Third-Party Adviser Centre
What we offer our clients
Our investment and savings platform is designed for private investors who are comfortable making their own investment decisions.
We offer a wide range of products and help our clients by giving them the tools and information to make their own informed decisions.
In most cases, investments held in clients’ HL accounts have been selected by the client. They decide when to buy and sell.
What we offer Third-Party Financial Advisers
These sections include everything you need to know about requesting your client's information, and understanding the documents you receive.
How to request client information
What to include in your letter of authority and where to send it.
What we send you
What's included in the documents you receive, and other information you can request
Other useful information
How to request client information from us
Letter of Authority
Before we can send you client information, you need to send us a Letter of Authority.
Please download a letter of authority template should you require one.
What you need to include in the letter depends on the type of HL account your client holds, for example a Stocks and Shares ISA or SIPP.
If you’d like us to send you the client's information by email, make sure your email address is on the signed Letter of Authority. We can send information only to the email address that we receive the Letter of Authority from, or email addresses that are on the Letter of Authority itself.
If any of your details change, for example your company name or address, before we send client information, we’ll need a new signed Letter of Authority for each client.
Once you've completed your Letter of Authority, please send it and any information requests either by email to: operations.queryteam@hl.co.uk or by post: Hargreaves Lansdown, One College Square South, Anchor Road, BS1 5HL.
What you need to include
Select the type of HL account to find out everything you need to include on your Letter of Authority:
The client's:
Name
Date of birth
Current address (if the address we hold is not current, the client will need to update us before we can accept the Letter of Authority)
Signature (we can accept DocuSign but we also need the certificate of completion to verify the authenticity of the e-signature)
National insurance number and policy/client number, if possible, as these can help us locate the client's account
The Financial Adviser's:
Correspondence address (we need this even if you send your Letter of Authority via email)
The registered contact's:
Name
Signature (we can accept DocuSign but we also need the certificate of completion to verify the authenticity of the e-signature)
The child's:
Name
Date of birth
Address (if the address we hold is not current, the client will need to update us before we can accept the Letter of Authority)
Policy/client number, if possible, as these can help us locate the client's account.
The Financial Adviser’s:
Correspondence address (we need this even if you send your Letter of Authority via email)
Both account holders':
Name
Date of birth
Address (if the address we hold is not current, the client will need to update us before we can accept the Letter of Authority)
Policy/client number, if possible, as these can help us locate the client's account.
One account holder's:
Signature (we can accept DocuSign but we also need the certificate of completion to verify the authenticity of the e-signature)
The Financial Adviser's:
Correspondence address (we need this even if you send your Letter of Authority via email)
The company, charity, investment club or trust's
Name
Address held on the account (If the address we hold is not current, the client will need to update us before we can accept the Letter of Authority)
Memorable date or date of birth on the account
Policy/client number, if possible, as these can help us locate the clients' account
One signatory's:
Signature (we can accept DocuSign but we also need the certificate of completion to verify the authenticity of the e-signature)
The Financial Adviser's:
Correspondence address (we need this even if you send your Letter of Authority via email)
The trustees':
Names (we need all names on the account, including the account designation)
Date of birth held on the account
Address held on the account (if the address we hold is not current, the client will need to update us before we can accept the Letter of Authority)
Policy/client number, if possible, as these can help us locate the clients' account
One trustee's:
Signature (we can accept DocuSign but we also need the certificate of completion to verify the authenticity of the e-signature)
The Financial Adviser's:
Correspondence address (we need this even if you send your Letter of Authority via email)
The deceased client's:
Name
Date of birth
Address
Policy/client number, if possible, as these can help us locate the clients' account
The Executor's
Name
Signature (we can accept DocuSign but we also need the certificate of completion to verify the authenticity of the e-signature)
The Financial Adviser's:
Correspondence address (we need this even if you send your Letter of Authority via email)
What we send to you
We help you to understand your client's portfolio by sending you:
- A cover letter detailing the policy start date
- A current valuation of the client’s accounts
- Statements detailing transactions on these accounts for the last 3 years (unless specific dates are requested)
Further information can be sent if requested. Please check what information we are able to send in the 'Other information we can send on request section'
On the valuation document you will find:
The client’s name and client number - this can be found at the top of the document
Current policy value - total value is given, alongside a breakdown of stock value, capital value and income value
The date of valuation - this can be found at the top of the document (all prices and values will be from close of business of the date shown)
Transfer value - the transfer value is equal to the total value on the day of transfer
SEDOLS - all current holdings and their SEDOL codes
Number of units or shares held in each investment
On the statement you will find:
The client’s name and client number
The date of issue and the start and end date of the statement
Contributions and withdrawals
Fund switches
Purchase costs
Sale values
Fees paid
Cash transfers
Running balance
Original investment amount (only if requested from date the account was opened)
If you request an income statement, you will also find:
Dividends
Loyalty Bonuses
If you’ve requested information on SIPP products, you’ll also receive a SIPP Policy Information Document and contribution statement.
For SIPP Drawdown, a Drawdown Schedule is included.
Income statements
Statements since inception
Fee statements
Tax certificates
Stock movement reports showing sales, purchases, conversions, equalisation payments, corporate actions and/or transfers
Subscription statements for non-SIPP products
Investment Reports
Benefit Crystallisation Events (BCE) information
Statutory Money Purchase Illustration (SMPI)
Contract notes
We cannot send copy contract notes to Financial Advisers although they can be obtained by the client. We can produce stock movement reports on request.
Capital Gains Tax reports
We cannot calculate any capital gains. We can produce stock movement reports on request to help calculate any capital gains.
Fund and share factsheets
Factsheets are available on our website. We can only send you factsheets that are not available online.
Search for fund factsheets Search for share factsheets
Projections and illustrations
We are unable to produce ad-hoc projections or illustrations. Clients receive an annual Statutory Money Purchase Illustration (SMPI), for their HL SIPP, HL Group SIPP or Portfolio Management Service SIPP if they don’t have any crystallised funds which we can send you on request. This is produced shortly after their birthday each year.
To guarantee a response, please make sure you have only requested information that we are able to provide.
Investments
Investing with HL
HL clients can invest in over 3,500 unit trusts and OEICs, managed by a range of over 200 fund management groups. There is no maximum number of funds that can be held in an HL account, and our minimum investment levels are £25 by Direct Debit or £100 lump sum per fund.
Clients also have access to London Stock Exchange listed investment trusts and equities (including AIM), UK gilts, corporate bonds and PIBs, as well as overseas shares from a selection of the world's stock exchanges.
All cash held on HL accounts is in GBP. Income cannot be paid in any other currency. Currency transfers can be made through the HL currency service.
What you should know
Aspects of investing, or the terminology used, may be different with different providers. You may find these explanations useful for understanding what we send you, and where to find any other information you need.
Allocation rate refers to the percentage of capital invested into an asset net of charges. This isn't something that HL calculate.
As an example, a fund with a net initial charge of 1% has an allocation rate of 99%. Please be aware that whether the fund is single or dual priced, and whether there is an HL saving applied, may affect your calculations.
The bid/offer spread refers to the difference between the sell (bid) price and buy (offer) price.
You can find the buy and sell price for each investment on the factsheet. Factsheets can be found from the Funds section or Shares section of our website.
Search the funds sectionSearch the shares section
We will only produce factsheets which are not available online.
Any discounts, or savings on funds are paid to clients as Loyalty Bonuses (see below). You can view any savings on both the initial and ongoing charge on the fund factsheet.
Fund conversions are where an existing fund is converted into another version of the same fund. Conversions will take place either at the client’s request or through a bulk conversion on their behalf.
Any Loyalty Bonus for fund units purchased after 1 April 2014 must be paid as fund units, often referred to as 'Unit Rebate'. We are required to reinvest this and will do so automatically, subject to a £10 minimum, unless otherwise instructed. This cannot be used to cover account fees.
The Loyalty Bonus for fund units bought prior to 1 April 2014 is paid as a 'Cash Rebate'. This does not need to be reinvested, and is instead held within the income account until we receive a further instruction from the client. This can be used to cover account fees.
To view any Loyalty Bonuses a client has accrued, please request an income statement.
You can find details of our full range of services:
The HL SIPP is written under trust. As such, it’s not possible for it to be subject to another trust.
The current scheme rules can be found in the current SIPP Trust Deed and Rules on our website.
Runs from the 6th April to the 5th. These dates have always been the same.
Please confirm this with the client as they will have these details, should they be applicable.
The annual review is carried out on the client’s birthday and issued within the following 6 weeks.
Please refer to the SIPP Policy Information Document that you’ll receive once we have your Letter of Authority.
Retirement
The client can normally access their pension from age 55, rising to 57 in 2028.
The HL SIPP will not be subject to a protected retirement age following the changes in normal minimum pension age. Clients may be able to transfer a pension with a protected retirement age from another provider and retain this on a portion of the HL SIPP.
A client can choose their own selected retirement age. This information will be included in the SIPP Policy Information Document we send you once your Letter of Authority has been approved.
Typically, the client is entitled to up to 25% tax free.
The amount the client has taken may vary. Please contact our Pension Helpdesk on 0117 980 9926.
Flexible drawdown is available. Transferring into drawdown/flexible drawdown is also available, and HL does not charge for transferring.
Clients who currently have a Capped Drawdown arrangement can either continue on this basis, or request to convert to flexible drawdown.
It's possible to take uncrystallised funds pension lump sums on both a full and partial basis.
Hargreaves Lansdown is not an Annuity provider. We do, however, broker annuities for clients.
For information on annuity options, please visit the Annuities section of our website.
Lump sum- Any beneficiary can inherit some or all of a client’s remaining fund.
Drawdown - Typically, a dependent or nominated beneficiary can continue to receive the fund as drawdown.
Annuity- Typically, a dependent or nominated beneficiary can use the remaining drawdown fund to purchase a lifetime annuity.
There is no charge from HL for arranging Death Benefits.
More information on beneficiaries, and the options available to them can be found in our guidance on what happens to your pension when you die.
Not applicable to HL pension policies:
Rights protection
Life Assurance Premium Relief (LAPR)
Maturity dates
Guaranteed annuity rates
Additional sum assured, waiver of contribution benefits, with-profits, terminal bonuses, market value adjustment
Transfers
All instructions to transfer, and amendments to an ongoing transfer, must come directly from the client. We're unable to take any instruction from a third-party without a Power of Attorney.
Timeframes
We expect a transfer to take between 2 to 8 weeks. Electronic transfers are typically completed towards the earlier end of this timeframe.
Timescales are not exact because it depends on
The type of account
The number and type of investments it holds
The current provider
Whether the client is transferring cash (uninvested money) or investments
Transferring to HL
We don't charge anything to transfer to HL. However, your client should check with their current provider that they will not lose any benefits or guarantees before they start the transfer process.
How to start a transfer
Your client should start with the Transfers page of our website.
They will need to enter their existing provider's details. If their provider supports electronic transfers with Altus Transfer Gateway, they should be able to complete their transfer online. If not, they will be given the correct form to download for a paper application.
Partial Transfers
If your client would like to make a partial transfer, they should call our Transfers Helpdesk on 0117 906 7816.
How to start a transfer
SIPP, Drawdown & Group SIPP
If your client wants to transfer their drawdown plan to us, they should call our Helpdesk on 0117 980 9940. We will post them a questionnaire and application form.
If your client is transferring their pension or group pension, they should start by visiting the transfers page of our website.
They will need to enter their existing provider's details. If their provider supports electronic transfers with the Origo Options or Altus system, they should be able to complete their transfer online.
If your client’s current provider cannot support electronic transfer, they will send your client discharge forms to complete and return. Discharge forms may also be sent directly to HL.
Where a client is transferring in order to access benefits, they will be subject to the Stronger Nudge to Pension Wise rules (COBS 19.7). HL will provide the client with the Stronger Nudge under FCA guidelines unless the client is advised by HL. This will comprise of a series of questions about the risks faced when flexibly accessing a pension.
Defined Benefit Pensions
Defined Benefit Pension transfers are treated on a case-by-case basis, and the requirements for transferring differ dependent on their value. Please ask your client to contact the Pensions Helpdesk on 0117 980 9940 for more information.
If your client is required to take financial advice before transferring, HL will only accept the transfer if the advice is in favour of it. We ask for an advice certificate from the adviser. This is in addition to our HL Advice Form, the Letter of Authority, and the discharge forms. You will need to send the advice certificate directly to us, containing the following:
The client’s name
The name of the pension scheme with safeguarded benefits to which the advice applies
If the advice provided was regulated ‘Full Pension Transfer Advice’ or ‘Abridged Advice’
If the recommendation was or was not in favour of transferring to a defined contribution pension
The advice certificate can be sent via email to sipptransfer@hl.co.uk.
Partial Transfers
If your client would like to make a partial transfer to an HL SIPP they should start by visiting the transfers page of our website.
For drawdown plans, it's not possible to do a partial transfer unless there is more than one arrangement.
Where there is more than one drawdown arrangement, single arrangements must be transferred in full.
Transfer to another provider
There is no charge to transfer out of HL. Postal dealing fees apply for assets sold as part of a transfer. View postal dealing fees
The transfer value is equal to the total value of assets being transferred on the day of transfer.
How to start a transfer
If your client would like to transfer their HL Stocks & Shares ISA, HL Cash ISA, HL Lifetime ISA or HL Fund & Share Account, they usually won’t need to contact us. They can complete an application at their new provider, who will then contact us to arrange the transfer.
Partial Transfers
We facilitate partial transfers out on request.
How to start a transfer
SIPP, Drawdown & Group SIPP
If your client would like to transfer as cash, they usually won’t need to contact us. If their new provider can transfer electronically through Origo Options or Altus Transfer Gateway, they can complete an application with their new provider, who will then contact us to arrange the transfer.
Find out more about how to transfer to another provider
Partial Transfers
We facilitate partial transfers out on request. Your client should contact their new provider to arrange the transfer, who will then contact us.
For SIPP Income Drawdown, it's not possible to do partial transfers unless there is more than one arrangement.
Making a complaint
We always endeavour to offer the best possible service but we recognise that sometimes clients might feel disappointed. We therefore have a Client Services team who will try to resolve any issues as quickly as possible.
If you raise a complaint on behalf of your client we will fully comply with the FCA’s rules and guidelines on complaints handling. We will aim to resolve complaints promptly, fairly and reasonably based on their merits.
Further information on how to make a complaint on your client’s behalf can be found here: How to make a complaint