Hi Clubman, many thanks for your questions. I agree with regard to the financial advisor. My only worry is that my dad really does not understand ANYTHING with regard to his finances. I have advised him that he needs to start educating himself and then see the financial advisor with a list of preprepared questions as I think if he went now, any information given would go a little over his head. I am trying to get some hard facts from him at present.
Married single income family (my mum is 61), one dependent child still at home and in private third level education with three years to go, no mortgage, home worth about 650,000. No debts. I will come back with the pension details asap. Grateful for any advice or any specific questions that I need to ask him regard to the pension and early retirement being offered.