Kronas, DONT go to a high street bank and ask for an appointment with a financial adviser. I'll say that again so I can be sure you read it right. DONT. They can only advise you on their products, or the companies they are affiliated with. You won't get a fair view of the market place from there.
Get the Yellow Pages out and look for INDEPENDENT financial advisers, then ring around them and ask what their charging policy is. Many are free, well to you they are free but when they recommend you a policy and you take it they get a payment from the relevant company (just like the ones at the high street banks and building society's), the difference is they will go through all the policy's that are around to get the right one for you.
They will go through the whole process for you even if you are only interested in one type of product (its the law) I think its called LIPS, Life cover, Insurance, Pensions and Savings. Or something like that, but I think you'll find they will tell you that paying into a pension is a complete waist of time at your age as that was the advice when I asked one of the advisers at Abbey when I briefly worked there a few years ago. She told me to put the money into a cash ISA and then I would have a nest egg to use as a deposit when it came to mortgage time. Apparently it would save you more money in interest when used as a deposit then it would make money in a private pension.
Before you jump in make sure its an independent financial adviser you see (did i say that already
). I'm sure you'll research it for yourself and find the best product on the market, and I'm glad there are some younger people out there that are actually looking forward in like regards money and not just ****ing it up the wall.
As for me, I'm not going to have a pension, I'd much rather spend the money either paying off my mortgage quicker(when I get one), and then putting what I would have been paying in interest and capitol repayment into some form of savings. Much less riskier then letting others look after it for me.
Edit - As for life cover, if you feel you want the security of a small policy, then when you are speaking with the adviser let him/her know and they will be able to do you a quote. They don't have to be made out to your children or partner, they can be made out to anyone, so if you want to know that your funeral (bit morbid I know but needs mentioning) will be paid when you die then this is a great way