How To Find Yourself A Financial Adviser In The UK
It can be tricky to find a financial adviser for the very first time. However, if you want to get financial advice or just require help investing your money, planning your pension or requiring long-term advice, there are several ways to find an adviser.
You can do these through:
- Asking friends and family for a recommendation
- Using a financial adviser directory
- Newspaper or Internet search
- Charities
When you do find a financial adviser or two, it’s worth speaking to as many as possible to compare their services and prices before committing further.
This blog is not intended to be financial advice. This blog has been created to help those with tips helping to find an independent financial adviser to help with any money problems or investing inquiries. Lendwise is not responsible for any damages caused and you should do research before investing or committing to a financial adviser.
For investing with Lendwise:
Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose money. This is a high-risk investment. You may not be able to access your money easily and are unlikely to be protected if something goes wrong. Take 2 mins to learn more.
Asking friends and family
You could ask friends and family if they use a financial adviser, and if so, which would they recommend. If someone you trust has confidence in an adviser, it could cut down time otherwise committed searching for one.
You should remember, even though an adviser may work well for that friend or family member, it doesn’t mean they will work best for you and your circumstances. You should seek other options for comparison.
Newspaper or Internet search
There are many financial advisers advertising their services. Before you choose one, you should learn more about them and the company they work for. This includes what services they offer and how they can help you with your specific needs. You can find this information on their website, in their advertisements, or by asking them directly.
You can also read reviews of financial advisers online. This can give you an idea of what other people have experienced with them. Look for reviews on websites like Google, Trustpilot, and Glassdoor. These websites allow people to leave reviews of businesses, including financial advisers.
By reading reviews, you can learn about the adviser’s experience, their fees, and their customer service. You can also see how they operate internally, as well as externally. This information can help you decide if they are the right adviser for you.
Financial adviser directory
There are hundreds of bait-click and scam websites out there targeting vulnerable people who are looking to better their lives. In the UK, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is a government branch which regulates financial services firms and financial markets.
Once you found an adviser, first check the FS Register to ensure they are regulated and approved by the FCA. With an FCA-approved adviser, you will have access to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) or the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) if things go wrong. However, these do not cover all types of investments.
Additional help from organisations
MoneyHelper is here to make your money and pension choices clearer. Here to cut through the complexity, explain what you need to do and how you can do it. Here to put you in control with impartial guidance that’s backed by the government and to recommend further, trusted support if you need it. For clear money help that’s on your side and free to use, just search for MoneyHelper.
The Personal Finance Society (PFS) are the professional body for the financial planning profession in the UK. Our remit is to lead the financial planning community towards higher levels of professionalism exhibited through technical knowledge, client service and ethical practice. We are part of the Chartered Insurance Institute group and aligned with its Royal Charter that requires we secure and justify the confidence of the public.
The Society of Later Life Advisers (SOLLA) is a not-for-profit consumer-facing organisation which helps people and their families in finding trusted accredited financial advisers who understand their financial needs in later life. A well-qualified financial adviser who is also somebody who understands the plans you need to make for your retirement years.
Citizens Advice is an independent and national charity organisation with over 20,000 volunteers specialising in confidential information and advice to assist people for free with legal, debt, consumer, housing and other problems in the United Kingdom
Vouched For is an online directory with thousands of trusted and vetted advisers. The free-to-use website aims to shine a light on professional performance and drive standards up while going to extraordinary lengths to keep genuine reviews.
Unbiased empowers people to make confident financial decisions, from buying a house to planning for retirement. Not only can we connect you quickly and easily to the best experts, but we can also help you choose the right type of advice to help you achieve your goals.
Sunny Avenue is a free online financial professional directory service with vetted advisers. If you are looking for any financial advice, you can locate and message an adviser directly through their online platform.