It's been three years - and it hasn't been great

Dear FSA,

It has been three years since we got together and, to be honest, it hasn’t been great.

I never expected our relationship to be fun. We got together out of duty really. An arranged marriage, if you like. You were always the dominant one and I just had to grin and bear it.

But you were demanding. The rules of the house were not exactly short – about six-foot high if piled on top of each other. I’m still reading some of the rules to tell you the truth, and a lot of them don’t make sense. I have to employ someone to explain them to me.

You say that you are cutting back the small print and giving me principles to adhere to. But you don’t always explain what you mean, and I fear your anger if I get it wrong.

Sometimes I find you unapproachable and not particularly helpful. I want to make you happy, but you have to make an effort too.

I don’t think you understand me. You can talk all day about banking, the credit markets and mortgages (although I noticed you have recently got a bit red-faced when Northern Rock comes up). But you don’t seem to know what makes me tick.

“Then there are the sudden visits when I am least expecting it. You come in, rifle through my things, ask personal questions about my affairs

If things are going to work out, you do need to understand me better. Spend some time really getting to know me, how I operate and what motivates me.

Then there are the sudden visits when I am least expecting it. You come in, rifle through my things, ask personal questions about my affairs. I don’t think it is jealousy, more a need to find out if I am behaving. I can cope with that, but sometimes I wonder whether you really know what you are talking about.

Being with you isn’t cheap. I know I like my little luxuries, but you are definitely the more high maintenance, regularly asking me for money – and each time it increases. I sometimes doubt whether I am getting value for money.

Your continuing interest in how much I earn also frustrates me. You’ve already looked into whether I should be forced to reveal my commission levels and yet you go on and on about it. Can’t you let this issue lie?

Can we work this out?

Yours sincerely

A Broker