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    How to pick a financial adviser

    Get help with life-changing financial decisions

    Financial advice is like an MOT for your finances – and a financial adviser is the professional with a wealth of experience who can help you plan for the journey ahead.

    An IFA can help you with your financial plans and save you a lot of worry as you approach life-changing financial decisions. Especially if you’re confused about what your options are and what they mean for you.

     

    What is a financial adviser?

    A financial adviser is a professional who can help you manage your money and provides guidance. A personal financial adviser will take a holistic approach and look at the ‘whole picture’ of your finances. They’ll start with the basics, asking questions about your financials, talk about your options – and with research – can narrow down your choices and give you a recommendation for how to move forward.

    Most people look for a financial adviser when they’re at a pivotal moment in their lives or change in circumstances. This could be because they’re planning to retire, received an inheritance or redundancy, or simply want to futureproof their money. In many cases, they’re being presented with different options, but aren’t sure if they’re missing out on

    While ‘one off’ advice is possible, most people benefit most from developing a long-term relationship with their financial adviser – benefitting from support during life’s ups and downs.

    What is the value of a financial adviser?

    Choosing a financial adviser can give you an expert in your corner when you’re facing life-changing financial decisions, which is particularly important when those choices cannot be reversed (like making changes to your pensions or investments.)

    If you’re struggling to organise your finances alone, or worried that you’re missing out on opportunities because you’re not confident managing your plans – we can help you take control of your financial and retirement goals and plan for how to achieve them. Our clients benefit from our expertise, research, independence, and adaptable approach to financial planning:

    Looking for a financial adviser?
    The power of financial planning

    Wren Sterling client, Chris Charnock, explains how a financial planning conversation helped him realise that retirement was closer than he thought and it gave him time to plan it around his family, work and lifestyle commitments.

    What our clients say

    Decoration
    • Melissa Ellis provided a professional, attentive and friendly service. She guided us through our different pensions, clearly explaining all the potential options whilst listening to our lifestyle needs and dreams. She left us in no doubt of her genuine care to give us our best opportunities in retirement.

      Victoria, 
      5 stars on feefo

    • From being nervous to consult financial advice, to being completely assured we were in good and safe hands, our experience with Colin Brisco of Wren Sterling was a complete turnaround for us. Colin was open and clear every step of our pension advice. He attended to everything swiftly and thoroughly. He understood our nervousness as beginners in our pension journey and made the way forward clear, presenting us with the clear choices we had to take. His advice and work he did on our behalf was exemplary. We now have a comfortable retirement, with the fuss and lack of knowledge taken out of it by first class financial advice.

      Philip, 
      5 stars on feefo

    • I have complete confidence in my Financial Adviser who I have regarded as personal to me for a number of years now. I feel that he genuinely has my best interests at heart and actions accordingly.

      Richard, 
      5 stars on feefo

    Want to hear more? Find more client reviews on feefo.com

    When would you need a financial adviser

    Good financial advice can be valuable at any age – but most of our clients reach out when they’re facing a difficult financial decision or their circumstances are changing. In some cases, they’ve started looking at their pensions or retirement planning but are struggling to navigate complex rules and aren’t sure what’s right for them.

    A Wren Sterling financial adviser can help.

    What can a financial adviser help with?

    • Investments

      Starting investing or updating your portfolio

      Your investment options are almost unlimited, so where do you start? Market volatility can make you feel uncertain about your next move. Take control of your investment portfolio, and understand the risks involved.

      Make confident decisions
    • Retirement planning

      Pensions and retirement planning

      When can you retire and what will your retirement look like? There are many options for what to do with your pension – chose a financial adviser who can tell you what’s possible with what you have, and help you plan ahead.

      Start planning
    • Protection

      Protection insurance

      Arrange your insurance plans so you and your loved ones have support when they need it most – without paying for anything you don’t need.

      Prepare for the future
    • Estate planning

      Estate planning and inheritance tax

      Organise your estate tax-efficiently, giving you and your family clarity and confidence for what happens next.

      Plan your legacy
    • Mortgage advice

      Mortgages

      Whether you’re a first-time buyer or looking to remortgage, our Mortgage Advisers can provide support and guidance throughout the whole process.

      For buying your home
    • Financial advice for business owners

      Financial advice for businesses

      Our financial advice can cover your personal and professional life. Optimise your income streams tax-efficiently and find support when making decisions about your workplace pension or employee benefits.

      For your business
    Talk to a financial adviser and find out if financial advice is for you

    How much does a financial adviser cost?

    Our fees vary depending on your individual circumstances and the degree of work required. Our fees page goes into more detail.

    Visit our fees page

    Why choose a Wren Sterling financial adviser?

    • 16,000+

      clients

    • 4.7/5

      score on feefo

    • £7bn

      assets managed

    • 100+

      Financial Planners

    *Assets under Management and Assets under Influence combined for Wren Sterling Financial Planning Group companies, as at June 2025. Figure is rounded to the nearest billion

    Related news and guides:

    Financial planning FAQs

    • Do you need financial advice or financial guidance?

      Do you need financial advice or financial guidance?

      When you’re looking for help with your finances, you’ll need to find the service that’s right for you. Accountants, tax planners, lawyers and solicitors can all help with financial matters – so it’s important to be aware of

      Financial advice and financial guidance may sound similar, but they are very different.

      • Financial guidance is generic, mostly providing information on your options, but will not recommend a course of action. In many cases, financial guidance is free and provided by organisations such as Citizens Advice or MoneyHelper.
      • Financial advice makes a recommendation on what you should do. Financial advice is bespoke, specific to your circumstances and financial goals, and can only be provided by regulated firms.

    • How often should I meet with my financial adviser?

      How often should I meet with my financial adviser?

      Our ongoing clients can reach out to their Wren Sterling financial adviser at any time, especially if they’re concerned about recent investment performance. Most of our clients use their Annual Review meeting to focus on any changes to their lives that might affect their plans.

    • What is the best age to get a financial adviser?

      What is the best age to get a financial adviser?

      Good financial advice can be valuable at any age – but most of our clients reach out when they’re facing a difficult financial decision or their circumstances are changing.

      You may be reading this because a friend or family member has suggested you find a financial adviser to help you manage inheritance or windfall, making difficult business decisions, or to help you plan for retirement. Or perhaps feeling that you’re missing opportunities because you’re not confident managing your plans and can’t stay up to date on all the rules and regulations.

    • Do I need a financial adviser for my pension and retirement?

      Do I need a financial adviser for my pension and retirement?

      Decisions you make about your pension today will affect your income in many years to come. Wren Sterling advisers can help you look ahead – and using forecasting tools – help you understand the kind of retirement you’ll be able to afford in future.

      Wren Sterling can help you avoid costly decisions around when to crystalise your assets (removing funds from pensions or other savings vehicles) – as these choices will have tax implications and cannot be reversed.

      With a Wren Sterling expert on your side, we’ll make recommendations for how to make the most of your money – and crucially – we’ll make sure you understand what it means for you, and how it works so that you can feel more confident in your financial future.

    • What does getting financial advice look like?

      What does getting financial advice look like?

      If you haven’t had a financial adviser before, the process begins with meeting your financial adviser, starting with the basics, going through your financials, and then talking about your options and the choices.

      You can learn more about our process on our financial planning page.