I am a teacher with a very patchy teacher's pension - went into teaching late, 8 years out when I had children, several years part time and then more time out for ill health. I am now back in teaching and have recently found out that I am able to buy back years, although this is very expensive; however, when I had sufficient money to do this several years ago, it was not recommended as an option. I don't have a mortgage and on the advice of the financial advisor the lump sum was invested elsewhere and I was recommended to pay into a different private pension.
I am now wondering if I have been given poor advice.