Evidence of what was said, made at the time.
When a client disputes advice, a cost or a consent, the only record is usually a note written afterwards by the person with something to lose. Forthold keeps the conversation itself, sealed at the moment it happened.
Coming next. Forthold for professionals is being built now, with a small group of firms. What follows describes how it will work.
A note is not a record.
AI note-takers now write up meetings for professionals, and they are good at it. But a summary is produced afterwards and can be edited. In a dispute, the question is what was actually said, and a summary cannot answer it.
They write the note. We keep the record it came from. Forthold sits alongside the tools you already use rather than replacing them.
Three regulators made the conversation a compliance matter.
of suitability complaints about financial advisers were upheld in 2023/24, against roughly 30% across all products.
Financial Ombudsman Service dataof pet owners given pricing before non-routine treatment got it in writing. Written estimates are now binding.
Competition and Markets Authority, 2026evidence of disclosure in motor finance is now presumed to mean disclosure was inadequate.
Financial Conduct Authority, PS26/3Who it is for
Financial advice
Suitability, Consumer Duty and the ongoing advice review.
See financial adviceMortgage advice
The same regulator and the same evidence duty, from fact-find to recommendation.
Insurance broking
What was asked and what was disclosed, when a claim is declined.
Veterinary practice
The estimate and the consent conversation, now that written records are required.
Constructionlater
Variations agreed on site and disputed at valuation.
Built to clear your compliance review
Inside what you already use
We are building integrations with the practice management platforms firms already run, so Forthold arrives under an approval you have already given.
Consent, from the start
Consent will come first: no client will be recorded without agreeing, and when one declines, a sealed note will show that you asked.
Never read by us
Our contract forbids us from reading client conversations. EnclaveA tier we plan to offer later. Your record will be opened only inside verified hardware, so even we will not be able to read it., coming later, will make it impossible.
What it is not
Forthold does not give advice, make recommendations or judge suitability. It keeps the record. The judgement stays yours.
We are looking for ten firms to build it with.
Design partners shape the product with us and keep founding rates. Tell us about your firm. To talk about it, write to us at hello@forthold.com.