‘Retirement planning’ and ‘investments and savings’ remain the top two advice drivers for November
· Unbiased.co.uk’s latest Advice Drivers report reveals 37% of consumers searching for independent financial advice sought guidance on personal retirement planning in November
· Advice on investments and savings remains at 28%
· First time buyers seeking whole of market mortgage advice falls to an annual low of 32%
The latest Advice Drivers figures1 from unbiased.co.uk, the professional advice website reveal retirement planning advice remains the top ‘advice driver’ for November, with 37% of all people carrying out a search looking for an IFA who specialises in personal retirement planning.
Searching for advice on investments and savings is the second most popular ‘advice driver’ with 28% of all consumers selecting at least ‘savings and investments’ as an area they want advice on. Those searching specifically for advice on ISAs, OEICs and unit trusts have increased once again in November, after a jump in July, to reach an annual high of 14%.
For the first time this year first time buying advice is not the highest searched for term on unbiased.co.uk’s find a mortgage adviser search but now ranks in joint place at the top with re-mortgage advice. The number of searches for first time buying advice has continued to fall throughout 2010 and has dropped from 36% in October, to 32% in November.
The research also reveals the number of consumers requiring specialist advice on buy-to-let and equity release mortgages has risen once again, marking an all time high for 2010 at 19% and 11% respectively.
Karen Barrett, Chief Executive of unbiased.co.uk, comments: “It is clear that retirement planning remains the most complex area for consumers to navigate as it continues to be the number one most searched for advice type by consumers when looking for an independent financial adviser. Only by seeking specialist advice will consumers be financially equipped for the long term, and only an independent financial adviser can look at the whole range of options and recommend the best choice for their clients.
“Our find a mortgage adviser statistics suggest that first time buyers have put their property search on hold until the New Year, as these searches reached an all time low in November, and for the first time this year is at the same levels as those seeking re-mortgage advice. Consumers looking to find a whole of market mortgage adviser or an IFA can carry out a free and confidential search at unbiased.co.uk.”
‘Find an IFA’ and ‘find a mortgage adviser’ top ten Advice Drivers in November 2010 were as follows:
Karen Barrett, Chief Executive, unbiased.co.uk: 020 7833 3131
Anna Schirmer/Anna Moulds/Emily Falla, Lansons Communications: 020 7294 3682
For expert commentary or case studies from over 150 media-friendly IFAs, journalists should visit www.unbiased.co.uk/bluebook.
About unbiased.co.uk, the professional advice website
The unbiased.co.uk portal is a free and confidential UK-wide search matching consumers with local professional advisers: ‘find an IFA’, ‘find a mortgage adviser’, and ‘find a solicitor’, and is currently inviting registrations for its ‘find an accountant’ service. These searches enable consumers to find professional advisers by postcode, area of specialism, qualification and payment method. In 2009, unbiased.co.uk fulfilled half a million searches for local, professional advice.
IFA Promotion, the organisation behind unbiased.co.uk, is now in its 21st year, and was set up to promote the benefits of independent financial advice to consumers. IFAP is sponsored by the following companies:
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AEGON |
J.P. Morgan Asset Management |
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Alliance Trust |
Legal & General |
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Aviva |
Lockton |
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AXA Life |
Lutine Assurance Services |
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Bright Grey |
MetLife |
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Canada Life Ltd |
Opinium Research |
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Cardif Pinnacle |
Prudential |
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The Children’s Mutual |
Royal London 360° |
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Clerical Medical Investment |
Scottish Life |
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Ecclesiastical Investment Management Ltd |
Scottish Widows Plc |
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Franklin Templeton Investments |
Standard Life Assurance Company |
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Friends Provident |
Sun Life Financial of Canada |
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ICM Research |
Zurich Intermediary Group |
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Invesco Perpetual |
Registered Office: unbiased.co.uk is the consumer brand of IFA Promotion Ltd, 90 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow G2 5UB. Registered in Scotland: No. 114606
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