money is in a pension it is locked up until retirement. 3. Have a good look at ISA first. There are cash ISA and stocks and shares ISA you can put about 11,000 into an ISA each tax year. This gives you a lot of flexibility in the future. 4. I know that you can get tax relief on the pension contribution but don't forget that they tax you when you take your income at retirement. An ISA is always tax fee. 5. What sort of risk are you willing to take? I'm no expert in all this but if you are well informed in the first place you will usually make good choices and have the ability to ask sensible questions to any IFA. Just be aware: Pensions are protected from creditors, ISA's are not (unless you defraud creditors with your pension contributions). ISA's are created using taxed money, pensions are taxed, but only after a personal allowance has been taken tax free and often at a lower tax level than when accrued. They also give you 25% tax free cash (for now at least). ISA?s do however afford greater flexibility and it is why we always talk about both. In answer to your original question: Yes definitely interview an IFA. This should be a relationship you maintain for a number of years you should feel confident in them and comfortable. You won't find any decent IFA's that will do the work and then if you like the answer,