UPDATE:
The advertiser writes the article, not a journalist, the content is then just a one company advertisement!
Be careful, it's easy to be DELIBERATELY confused
Important
Any of you who have read my previous blogs will know how passionate I am about the importance that Expats take advice from a suitably qualified, experienced and regulated, independent financial adviser.
Believe all Newspaper articles and adverts?
The content is unbiased and there to inform you? It is NOT!
A diligent reader of 'Financial Pages in Spain' sent me an example where newspaper content merges with an advert. As if that was not deliberately confusing enough, the content was biased and potentially dangerous. The UK outlawed investment advice from unqualified advisers many years ago. Indeed they increased the qualifications necessary to give advice! Remember that that's not just pure investment but the investment within a pension too
In addition, the writer's description of an Independent vs Restricted adviser was wrong! This means his knowledge of the financial services industry in which he works, is not very good.
Unqualified advisers constructing investment portfolios is dangerous and very risky for the client involved. The answer is Due Diligence to ensure you only get Qualified Advice
Due Diligence
As you may know, I am able to help Expats to find an adviser who is suitably qualified to advise them. I have a strict due diligence process and I would never send a consumer to an adviser until they pass my test.
In respect of the advert I was shown, I have carried out my due diligence on the advisers working for the firm and they are not a company that I would be able to refer my readers to for advice.
Other Experiences
I can write from both working in the financial services industry and many years experience in Spain. I know of many other examples that lead me to believe that this is rife in other businesses and is not limited to Spain. Social media as well as newspapers and magazines place the same type of 'adverts' disguised as comment or content. Maybe Governments do this too?
Conclusion
You need to be very cautious of the firms, companies or individuals with whom you deal and take the utmost care
David Goodall
Financial Pages in Spain
Additional reading:
