Issue No. 20

There may be charges for this type of
product and there could be restrictions on
how much you can withdraw in the early
years, thereby limiting your flexibility.
There is of course nothing wrong with this,
but you may be ‘limiting’ your advice and
missing out on a wider market approach
and a significant range of investments and
investment companies which ultimately
may be more suitable for you.
These advisers may not have the
experience or opportunity to look at other
areas for financial planning for you.
Independent Advisers:
This is an adviser who can offer you advice
rather than product placement. Known as a
‘conseiller’ in France. They are highly
trained and will not ‘sell’ you anything.
Independent advisers aim to plan and
collect information on all of your financial
assets and provide a full report across
areas such as inheritance/estate planning,
pensions and investment.
They will search the whole marketplace for
a product that is appropriate for you and
consider your needs and wishes to achieve
the best outcome.
In France this can mean for instance that
you will have a choice of a number of
assurance vie products, a portfolio can be
tailored to your specific needs and
requirements and you are not limited to any
particular Assurance Vie product.
Everyone’s needs are slightly different - you
might be moving across different countries
in Europe or moving to Europe from another
jurisdiction. Having an adviser who
understands your needs may be fluid, can
certainly be an advantage.