By Mary Green
Many people come to us at a transitional point in their lives so something may have happened or be about to happen in their lives. This could be a significant birthday, getting or considering a divorce or ending a relationship, the loss of a loved one or the birth of a child.
It could simply be that you feel that time is slipping away and that you need to get a grip on your pensions so that you can retire at some point. Or you would like to change career, perhaps even start your own business. It’s worth considering what your objectives are prior to contacting a financial adviser and what a good outcome would be for you. This could be consolidating your old workplace pensions and finding out how much income you can expect in retirement and when. It could be what Investment products would work best for you in the current tax environment. Equally it could be getting advice to bring together your finances into a more coherent and targeted whole.
You should not have to pay for an initial meeting as it is a chance to get to know each other and start building a relationship of trust. The adviser will ask questions which will enable them to understand what is important to you and should be able to clearly explain how they will be able to support you. It is a two-way process so both parties need time to relax and feel comfortable with each other. You should be able to ask how the process works and gain an understanding of what they charge. It is also important to ask if the firm can offer independent advice or if it is restricted. You need to be aware that a restricted adviser will not have access to as many options and products as an independent adviser and therefore there may be the risk that their advice is not bespoke to your needs.
