Step 1: Decide what kind of help you need

Advisers specialise. Before searching, write one sentence describing your situation: "I'm 58 with £400k across three pensions and want to retire at 62", or "We've inherited £150k and don't know where to start." This sentence determines whether you need a retirement-income specialist, a general financial planner, a mortgage broker, or — for some questions — free guidance (MoneyHelper, Pension Wise for over-50s pension options) rather than paid advice at all.

Step 2: Build a shortlist

Sensible places to gather names:

  • Professional body directories — the Chartered Insurance Institute and Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment both run public directories of qualified planners, searchable by location and specialism.
  • Personal referrals — useful, but only as a starting point; your friend's adviser still has to pass the same checks below.
  • Local searches — fine too. Where a name comes from matters far less than the vetting you do next.

A note on "get matched" websites

Many adviser-matching sites are paid by advisers per lead, which shapes who you're shown. That isn't automatically bad, but understand the incentive — and know that the FCA has signalled increasing scrutiny of lead generation in financial services. However a name reaches you, the checks in step 3 are what protect you.

Step 3: Verify every name on the FCA Register

This is the non-negotiable step. The FCA Register is the official public record of who is authorised to advise in the UK. For each firm on your shortlist, check:

  • Status is "Authorised" — not lapsed, cancelled, or merely "registered" for some other purpose.
  • Permissions match the advice you need — e.g. "advising on investments" or "advising on pension transfers and opt-outs".
  • Contact details match — call the number on the Register, not just the one you were given. Clone firms impersonate real authorised firms with swapped phone numbers.
  • No relevant disciplinary history — the Register shows public regulatory action.

Our adviser-vetting toolkit walks through the Register screen by screen.

Step 4: Run the first meetings properly

Most advisers offer a free initial meeting. Treat it as you interviewing them. Ask:

  1. Are you independent or restricted? If restricted — restricted how, exactly?
  2. What are your qualifications? Level 4 Diploma is the minimum to advise; Chartered or Certified Financial Planner status signals further study.
  3. How do you charge, and what will my first year cost in pounds? Insist on a cash figure, not just percentages — see what advice costs.
  4. What does ongoing service include? Annual reviews, rebalancing, tax-year planning — and what happens if you cancel it.
  5. Who do you typically act for? You want someone whose normal client looks like you.

Speak to at least two firms before choosing. Differences in fee structure and chemistry are usually obvious by the second conversation.

Red flags that should end the conversation

  • Pressure to decide quickly, or "this opportunity closes soon".
  • Promised returns, "guaranteed" growth, or anything that outpaces the market with "no risk".
  • Reluctance to put fees in writing as a cash amount.
  • Suggesting you move money before the suitability report is issued.
  • Contact that began with a cold call — regulated firms rarely cold-call about pensions, and pension cold-calling is banned.
  • Asking you to pay into a personal account, or to a firm whose name doesn't match the Register entry.

For the screen-by-screen Register walkthrough and a printable question sheet, open the Check an Adviser toolkit.

About this guide: this is general education, not regulated advice or a personal recommendation, and FinancialAdvisor.co.uk is not an FCA-authorised firm. We do not recommend, endorse or receive payment from any adviser or firm. For advice tailored to you, consult an FCA-authorised adviser.