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Ten questions to ask a financial adviser before you commit

A good adviser will not mind any of these. That reaction is itself most of the information you are looking for.

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The short answer

Start with what the firm is authorised to advise on, then verify it on the FCA Register. Ask whether they are independent or restricted and how they are paid. Ask what it costs in pounds, initially and each year, including fund and platform charges. Then ask who handles anything outside their permissions.

10Questions worth asking
In poundsHow to ask about charges
1055079
£0What checking the FCA Register costs
What is on this page
  1. Ten questions, in order
  2. What good answers sound like
  3. What the answers tell you
  4. What to bring

Ten questions, in order

1

What is your firm authorised to advise on?

Then check it yourself on the FCA Register. The answer should match exactly.

2

Are you independent or restricted, and restricted how?

Restricted is fine. Restricted to one insurer is a different thing from restricted to one product area.

3

How are you paid for this piece of work?

Fee, commission or both. Get the answer before any recommendation appears.

4

What will it cost in pounds, initially and each year?

Percentages hide the size. Ask for cash figures on your actual amounts.

5

What do I get for the ongoing charge?

A yearly review and a rebalance is a service. An annual statement is not.

6

What are the total charges, including the fund and platform?

Three layers, one number. That is what actually comes out of your money.

7

What happens if I want to stop?

Check for exit penalties on the product and confirm the ongoing charge is cancellable.

8

Who handles things outside your permissions?

A good answer names a firm and explains why. A vague answer is a warning.

9

What is the risk of this going wrong for me?

If the answer is only about upside, ask again.

10

How do I complain if I need to?

Every authorised firm has a written procedure and must give it to you on request.

What good answers sound like

Specific and in writingNumbers, names and documents. A good adviser expects these questions and has the answers ready.
Comfortable with the risksSomeone who leads with what could go wrong is usually more reliable than someone who only sells the outcome.
Happy for you to checkEncouragement to verify them on the FCA Register is a good sign. Discouragement is a very bad one.
Clear about their limitsNaming what they do not do is a mark of a firm that knows what it does.

What the answers tell you

Question A good answer A warning sign
What are you authorised for? A clear list, and an invitation to check the Register A vague answer, or discouragement from checking
Independent or restricted? Named, with the restriction explained Avoiding the word restricted
What will it cost? Figures in pounds, in writing, before advice Percentages only, or after the recommendation
What could go wrong? Specific risks, given before the benefits Only upside, or the risks left to the paperwork
Who handles the rest? A named firm and why A claim to do everything

How a firm answers these is usually more informative than what it answers.

Want this checked against your own situation?

Send us the figures and we will tell you what they mean. If it is not ours to advise on, we will say who should.

Ask us a question

Prefer WhatsApp? Message us there. We are open Monday to Saturday, 9am to 8pm.

This goes to a separately authorised firm we have vetted. The introduction costs you nothing. If you go ahead, we may be paid a fee by that firm.

What to bring

  • Recent pension statements from every scheme
  • Existing life, critical illness and income protection policies
  • Mortgage details including the deal end date
  • A rough monthly budget, honest rather than flattering
  • Your State Pension forecast
  • A written note of what you are actually worried about

The last item matters more than the rest. Most poor outcomes start with an adviser solving a different problem from the one you had.

Where you stand

Ask all ten if
  • You are about to sign a client agreement
  • The recommendation involves moving a pension
  • There is an ongoing charge attached
  • The firm approached you rather than the other way round
Walk away if
  • You are discouraged from checking the FCA Register
  • Charges are not given in writing before advice
  • The permissions do not cover what is being advised on
  • You only ever hear about the upside

Check broadband before you make an offer

Broadband speeds can vary street by street, so check the exact address before you commit. Ofcom's free checker shows which broadband speeds and mobile coverage are available at any UK property.

Want all your bills in one?

We can introduce you to a specialist who can combine your mobile, broadband and utilities into one bill. There's no fee for the introduction.

We don't provide these services ourselves. Switching household bills is not a regulated financial service, so FCA protections and the Financial Ombudsman do not apply. We'll only pass your details to the specialist if you ask us to. See our privacy notice.

Questions people actually ask

What should I ask a financial adviser?
Start with what their firm is authorised to advise on. Then ask whether they are independent or restricted, and how they are paid. Finally ask for the total cost in pounds, including fund and platform charges.
Should I ask about charges before the first meeting?
Yes. Firms must disclose charges before advising, and a good one will do it without being pushed. Vagueness at this stage tells you something.
How do I know if an adviser is right for me?
Check the permissions match your need, ask what could go wrong, and see whether they name what they do not do. Clarity about limits is a good sign.
Is the first meeting free?
Often, but confirm it. Ask whether the initial discussion is free and at what point charges start.
What if I do not understand the recommendation?
Say so and ask for it again in plain English. A recommendation you cannot explain back to someone else is one you should not act on.
How do I check broadband speed at a property?
Use Ofcom's free broadband and mobile checker at checker.ofcom.org.uk. Enter the property's postcode and choose the address to see which broadband speeds and mobile coverage are available before you make an offer.

Where to go next

Financial advice explainedHow the system works.Check an adviserDo this before the meeting.What advice costsReal numbers.Guidance or advice?Which you need.About Ben TomlinOur answers to these questions.Consumer DutyThe standard authorised firms work to.
Where these figures come from

Figures checked on 1 September 2026 and correct for the 2026/27 tax year. Rates change, so check the source before you act on a number.

Written by Ben Tomlin. Investment and pension advice goes to a separately authorised firm we have vetted. The introduction costs you nothing. If you go ahead, we may be paid a fee by that firm.

Last reviewed September 2026.

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This goes to a separately authorised firm we have vetted. The introduction costs you nothing. If you go ahead, we may be paid a fee by that firm.

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