Membership of FEIFA, the trade body that represents English-speaking IFAs operating in Europe, has grown to almost 150 in less than six months.
The most recent advisory firm to join the organisation was Guardian Wealth Management, which does business in the UK, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
Paul Stanfield, FEIFA chief executive, said: “We have received a significant response from the IFA community at the outset and this has led to an impressive speed of membership growth, less than six months since launch.”
The body aims to represent primarily expat IFAs at a regulatory and policy-making level, lobbying on their behalf over issues which could affect the European advisory industry.
“We have been very active in ensuring that we are abreast of, and have input to, major EU developments, such as the potential changes to the scope of the EU Savings Directive,” said Stanfield.
FEIFA also plans to offer product and service providers affiliated membership.
Stanfield explained: “Due to the positive response from the IFA sector, we have had to delay finalising our offering to such [third party] companies, many of whom have expressed an interest to be more actively involved with the Federation.
“We are now just starting to develop these relationships and expect that to be a major focus for us in the first quarter of this year.”
The organisation is planning to hold its inaugural conference in the first half of 2010, which Stanfield said was a reflection of the strength of support it is receiving.
Full details about FEIFA can be found at www.feifa.eu
