Bawa believes this should be a central aspect of a modern network's service model.
"It’s vital to treat people as you want to be treated. Networks have to make sure that they are present, that they are there to support their members," he says.
He says many sole traders might not have much daily interaction with colleagues so networks need to be there to support them and help them get through any challenges they might face.
"I think good networks are there, not just for individual business cases, but on the personal side, the emotional side as well," he says.
"Building a genuine relationship can make a huge difference, and boost the adviser’s motivation. You can help them reach their potential."
This is the traditional way, he says, and the way he has been used to in his 35 years in the industry.
"It used to be that networks would provide lots of training, show their advisers how to sell protection policies and the importance of looking after clients. And they looked after the advisers themselves," he says.
"Too much of it now is about looking after clients because it’s what the regulator wants, rather than it being the right thing to do."
Big compliance burden
The FCA shifted its focus on the networks sector in 2021 after it found "there are more issues arising from principals and ARs than from other directly authorised firms".
It had particular gripes with principals' due diligence of ARs and their oversight of them and the advice they gave.
Then came consumer duty with its strong focus on client outcomes.
Though Bawa emphasises compliance has always been an important aspect of network membership, he says some networks have 'overreacted" to this, "and in the wrong direction".
"We have always been highly focused on compliance, we have a strong system and structure in place, and with consumer duty it’s been a case of just adding more staff to make sure we can deliver the support advisers need," he says.
"I think it’s so important for networks to utilise a common sense approach to compliance, as it means the advisers are much better able to understand what is necessary and how they can meet those expectations.
"[Many networks] have put barriers in place, making it harder for advisers to trade because of the way that they are policing consumer duty.
"There is an additional negative impact, in that because they are diverting such large resources into covering the consumer duty side, they have less money to support advisers, for example on areas like technology and business development."
