How to access your Portal

Here you will find answers to Frequently Asked Questions and details of new features and updates.

We are fully independent

We are fully independent and directly authorised by the FCA. This means we are able to give you the most appropriate advice to you without being restricted by commercial agreements.

Your interests come first

Our whole philosophy is borne out of many years' experience working in a professional practice environment. Our existing clients would confirm our ongoing commitment to this philosophy.

We are highly qualified

Continual professional development is an expectation all of our team place upon themselves regardless of how qualified they already are.

Trust is core to our service

Our clients have told us that trust is absolutely essential for them, therefore we hold ourselves to this value and only ever act in our clients’ interest.

Integrity and transparency

We are committed to always explaining our fees and our regulatory obligations before any work is carried out.

Getting Started

How do I… Register for the Berkshire IFA Personal Finance Portal

  • Visit https://portal.berkshireifa.com/account/register
  • Enter the email address we hold for you so we can send you an activation link
  • Follow the link to verify your details
  • Choose a password and click Register
  • You will then be able to log in to your account

Making sure you are Secure

How do I… Set up Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

  • You can set up 2FA by following the prompts when you log in, or you can go to the Security Settings in the main menu once logged in.
  • To use 2FA you will need to download an authenticator app such as Google Authenticator or Microsoft Authenticator. Many authenticator apps are available so you can choose the one that best suits your requirements and needs.
  • If you are following the prompt during log in, click on Get Started. If not, navigate to the 2FA settings via Menu>Settings>Security Settings>Manage two-factor authentication.
  • You will see a QR code – scan this using your authenticator app.
  • Your authenticator app will then display a code which you need to enter in the Verification Code field, before clicking Verify.
  • The codes that appear on the next screen are called Recovery Codes. You will need to save a copy of these in a safe, accessible location. Recovery codes are needed if you ever lose access to your authenticator app. If you forget to make a note of these codes at this stage, you can also access them from within the Security Settings menu. However, you won’t be able to access this area if you are unable to login using your authenticator app.
  • 2FA is now set up. Next time you log into the portal, you will be prompted to enter a new 6 digit code generated by your authenticator app to complete the login process.

The Basics – Communicating with your Adviser

How do I… Sign a document via the portal

DocuSign enables you to digitally sign documents that your Financial Planner sends to you via the portal. You will receive a secure message notifying you that your Financial Planner has sent you a document which requires your signature.

The first time you use DocuSign to sign a document you will need to agree to the terms and conditions and add a digital signature. You can choose an automatic signature or draw a custom one. Once the signature is adopted, it will appear on the document.

How do I… Share a document with my Financial Planner

Documents you upload to the portal are not automatically shared with your Financial Planner. To share a document, select the Share this document with your Adviser tick box when uploading, or if you have already uploaded it, click Share to the right of the file name. Your Financial Planner can view and download the document, but they cannot edit or delete it.

How do I… Send a secure message to my Financial Planner

  • Click Compose in the Messages widget
  • Enter a subject and your message
  • Add an attachment if required and click Send