Advisor choices

Doesnt sound reasonable to me, there is no more work in advice on investing say 10,000 than 20,000 but the local firm would charge you twice as much! And 2% per annum is ridiculous. If I were you I'd try and find someone who could advise for a lump sum, lets say 100/hour or whatever seems to be the going rate.

But better than that, do your own research and do it yourself, that way you will understand what you invested in and why. Its not that difficult.

Yes, but don't forget that if you want to buy packaged or pooled investment products (unit trusts, OEICs, insurance bonds, etc.) you will almost certainly be able to get a better deal by going through an IFA than direct.

Rob Graham

True but that doesnt mean you have to accept the kind of terms referred to by the OP.

No, I agree. I just wanted to point out that going direct having done you own research is not necssarily the best option. Most people seem to think that by using a third party they are putting up their costs - in fact most people seem to think this. A prime example of this is Bristol & West which has some products where the IFA version is a better deal (and the IFA gets paid as well) than the direct-sale version. In other words, you are actually wasting money by going direct.

Rob Graham

Just 10% of profits would be more reasonable.

There's an article on EJ on The Motley Fool US site -

Almost certainly.

It's more likely to be to your detriment.

Read the TMF 10 steps guide first, to get an idea of how things operate

It might be worth speaking to a fee based advisor, depending upon the amount -

or If you post the advice you receive and your objectives here prior to investing, there's plenty of posters with the experience necessary to evaluate it.

hth

Daytona

Many thanks for your help. I will take a good look at the articles you have pointed me at.

Who is behind the MotlyFool? I had a quick look and could not find an "About Us" button... Maybe I missed it....

Many thanks, XyX

Tumbleweed, Many thanks for your response. Interesting - my feeling was that 2% was a bit over the top for what was being offered.

Yes - I suppose I could do it myself. It's time that's the problem. There is so little of it, and I don't have enough time to do the things that are high on my priority list. Ho humm....

Others have pointed me at the Motly Fool site - Perhaps this will help me in the right direction.

Many thanks for your help, XyX

I agree, and by "doing it yourself", certainly the Motley Fool is an excellent place to start. And as Rob Graham pointed out, once you have decided what to buy you can usually get a better deal by going via an IFA (maybe on the net), for example I have used Garrison Investments(sp?) and also Hargreaves Lansdown, they will refund a lot of the initial charge on many investments. There are others as well, its just those are the two I have used.

Here's an early article about the UK operation - . The site I linked to was the US version as EJ are much bigger in the states. The TMF boards/forums are also a superb resource . imo/ime after having used it for 4 years, TMF is the best consumer finance resource in the UK.

Daytona