Appointed Representative

With WealthKernel's Appointed Representative service, you can get to market faster without the need for an FCA authorisation.  

Choose what suits you best
If you’re considering offering investing services to your customers in the UK, you’ll need to consider whether you will need to be regulated by the FCA. If so, there are two paths to do that:
Appointed Representative
AR status enables firms that offer regulated activities to conduct those activities under a directly authorised company.
Faster option - takes around 4 to 6 months
Can be expensive as it includes your Principal firm’s fee
Dependent on the AR Principal to carry out your business
Reduced administrative burden (Note you’ll still need compliance resource)
Direct Authorisation
Firms apply directly to the FCA to get authorised to offer investing services in the UK.
Takes time to get fully authorised - around 6 to 12 months
Pay your authorisation fees to the FCA directly - a more affordable option
Complete control over your business and not dependent on another firm
Increased administrative burden to get directly authorised and stay authorised

How are we regulated?

WealthKernel is an FCA-authorised AR Principal. Our investment platform enables businesses to conduct regulated activities under the umbrella of the AR Principal (i.e. WealthKernel). Your business will still need to meet all FCA requirements; however, you will benefit from the support that WealthKernel can provide.
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By utilising our technology, businesses can benefit from the speed-to-market of an AR Principal and reduce the number of suppliers. The AR umbrella also offers other benefits, such as protection from hidden costs, compliance risks, and regulatory changes. You can read more about it on our blog here.

The full set of WealthKernel’s permissions can be found on the FCA Register, but in general, (you should always seek your own regulatory advice) the permissions you'll need are :

  • Arranging (bringing about) deals in investments
  • Arranging safeguarding and administration of assets
  • Making arrangements with a view to transactions in investments


The above permissions list is not exhaustive and is entirely dependent on your business model. You may need more permissions for your business.

How does AR work at WealthKernel?
Discovery
Meet with our friendly team to discuss your needs. At this stage our compliance team will carry out initial high-level due diligence.
Submission
We proceed to sign commercials and legals with you. Our compliance team will then carry out a full due diligence and submit the request to the FCA.
Go Live
Congratulations! You’re now an Appointed Representative and can conduct regulated activities under the umbrella of your Principal, WealthKernel.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Will WealthKernel be an AR Principal for Discretionary business models?
What if my business offers assets that WealthKernel doesn’t support?
Can WealthKernel work with a business that is an AR of another Principal?