When deciding on how best to invest your invest your money, there are four types of financial institutions options to help map out your investment strategies. You can either go for an independent financial services and advice institution, a multi – tied financial adviser, a whole of market financial adviser, or a tied financial adviser.

An independent financial services and advice provider is one that not attached to any particular company when it comes to investments options. These institutions will offer you a variety of options to invest into, and offer unbiased advice on all the products in the market. Most people prefer these financial advisers as they offer the best alternatives, and will not be prejudiced in the products that they will offer.

A tied adviser is one whole will offer the clients’ only one product to invest in based on which company they will be representing. Good examples of tied advisers are banks and building societies. Unlike the independent financial services and advice provider, the multi-tied adviser is attached to a limited number of providers or a panel of market providers. That means that this adviser can only offer these companies’ products, leaving you without a wide range of choices to select from.

Another type a financial adviser is the whole market financial advisers. These providers will offer the client all the options available in the market, but unlike the independent financial services and advice providers, they will not charge any fee for their services. These firms rely on commissions obtained form selling a particular product for their income.

In selecting which of the above advisers to go with, it is important to check whether they are registered with the Financial Services Authority, as apart from making them legal, the FSA gives them credibility and accountability with their clients money.