Useless IFA on BBC 3 Counties Radio - Translation please - "12.3K CGT allowance Wrapper"

coyrls

solidpro said:

I think we're all agreed then. The IFA was useless.

You don't happen to know the IFA by any chance?

bowlhead99

solidpro said:

I think we're all agreed then. The IFA was useless.

I think we are agreed that the IFA didn't tell you what you think he should have told you, even though you didn't ask him any questions. For some reason you don't blame the presenter for not asking the right questions or using sensible examples, you blame the IFA and deride him as a 'so called' expert. 

I have no idea about how competent he is at his job (which is not being a radio presenter or teaching people about the top paying savings accounts), but don't agree that he was useless - I doubt there is consensus on that, given that he made some sensible points and answered the questions posed. Perhaps you are just deflecting your own misunderstanding of what was being discussed, and are disappointed that people haven't flocked to agree with your opening comments that the IFA did a bad job by not recommending investing in bricks and mortar or LISAs (which are examples of things that it would not make sense to discuss, given the specific questions and examples put forward by the presenter).

Sailtheworld

I don't really see how JVC should be taking the blame for any of this.

bowlhead99

Sailtheworld said:

I don't really see how JVC should be taking the blame for any of this.

The only people we can blame for the thread existing are the interviewer for not asking the right questions to tease out from the interviewee the answers that the OP wanted to hear; the interviewee for poorly answering the questions posed, or the OP for misunderstanding the answers given, or wanting to hear answers to different questions, and deciding to create the thread. 

If the OP doesn't want the blame, then that only leaves the interviewer and the interviewee. The interviewee (though perhaps not the finest specimen of his profession) didn't seem to do particularly badly, given the parameters in which he was working and comparing him to the calibre of the average 'midmorning local radio' guest that we come across. So then we're down to it being the fault of the interviewer. Unless we perhaps blame the OP for being a stirrer, which doesn't seem an unreasonable option to me.

Sailtheworld

Sorry, maybe it's JLS I was thinking of....

AlanP_2

Having done a couple of local radio interviews it wouldn't suprise me if the IFA didn't even know the specific topic was going to be "what's better than a cash ISA for £15-30K of life savings" until he got asked it.

The Producers / Production Assistants can be a bit vague on details.

solidpro

I am often invited to meetings. The reason I'm invited is because people would like me to help them understand things. There might be a pay off in that I might get some business out of it later.

A bit like being invited on a radio show as an expert to talk about what pensioners can do about their money losing value in savings accounts. Obviously having your name on the radio is a great advert, if only 5 people google search.

I don't go unprepared. I don't talk in language the people I'm with don't understand - that's the reason they invited me. I don't blame them if I didn't do a good job at helping them understand. 

I don't know the IFA. I can't even remember his name. I just don't like useless people who do a bad job. I work in IT and communications and am surrounded by snake oil salesmen, people winging it with buzz words simply unable to admit 'I don't know that, but I can find out'. Probably like the financial services industry. I don't think it's unfair to call someone out for doing a bad job on the radio and I disagree with everyone on here who seem to be suggesting he did a great service to the intended audience. Blaming the host, who was essentially part of that 'clueless' audience isn't correct either.

solidpro

And I don't laugh at the people who invited me for me expert advice, for suggesting something only I know, as an expert is not a good idea because it would make me come over as a smug, secretive person without humility for 'non experts'. 

Reminds me Richard Herring's driving instructor, talking down to a student "do you even know what order the traffic lights go in? No you don't do you, because you Tina, CAN'T EVEN DRIVE!"

dunstonh

I don't go unprepared. I don't talk in language the people I'm with don't understand - that's the reason they invited me.

What about in scenarios where you are not prepared because it takes a tangent that puts you in a difficult position where you cannot say what the host wants you to say?

I work in IT and communications and am surrounded by snake oil salesmen, people winging it with buzz words simply unable to admit 'I don't know that, but I can find out'. Probably like the financial services industry.

The regulated advice side is not sales orientated so much nowadays.   The FA salesforces are but the IFA side is generally not a sales environment.

solidpro

dunstonh said:

What about in scenarios where you are not prepared because it takes a tangent that puts you in a difficult position where you cannot say what the host wants you to say?

Wouldn't most decent/confident people just be honest? Not sure this host had an agenda with the guy. I don't think this was a case where he was really answering unexpected questions. The question was the topic framed in a light entertainment mid-morning talk show and he should just give some pre-planned advice.

This isn't that scenario because it wasn't a cold call. He was invited on as a professional, giving his full name and work title, unlike guests who come on unplanned.