How do you check a financial adviser is FCA-regulated?
Before receiving regulated financial advice, check the firm on the Financial Services Register and make sure you are dealing with the genuine business.
Start with the type of help you need.
Financial advice should be personal to your circumstances. These are common areas to think about before choosing who to speak with.
Use the FCA Register
Search the Financial Services Register for the firm or individual and review the status and permissions shown.
Check genuine contact details
Scammers can impersonate legitimate firms. Compare contact information with the details shown on the FCA Register.
Check relevant permissions
Being listed does not mean a firm can carry out every regulated activity. The permissions should be relevant to the advice or service you need.
Understand Adviser Finder’s role
Adviser Finder is an introducer and does not provide regulated financial advice. Advice comes from the FCA-regulated adviser company you choose to engage.
What should you consider before proceeding?
Regulation, relevant experience, clear charges and a service that fits your needs all matter.
Search the register
Use the FCA Financial Services Register rather than relying only on a website or advertisement.
Match the details
Check the firm name, reference details and contact information carefully.
Understand who provides advice
Make sure you know which regulated company is responsible for the advice you receive.
Stop if something looks wrong
If details do not match or you feel pressured, do not proceed until you have independently verified the firm.
Useful next steps.
Explore related Adviser Finder resources or tell us what you need when you are ready to look for professional advice.
Learn before you decide.
Use Adviser Finder's educational guides and tools to understand the questions worth asking next.
Browse guides ↗Find a financial adviser.
Tell us what you need and we can review your enquiry and, where appropriate, connect you with an FCA-regulated adviser company.
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