What does a financial adviser actually cost?

Charges get quoted in percentages, which hides how big they are. Here they are in pounds. Protection is the exception, where the insurer may pay commission and you do not.

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The short answer

Typical UK charges are 1% to 3% of the amount invested initially and 0.5% to 1% a year ongoing, or £100 to £350 an hour for one-off work. Protection advice is usually paid by commission from the insurer, so there is usually no fee to you. Always ask for the figures in pounds, including fund and platform charges.

1% to 3%Typical initial charge on invested money

0.5% to 1%Typical yearly ongoing charge

£100 to £350Typical hourly rate

£0Usual fee to you. The insurer may pay commission if a policy goes ahead

What is on this page

The three ways you pay
When it earns its cost
The questions that clarify the cost
Where free help does the same job

The three ways you pay

Model	Typical range	Where it is used
Percentage of the money	0.5% to 1% a year ongoing	Investments and pensions
Initial percentage	1% to 3% of the amount invested	Setting up an investment or pension
Hourly rate	£100 to £350 an hour	One-off questions and reviews
Fixed project fee	Set by the firm	A retirement plan or a specific piece of work
Commission from a provider	No fee to you	Protection

Typical UK ranges. Every firm sets its own charges and must disclose them in writing before you commit.

A 1% initial charge and 0.75% ongoing on a £300,000 pension is £3,000 up front and £2,250 a year. Over ten years that is around £25,500, before the fund charges underneath it.

When it earns its cost

Defined benefit pension transfers, where advice is required by law above £30,000
Turning a pension pot into a sustainable retirement income
Investing a lump sum you cannot afford to lose
Protection applications where health conditions affect terms
Anything hard to reverse, where being wrong is expensive

The pattern is that advice pays where the decision is large, permanent and hard to model yourself. It rarely pays for choosing a savings account.

The questions that clarify the cost

Show it to me in poundsA percentage hides the size. Ask for the initial and ongoing charge as cash amounts on your actual figures.

What is the total, including fund chargesAdviser charge plus platform charge plus fund charge is the real number. Ask for all three.

What do I get for the ongoing feeA yearly review is worth paying for. A yearly statement is not. Get the service written down.

What happens if I stopOngoing charges should be cancellable. Check there is no exit penalty on the underlying product.

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.

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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.

Where free help does the same job

Free guidance covers a lot of what people pay for. Pension Wise gives free appointments to anyone aged 50 or over with a defined contribution pension. MoneyHelper covers most general questions.

For protection there is usually no fee to you at all, because the insurer may pay the adviser commission. That is worth knowing before you decide advice is unaffordable.

Where you stand

Paying is usually right for

A defined benefit pension transfer
Turning a pension pot into an income
Investing a lump sum you cannot afford to lose
A protection case where health complicates the terms

Free guidance covers

How a product works
Checking a State Pension forecast
Budgeting and debt problems
Comparing standard savings accounts

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.

Check broadband at an address (Ofcom)

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Questions people actually ask

How much does a financial adviser cost in the UK?

Commonly 1% to 3% initially and 0.5% to 1% a year ongoing on invested money, or £100 to £350 an hour. Protection advice is usually paid by commission from the insurer rather than a fee to you.

Is financial advice worth the money?

It pays where the decision is large, permanent and hard to model yourself. It rarely pays for straightforward choices that free guidance already covers.

Do I pay for protection advice?

Usually not. The insurer may pay the adviser a commission. It must still be disclosed to you before you proceed.

What is an ongoing adviser charge?

A yearly percentage for continuing service, typically 0.5% to 1%. Ask exactly what service you receive for it and whether you can cancel it.

Can I get free financial advice?

You can get free guidance, which is not the same. MoneyHelper and Pension Wise are both free and government-backed. Regulated advice generally has a cost attached.

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

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.

Want to know what your question would cost to answer?

Ask us. If it is protection there is usually no fee to you, and if it is not, we will tell you what to expect.

Start a conversation

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.

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