No advice, but great value (Chartwell)

Member Name: ordy

Product:	Chartwell
Date:	29/03/03 (179 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Cheap, Efficient

Disadvantages: No advice

Before I write this I must start with a confession - I am an accountant!

That probably means that whilst many people read line one, nobody other than other accountants, perhaps some actuaries (boy are they boring!!!!) or the clinically insane will be reading lines 2 onwards.

Still, I shall persevere.

Anyway, because of my line 1 confession, it means that I know quite a lot about Pensions, ISA's, Endowments, mortgages - you know - all those interesting things that people like to chat about over a pint with a mate.

That makes Chartwell quite an interesting outfit for me. They reinvest 66% of commission for all financial products that they sell without advice. So, for example, say I want to buy a Standard Life pension, I would simply phone up Chartwell, who would send me the application forms, which I would complete, send back to Chartwell who would set it up for me.

No longer do I have to put up with those horrible IFA's with their greasy hair, cheap suits and polyester ties. It's easy.

However many people do not have my knowledge of financial products. Can they use Chartwell?

Well, of course, you could use them for advice and not pay the reduced commission. I really can't comment on the quality of their advice as i have never used it, but Patrick Connerly of Chartwell if often quoted in Financial Advice clinics in the Sunday papers. His advice always seems perfectly logical to me, so I reckon they are as good as anybody.

But there is a wealth of information on the net now on financial products and a few hours research would tell people what they need to know on the whole. They could then contact Chartwell to buy the products they choose.

The other option, which is ethically unsound, is to go to an IFA for a free consultation and then buy the products from Chartwell. I would never have the nerve to do that, but some people may be more hard nosed than I.

Overall th
ey are good value and efficient. I shall continue to use then for investment products as I like getting good value for money.

Summary: