Best method to find a good respectable Finacial Advisor

Never EVER use a FA - it'll cost you much more than if you invest blindly and make a complete f**k up of it yourself. FA's are thieves who will advise you to kill your mother if they get a kickback. Tro

So youve had a good experience with one? lol

Not very helpful reply though, is it?

Personal recommendation is nice, if you can find someone who's used any particular FA. Reading all you can, asking for what free initial guidance is available from FA's, banks, Building Societies etc is also useful as you can get at least some background to finance and make a judgement which is at leat partially informed.

There is really only one option to think of these days (if your employer isn't pushing you towards anything), and that is a SIPP.

Yes, they can get compicated if you start putting classic cars and wine bottles into them, but you can keep them very simple and just put all the money into a balanced managed fund if you dont have a clue about investing.

The charges are so much lower than the traditional products.

A good general guide:

Money Rule no. 1 Dont do anything that you dont understand 100%

No, but rather honest I thought.

Not helpful? I got ripped for over 75K-if my post can save the OP that mistake, then I'm sure he'll disagree with you too.

Tro

What happened ?

I don't quite get that, though I'm sorry you lost the money. Alternative advice seemed to me to be more useful

My advice (limited though it was) was to learn as much about finance as you reasonably can so that you understand what's being suggested by any advisor you may consult. Some may disagree, but it still seems reasonable to me.

That was the FA's commission for recommending a locked in (regular payment) pension. I'm still paying the pension company the 75K back, and will do until I'm 65.

I was sorting through some of my pension documents yesterday and came across one that said the FA got 2,500 GBP for setting up the pension. I paid in 6k total (then switched jobs) Not bad for one half hour meeting !

They are also getting 12GBP per month for as long as the pension continues. Not bad for forwarding one statement every year.

You get your statements? I have to ask the insurance company for mine!

most turn up - the one with the 10% GAR at 60 I have to beg for :-)

Or go to an advisor for advice and to a salesman when you want to buy something. Neither ask a salesman for advise nor buy anything from an advisor.

That's very good advice!