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Retirement remains number one ‘advice driver’ for consumers in the month running up to the election

·   Unbiased.co.uk’s latest Advice Drivers report reveals 35% of consumers searching for independent financial advice sought guidance on personal retirement planning in April

·   Investment and savings triggered 26% of searches on unbiased.co.uk’s ‘find an IFA’ service

With a coalition Government now confirmed – and a potential policy battle looming around pensions tax relief for high earners – latest figures from unbiased.co.uk, the professional advice website, reveal retirement planning continues to be the number one advice driver when searching for an independent financial adviser (IFA). Over a third (35%) of consumers sought retirement planning advice in April when using unbiased.co.uk’s ‘find an IFA’ service.

The second most popular advice driver in April remained investment and savings, with over a quarter of consumers (26%) searching for an IFA specialising in this area.  Despite a decrease from the previous month, a demand for independent financial advice on these specialist areas continues to be high as consumers consider their investments and long-term financial planning for the future.

Karen Barrett, Chief Executive of unbiased.co.uk, comments: “With the coalition Government now in motion, direct and strategic input will be needed when it comes to pensions policies – which are often left on the backburner when it comes to government decision-making.  With all this going on around us, it is not surprising to see that retirement planning remained at top position when it comes to consumers seeking professional financial advice.

“Retirement planning is a hugely complex area and only an IFA can look at all factors relevant to an individual and their circumstances, and recommend the best solution for them. To find an independent financial adviser near you, visit unbiased.co.uk’s ‘find an IFA’ service to find details of a qualified, local IFA who specialises in the area of advice you are looking for.”

The top ten Advice Drivers in April 2010 were as follows:

ENDS

Karen Barrett, Chief Executive, unbiased.co.uk: 020 7833 3131

Anna Schirmer/Anna Moulds/Charli Scouller, 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:

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