He said: "For parents with sufficient disposable income, funding a pension for children can make good financial sense.
"Any investment made over such a long-term benefits from a serious amount of compounding, especially with tax relief added to the contribution at outset."
Mr Bamford's clients often have reservations about funding a Junior Isa, which is a popular choice of savings for children, giving them access to their money at age 18, when it becomes a standard Isa.
This product is viewed as a "motorbike fund" he said, with a high probability the proceeds will be spent irresponsibly when the child celebrates his or her 18th birthday.
He said: "Investing in a pension instead locks the money away to create long-term wealth, taking some pressure off the child during the first decade or two of their career so income can go towards other financial priorities."
For Gem Durham, independent financial adviser at Obsidian, the primary concern of her clients is "whether their children/grandchildren will be able to buy a house and fund their living expenses through university," so she opts for junior Isas.
She said: "My clients who could afford to also contribute towards grandchildren's pensions don't do it, because they are not yet old enough to feel able to give away that much wealth in case they need it."
Alan Chan, director and chartered financial planner at London-based IFS Wealth & Pensions, argued that children's pensions "can be a good idea but they are rarely taken up in practice".
He said: "This is usually because there are more pressing priorities to address, such as university fees, money for a house or deposit in future.
"So the money ends up being put into an alternative product such as a junior Isa instead."
maria.espadinha@ft.com
