A qualified financial adviser is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland to give advice to individual members of the public on pensions, life assurance, loans and investments. Advisers can be ‘tied’ and only able to advise on products of the product producer or can be ‘independent’ and able to advise on a range of providers and products.  It is important when selecting an adviser that you understand whether or not they are independent, how they are being paid for the advice that is being given, what products and services they are qualified to advise on and what impact any commission being paid will have on your pension or investments. In the context of occupational pension schemes and personal pension products, you should seek to know the adviser’s experience of relevant issues, particularly in relation to defined benefit scheme funding (if applicable to you).