Who can apply for accreditation?

Lawyers

You must also hold a current practising certificate issued by The Law Society or by The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx).

Financial Advisers

Much of the specialist work assessed as part of this accreditation is not FCA‑regulated. This includes, for example, work undertaken as a financial neutral, coach, or in cash‑flow modelling.

It is now common practice for specialists to separate their FCA‑regulated financial advice from their non‑regulated specialist work, either within the same firm or through separate business structures. Some specialists choose to focus exclusively on this non‑regulated work and act as a conduit to others for regulated financial advice where required.

As this is the case, Resolution does not require evidence of FCA‑regulated status or qualifications for the purposes of this accreditation. Regulated financial advice sits outside Resolution’s remit.

However, when applying for accreditation (and at each re‑accreditation), applicants must sign a declaration confirming that if they choose to provide regulated financial advice, they are appropriately authorised and qualified to do so.

There must be no assumption that undertaking this specialist, non‑regulated work will lead to regulated activity, regulated intermediary work, or contingent fees.

For that reason, candidates must be able to confirm that they can undertake this work on a standalone fee basis (time‑costed, fixed‑fee, or a combination), without any expectation of future regulated activity arising from it.

Non‑regulated activity

Where candidates or re‑accrediting members operate within an FCA‑regulated firm, they must confirm that their Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII) provider has explicitly agreed to cover this non‑regulated activity.

Where candidates or re‑accrediting members operate a separate non‑regulated business, they must confirm that they hold appropriate PII cover for that work.

Regulated activity

Where candidates or re‑accrediting members offer regulated financial advice, they must confirm:

• that they are an FCA‑regulated individual; and
• that suitable PII is in place for any regulated advice provided.

Where Defined Benefit pension transfer advice is offered, candidates must also confirm that:

• they,
• someone within their firm, or
• a suitably qualified third party

is authorised to provide that advice.

Lawyers & Financial Advisers

Applicants are required to disclose anything which could bring the organisation into disrepute.

Eligibility is considered without reference to race, religion, belief, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age.

See the Scheme Rules for further information.