Welcome to IFA-Online

The Internet is a fantastic resource for financial planning. How far you take this resource to fulfill your financial goals is entirely up to you and this site will help to some extent but we believe that you should never discount the benefits of seeking professional financial advice from an Independent Financial Adviser.

Why Choose an IFA?

Building a long term relationship with a trusted IFA who understands your circumstances and knows your long term financial goals will provide stability and consistency - benefits that are simply not afforded to you if you buy direct or use large scale organisations that cannot offer that personal touch.

• IFA's can recommend financial products from the whole of the market to provide a vast array of choice, features, flexibility and value for money - they will fully understand and can explain the finer details of these products.
• IFA's can make suggestions that you may never have considered - the use of trusts, tax implications, impact on existing financial plans, risk management.
• IFA's can react to changes in legislation, product design or movements in financial markets - freeing your time for what you do best.
• IFA's are highly regulated, so you will  benefit from a level of protection should you receive unsuitable advice - something you will not have if you buy direct.

IFA's cost more, don't they?

DIY financial planning... will you save money and achieve the best result after taking into account experience, design and time spent?

Not necessarily but individual IFA's have their own charging structures and you should take this into account along with the service that you expect to receive. All IFA's must give you the option to pay by fee or through commission paid following the arrangement of a financial product - the choice is yours.

All financial products have charges built in regardless of where you buy them but they tend to be priced the same whether you buy direct or through an IFA. Discounts may be offerred by an IFA for transactions over a certain value, this can make it cheaper than buying direct but it's not all about discounts, consider what other services you may gain (advice, reviews, updates). Always bear in mind what it costs if you get it wrong because the difference between the worst and best products can be significant (whether that be charges, product design and flexibility, or taxation).

Looking for information to help you make a financial planning decision?

We provide links to various calculators that give an understanding of the cost, availability and mechanics of some popular financial products. You can access quotations for mortgages, annuities and life assurance (eventually we will include pensions and investments). These tools are all free and simple to use but they are not a substitute for professional advice. You can also access 'Money Made Clear' guides - these are publications produced by the FSA for a variety of financial matters.

Where can I find an IFA?

In the near future this site will provide links to Independent Financial Advisers throughout the country. You will be able to search for IFA firms in your area and narrow your selection geographically and by charging structure (commission or fee) or area of expertise. In the meantime we can put you in touch with a small number of IFA's that can offer an online service regardless of your location or a face to face service in the Midlands. If you are an IFA who would like to offer your services to visitors of this site then please contact us.

IFA-Online, can you advise me?

IFA-Online is NOT authorised by the Financial Service Authority and therefore cannot give advice or make recommendations. The calculators that this site links to are provided and controlled by a company with whom we have close ties, Mortgages-Online Ltd, an IFA that is authorised by the Financial Services Authority and provides financial advice by remote means.