Consumers Turn To Expert Advice

Research from Unbiased, the professional advice website, has revealed that as the UK continues to feel the effects of the global financial crisis, almost 115,000 consumers have sought guidance from an independent financial adviser in the first three months of 2009.

Nearly a third of searches through the ‘find an IFA’ service, requested advice on personal retirement planning, as consumers continue to worry about how the credit crunch will affect their pensions. The second most popular search was for advice on investments and savings with nearly a quarter (24%) of searches being made in this area. Mortgages came in third, accounting for 13% of requests.

The report demonstrates once again consumers’ trust in independent financial advice, with Unbiased receiving over half a million requests for details of local IFAs last year. This quarter’s figures suggest that consumer demand for IFAs is set to continue.

David Elms, chief executive of Unbiased, said: “Our latest report demonstrates that as consumers continue to worry about how the credit crunch will affect their savings, investments and pensions, they are putting their faith in IFAs to guide them through these difficult times.

“In the current climate, consumers need expert advice more than ever, and IFAs are the best positioned to serve these needs. Only an independent financial adviser can take a holistic view of your finances and recommend solutions from across the whole of market, rather than just a selection of providers, giving you a choice of how you pay for this valuable advice.”

Source: Your Mortgage

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