Can I top up my pension without going through finanical adviser?

jem16

jamesd wrote: »

jem16, dunstonh, "I thought it sneaky because she didn't ask if we wanted a Regular Review Service" appears to make it quite clear what the customer's beliefs were at the time of signing the agreement.

Then why sign? It doesn't add up.

The adviser has done too many things that appear to be either contrary to the client's wishes or without informing the client in advance, and that implies issues beyond just communication.

My feelings are that there was already an ongoing relationship between the client and the IFA and all that changed was the method of paying for that ongoing servicing - ie bundled to unbundled.

These comments by the Op give me that feeling;

cornfake wrote: »

We have been seeing our adviser for the past few years to top up our pensions with a lump sum.

and

cornfake wrote: »

It transpires that this is a new charge from our ISAs of 1% per year for a Regular Review Service.

when earlier the OP said this was a charge for switching.

I also note that the Op is not challenging the 0.85% ongoing fee for the pensions so there definitely appears to already be a servicing type arrangement.

jamesd

jem16 wrote: »

Then why sign? It doesn't add up.

'At the end of the meeting she handed us forms to sign and said “This is for my fees”, we assumed that it was the fee for that meeting'. After telling them that there would be no charge. They had no reason to expect an ongoing charge to be included in the document because one had never been mentioned to them. In essence, she tricked them into signing.

jem16 wrote: »

My feelings are that there was already an ongoing relationship between the client and the IFA and all that changed was the method of paying for that ongoing servicing - ie bundled to unbundled.

Had the adviser disclosed the ongoing charges, I'd agree. But it's clear that the client didn't know about the ongoing charges.