What are IFAs?

Independent Financial Advisers

The Financial Services Act 1986 saw the introduction of authorisation of anyone wishing to provide investment advice. Advisors were only able to offer investment advice as either an independent adviser or a tied adviser representing only one company.

From 1st June 2005 depolarisation was introduced. (Details can be found on the FSA website www.fsa.gov.uk) Access to suitable financial products and solutions is now provided through five avenues – direct, tied, multi tied, whole of market and Independent Financial Advisers.

Whole of Market Advisers are not necessarily independent and do not offer a fee option.

Independent Financial Advisers do not have any of the above constraints and are able to select from the entire market place. They also offer the option of paying for their advice through fees or commission, or a combination of the two.

As independent financial planners we provide comprehensive financial planning advice to assist clients in achieving their financial objectives. This means that planners will normally work on a fee basis rather than having having to recommend products to earn commissions. We firmly believe that only by being fee based can independent financial planners offer completely impartial and unbiased advice.