OAK Advisers Ltd identifies Catherine as a vulnerable customer. Under the Consumer Protection Code, what must the adviser do when dealing with her?

• A. Provide assistance to Catherine to facilitate her dealings with them.
• B. Recommend only risk-free investment products to her.
• C. Provide only generic investment advice to her, and not recommend any particular product to her.
• D. Not arrange a financial product for her until at least 14 working days after providing a written investment recommendation to her.

Answer: (A)

When a customer is identified as vulnerable, advisers must provide assistance to facilitate their dealings. This means offering extra support to help Catherine understand information, explain risks and options in plain language, check that she understands what is being said, and allow extra time or involve a trusted person if she wishes. The goal is to ensure she can participate in the process and make informed decisions, not to push a specific product or delay action unnecessarily.

That’s why providing such assistance is the appropriate obligation. The other options don’t fit this duty: there isn’t a requirement to restrict to risk-free products, nor to give only generic advice without product recommendations, and there is no rule to delay arranging a product for 14 working days after a written recommendation.