to understand financial concepts.

“This is not just about dementia or ageing, some of our most elderly clients may be perfectly capable of understanding all their financial decisions, but sometimes we can be vulnerable temporarily, for example, following a bereavement.

“In other cases, a medical condition can mean a client requires additional support or may need communications to be adjusted to suit them.”

The Vulnerable Customer Awards are hosted by Just Group, a financial services company specialising in the UK retirement market.

They also champion the Personal Finance Society Vulnerability Task Force.

Stephen Lowe, group communications director at Just Group, said: “That FMB has won their category this year and came highly commended last year, speaks volumes for their commitment to this important issue.

“This year the judges were impressed by the way the firm uses data and analysis to understand how their vulnerable customers programme is working and where it can be improved.

“The firm then takes this information and makes sure colleagues are clear that looking after vulnerable customers is part of the firm’s culture and trains colleagues in how to do this.

“Congratulations to the whole team at FMB – a well-deserved win.”

To find out more about FMB, visit www.finman.co.uk.