I'd like to have an open discussion about my pension options with an FA who charges an hourly rate

I would like to have an open discussion about my pension options with an FA who is independent and charges an hourly rate - is there anyone working in Financial Services who is happy to do this?

Hi Binky,

That's a great question. Although the majority of regulated financial advisers offer full planning and investment services on a % of assets basis, more and more are beginning to offer fixed fees, either in exchange for specific services or in some cases, an hourly consultation fee.

A key driver for your research could be whether you ultimately want to receive specific recommendations on financial products. Regulated advisers can provide a personal recommendation on products like pensions and investments and they can also manage money on your behalf and liaise with product providers.

On the other hand, if you are seeking a discussion that empowers you to do your own research and make your own decisions without specific advice, you could consider working with a financial coach. They will typically offer an hourly rate or a fixed-price 'package' and because they do not recommend products or manage money, % based fees do not apply.

There's a wide range of financial coaches with various specialisms, experience and qualifications, so take some time to find the right one for you. You can speak with a few before deciding who to work with, as all coaches should offer an inital meeting, at no cost to you.

A good place to start is the Boring Money "Find an adviser" page, where you can use the "Advanced Filters" option to search for professionals who work on a fixed fee basis.

Hope that helps and best wishes in researching your options.

Graham