Do I have to see the financial advisor.

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I'm currently in a pension at work. Take up of the work pension is minimal, most of my colleagues prefer to spend to their income rather than save for retirement (they're going to have a shock come 2017 & auto enrolment.

Anyway - a very small handful of more senior office staff (including me) as a perk were offered that our employer paid all our pension contribution so I joined (mad not to)

The financial advisor comes in once a year to speak to anyone who wants to either join, or do something different. I've managed to avoid seeing him so far after the initial first few years as i only work part time so often havnt been in work on those days anyway. He used to be my personal financial advisor & I found him very pushy.

I felt I could investigate my beefs better (he wasn't happy when we stopped paying into the ISA but I needed the money for school fees. Also I worked out for myself when was the best time to pay extra off the mortgage or save elsewhere.

I was asked a few weeks ago if I'd come in on my day off as he needed to see us all. I said I'd try but as it happens dd is off school sick. Apparently I have to see him & well have to arrange another appointment. I can't see why I have to.

We're not due for auto enrolment for ages yet (small company) & I'm not even sure I earn over the threshold anyway (I don't pay tax but do pay NI)

So you have to see him to get the employer's contribution now, rather than waiting for auto enrolment? And are under no obligation to do anything else he suggests/pushes you to do? And you don't have to pay him?

Assuming it's in work time, I'd suck it up, do it and ignore anything else he suggests. Not sure why it's a problem, other than none of us wants to spend time with pushy people, but I assume the benefit of employer contributions is worth it...

I've had the employers contribution for the last 10 years. It's to talk about risk & stuff & see if I want to make any changes etc

Plus it isn't in work time - it's on my day off. I'd forgotten about it. & work rang me up to remind me to go in - except I've got poorly dd at home plus a load of stuff to do for my other self employed work.

I don't contribute at all to the pension.

You do not have to see him. No law has been passed saying people must see financial advisors, nor can your employer insist you see him.

However, if you wish to keep on the good side of your employer and as a compromise to your employer, you could offer to call him. Put him on speak, say "hmmm" a few times and surf the net doing other stuff while he talks.

*speaker

Apparently it's because legally I have to say what risk I'm willing to take with the investment etc. I said can he just leave the paperwork & ill sign it same as last year.

Well, risk for those people is a mere box ticking exercise.
From Defensive, Cautious, Moderate, Higher-risk, to Willing to bet the farm....

Send him a one liner email. Should take care of it.

Hmm, in that case I wouldn't bother either!

You need to check the terms and conditions of the scheme. Receiving their contributions may be conditional upon you taking independent financial advice, and you may be able to take it from elsewhere and just confirm you have done so, or something like that.

It's not just about whether a "law has been passed" saying you have to see financial advisors. It's just not the case that no one is required to do anything unless there is a specific law saying so. It will be contract law, and the terms and conditions of the scheme might require it. Without seeing those terms, no one here is able to advise whether a one liner email will take care of it.

Sorry flowery, that's confused me

There is currently 1 pension scheme & people can opt to join it & pay a percentage of their income into it which is deducted directly from the wages each week. When I originally joined I had to be explained the scheme & all about investments etc etc.

However myself & a select couple of others don't have to co tribute ourselves as work pays our contributions for us.

The financial advisor has to be available to see yearly free of charge & ive never bothered but this year he says he wants to see me.

Er, ok. Still can't advise whether you have to see the financial advisor without looking at the terms and conditions of the scheme you're in.

If you don't want to see him and they say you do have to, you'll need to check those terms and conditions to see. I'm sure if you don't have a copy they'll be able to provide a copy.

The Welcome pack from Scottish Equitable I got back in 2008 doesn't say anything - just mentions to consult my financial advisor if I am unsure of anything.

Although I've just found a CDRom in the pack with the Policy Conditions on!

Let's not make this simple matter complicated.

The reason the financial advisor wants to see the OP is to see if he can sell her further business. Let's call a spade a spade. They call it "face-time".

I cannot imagine any T&Cs in any pension plan - least of all a stakeholder one which this one appears to be - including a term saying that the employee of the company organising the stakeholder pension must see a financial advisor. That really would be a first. There may be a line or two about establishing attitude to risk etc etc.

The financial services industry is expert at distorting rules and regulations to make people think they have to do things which they do not have to do. They know that if they increase face-time, they increase business. Don't go along with it if you don't want to.

Not having spoken to anyone involved or seen any terms and conditions, it's impossible for anyone here to say whether the OP has to see the financial advisor as she is being told. The only circumstances under which she might have to is if there are terms and conditions of the pension scheme she is in saying so. That's why she needs to check them, so that if they try to insist, she knows whether or not they have a right to do so.

That's not making it complicated, that's a fact, unlike speculation about motives of financial advisors.

Once the OP has established that she doesn't in fact have to see him, she can refuse with no problems.

So should I contact the pension company to ask then (assuming that might be simpler than trying to negotiate my way through the contents of that CDROM.

I personally think he's just throwing his toys out ofvthe pram because he can charge the company for his time.

If he chooses to come in again when I'm in work then fine. Ill just ask for the info to look at.

Personally I would just go in and say 'I am happy with my current financial arrangements, thank you.' and repeat as necessary every time he offers you something. It would get them off your back. You don't have to accept any of his suggestions, but you may have to listen to him.