FOR FINANCIAL ADVISERS ONLY

Digital Letters of Authority

Leave the paperwork to us!

Generate, send and track Letters of Authority in one place. Timeline's Digital LOA functionality, powered by Pension Lab, helps reduce manual administration, automates provider follow-ups, and keeps your client onboarding moving.

Trusted by hundreds of financial advice firms, with over 9,000 Letters of Authority sent through Timeline in 2025, all at no extra cost.

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Exclusive to financial advisers

We make financial planning easier for advisers and more engaging for clients. Financial Advisers add the most value to clients through personalised plans and coaching that gives clients clarity and confidence in their financial future. Hear the direct feedback from advisers and firms who have reaped the benefits of working with us.

HOW DO DIGITAL LOAs work?

Watch how Timeline simplifies the Letter of Authority process, from generating requests and collecting signatures to provider follow-ups and progress tracking.

Collect Provider Information  
up to 80% faster*

Simply enter your client's details, and we'll help manage the rest. From generating your Letter of Authority to collecting signatures, submitting requests and sending follow-ups, Timeline helps simplify the entire process.

Enter your client's details
Generate the appropriate Letter of Authority
Collect your client's signature
Submit the request to the provider
Automated follow-ups are sent where supported
Track progress through your LOA dashboard
Receive Policy information as it becomes available

Hear how advisers are simplifying their LOA process

See how financial advisers are reducing administration and improving the client onboarding experience with Timeline's Digital Letters of Authority.

It's a thousand times easier than what it was. The automatic chasing, the ETAs, and even the scanning. It just takes a ton of time off us so we can focus on actual, meaningful client work, and not administration.

Rory Albon

Albon Financial Planning

The LOA thing is the best thing thats ever happened to me. I did a test one. Got it all back in 4 days and only took 3 minutes of my time to do. I wouldn't have even found our form in that time!

Steven Rowe

Lucent Financial Planning

I think its great! Its so easy to use and they keep us advised by email. I'm a big fan!

Jo Morgan

Interface Financial Planning

Why do Letters of Authority take so long?

Letters of Authority are an essential part of the advice process, but they're often one of the most time-consuming. Different provider requirements, manual administration and repeated follow-ups can all slow client onboarding.

Research from Pension Lab found:

Around 3.9 million Letters of Authority are processed each year
Completion typically takes between 7 and 59 days
Advisers make an average of 2.4 follow-up chases for every LOA

Timeline's Digital LOA functionality helps streamline this process through digital workflows and automated communications. That's time your advisers, paraplanners and support teams could spend on client work instead.

We know when it's time
to follow up

Different providers have different processes and turnaround times.

Timeline's integration with Pension Lab uses provider-specific workflows to automatically send follow-ups where supported, helping reduce manual chasing and keeping your LOAs moving.

How do Digital Letters of Authority help your business and your clients?

Reduce administration

Automate much of the Letter of Authority process, from generating requests to provider follow-ups, cutting the time spent on manual tasks.

Improve the client experience

Keep clients informed with progress updates and estimated turnaround times where available, helping provide a smoother and more transparent onboarding experience.

Track every LOA for each client

See the status of each Letter of Authority in one place, helping maintain a clear record of requests and progress.

Spend more time with clients

Less time spent managing paperwork means more time focused on delivering advice and growing your business.

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This online tour will show you all the features and benefits of Timeline's unified eco-system for financial planners.

Ready to simplify your Letter of Authority process?

Join hundreds of financial advice firms already using Timeline to manage Digital Letters of Authority more efficiently.

Collect provider information up to 80% faster.*

Available to advisers using Timeline, through our Planning subscription or full ecosystem access.

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Frequently asked questions:

What is a Letter of Authority?

A Letter of Authority (LoA) is a document signed by a client that gives their financial adviser permission to request policy information from providers on their behalf. It's an essential step in onboarding and reviewing clients, but the traditional paper-based process is slow, often taking weeks and multiple follow-up calls.

Which providers do Timeline's Digital LOAs work with?

Timeline connects with the majority of UK pension, investment and protection providers. We focus on providers that respond reliably to LoA requests, so a small number aren't currently supported. If a provider isn't listed, contact support@timeline.co and we'll advise on the best route.

How much does it cost?

Right now, it's completely free. Digital LOAs are in beta, which means Timeline users get unlimited access at no charge, no per-LOA fees, no hidden costs. The beta won't last forever, so it's the perfect time to try it, and we'll always give you plenty of notice before anything changes.

How do clients sign the Letter of Authority?

Clients only sign once, no matter how many LoAs are needed. When a client needs to sign LoAs, they’ll receive an email where they can review the list of LoAs and sign them digitally using a secure platform integrated with Timeline. It’s quick, easy, and secure.

How long does a digital LOA take compared with paper?

Traditional LOAs typically take between 7 and 59 days, with an average of 2.4 chases per request. Pension Lab's research suggests digital LOA management can reduce the time involved by up to 80%.* Some Timeline users have reported receiving full policy information within four days.

Is the process secure and Consumer Duty–friendly?

Yes. Pension Lab is ISO27001 certified, and we can provide the certificate upon request. Pension Lab operates by the principle of least privilege, regularly monitoring and reviewing role-based access controls across the system. Additionally, Pension Lab has monitoring and alert systems in place to detect any anomalous behaviour, both externally and internally. All sensitive data is encrypted during transit and at rest to ensure maximum security.

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Digital Letters of Authority