Due diligence fever has been sweeping the platform world. My response is to wonder if I am turning into a Communist, or even a Trot? Let me explain.......

In a week where global news highlights how corporate structures and ultimately desire to turn the biggest profit brings out the worst in people, in our much less sinister financial services world, I see signs of overcomplicating things perhaps for the good of the bottom line ahead of the customer.

Now here, I'm chastising people like me, not IFAs. Information businesses that make money out of helping IFAs. We think there is a certain amount of scare-mongering going on which is being promoted for all the wrong reasons.

The FSA have been clear about the importance of platform due diligence, yes. But I think they have also been clear about what they expect (ref the 9 points in the Thematic Review) and reasonable about how this should be documented. As long as an IFA can be clear about why they have chosen a platform, can demonstrate that they do review this periodically and with the client in mind, then the actual documentation does not have to be complex or lengthy.

When faced with a market of 28 platforms it is not practical to fire off 1000s of questions to each, probing on their Disaster Recovery procedures. When it comes to due dil questionnaires, boys, it aint how big it is, it's what you do with it.

Every IFA can, I believe, highlight what is important to them for each client segment and get to 7 or 8 points which really matter. Starting with a clear view on what you want, rather than an analysis of what everyone else has got, is a much better idea. Detailed due diligence can follow with site visits once you're down to a few.

There is a video on our site for anyone wanting some help or please call us for a chat. We like talking in case you hadn’t worked that out!

In other news, it has been remiss of us not to welcome Mr Bell's new baby to the party, so congratulations on the birth of the Sippcentre platform, a healthy 10 pounder probably most accurately positioned as an investment supermarket. Details are held by dear old PAT on our website.

An additional high five must go to Cofunds who report £5bn in gross sales over a 6 month period. Detractors cannot deny the strong message there of advisers voting with their feet….In a market where commitment and financial strength are under scrutiny the whole time, we think momentum is an important factor in any platform considerations.

And finally I'm hoping that Tom doesn't win The Apprentice so I can employ him. I think he's a money-making machine and highly cute in a Professor Calculus way - but as a largely female office we also like Helen's no-nonsense organising and amazing grooming. That hair! Those clothes! That make-up! Wow.