Watty's Awakening

greenbee

Stinky says he has some sticks he can send over for WattyDog to chew instead of chewing his own leg. But the best thing would be for Watty to spend 24/7 doing whatever WattyDog wants.

Merlin's_Beard

I hope the meds kick in and he feels better soon!

Suffolk_lass

It's those nasty little grass seeds in our dog's paws, just between his toes - they itch, he licks. I now sit and check them in the evening (I am allowed to clean him as I am his pack leader)

Watty1

The cone of shame has been produced and shown to WattyDog. There has been no licking of leg or chewing of leg since then. He is one very smart dog 😀 He will however have to wear it if I go out as I don't trust him to observe rules if left alone. He doesn't come in the office so I can't really see him while I am working but I have perfected the art of silently walking into the main room (he is a German Shepherd - who am I kidding 😂)

Watty1

Three meetings with the financial advisors done. I have one more next week, although to be honest I am not keen on that one. The phone call setting up the meeting was with a very irritating man and he insisted advisor would come to the house - which worries me somewhat. Now I know have WattyDog and VNM but I feel that someone coming to my house might be a "hard sell". Two initial conversations done by phone appointment and one on teams.

Each of the three were quite different, one offered a software financial modelling for a fixed fee. Could then take that on for further advice but said, most people could manage with the fixed fee model if all they wanted was peace of mind and would get a 20 page report explaining options. Think this might be very advanced spreadsheet modelling with nice graphics. Another offered a face to face health plan check to go over plans, modelling with the intention of creating a one off plan but was clear he preferred to go ongoing management thereafter. The fees for ongoing management were a little off putting. Offered three fixed fee options based on where one was from retirement, I felt, although to be fair he did not push it, that it would have been the Plus option as we are looking at modelling various options around house, planning, business sale or staying in business and withdrawing money over time. The third was the most expensive but did the planning, audit and advice as one and said they could do ongoing management but for most people that was not necessary and in my case unlikely to be so. Now I liked the third but that might have been because it was on teams and she had the most fabulous hair and eye make up and was enthusiastic. She asked for feedback and I complimented her and said I was aware that was no grounds for selecting an IFA but she got bonus points. She did laugh and said she was the same, she noticed that in people too. With this one the fees for ongoing management were higher, but, I don't have assets that require ongoing management. This one was clear about being happy to spend time modelling lots of outcomes given I have a lot on the table right now and nothing is clear and said that the modelling might help me crystalise how everything fitted together. This third one was clear about being salaried and working for a large firm. Second one was a very small independent chap which probably accounts for wanting "ongoing management". I liked him but was not convinced I am wealthy enough for his services, which, might be excellent. I base this on a friend who has an very high workplace pension, and banked a divorce settlement around the 2 million mark and who does have ongoing services that seem to buy and sell stocks for her etc.

There, writing all that up, I think purple hair (sounds outrageous but was stunning) and make up might be the one. Not sure what to do about "him coming to the house" next week.

WelshmansDaughter

Cancel coming to the house would be my thoughts. Especially as you didn't feel comfortable in the first place

Cherryfudge

Having three to choose from is a good start, and it sounds as though you clicked with the purple hair person, so if you feel uneasy about next week's, is there any point in going ahead with it? At the least, if you feel it may be worth investigating further, could you ask for a Teams meeting and perhaps include your PA? I know what you mean about the hard sell. I felt the chap who came to us yesterday was a very slick salesman though I didn't feel pressured - but undoubtedly I was glad of a second person being around to ask questions and have another take on it.

KajiKita

I agree with cancel or put arms length next week's discussion …

The WD being shown the 'cone of shame' and immediately becoming a model patient made me smile. He's one sharp cookie! 😊

KK

beanielou

Cancel the one coming to the house is my vote too.

greenbee

Cancel the one coming to the house Watty.

A couple of the people I've got calls set up with seemed a bit perplexed that I wasn't local to them and wanting to have in-person discussions, but I've worked remotely for 20-odd years, so why is location relevant?

I think I probably do need some ongoing management of my pensions, although I should probably get them to convince me. Most of them seem to work on that model, whereas I'd like to pay a fee for someone to sit down and do the working out, and come up with a proposal as to how to get the mess tidied up, and then let me decide whether I want them to manage anything, and if so what. One of my mum's friends had all his money stolen by his financial advisor, so instead of coming back home from Asia in retirement, he's had to stay out there as he can't afford to come home… so there's that too :)