Questions about Ownvance
What does Ownvance do?
Ownvance is an independent financial consulting firm for private individuals. We help people put together a personal financial plan with a proper emergency fund, understand how investing works before they start, and check a firm or offer before any money moves. We never hold your money or sell you anything.
Is Ownvance a regulated investment adviser?
No. We never give personal investment advice, recommend particular products or manage anyone's money. We explain, plan and check. If what you want needs a regulated adviser, we'll tell you and help you prepare the questions to ask one.
Who do you work with?
Private individuals, couples and families who want an independent view of their own money: people starting to save, people with savings but no plan, and people who've been offered an investment and want it checked. We don't work for banks, platforms or the firms we check.
Can my partner or a family member take part?
Yes. Money decisions are often shared, and it helps when everyone hears the same explanation. Mention who you'd like to involve when you first get in touch, and we'll reflect it in the engagement letter.
Are you taking on new clients?
Yes. Email us with a few lines about what you'd like help with, and we'll suggest a time for an introductory consultation.
Services and fees
How much does it cost?
Each piece of work has a fixed fee, set out in an engagement letter before anything starts. The amount depends on the scope, so we can only quote after the introductory consultation, once we understand what you need. Nothing is added on top unless you agree a change in writing.
How long does it take?
It depends on the service. Plans tend to take one to two weeks, investing education a handful of sessions spread over two to four weeks, and a firm or offer check two to five working days from when we have its details. Dates are fixed in the engagement letter.
Do you take commissions from banks or platforms?
No. We take no commissions, referral fees or kickbacks from anyone, and no percentage of money you save or invest. The fixed fee you agree with us is the only money we receive.
Can you tell me what to invest in?
No. We can explain how investing works, what the risks and fees are and how to read the paperwork, so you can judge options yourself. Choosing a specific product is your decision, or a question for a regulated financial adviser.
Will you need access to my bank accounts?
No. We never need logins, passwords, one-time codes or any access to your accounts. You share only the figures and documents you choose, and you can blank out anything you'd rather keep private.
Checking firms and staying safe
How do I check an investment firm is genuine?
Find it on the public register of the financial regulator in its country, make sure it's allowed to offer the exact service it's selling you, and check that its name, web address and phone number are the same as on the register. Then contact it using the registered details only. Our guide on checking an investment firm has every step.
Someone I met online wants me to invest in crypto. Should I worry?
Be very careful. A new friend or match who steers the conversation towards crypto profits or a trading platform fits a common scam pattern, however genuine they seem. Don't send money, and read how crypto and romance scams work. If you'd like the platform looked at, we can check it for you.
Someone contacted me claiming to be from Ownvance. Is it real?
We never ask for money to invest, passwords, one-time codes or remote access, and we never approach people with investment offers. Any message that asks for one of these is not from us, whatever name it uses. Don't reply; write to us using the address on our website instead.
What should I do if I've already paid a suspicious firm?
Contact your bank's fraud team at once on a number you trust, such as the one on your card. Ask whether the payment can be stopped or recalled, then report the fraud to the police, or to your national fraud reporting service. The sooner you act, the better the chance of stopping the money.
Can you recover money I lost to a scam?
No. Ownvance can't recover money lost to fraud, and we never offer to. Be very wary of anyone who promises to get it back for an upfront fee, including people claiming to be lawyers, officials or 'recovery specialists': recovery offers are a common second scam. Your bank's fraud team and the police are the right places to start.
This website and your data
Does this website collect my details?
There are no forms, accounts or newsletter on this website, and our pages set no cookies. Like most websites, the server that delivers it keeps a technical log of visits, including details such as your IP address and browser. We don't sell that data or pass it to others for their own use. The privacy policy sets out what's logged and why.
How do I contact Ownvance?
By email. You'll find the address on our contact page, along with what's useful to put in a first message.