How long should setting up a private pension with an IFA take?

[ThatPlumTurtle]

Just looking for a bit of advice, I had an initial appointment with an IFA towards the end of January, this was to set up a new private pension. I sent all the requested forms with income/expenditure etc a few days after this.

I am still awaiting the follow up appointment, I emailed mid March and was advised that things are much slower due to global issues, but now we're neatly mid April and nothing!

Am I being impatient? Does it actually take this long? I don't want to look elsewhere if I'm being unreasonable.

I’d find someone else. They clearly don’t have the bandwidth to provide a good level of service.

If your circumstances are fairly straightforward and you were just trying to start a pension with a payment from your savings then you’re not being unreasonable. That’s fairly straightforward work.

If they are gathering information on existing pensions with a view to consolidation that can take a while (2-3 months) but I’d expect them to sign post those delays not blame global problems.

Tax year end can also sometimes delay things as work that is year end dependent is prioritised but again I’d still expect that to be the explanation not global issues🙄

Did they seem keen enough to help?

@Blyvoorgirl thanks for your reply. Very straightforwards circumstances, although I do have an existing pension, this is being left as is, no consolidation/work required at all on that front.

She did seem incredibly helpful at the first meeting, but upon asking when we may have the next appointment her email was a bit 'off'. I suspect I shall have to start looking elsewhere.

Is there a possibility they initially thought you might be transferring the existing pension? Could their change in attitude be related to thinking there was a ‘bigger’ opportunity than it transpired?

I’m not justifying their behaviour BTW.

Either way - it doesn’t sound like they are someone you want to work with.

Can I ask why you need an IFA? If fairly straightforward why don’t you just open a SIPP?