Thinking of attending one? Did you think they were independent? Are the advisers qualified?
Please consider this BEFORE you attend
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 Adverts?
So, when I saw the publicity for this – The Finance Tour is the only truly independent investment and pensions
seminar in Spain Really? I thought to myself,
“this is something I should look at”. If 3 high profile product providers have
come together to participate in an independent tour, this is something I must comment
upon.
However, from my many years working in
the UK, I know that product providers will never endorse one adviser over
another, irrespective of how qualified or experienced an adviser might be.
I decided to investigate further. All
3 providers told me that they would never knowingly endorse one adviser. It's not in their interests!
Someone has gone to great lengths to make consumers believe that 3 product
providers have come together to offer their expertise to British Expats in
Spain, and to help them, they have invited one “Adviser” firm, chosen from the
many that operate in that area. This gives the false impression that the 3
product providers are in some way endorsing that particular firm above all
others. THEY DO NOT!
Due Diligence
Now, all the above might be fine if
the adviser firm in question could pass my due diligence process but they don't!
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.
I have carried out my due diligence on
the advisers working for the firm in question and they are not a firm that I would be able to refer my
readers to for advice.
