AN UPDATE FROM BOOLERS

The impact of Coronavirus is being felt by us all and we hope that you, your family and friends are well and staying safe.

Our primary focus is ensuring that you continue to receive the quality standard of service that you’ve come to expect from Boolers. As with all other organisations we have been planning for the potential impact of the Coronavirus for some time.

This message is designed to reassure you of our Business Continuity plans. Our aim is to continue to provide the necessary service, administration and advice to clients on an ongoing basis whilst safeguarding the well-being of our staff.

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Business Premises Shutdown

For the foreseeable future we will be working remotely and the business premises will be closed.

Fortunately we have been working on the assumption that this may become necessary and we are able to provide continuity of our service via remote working. Time and investment has been made to ensure that our staff can provide the best possible service whilst staying safe at home.

Please rest assured that we continue to be here for you. All partners and employees have remote access to our office systems and emails. This includes our ability to undertake all usual day to day activity, including:

• Monthly payroll for income payments to our pension clients
• Full access to our investment trading systems
• Ongoing access to our Banking facilities
• Continuity of Pension Scheme Trustee and administration services

For your safety and in line with government guidance all meetings in the short term will now be conducted remotely, either by telephone call or video conferencing.

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What you can do to help

As the office will not be manned, please do not call the main office switchboard.
Solution; Instead you can continue to use direct dial numbers for all employees which are being redirected to our personal mobile phone numbers to ensure that you can get hold of the right member of our team. Please find a link to a team contact details here.

Please refrain from using the postal system, we are unable to guarantee access to the building to receive and action post in our normal manner.
Solution; Instead we are expecting a majority of communication to be via email or telephone.

Please refrain from transacting funds via bank cheque.
Solution; Where possible please send any monetary transactions electronically.

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Staying Safe – Beware of Fraud

Sadly we are already aware of an increase in attempts to defraud unsuspecting individuals. Whilst we can all agree that this behaviour is abhorrent, it is down to all of us to ensure that these would-be fraudsters are unsuccessful.

All staff will be using their Boolers email account ONLY and WILL NOT be sending emails from personal accounts. Please be extra vigilant during these stressful times and help us protect you from fraud. If in any doubt, please contact us and you can refer to the following:-

https://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/en/pension-scams

https://www.fca.org.uk/scamsmart

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Our commitments to you

1. We are still open for business and will be during any period of ‘lockdown’.
2. Every step is being taken to ensure that you experience the highest possible service standards.
3. We will be managing the finances that you kindly ask us to be involved with to the best of our ability and with the utmost care and diligence.
4. We want to hear from you. Our phones are on and we are happy to discuss anything; from serious financial strategy questions, through to the more mundane. Please do not hesitate to pick up the phone.
5. We will be updating you regularly and organising your annual review meetings at their normal timings.

This disruption to our normal lives will not be permanent. We must work hard to support each other wherever we can, and already we have been amazed by the level of interest and care that our clients have shown towards our staff and their families. We will be working harder than ever to ensure that we are here to help.

We will of course update you regularly as the situation changes.

From us all at Boolers.