The wealth management and financial planning firm will use MARS across its retail client base, providing relationship managers with additional tools to identify vulnerable clients.
The support services provider said regulatory expectations are increasingly focused on firms' ability to evidence good outcomes, particularly for vulnerable customers.
The aim is to reduce the number of times vulnerable customers are asked to repeat personal information as they move between insurers, brokers, advisers and service providers.
The guidance sets out how firms can handle vulnerability data in line with UK data protection requirements and the FCA's Consumer Duty.Â
The partnerships will focus on tackling financial vulnerability and supporting community resilience through fundraising, awareness campaigns and staff engagement activities.
John Barbour discusses how funders must strengthen long-term risk oversight in later life lending to address vulnerability and Consumer Duty obligations.
Andrew Gething said: “While we mustn’t rule out those using AI to assist with communication or overcome barriers to engagement, we have to be vigilant."
Comentis said the tool enables firms to move beyond identifying vulnerable customers and towards demonstrating that good outcomes are being delivered across all client groups.
Andrew Gething said: “We welcome the regulator’s call for proactive, as well as reactive approaches – something we have been campaigning on for some time now."
Research from the MorganAsh Resilience System found only 22% of customer vulnerability assessments included questions about domestic abuse.Â
While 51% of respondents said they save for periods when they may be unable to work due to illness, injury or redundancy, 44% said they rarely or never do so.
The analysis covers key areas like identification, customer support, data and systems, lifecycle management, reporting and audit trail.Â