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Do I need to speak to an IFA?

13

Comments

  • wjr4
    wjr4 Posts: 1,308 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    taper said:

    Via Unbiased I have been put in touch with a company called The Private Office who should be contacting me later today re IFA. Has anyone heard of them or had any experience of them? It will just be an initial intro call today!

    They’re fees look a lot higher than a local IFA.
    I am an Independent Financial Adviser (IFA). Any posts on here are for information and discussion purposes only and should not be seen as financial advice.
  • dunstonh
    dunstonh Posts: 119,887 Forumite
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    wjr4 said:
    taper said:

    Via Unbiased I have been put in touch with a company called The Private Office who should be contacting me later today re IFA. Has anyone heard of them or had any experience of them? It will just be an initial intro call today!

    They’re fees look a lot higher than a local IFA.
    Probably need to be to pay the new extortionate fees for listing on unbiased (and Vouchedfor).  

    According to their website, their minimum fee is higher than our maximum fee.   And, I cannot believe I have seen this, but they charge £3,725 for drawing a DB scheme.  I suspect most IFAs don't charge a penny when its existing clients and just help with the paperwork.   

    They do have a cap by the looks of things, but I suspect from their pricing levels that they are focused on high-net-worth individuals rather than middling consumers and their pricing reflects their typical market


    I am an Independent Financial Adviser (IFA). The comments I make are just my opinion and are for discussion purposes only. They are not financial advice and you should not treat them as such. If you feel an area discussed may be relevant to you, then please seek advice from an Independent Financial Adviser local to you.
  • artyboy
    artyboy Posts: 1,656 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Third Anniversary Name Dropper
    Ibrahim5 said:
    When they take a big chunk of what you have earned it's not really making the most of it.
    When who takes a big chunk for what reason?
    A one-track record... best left alone.
  • taper
    taper Posts: 29 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    wjr4 said:
    taper said:

    Via Unbiased I have been put in touch with a company called The Private Office who should be contacting me later today re IFA. Has anyone heard of them or had any experience of them? It will just be an initial intro call today!

    They’re fees look a lot higher than a local IFA.
    Ok I did wonder but not knowing much about IFA’s I wasn’t sure. I think I will avoid and endeavour to find someone local! 
    I was hoping the referral through Unbiased would do that but The Private Office is no where near me!


  • dunstonh
    dunstonh Posts: 119,887 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    I was hoping the referral through Unbiased would do that but The Private Office is no where near me!
    Unbiased is no longer an IFA directory.   Indeed, they have cut off most local small firm IFAs with their new pricing and its only the salesforces and large firms that can afford to be on there now.

    https://citywire.com/new-model-adviser/news/unbiased-fee-hike-will-put-an-end-to-hidden-costs-for-ifas/a2426845

    Now pricing begins at £302 pm. It was £32pm previously.   And it turned into a lead generation service rather than a directory of advisers.   That is why you no longer see most IFAs on there.   They also now list restricted FAs as well.


    I am an Independent Financial Adviser (IFA). The comments I make are just my opinion and are for discussion purposes only. They are not financial advice and you should not treat them as such. If you feel an area discussed may be relevant to you, then please seek advice from an Independent Financial Adviser local to you.
  • wjr4
    wjr4 Posts: 1,308 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    dunstonh said:
    wjr4 said:
    taper said:

    Via Unbiased I have been put in touch with a company called The Private Office who should be contacting me later today re IFA. Has anyone heard of them or had any experience of them? It will just be an initial intro call today!

    They’re fees look a lot higher than a local IFA.
    Probably need to be to pay the new extortionate fees for listing on unbiased (and Vouchedfor).  

    According to their website, their minimum fee is higher than our maximum fee.   And, I cannot believe I have seen this, but they charge £3,725 for drawing a DB scheme.  I suspect most IFAs don't charge a penny when its existing clients and just help with the paperwork.   

    They do have a cap by the looks of things, but I suspect from their pricing levels that they are focused on high-net-worth individuals rather than middling consumers and their pricing reflects their typical market


    Incredibly expensive, but I agree, they are focusing on HNW and not regular clients. 
    I am an Independent Financial Adviser (IFA). Any posts on here are for information and discussion purposes only and should not be seen as financial advice.
  • wjr4
    wjr4 Posts: 1,308 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    taper said:
    wjr4 said:
    taper said:

    Via Unbiased I have been put in touch with a company called The Private Office who should be contacting me later today re IFA. Has anyone heard of them or had any experience of them? It will just be an initial intro call today!

    They’re fees look a lot higher than a local IFA.
    Ok I did wonder but not knowing much about IFA’s I wasn’t sure. I think I will avoid and endeavour to find someone local! 
    I was hoping the referral through Unbiased would do that but The Private Office is no where near me!


    Go on google, speak with a few local IFA firms (check they are independent). Find out their fees and then go from there. The first meeting is always free of charge for you anyway. 
    I am an Independent Financial Adviser (IFA). Any posts on here are for information and discussion purposes only and should not be seen as financial advice.
  • JohnWinder
    JohnWinder Posts: 1,862 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    You might want to try this free service to find an independent, or otherwise, advisor. https://www.evidenceinvestor.com/find-an-adviser/ 
  • dunstonh
    dunstonh Posts: 119,887 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    You might want to try this free service to find an independent, or otherwise, advisor. https://www.evidenceinvestor.com/find-an-adviser/ 
    Do not use that site.  John has been asked repeatedly not to promote it but continues to do so.  (they earn from referring you to an adviser, but there is no indication of the type of adviser - i.e. restricted or IFA, and they promote using their own unregulated service.   The site also uses American terminology - such as references to fiduciary, which is not used in the UK.  So, is it genuine? (none of the IFAs here have heard of this site before).      UK adviser firms have been warned about being linked with unregulated introducers.  One key area is financial promotions, such as websites promoting a service that does not meet regulatory requirements).

    I am an Independent Financial Adviser (IFA). The comments I make are just my opinion and are for discussion purposes only. They are not financial advice and you should not treat them as such. If you feel an area discussed may be relevant to you, then please seek advice from an Independent Financial Adviser local to you.
  • FIREDreamer
    FIREDreamer Posts: 1,034 Forumite
    500 Posts Second Anniversary Name Dropper Photogenic
    dunstonh said:
    You might want to try this free service to find an independent, or otherwise, advisor. https://www.evidenceinvestor.com/find-an-adviser/ 
    Do not use that site.  John has been asked repeatedly not to promote it but continues to do so.  (they earn from referring you to an adviser, but there is no indication of the type of adviser - i.e. restricted or IFA, and they promote using their own unregulated service.   The site also uses American terminology - such as references to fiduciary, which is not used in the UK.  So, is it genuine? (none of the IFAs here have heard of this site before).      UK adviser firms have been warned about being linked with unregulated introducers.  One key area is financial promotions, such as websites promoting a service that does not meet regulatory requirements).

    American website, based in Arizona. Red flags galore.

    Domain Name: EVIDENCEINVESTOR.COM
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    Registrant Organization: Domains By Proxy, LLC
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    Registrant Street: 2155 E Warner Rd
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    Registrant State/Province: Arizona
    Registrant Postal Code: 85284
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