Pension Maze

DarcySarto

Good Evening All
I'm starting to piece all my bits and bobs together, state pension, AVCs, work pensions etc and trying to navigate my best options with 5-10 years to go.
Has anyone used Pensionwise or Unbiased? If so I'd be grateful if you could let me know how useful or positive the experience was.

eskbanker

Pensionwise offers generic guidance about pensions but won't give personal financial advice as such.

Unbiased is a directory of advisers, some of whom will offer a similar generic free consultation but will need to paid for something specific beyond that.

No harm in engaging with either Pensionwise or one or more IFAs to find your feet a bit more, but you get what you pay for, or you could share more details on here about your pensions, and any concerns, for feedback of various flavours!

Starting point for state pension is always https://www.gov.uk/check-state-pension

Marcon

DarcySarto said:

Good Evening All
I'm starting to piece all my bits and bobs together, state pension, AVCs, work pensions etc and trying to navigate my best options with 5-10 years to go.
Has anyone used Pensionwise or Unbiased? If so I'd be grateful if you could let me know how useful or positive the experience was.

Start with a (free) appointment with PensionWise. There is plenty of sneering on this board about what they do (ie give basic facts and guidance, rather than dealing with more advanced/specific queries, or giving actual financial advice), but given how little most people know about the basics, it's a better starting point then many would be willing to accept!

Once you have a better grasp of the basics, that will stand you in much better stead to decide whether you need actual financial advice (eg recommendations on where to invest/the types of fund to choose).

luvchocolate

I found pensionwise to be very helpful. 
I'd gone through a terrible financial time in 2008. 
The lady actually did give advice...I know that's usually not allowed...she said "if I were you'
Enough said 

dunstonh

The lady actually did give advice...I know that's usually not allowed...she said "if I were you'
Enough said 

oh dear, thats not very good or helpful.    You should have complained.

cfw1994

dunstonh said:

The lady actually did give advice...I know that's usually not allowed...she said "if I were you'
Enough said 

oh dear, thats not very good or helpful.    You should have complained.

🤣

Well, we don’t know the context of that.

If she said ‘if I were you I would invest in these funds’…..well, that would be crazy talk.

If she said ‘if I were you, I would ask Company X about the guaranteed benefits on that scheme before you consider making your mind up’….well, that could be a sensible thing to say, & I don’t feel that would constitute as ‘advice’ ?

Guidance versus advice 
🤷‍♂️

Albermarle

DarcySarto said:

Good Evening All
I'm starting to piece all my bits and bobs together, state pension, AVCs, work pensions etc and trying to navigate my best options with 5-10 years to go.
Has anyone used Pensionwise or Unbiased? If so I'd be grateful if you could let me know how useful or positive the experience was.

In addition to the other comments, regular reading of this forum can be useful in keeping up to speed on pensions. Although as it is an open internet forum, you will see differing opinions amongst the more useful facts.

FIREDreamer

DarcySarto said:

Good Evening All
I'm starting to piece all my bits and bobs together, state pension, AVCs, work pensions etc and trying to navigate my best options with 5-10 years to go.
Has anyone used Pensionwise or Unbiased? If so I'd be grateful if you could let me know how useful or positive the experience was.

I have used pensionwise but in the end it turned out i knew more than he did.

If they send you a report, please make sure the last page isn’t missing. 😀

eastcorkram

Can you use pension wise more than once? 

gambleruk

eastcorkram said:

Can you use pension wise more than once? 

Yes I asked them when I spoke with them a couple of years ago and said I could make another appointment with them if needed, to be honest once you have spoke to them once I don't think you will need to speak with them again.